School of Environmental Education

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SEE

Green River Preserve’s School of Environmental Education (SEE), offers 3 to 5-day residential outdoor education programs for both public and private schools. Our curriculum is designed for rising 5th grade through middle school and is easily adaptable for older students. Participants spend their days exploring the preserve’s waterfalls, caves, and mountain overlooks in small field groups of 10-12 students. SEE programs are available in the fall and spring. We can serve up to 120 participants each week.

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Days & Rates

Length	Students	Adults
3 day program	$230	$115
4 day program	$280	$143
5 day program	$325	$163

2020 Spring Dates

Dates Available	School Confirmed
April 22 - April 24	Casa Esperanza Montessori, Buist Academy
April 27 - April 30	Rainbow Community School, Davidson Green School, Emerson Waldorf, Fern Leaf
May 6 - May 8	Porter-Gaud, Montessori School of Anderson
May 11 - May 15	Summit School, Five Oaks Academy, University School of the Lowcountry

2020 Fall Dates

Dates Available	School Confirmed
September 1 - September 4	St. Pius X, 1 opening
September 8 - September 11	The Lexington School, Spartanburg Day School, Our Lady of Grace
September 15 - September 18	Ashley Hall, Camperdown Academy
September 22 - September 25	The Cooper School, Hickory Day School, Trinity Episcopal School
September 30 - October 2	East Cooper Montessori Charter School

Feel free to inquire about specific date possibilities. Please call for more information. 828.698.8828

Enivornmental Education Curriculum

SEE focuses on three basic themes: cultural heritage, ecological respect, and stewardship. We explore these themes through an inquiry-based learning approach. We believe understanding the interconnectedness between humans and nature among these themes brings respect and knowledge for one’s self, each other, and all living things.

SEE offers interdisciplinary courses of study based upon two books. The flagship program stems from, The Education of Little Tree, by Forrest Carter. The other book, The Way, is written by one of our leading mentors, Hawk Hurst. Schools are encouraged to read and study with the books prior to their program, however reading these books are not a requirement. We strive to develop collaborative programs with schools leaders to assure educational standards and objectives are integrated into program design.

During the visit, students and teachers are exposed to a multitude of Southern Blue Ridge Mountains aspects while hiking the preserve with our naturalists in the morning and afternoon. Topics may include but are not limited to the diverse Appalachian ecosystem, primitive arts and crafts, and mountain culture. The integration of the interdisciplinary unit with GRP’s hands-on field trip experience gives students a profound understanding of the three basic themes: cultural heritage, ecological respect, and stewardship.

Activities might include:

Hiking throughout the 3,400-acre private wildlife preserve
Hands-on experiences in field ecology
Animal tracking
Wildlife observation
Field journaling and sketching
Practicing Leave-No-Trace guidelines
Medicinal and edible plants
Stream ecology
Appalachian geology, including cave dwellings

The Classroom

Green River Preserve’s 3,400 acres offers the perfect learning, exploration environment for all ages. Rich in ecological and cultural history, the stories from this land will bond you to a larger community of learners, those from centuries past. Participants may spend the day climbing to one of our waterfalls, spelunking in an old Cherokee Indian Cave, discovering rare pitcher plants in a bog, or looking out over the green river valley at one of our bald outlooks.