Do you recall spending hours engaged in discovery and adventure outdoors as a child? Studies show that children today spend just minutes a day in nature. But thanks to funding by BP, dozens of students from Chicago and Northwest Indiana will get a chance to live and learn in the dunes this year.
Dunes Learning Center programs get kids outside, where they can explore the relationship between people and their environment. The BP Foundation has generously supported these programs for many years. Their commitment has kept these experiences accessible and affordable.
"BP and our Whiting Refinery have been supporters of Dunes Learning Center since its inception. We are pleased to be able to provide support for environmental education to the students of Northwest Indiana and the Chicago area," said Thomas Keilman, Director of Government & Public Affairs for BP.
Over the years, the BP Foundation has provided tuition assistance for hundreds of students participating in Dunes Learning Center's Mighty Acorns Nature Camp and multi-day school year learning programs, connecting students in underserved communities with nature through hands-on learning and conservation stewardship projects.
"Studies show that time spent outdoors makes kids happier, healthier and better able to learn," says Geof Benson, Dunes Learning Center, Executive Director. "Parents, educators and kids are counting on us to provide exceptional learning experiences in nature. We absolutely could not do that without financial support from community partners like BP."