Archive: Around Town

The Discovery Trail honored Charlie Trautmann with the Explorer Award March 18th during his retirement celebration as Executive Director of the Sciencenter. 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.

Trautmann, founding member of the Discovery Trail, was honored for his extraordinary leadership in education during his 18 years of service on the Discovery Trail board. Previous Discovery Trail Explorer Award recipients include: Terry Byrnes, Roy Park, Kim Fontana, Don Rakow, Jennifer Engle and Frank Robinson.

Originally known as the 'Partnership for Lifelong Learning', this unique collaborative of the Sciencenter, Museum of the Earth, Cayuga Nature Center, Johnson Art Museum, Cornell Botanic Gardens, History Center, Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology and the Tompkins County Public Library has attracted national attention as a model for something that not-for-profit organizations don't always do very well: collaborate. 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. Its collective vision is of a community where curiosity flourishes and every child, community member, and visitor enjoys opportunities to explore science, nature, and culture.

Trautmann's vision and commitment to education played a key role in developing the largest project of the Discovery Trail – Kids Discover the Trail! (KDT!). KDT! provides elementary students equal access to a sequence of exciting annual field studies at the eight Discovery Trail organizations. KDT! began in 2004 as a pilot program and another unique collaboration between Ithaca Public Education Initiative (IPEI), the Discovery Trail and the Ithaca City School District.

Now in its 13th year, KDT! has served 34,122 students and expanded to include every elementary student in the Ithaca City School District, Trumansburg Central School District and grades in Dryden Central School District, Groton Central School District, Lansing Central School District and Newfield Central 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. The Discovery Trail's goal is to extend this educational opportunity to all elementary students in Tompkins County.

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