Numerous studies indicate that young children are the most open to attitudinal change. For that reason, the Hawaii Nature Center emphasizes elementary grade school programs. Both public and private school children enjoy our full-day environmental field programs conducted in the forest and other natural environments. An independent evaluation of the Hawai'i Nature Center's programs has confirmed that children's attitudes towards the environment significantly improved after participating in our field education programs.
All Nature Center lessons focus on appreciation of our natural environment and an awareness for utilizing and protecting even its most elemental forms of life. Lessons are designed for children to actively involve their five senses. This style of teaching helps children to develop a personal relationship with nature enabling them to care for it in the long term.
The success of the Hawai'i Nature Center's out-of-doors field education curriculum is affirmed by the recognition of its programs and staff through the bestowal of many national honors. Among these are the "Take Pride in America" award in education from the Dept. of Interior; the Nancy Hanks Memorial Award for Professional Excellence granted by the American Association of Museums; and, the United Nations Environmental Leadership award bestowed by the United Nations Environment Programme. In addition, our programs have been recognized by the U.S. Department of Education's Eisenhower Regional Consortia as a Promising Practice in math and science education, one of only two programs in Hawai'i to be so honored.
Over two decades, the Hawai'i Nature Center has developed a structural model and an educational philosophy of the highest quality. This model is carried out in each of our grade level programs.