Grants in Action

Teacher: Jennifer O’Leary & Lauraine Lindbloom

No Student Left Indoors
Award winning children’s author, photographer and citizen scientist, Jane Kirkland, treated Hatboro-Horsham 5th graders to a lively and inspiring presentation on October 7th at Simmons Elementary School, highlighting her unexpected career change from “computer geek” to wildlife defender and educator.

Captivated by the sighting of a bald eagle soaring above a Giant grocery store in Chester County, Kirkland made a life altering decision to dedicate her limitless energy and passion to inspiring children to notice that nature and wildlife surround them everyday, everywhere and that with just a few seconds of observation they, too, can observe it, learn from it and protect it. Kirkland’s motto, “Take a Minute to be in It” was clearly conveyed by her creative presentation and zany speaking style.

Author of the award-winning series, “Take A Walk®” books (www.takeawalk.com) and the educator’s guide, “No Student Left Indoors: Creating a Field Guide to Your Schoolyard,” Kirkland has appeared on Animal Planet, PBS, Comcast CN8 and Kids Corner Radio.

Blair Mill Elementary School Librarian Jennifer O’Leary, and teacher Carolyn Koch, recognized the perfect fit of Jane Kirkland’s message and decided to combine it with the goals of the school district by applying for a Hatboro-Horsham Educational Foundation grant titled, “Walk Through the Jarrett Nature Center with Jane Kirkland.”

Thanks to the collaboration of teachers, librarians and the HHEF grant, this year’s 5th grade students may have heightened observation skills and may more readily take notice of nature – a benefit which will be further developed during trips to the Jarrett Nature Center, Hatboro-Horsham’s outdoor classroom (www.hatboro-horsham.org; click on Jarrett Nature Center). While visiting the Jarrett Nature Center, Kirland noted that it is an amazing resource for the district and Horsham Township, one that helps create more meaningful experiences for students in writing skills and in science, technology and research.

In keeping with her determination to preserve nature and wildlife, Kirkland even tapped on the windows of the cars in the after-school pick-up line and asked parents to turn off their engines, telling them Simmons is a “No Idle Zone” and that idling is not good for the environment!

During a presentation by author and naturalist Jane Kirkland, at right, Hatboro-Horsham elementary school teachers demonstrate how they would react to witnessing a bald eagle in a supermarket parking lot. From left, are: Mike Dufner, Crooked Billet Elementary School; Lauraine Lindbloom, Eric Glemser and Sarah Becker, Hallowell Elementary School; and Jennifer O’Leary, Blair Mill Elementary School.

Visiting author and naturalist Jane Kirkland with Hallowell Elementary School fifth graders, from left, Edwina Maben, Zach Flaville, Lisa Kucielski, Calvin Simon.