Government action won't keep kids indoors
Triplets, Adrianna, Gabriella and Brianna Traficante have been looking forward to their 5th grade trip to Dunes Learning Center for almost 2 years—ever since their brother Anthony visited with his 5th grade class. And no one at Dunes Learning Center wants to disappoint them.
Although Congress has shut down the National Park, Dunes Learning Center—an independent non-profit organization operating inside the park’s borders—has been working with trip organizers from John Simatovich Elementary to insure that kids get the outdoor experiences that they’ve been so excited about.
“I’m a home health nurse and so didn’t hear the news until my mother asked if the kids’ trip was going to be cancelled,” said mom, Laura. “Thank goodness I didn’t tell them that there was a chance of that. They would have been so disappointed!”
The current government shut down puts Dunes Learning Center’s dining hall and ten modern cabins off limits, but the education programs, which take place outdoors, will remain largely unchanged.
“Fortunately, the dunes don’t stop at the park border,” says Dunes Learning Center Director of Education, Erin Crofton. “Our education staff will be able to adapt the program and ensure that each of the approximately 140 kids who visit each week, leave with great memories of their time in the dunes.”
The triplets’ mom is grateful. “I wish we had opportunities like this when I was in school. The kids get away from their Xbox, iPad, cell phones and learn about nature. This is the experience of a lifetime for them.”
“We certainly hope that the shut down ends soon, but until then, we are absolutely committed to working with schools and local partners to find solutions that work for everyone,” says Dunes Learning Center Executive Director, Geof Benson—a man who practices what he preaches. “Problem solving is one of the skills that our program emphasizes. This is a great opportunity to put that skill to work.”