Sterling College is very pleased to announce the launch of Coyote Kids Vermont. Founded by Anna Crytzer (Program Supervisor), and with seed funding supplied through a Work Colleges Consortium grant, Coyote Kids Vermont will provide a nature based exploration program for area children ranging in age from 5 to 11.
Crytzer, a certified elementary public school teacher with 15 years of classroom experience, will serve as lead teacher and program supervisor. The instructors (recognized as Mentors) will consist of Sterling College students and will be employed through the Sterling College Work Program. One student will be hired as a Coordinator/Mentor and 3-4 students will be hired as Mentors.
Coyote Kids Vermont will actively engage young children in the natural world with a model of education based on the foundational work of Jon Young, Ellen Haas, and Evan McGown. Youth will actively engage with the natural world through activities such as tracking, firebuilding, and tree identification. Community and interpersonal skill development will be developed through games and songs.
Coyote Kids Vermont will also serve as a natural extension of the classroom providing hands-on applications for students studying natural history, education, and curriculum development—to name a few. Further supporting the development of Coyote Kids is a research component that will employ a Sterling College student to develop and conduct pre- and post-surveys to measure the program’s effectiveness and to provide useful data for future program development. We are very pleased to have the support of the Work Colleges Consortium for this exciting and innovative program. •
