Bi-Lingual Discovery Saturdays Program

REEVES-REED ARBORETUM Now Offers
Bi-Lingual Discovery Saturdays Program

Saturdays, from March through November

165 Hobart Avenue
Summit, NJ

Summit, NJ: The mission of Reeves-Reed Arboretum is to engage, educate, and enrich the lives of our constituents to become better stewards of nature and the planet. One of the most important and compelling ways that this goal is achieved is through the extraordinary environmental education programs that stress nature, horticulture, and sustainability. The professional educators of RRA craft each program and lesson plan to coincide with the curriculum standards set annually by the board of education. And one of the most successful programs, Discovery Saturdays, is now being offered both in Spanish and English.

Thanks to a grant from the Junior League of Summit, Inc., every Saturday, from March through November, between 9 am and 1 pm, the Spanish speaking families in our community now have the opportunity to participate in an interactive exploration of nature. Led by RRA Environmental Educator, Lisa Martin, and Alex Lobo Campos, Director of Maleku Folklore Costa Rica (a Summit-based organization established to promote and preserve the heritage of Costa Rica and indigenous cultures), participants explore plants, insects, animals, and environmental topics through experiments, stories, games, and crafts. Children who are studying Spanish in school will also enjoy learning some key Spanish vocabulary words related to the day's topic. "The kids and their parents are simply awesome, and my two colleagues, Lisa and Jackie, are super," remarked Lobo Campos. "Thanks for letting me a part of this beautiful project."

The demographics of Summit clearly indicate that Latinos and Hispanics make up almost 16% of the population, yet there are few, if any community-based environmental education programs specifically targeting this important segment of the community. The staff and trustees of Reeves-Reed Arboretum have long recognized this strong need for diversity in its programming and are delighted that the Junior League of Summit, Inc. has awarded a grant of $5000 in support of these efforts.

For more information about the events, programs and workshops at Reeves-Reed Arboretum, please visit our website at www.reeves-reedarboretum.org or call 908-273-8787 x 1010. Weekly topics for Discovery Saturdays can be found at https://reeves-reedarboretum.org/dc-Education.php.

About Reeves-Reed Arboretum:  Celebrating over 40 years as a historic public garden and education resource, Reeves-Reed Arboretum seeks to engage, educate and enrich the public through horticulture and environmental education, and the care and utilization of the gardens and estate. Open 7 days a week from dawn till dusk, the Arboretum is listed on both the National and New Jersey State Historic Registers. Funding for RRA has been made possible in part by the NJ Historical Commission, a division of the Department of State, through a grant administered by the Union County Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs, Dept. of Parks & Community Renewal.