Stone Harbor, NJ – On September 17, The Wetlands Institute kicks off the 2020-2021 season of its Nature Education for Homeschool Students and Teachers (NEHST) program. For nearly two decades, The Wetlands Institute has provided homeschoolers with engaging learning experiences that immerse them in science and nature, and encourage exploration and discovery. Last year, the Institute restructured the NEHST program, expanding the curriculum into three semesters—Autumn, Winter, and Spring. Each semester includes three monthly lessons that build upon the semester’s theme, and each monthly lesson includes classroom instruction, outdoor activities, scientific experiments and exploration, and related at-home extension activities that are ideal for getting the whole family involved in a world of discovery.

“The NEHST program is a great resource for homeschool children and families, as well as those that find themselves in distance learning situations,” says Brooke Knapick, The Wetlands Institute’s Director of Educational Program Development. “We teach all ages together to emphasize multi-age learning and peer assistantship, and we use hands-on methods to reinforce students’ abilities in not only science, but also math, language arts, and social studies.”

In an effort to address the changing times, along with in-person lessons the Institute is offering NEHST Activity Packs. These packs contain everything students and their families need to explore each semester’s theme – including hands-on science activities and experiments, places to go and/or things to do, and access to a virtual Branching Activities Bitmoji Learning Space – and are perfect for those who prefer completely at-home learning, or wish to supplement their in-person or remote classroom experience.

“As the current health crisis affects the educational landscape,” says Knapick, “we continue to offer unique and enriching learning opportunities through a combination of traditional in-person and new distance learning programs. This is our next step in addressing the new education frontier,” she continues, “and we invite you to rediscover and engage in all we have to offer.”

NEHST lessons run on the third Thursday of every month, beginning with the Autumn Semester on September 17, 2020 and continuing until the end of the Spring Semester on May 21, 2021. NEHST Activity Packs are available for curbside pick-up at The Wetlands Institute or mail-order delivery to your door the Thursday following the second in-person lesson of each semester. Advanced registration is required. Please call (609) 368-1211 to register. More information is available at wetlandsinstitute.org/NEHST.