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Frank Robinson and Jennifer EngelFrank Robinson and Jennifer Engel. Photo courtesy of the Sciencenter

The Discovery Trail honored Jennifer Engel and Frank Robinson Monday with the Explorer Award. The purpose of the Discovery Trail Explorer Award is to recognize individuals who have made a significant contribution to the Discovery Trail through their service, since 2007 four other awards have been given.

Jennifer Engel, founding member and former President and VP of Ithaca Public Education Initiative (IPEI), was honored for her outstanding leadership and commitment to education and the children in the Ithaca City School District through her efforts to pilot and grow the Kids Discover the Trail! Ithaca program. Frank Robinson, former Richard J. Schwartz Director of the Johnson Museum of Art, was honored for his extraordinary leadership in education during his 15 years of service on the Discovery Trail board.

Charlie Trautmann, Executive Director of the Sciencenter notes, "We are thrilled to be able to honor the long-time contributions of Jennifer and Frank to the Discovery Trail, its Kids Discover the Trail! program, and the tens of thousands of children who have benefited from their thoughtful efforts over the years."

The Discovery Trail is a partnership of educational organizations based in Tompkins County. The Discovery Trail members include: the Cayuga Nature Center, the Cornell Botanic Gardens, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art at Cornell, the History Center in Tompkins County, the Museum of the Earth at PRI, Sciencenter and the Tompkins County Public Library.

The Discovery Trail promotes awareness of participating organizations' programs and collections to the broader Ithaca community and across New York State to help foster understanding of the connections among art, history, literature, science, and the natural world. The Discovery Trail's collective vision is of a community where curiosity flourishes and every child, community member, and visitor enjoys opportunities to explore science, nature, and culture.

The keystone program of the Discovery Trail is Kids Discover the Trail! (KDT!). KDT! provides elementary students equal access to a sequence of exciting annual field trips at the various Discovery Trail sites. Every elementary student in the Ithaca City School District, Trumansburg Central School District and several grades in Groton City School District, Lansing City School District and Newfield City School District have the opportunity to participate. Collaboration between the eight Discovery Trail institutions, local foundations such as IPEI and TCSD, area school districts, PTA groups, and other local nonprofits makes it possible to deliver and fund these field trips. Now in its 13th year, KDT! has served 34,122 students. The Discovery Trail's goal is to extend this educational opportunity to all elementary students in Tompkins County.

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