When you visit the Rochester Museum & Science Center’s Cumming Nature Center (CNC) Saturday, July 23, you will enjoy a hike led by students in Keuka College’s D.R.I.V.E. (diversity, responsibility, inclusion, vision and experiential learning) program.
Called Hiking for Inclusion, the hike runs from 10 a.m.-noon, and is approximately 1.5 miles. Along the route 14 narratives, created by students in the College’s D.R.I.V.E. program, will be displayed. The narratives include photos of the students as well as a short bio and personal story that the students have written. The stories reflect the benefits of inclusion within special education, while curating an experience of thoughtful awareness for participants.
“They were asked to write about something that was important to them,” says Christopher Rodriguez, special education teacher at Penn Yan Academy for the D.R.I.V.E. program, who helped coordinate Hiking for Inclusion. “There will be some D.R.I.V.E. students in attendance at various parts of the hike, and they will interact with hikers and answer questions.”
According to Christopher, Dick Shaver, chair of special education with the Penn Yan School District, is a volunteer at CNC, and thought the D.R.I.V.E. student could try a Field Period™ at the nature center.
“We wanted people to see the amazing things our students can accomplish, and what great things can occur when people work together toward a mutual goal,” says Christopher. “We have every intention of continuing the collaboration every year.”
Christopher adds that he “hopes people have a nice hike on a beautiful day, while witnessing and acknowledging that D.R.I.V.E. students have amazing abilities, and can accomplish so much if given an opportunity.”
Jointly administered by Penn Yan Central School District, Arc of Yates, and Keuka College, D.R.I.V.E. offers students with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to attend school in an age appropriate setting. All D.R.I.V.E. students are fully integrated into the campus of Keuka College. Students attend at least one college class each semester. In addition students receive instruction in academic skills, and a variety of life skills topics.
The CNC is a 900-acre preserve and environmental education facility celebrating the unique landscape and culture of the Finger Lakes region through hands-on learning opportunities and thoughtful exhibits. It features more than six miles of trails complete with wetlands, climbing forest roads, and hiking through the past. And you can investigate the curious intricacies of nature with its educational programs, which range from wildflower walks over gentle terrain to immersive, inquiry-based environmental science education.
The cost is $7 per person for pre-registration, and $10 per person at the door, or $20 pre-registration per family and $25 per family at the door. The cost includes the hike, a t-shirt, and access to CNC for the day. Proceeds will benefit CNC’s efforts to enhance inclusive programming. To register for Hiking for Inclusion, visit rmsc.org.
Click for more on Keuka College’s D.R.I.V.E. program.
