Ossining Students to Take Part in “Grow Wild Outside" at Teatown

The Westchester County Youth Bureau has awarded Teatown a grant for “Grow Wild Outside,” an after-school and summer science enrichment program for Ossining kindergarteners.

“Grow Wild Outside” will spark Ossining children’s innate curiosity about nature and engage them in hands-on activities that build science, engineering, math and technology skills. The goals are to foster ecological literacy and increase school readiness and academic success in STEM, according to Teatown’s grant application.

The Ossining School District has a close relationship with Teatown, and students take frequent class trips to the 1,000-acre preserve and education center on Spring Valley Road in Ossining.

“We are very excited about the opportunity,” said Raymond Sanchez, Ossining school superintendent. “We have a strong relationship with Teatown and I know this funding will lead to an enriching program for our Park students."

“‘Grow Wild Outside’ enables Teatown educators to further our commitment and mission ‘to inspire our community to lifelong environmental stewardship,’” said Phyllis Bock, Teatown’s education director. “By engaging the youngest learners in nature and science explorations, we are fostering the next generation of environmental stewards.”

The $30,000 grant will enable 90 Park School students to participate in “Grow Wild Outside.” During the year, the after-school program will serve a total of 50 students. Half of the classes will be held at Park and half at Teatown. There will be two, two-week summer sessions with 20 children each.

An important objective of Grow Wild Outside is to teach young children how their choices make a difference and to instill the value of conservation in each child. Activities will include visits with animals, discovery walks, science investigations and seasonal explorations. “Grow Wild Outside” is based on Teatown’s successful “Nurtured by Nature” program.