New Partnership Will Build Science Skills of Area Head Start Preschoolers

Area preschool children will have more opportunities to learn science basics and experience related activities that are educational and fun through a two-year grant of $339,484 to the Cincinnati Nature Center from the PNC Foundation announced today. The grant establishes a new partnership among PNC, the Cincinnati Nature Center, the University of Cincinnati and Child Focus, Inc., to build the science skills of local children in Head Start.

The funding supports Grow Up Great with Science, PNC’s new initiative to help foster a foundation in science for area preschoolers at a time when many educators have sought increased emphasis on the discipline. A study by the National Research Council recognized that providing young children with research-based mathematics and science learning is likely to pay off with increased achievement, literacy and work skills in these critical areas.

“We understand the critical need for students to have a base in science in today’s technology-driven society. The PNC Foundation grant greatly enhances the programming we have for young children,” said Bill Hopple, executive director of the Cincinnati Nature Center.  “By working with our local teachers, schools and Head Start centers, we are creating a curriculum to teach age-appropriate science and share best practices to benefit others in this region.”

The investment by the PNC Foundation, which receives its principle funding from the PNC Financial Services Group (NYSE: PNC), was among 14 grants in seven states and the District of Columbia announced today in celebration of the fifth anniversary of PNC Grow Up Great, the 10-year, $100 million investment in early childhood education.

The PNC Foundation has pledged up to $6 million in grants to fund regional science centers over three years and conduct an independent evaluation of the program’s success. The second- and third-year funding is contingent upon successful completion of the prior year’s project goals.

“Our support of this collaboration between the Cincinnati Nature Center, UC’s Arlitt Center and Child Focus is another strategic investment to help our non-profit partners, preschools and caregivers develop stronger, smarter and healthier families and communities,” said Kay Geiger, regional president for PNC Bank in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. “Through these grants, we expect children will enjoy meaningful experiences that would not otherwise be possible.”

The Cincinnati Nature Center in coordination with the University of Cincinnati’s Arlitt Child and Family Research and Education Center and Child Focus will use the funding to train local pre-school teachers and introduce families of Head Start pre-school children to the natural sciences through visits to the Cincinnati Nature Center’s outdoor classroom and through curriculum developed by the Arlitt Child and Family Research and Education Center. 

“This project will ultimately build the confidence of teachers as they foster a curiosity and enthusiasm for learning about nature, build eco-literacy skills in children and encourage the participation of children and their families through this partnership,” says Vicki Carr, director of UC’s Arlitt Child and Family Research and Education Center, one of the oldest demonstration preschools in the United States.

The Cincinnati Nature Center’s 700 acres of pristine forest will serve as the training classroom.  In addition, educators from the Cincinnati Nature Center will travel to classrooms to assist Child Focus  teachers use their outdoor space to create children’s activities which enable them to explore science with their senses and test their ideas. Many of the activities will receive assistance from PNC employees as volunteers.

The event included recognition of the fifth anniversary of PNC Grow Up Great, which has contributed more than $17 million in grants to enhance preschool programs, 102,000 hours in PNC employee volunteerism, and donated more than 100,000 items from mittens and gloves, to materials for science and arts projects, books and toothbrushes for preschool children across eight states and the District of Columbia.

The Cincinnati Nature Center (CNC) was founded in 1965. CNC’s mission is to inspire passion for nature and promote environmentally responsible choices through experience, education and stewardship to ensure a sustainable future. Today CNC continues to provide access to nearly 1,600 acres of land to 5,372 members. CNC’s educational hallmark is an inquiry-based approach to learning that supplements Ohio Academic Content Standards for Science. Nearly 10,000 children participate in CNC educational programs each year. 

Child Focus, Inc. is a non-profit community based organization and Head Start grantee serving over 2,000 children ages 0-21 every year through a combination of early learning educational programs and mental health services in Ohio.  Child Focus utilizes Creative Curriculum and Parents as Teachers, which enable Child Focus’ early childhood staff to lay a strong foundation for children to become enthusiastic learners. Science is an integral part of the curriculum and is integrated into the classrooms by teachers who are novices with regards to science education. The organization strives to increase the scientific expertise for teachers and encourage more scientific inquiry among children.

The University of Cincinnati’s Arlitt Child and Family Research and Education Center has served preschool children from diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds since 1925. Arlitt is committed to teacher preparation and to helping the early childhood education community translate child development theory and research into best practice in the early childhood classroom.