Exotic animals teach Hillside youth about diversity of life
Rochester, NY-March 18, 2010- Birds, reptiles, and mammals from all over the world are making a visit to Hillside Children’s Center in an effort to introduce youth to the diversity of life.
The all-volunteer Wildlife Educators Coalition (WEC) is donating their Diversity of Life Program in an effort to give back to the Rochester City School District and any non-profit organization that serves City school students.
According to WEC, which has over 100 exotic animal ambassadors participating in their programs, the presentations include an introduction to the individual animals, their personal history, an explanation of the life animals like them live in the wild, and their place in the world. In addition, information is presented about the animal’s native habitat and what can be done to help protect it. The programs fulfill several of the State’s standards for science education.
“We are donating these programs so that city students will not be excluded from this unique experience because of restricted budgets. We are a serious education group and want to do our part in enriching the community we live in,” said Matt Roy, WEC board member.
The effort will begin on Friday, March 19 with a series of three presentations to youth who attend the Andrews-Trahey residential campus school on Hillside Children’s Center’s Monroe Avenue campus. The first of the three programs planned that day for Hillside will begin at 9:05 a.m. in the school’s Kodak Auditorium.
“I feel that the opportunity to interact with the wildlife animals through WEC’s presentation does two things for our kids. First, it allows a heavily urban population to interact and see for this first time, in some cases, actual animals rather than just in pictures in some book. Secondly, it also brings their science curriculum to life. Given the varied learning styles of our students, this is very cool,” said Earl Farber, Andrews-Trahey school principal.
For more on the Wildlife Educators Coalition, please log on to http://www.nywec.org or call Karin Fires, WEC executive director at (585) 259-7112.
About Hillside Children’s Center
Hillside Children’s Center, an affiliate of Hillside Family of Agencies, is a provider of care for youth and families with a wide range of emotional, behavioral, or life-circumstance challenges. HCC offers mental health, child welfare, juvenile justice, special education, safety net, and developmental disabilities services to children and families throughout Central and Western New York. HCC services are customized based on the strengths and needs of individual youth, families, and communities.
Hillside Family of Agencies is a family and children services organization that provides child welfare, mental health, youth development, juvenile justice, special education, and developmental disabilities services across central and western New York. Hillside Family of Agencies is comprised of affiliates Crestwood Children's Center, Crestwood Children's Foundation, Hillside Children's Center, Hillside Children's Foundation, Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection, and Snell Farm Children's Center.
Contact: Todd Pipitone, APR
Marketing Coordinator
Phone: 585.256.7980
Email: tpipiton@hillside.com
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