Changing Perceptions of Nature, Self, and Others: A Report on a Park/School Program

Abstract

The Park/School Program was developed by the Urban Resources Initiative at the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies in cooperation with school teachers and urban park rangers. During the pilot project, graduate students in environmental studies conducted field studies in ecology with 46 fifth graders to introduce them to natural resources and to develop social skills in a neighborhood park. The process of developing teamwork through cooperative games and group projects, of increasing understanding of urban ecosystems through outdoor investigations and indoor laboratory activities, and of applying the teamwork and understanding to teaching others instilled in the children a sense of ownership and internalization of their knowledge of the park. The program succeeded in its aims of increasing ecological knowledge and improving the social skills of the students. Unanticipated outcomes included the changing perceptions of teachers and students toward each other, of the park, and students' perceptions of themselves. An overview of the pilot project, its potential for effecting change inside and outside the classroom, and recommendations for future programs and research are presented.