The Dallas Arboretum is expanding its educational programs. Photo courtesy of the Dallas Arboretum.
Underserved children within Dallas County are getting an incredible opportunity to learn more about science and nature in order to be better prepared for school.
The Dallas Arboretum‘s early childhood programs, Bilingual Initiative and Growing Together, will be expanding to to include more children within the area who are economically disadvantaged.
The preschool programs are geared toward kindergarten-readiness and have already provided education on nature to more than 15,000 pre-kindergarten children and their families. According to a press release, just more than 50 percent of children are ready for kindergarten in Dallas County with the programs expected to reach as many as 3,000 additional children and caregivers.
The Bilingual Initiative, started in 2014, was designed to provide science lessons as well as parent education and development discussions. Through the program children have an opportunity to visit the Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden for more educational opportunities.
Children between the ages of 3 and 5 are able to learn about science through lessons, field trips and outreach in the Growing Together program. The program also partners with Educational First Steps daycare centers to further help each child’s academic growth.
More than 90 percent of children within the Dallas Independent School District qualify as at-risk, according to a press release statement from Allyson Marbut, Dallas Arboretum vice president of education.
“At the Arboretum, we know firsthand the incredible impact early education and hands-on learning experiences can have in helping build a lifelong love for learning, and ensuring children are ready to start school,” Marbut said in the release while noting this educational expansion “will not only help prepare more children for kindergarten, but will also provide materials and professional development to grow caregivers and parents as educators.”
