Blackacre Overview

Since 1981 Jefferson County Public Schools has been responsible for developing and implementing all educational programs at Blackacre State Nature Preserve. In the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the preserve signed October 11, 1996 the Kentucky State Nature Preserve Commission, the Jefferson County Board of Education and the Blackacre Foundation Inc., agreed to continue the established relationship of the site. The JCPS Center for Environmental Education has the responsibility for coordinating the JCPS educational programs at Blackacre. The Center is part of the JCPS Gheens Academy, whose mission is focused on professional and curriculum development. The Blackacre educational programs are designed for the following audiences:

JCPS teachers/staff and students in staff development and field study programs.
The community at large through collaborative courses with the University of Louisville, JCPS Adult Education, and other community educational organizations.

In 2001-02, Senator Tim Shawnsey convened a community Blackacre task force. Carol Haddad and Dan McCubbin were representatives for JCPS. The task force applauded and encouraged Ms. Haddad to continue the JCPS programs on site.

Field Study Programs
The foundation of Blackacre’s educational approach is based on interdisciplinary work and making responsible decisions concerning our environment. Classes use the academic possibilities of the preserve differently. Some students will learn new concepts; some will reinforce or enhance existing knowledge; and some will incorporate learning into the larger world. In having educational experiences that are engaging, interesting, and connected to the students’ world, students will remember these experiences, which will form the basis of future learning.

The field study programs are individually planned with teachers to maximize connections to the daily curriculum. Teachers frequently use the programs as introductory foundation experiences or as hands-on reinforcements to current topics of study.

Applications for the field study programs are sent out annually (spring) to contact teachers in each school. Teachers bringing students to Blackacre must first attend a professional development on the preserve which also serves as planning for their students day. The JCPS programs are scheduled Monday through Thursday. The Blackacre Foundation, Inc. programs Fridays for non-JCPS groups. The Foundation also opens the preserve to the general public on Sundays from 1-5p.m. during the months of Sept., Oct., Nov., March, April and May.

A “ typical” field study is set up to last four and one-half hours for a group of approximately 45 students. The day starts in the nature center where students are introduced to the day through Blackacre staff led orientation. Students then breakdown into three prearranged groups of approximately 15 to participate in the pre-identified lessons which last for an hour. The Blackacre staff leads a minimum of one lesson with the participating teachers leading the other two. Students then rotate through the schedule with each group having the opportunity to experience each lesson. The end of the day concludes with a reflection wrap up.

Professional Development
Blackacre and the Center for Environmental Education serves as a center for professional development in support of district-wide, school based and individual teacher needs. Blackacre offers a yearlong strand–Using the Environment as an Integrating Context that examines the content areas and core content connections. In addition, individual schools use the preserve on gold days, pre-service through U of L, summer institutes and other district wide offerings.

Curriculum Development
The staff at Blackacre provides on going curriculum support and development that meets the needs for specific programs developed to meet individual teacher needs. All programs are developed to align with the core content. The central curriculum piece used with all teachers is Understanding Blackacre State Nature Preserve: A Knowledge-Work Field Guide. This book was developed as a teacher’s guide for planning engaging, authentic, standards-based work. It includes sections on Program Planning, Literacy: Reading and Writing at Blackacre, sections of sample lessons for exploring the homestead and natural areas. Lessons include applications to the classroom, school site and local community, student reproducible page for data collection, and thinking beyond open responses.

Additional curriculum includes The Blackacre Exploration and Discovery Guide an information and data-collection tool for intermediate and middle school students; Wild About Reading: An Annotated Bibliography of Environmental Literature K-12; The History of Blackacre and the Blackacre Journal: My Reflections.