NEWS PHOTO MO CRANKER - Nature Centre park interpreter Marty Drut uses his binoculars to scope out birds at Police Point Park. The Nature Centre is getting ready to launch educational programming for kids in the city.
mcranker@medicinehatnews.com@MHNmocranker
Police Point Park is looking to help Hat children learn during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Park interpreters at the Nature Centre are working to create fun, informative and interactive content for kids to learn at home while schools are closed.
“The Interpretive Program does a tremendous amount of programs with local classes during the school year,” said chief park interpreter Corlaine Gardner. “Everyone is facing challenges right now – teachers are trying to reach their students and parents are in a homeschooling role.
“We want to continue helping and to offer ideas and help everyone.
“Our phones are always on and we do have people at the Nature Centre – teachers, students, parents can all call us if they need help with anything.”
Gardner says the Nature Centre also wants to create programming to give ideas and things for kids to work on.
“I don’t know how we’ll put it out there, but we want to help,” she said. “Just the other day we had a great big snowfall – it was a perfect day for tracking.
“Tracking is great for identifying animals, but it can be used as a language arts exercise, too. Have your kids tell the story the tracks tell.”
Gardner says there are infinite social studies lessons to be had while interacting with nature.
“We’re working really hard to come up with ideas to help everyone,” she said. “Our doors are locked, but we’re here.
“Keep an eye on our Facebook page and website to see what we’re coming up with.”
Gardner says people can learn these lessons while staying safe.
“You don’t need to be in a big group to do any of these things,” she said. “So much can be done in the back yard.”
