Child Learning the Parts of a Plant.
A primary focus of the Beech Creek Botanical Garden & Nature Preserve (BCBGNP) is to educate young people about plant and earth science with the goal to inspire a love of the natural world around them.
By promoting gardening, agriculture, botanical gardens, and nature preserves we hope to encourage beneficial stewardship of the environment by current and future generations.
We Offer...
- Interactive demonstrations encouraging individuals to improve their skills and raise horticultural standards in their neighborhoods.
- Horticultural training, job experience, and internship opportunities for high school and college level students.
- Research studies on water, soil and plants for college level biology and horticulture students.
- Formal and informal horticultural classes for all ages and experience levels.
Current Outreach Programs...
UPSIDE Ohio – Using Plants for Science Instruction & Diverse EducationThis is a unique program developed by the BCBGNP in partnership with the Stark County Educational Service Center (SCESC) and funded for two years by a grant from the Ohio EPA’s Ohio Environmental Education Fund.
The program supplies Stark County classrooms with a grow lab, seeds, soil, and a curriculum. Learning is facilitated by a science instructor that integrates plant science with music and art. A 12-week program focused on Ohio Academic Content Standards as well as building a student’s positive self image, provides just the right amount of time for students to grow a native Ohio plant to take home at the end of the program. Initially developed for 2nd, 3rd and 4rth graders, the program has also successfully been used in a high school setting with students attending the Multi-County Attention Center.
The grant committee is working on other grants to continue this program.
The BCBGNP and the GLOBE Program
The BCBGNP and the Stark County Educational Service Center (SCESC) will be working together to implement the Global Learning & Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) program.
GLOBE is a worldwide hands-on, primary and secondary school-based science and education program. GLOBE promotes and supports students, teachers and scientists collaborating on investigations, study and research about the dynamics of the Earth's environmental systems. We have determined that this is the best and earliest way to start utilizing the property for public use and to pursue more of the BGA's educational goals.
Professor Culpepper's Amazing Garden
The BCBGNP sponsors a children's program that teaches 2nd thru 5th grade science. This exciting program is taken into the schools and focuses on Ohio Academic Content Standards. Professor Culpepper's Amazing Garden program utilizes music, movement and visual art as ways to help students learn about basic plant science, reading skills, problem solving, and improving self esteem.