The Local Investigations of Natural Science (LIONS)

In Spring 2006, the Missouri Botanical Garden received a National Science Foundation grant to fund the LIONS program. LIONS trained educators from the St. Louis region, through professional development about place-based education, to deliver after school and summer programming to students grades 5 through 8. Since its inception, the LIONS program has included evaluation of program implementation and outcomes. There were dramatic changes in the scope of the program, which expanded beyond the originally targeted University City school district by adding additional schools recruited by LIONS staff. This expansion occurred after the district did not recruit enough educators for the program. The three programs that were recruited by LIONS, in contrast to those recruited by the University City school district, were found to be exemplary in their level of involvement and quality of programs offered to participating students. Additional evaluation findings included: (1) LIONS educators implemented programs with varying levels of success and challenges; (2) Most LIONS programs were hands-on, but did not incorporate service-learning; (3) LIONS involvement impacted educator practice after school and in the classroom; (4) Involvement in LIONS positively influenced student learning; and (5) LIONS educators were well-supported by LIONS staff.

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