The grounds are still. The turtles and fish are no longer patiently waiting for a treat from the little ones who are hoping to catch a glimpse of them from the pier.
The trails are tranquil and showing signs that they have been undisturbed for a while.
The resident animals are growing skittish without human interaction.
There are no teachers here to educate and amuse nor excited declarations by the staff that “the busses are here!” There are no backpacks and lunches littering the pavilions. The classrooms are empty.
Such is life at Mobile County Public School’s Environmental Studies Center (ESC) during this time of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The ESC closed to the public in March 2020, and no students will be allowed at the ESC for the foreseeable future. This has left the ESC, as well as other educational and eco-tourism programs, in a very precarious position.
COVID-19 raises many new questions
How do we stay relevant in this time of closure?
How do we run an educational facility with no one present to educate?
How do we enrich virtual lessons without adding any burdens to the classroom teachers?
How do we provide virtual content in a way that will still encourage students and the public to come back to visit in person?
Perhaps the biggest question is what’s next?
Teachers move forward with new technology
The ESC is very grateful to have received additional funding to create our own video studio. Our teachers are hard at work researching current themes in environmental education as well as standards we can leverage to assist classroom teachers. We have also been allocated new technology that will allow us to interact with the classroom teachers virtually.
We are working hard to provide quality content to post on our social media and website. We aim to enhance and enrich the required lessons for the teachers as well as be informative to the public. Our goal is to continue to be relevant until the time comes when we can open the doors and welcome children back.
You can visit, but building is closed
Although the grounds are open, the building is not, which limits access to restroom facilities and water fountains; therefore, guests should plan their visits accordingly. Social distancing and masks are currently required. We encourage the public to visit our 350 acres and enjoy the opportunity to connect with family, rest and be present. There is plenty of space to social distance. Plenty of space to lose yourself and forget your troubles. There is a $3 admission fee.
The virtual classroom cannot replace the traditional classroom. By its very nature, it is not real. That is not to say the learning cannot be real.
There is no substitute for being able to use all five senses in learning. There is no substitute for learning the secrets of the forest in the forest.
We look forward to the day when the halls and grounds are once again alive with the voices of students. They are genuinely missed.
Meet the author
Tracy Jay, Ed.D.
Director, Environmental Studies Center
Tracy Jay is a member of the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium's Engagement and Education Team. She is the director of the Mobile County Public School System's Environmental Studies... Read more
Phone: 251-221-5000
Email: [email protected]