Friends of Mammoth Cave Fundraising For Educational Grant For Area & Local Kids & Teachers

Edmonson Voice Report: photos from Friends of Mammoth Cave National Park:
In early 2021, The Friends of Mammoth Cave National Park was one of 36 national park partner organizations selected to receive a grant from the National Park Foundation to expand the Park’s educational efforts.

The Strong Parks, Strong Communities grant will enable Friends of Mammoth Cave to create a five-year capacity-building campaign plan to increase reach and diversity in types of members and donors to further Mammoth Cave National Park's K-16 education programs, the FoMCNP said in a released statement. They said that a  portion of this grant will be used as a match to increase donations to those education programs.

"The Friends of Mammoth Cave National Park values the relationship we have with the National Park Foundation, an organization that has supported our educational efforts with area students from our inception," said Rick Dubose, Executive Director, Friends of Mammoth Cave.

According to FoMCNP, part of the grant is a challenge to raise a minimum of $5,000, which will be matched dollar for dollar. The organization said help is needed to meet this goal so they can make a difference for area school children and teachers.

A Ranger in a virtual presentation.

Environmental Education at Mammoth Cave National Park
According to their statement, Mammoth Cave National Parks’ STEM education program is one of the largest in the National Park Service, reaching more than 50,000 students annually. The Park’s educational programs include student tours of the cave and in-school educational visits, as well as teacher workshops, with a recent workshop receiving over 200 applicants. Even during the pandemic, Mammoth Cave’s education programs have reached thousands of students virtually, the FoMCNP stated.

Participating teachers can choose from such topics as:

• Adaptation
• Fire
• Food Chains/Webs
• Point and Non-point Source Pollution
• Biodiversity
• Fossils, Rocks and Minerals
• Careers in Science
• Geology Processes
• Caves/Karst
• Threatened/Endangered/Extinct Species
• Water Cycle
• Ecosystems
• National Parks
• Watersheds
  
  

"The most popular program among educators is '“Ticket to Tour” which provides $6 per students and teachers at schools otherwise unable to bring students to the Park to participate in ranger-led environmental education," they said. "In 2021-22, it is estimated that 5,000 students will need a ticket to participate. Grants serve school groups within day-trip distance of the Park, with priority given to Title I schools in the 10-county Barren River Area Development District (BRADD). Friends of Mammoth Cave awarded more than 90 grants to help fund Park trips and tickets for more than 5,000 students in FY 2019. The Park switched to virtual classroom programs in 2020, with park educators going to classrooms when classes resumed during the Pandemic. Kentucky schools have returned to in-person classes in 2021. Virtual programs and in-class visits will continue as well for schools unable to visit the park."

According to their press release, In 2020, EE programs served 25,387 students in 986 presentations. Teacher 2-day workshops had 110 participants, which was all accomplished during the pandemic. The Middle School Summer Camp program provides a week-long, intensive learning experience that has resulted in students returning later as volunteers or rangers, and many students are inspired to choose to study science in college, and topics covered in the educational curriculum meet Next Generation Science Standards, helping teachers meet required science objectives of their school districts, the FoMCNP stated.

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Contributions may be made by check or credit card. Friends of Mammoth Cave say the easiest way to give is online at this link: https://www.friendsofmammothcave.org/donate

The donate by check: Make your check out to the Friends of Mammoth Cave, and mail to P.O. Box 2, Mammoth Cave, KY 42259