Environmental Education Program

Peaceable Kingdom Retreat for Children offers an Experiential Environmental Education Program for students that are placed in Special Education classes from user school districts: The EEP served over 3500 special education students from over 15 partnering school districts during the 2007 Spring Semester. The 2007 Fall Semester will see positive applications implemented so that children in special education can further improve through the program's curriculum.

The Program

The focus of the Environmental Education Program is to capitalize on the natural resources Peaceable Kingdom offers to give the students learning experiences not found in the traditional classroom.

In January 1999, Special Education classrooms from one local school district began utilizing the Peaceable Kingdom Retreat for Children facilities for day trips. The Life Skills, Functional Academics, Functional Skills, Deaf-Education and Visually Impaired classes participated the first year. As the program developed, their visits became more frequent and more classes were added. Today, there are many additional school districts that participate in the Environmental Education Program. Each district provides the transportation to and from the retreat and staff (teachers, nurse clinicians, related service personnel, and parent volunteers). Specialized services are coordinated with the retreat staff. Meals for the staff and students are provided by school districts unless other arrangements are made.

Learning activities at the retreat are coordinated by school district's instructional staff and are directly related to each student's Individual Education Plan or IEP. Students are placed in special education classes through an admission, review and dismissal process. After being placed in special education, each student has an IEP developed by the special education personnel, classroom teachers and parents. Special consideration has been given in developing the Environmental Education Curriculum so that it is appropriate for a wide range of cognitive levels and can be easily adapted according to the classroom and individual needs.

While at the retreat, students are able to take part in the many activities our Environmental Education Program offers, which are tailored to their individual needs and abilities. All of the programs are designed to fully engage all the senses and to encourage problem solving and critical thinking skills, both individually and as a group. It is also important to the PKRC staff that we also focus on the students' self-awareness, self-esteem and group interaction as they participate in activities.

The Peaceable Kingdom Retreat for Children Environmental Education Program has begun to establish links between experiential learning in an outdoor setting and student motivation and ability to learn other skills; for instance, reading, mathematics and writing. Studies also have linked the School District participation in the ongoing outdoor education program at Peaceable Kingdom Retreat for Children to other important educational and social outcomes, such as a positive student engagement in the school community, an appreciation of cultural differences, development of successful social relationships, improvements in self concept and lasting improvements in problem solving and critical thinking skills.

Environmental Education Program Goal

The Environmental Education Program goal is to provide a comprehensive outdoor environmental education program for students with special needs from PreK-12th grade that will improve overall student performance, meet goals set forth in the students' Individualized Education Plans (IEP), incorporate Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) into our curriculum, increase parent participation with the student's education, and allow information to be freely exchanged between the students, school districts, and parents. This program is designed to adapt to the changing needs of special education students by meeting the needs of all special education students.

Why Schedule a Visit?

Peaceable Kingdom Retreat for Children's Environmental Education Program has been shown to help children with special needs:

Improve self-concept, social interaction, academic achievement and group cohesion.
Develop independent life skills that allow disabled students to contribute to and participate in their communities as well as function responsibly in the home and community environments.
Improve use of language and rapport with teachers and peers.
Improve social relationships.
Improve strength and coordination.
Minimize their feelings of institutionalization.

These objectives will be reached by the participating school district:

Students will develop an awareness of the need for cooperative group efforts and trust among peers and adults.
Students will gain the skills and understanding necessary for worthy use of leisure time throughout life.
Students will show gains in their ability to form relationships with non-disabled peers outside of the school setting.
All students with special needs will be integrated fully into the program, regardless of the level or severity of their disability.
Communication between parents and the schools will be broadened through on-site parent training.
Students will be exposed to new life experiences through exploration and discovery in an unfamiliar environment encompassing all forms of sensory stimulation.
Students will have the opportunity to display to parents, teachers and non-disabled peers their individual levels of independence in a community oriented setting.

What Is There to Do?

PKRC has a variety of activities available for all abilities and functional levels of students. A specialized curriculum has been designed by Peaceable Kingdom employees to adapt to each student's IEP goals and to the TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge & Skills).

Scheduling

Please note that scheduling for the 2007 Fall Semester will be available for school districts after July 31, 2007. New processes for scheduling will be distributed before classes begin. If you have any questions, please call 254-554-5555 in inquire.

Teachers are encouraged to schedule regular visits to the retreat as this will reinforce the overall Environmental Education Program objectives.

To schedule your class:

Email: You may schedule your class by e-mailing your date request and you will be contacted directly.
Phone: You may also schedule your class by directly contacting Peaceable Kingdom at 254-554-5555.
Note: Filling out the inquiry form DOES NOT secure a reservation, it is an inquiry ONLY!! /li>

Make plans to visit Peaceable Kingdom Retreat for Children soon with your class! You will have the time of your lives!