Dec. 8, 2003— Blandy Experimental Farm, a research station for environmental sciences located near Winchester, will enhance its educational programs, thanks to a grant from the Institute for Museum and Library Services.

In the first part of the two-year project, Curry School of Education faculty and students will evaluate Blandy’s current programs and identify needed changes. A team of K-12 teachers also will be involved in the evaluation process to help ensure that school programs fit seamlessly with classroom teaching. The grant of $121,479 will enable Blandy to provide new programs and materials to schools. A new online registration form will be developed to make scheduling more efficient.

Blandy Experimental Farm, home to the State Arboretum of Virginia, hosts thousands of schoolchildren each year. A new grant will help the farm expand its programs and align them with the Virginia Standards of Learning.

Blandy, where the State Arboretum of Virginia is located, serves approximately 5,000 students in grades K-12 from public, private and home-schooled environments. The programs focus on the natural world and are designed to meet Virginia’s Standards of Learning.

The project will involve many members of the Blandy staff. Dr. T’ai Roulston, Associate Director, will manage the project, while Mary Olien, Assistant Curator for Education, will oversee the day-to-day direction. School Programs Presenter Judy Hoff will work closely with the evaluation team and be the key person making the changes to the school program. The grant funding has enabled Blandy to hire a part-time education staff member, Samantha Marshall, as Youth Programs Presenter with responsibility for developing the youth and family programs. Tim Farmer, Public Programs Coordinator, will coordinate installing the various Web-based components, online registration, a virtual tour for children and pre- and post-program materials for teachers.

The Institute for Museum and Library Services is a federally funded agency that serves the public by strengthening museums and libraries. The Learning Opportunities Grant program encourages museums, botanical gardens, arboreta, zoos and libraries to invest in their abilities to use their collections and services to strengthen learning in schools, in the home and in partnership with other community organizations. This year, the institute has supported activities that build public access, expand educational services and reach out to families and children.

The Institute for Museum and Library Services received 933 applications for the 2003 Learning Opportunities Grants and awarded grants to 163 museums of all types and sizes.