Community Partners Like the Shaw Nature Reserve Help the Science Center Connect St. Louis with STEM by Providing Nature for All

This October, the Science Center’s Youth Exploring Science (YES) Program was included in Shaw Nature Reserve’s presentation as part of the North American Association for Environmental Education’s annual conference. The presentation, titled “Nature for All: Advancing Equity at an Environmental Education Center,” and hosted by the Missouri Botanical Garden’s Jessie Dockins, Coordinator, School Programs at the Shaw Nature Reserve, looked at the work being done by the organization to help provide access to nature for all, including collaborating with community partners like the Science Center.

In the summer of 2023, the YES Program’s Agriscience component held a number of field trips to parks and nature centers, including four field trips to the Shaw Nature Reserve. These field trips involved the YES Teens leading two-hour explorations of the forest, prairie, and wetlands that allowed approximately 80 children to connect with nature and learn about the physical and mental health benefits of being outdoors.

After the presentation, Kerry Stevison, manager of the YES Program’s Agriscience component, shared about the importance of providing access to nature, the role of community partnerships for the YES Program, and how field trips like those to Shaw Nature Reserve make an impact on both the YES Teens and the community members they mentor.

Kerry, can you tell us a little about the YES Program’s Agriscience component and why it’s important for the YES Teens and community members to be able to connect with nature?

The YES Agriscience component focuses on the ability of plants and nature to improve human health. We do that through activities related to nutrition and gardening, as well as giving people more access to nature.

There are a multitude of studies that show how spending time outdoors improves both mental and physical health, from blood pressure to symptoms of ADHD.

For the YES Agriscience component, how would you describe the importance of community partners and the role they play a role when helping program participants connect with nature?

Our YES Teens wouldn’t be able to do outreach without our community partners. Shaw Nature Reserve provided us both with a nature space to work in, as well as training for the teens. Our recreation center partners—Mathews-Dickey, for example—provided us with groups of young children who would benefit from the program.

Did you notice any changes in how the YES Teens responded to or connected with nature over the course of the field trips to Shaw Nature Reserve (and other locations)?

The teens became much more comfortable in nature, and most expressed that it felt peaceful or calming. I’ve noticed that teens and children adapt quickly to feeling comfortable in nature if introduced to it in a positive way.

On field trips like those to the nature reserve, the YES Teens act as mentors to the community members they’re leading. What stands out to you about the mentorship aspect of the program and how it affects the YES Teens?

The mentorship aspect of the program is very important to my teens. It gives them a feeling of purpose. In addition, it’s great to have the teens introducing the kids to nature, as they make much more inspirational mentors that I ever could.

See more photos from the YES Agriscience component’s summer field trips to Shaw Nature Reserve:

Read more about the YES Agriscience component’s summer field trips here.