Outdoor Environmental Education for Students in Centre County and beyond

at Millbrook Marsh Nature Center

Since 1997, ClearWater Conservancy has been providing students in schools throughout central Pennsylvania with the opportunity for hands-on learning through outdoor watershed education that meets the PA Standards for Environment & Ecology.  This spring semester alone, nearly 1,000 students will participate in public or private school field trips to Millbrook Marsh Nature Center with the support of ClearWater Conservancy.  "No Child Left Inside" is a powerful goal that can be possible with the commitment of the community. 

See Spring 2009 Connections Award Announcement

This program grew out of the Spring Creek Watershed Community’s interest in increasing public awareness of watershed issues through education and communication. By reaching out to the younger generation, we hope to instill a conservation ethic and inspire children to share what they learn with parents and friends. Please encourage them to share their newfound knowledge!

Program Highlights

• Connections field trips were made possible in the past year by the ClearWater Conservancy through grants from The Hershey Company, the Dominion Educational Partnership, State of the Art, Sam's Club, Bellefonte Elks, Altrusa International of Centre County, State College Women's Club, Pleasant Gap Rotary, Pleasant Gap Lions Club, State College Kiwanis, and the Nittany Valley Lions Club. 
• Because of its high-quality environmental education programs, Millbrook Marsh Nature Center was chosen by ClearWater Conservancy for the location of Connections student field trips.
• Current Millbrook Marsh programs for Kindergarten, Primary (grades 1 and 2), and Intermediate (grades 3 and 4) meet applicable PA Academic Standards for Environment and Ecology.
• Funding applications will be evaluated by Jennifer Shuey, ClearWater Conservancy Executive Director and Molly Hetrick, Millbrook Marsh Nature Center Recreation Supervisor.
• Eligible expenses include Millbrook Marsh Nature Center program fees and transportation costs.

Connections Overview Brochure

Application Guidelines

Stories of Land, Water, & People:  Elementary Exploration:  Discovering the Wonders of Millbrook Marsh

"…The program funding has been instrumental in providing this outdoor experience for the State College Area School District elementary children. We have worked with Molly Hetrick, the program coordinator at Millbrook Marsh Nature Center, to structure a program to address the PA Academic standards for Environment and Ecology.

My goal is to have Kindergarten children visit Millbrook every year in conjunction with their study of plants in the spring, primary children (grades 1 and 2) visit in the spring with their study of plants and animals and intermediate children (grades 3 and 4) visit in the fall to explore Integrated Pest Management in a marsh environment. With current budget constraints, we will have to rely heavily on money obtained from outside sources to meet this goal."

     ~ Susan Younkin, Coordinator, Elementary Mathematics and Science, State College Area School District

"Learning in an outdoor environment is great, and the students engaged with the teachers enthusiastically. The nature walk through the marsh was filled with interesting facts, and the students especially enjoyed examining the living things that came from the stream."

     ~ Anne Houck, Teacher, Mountaintop Elementary School, Snow Shoe

If you would also like to contribute to this important project of ClearWater Conservancy,

please send a check designated to Connections to: