I am a hands-on learner. I learn through seeing and doing. One of the most rewarding aspects of my role is to see first-hand community best practices and innovation inside our area employers. Our team works diligently to understand thousands of programs, tools, and resources to share with our primary employers. We are constantly learning and growing throughout the process.
Recently, I had the privilege of getting a sneak peek at two extraordinary nonprofits: the Outdoor Discovery Center (ODC) Network and Renew Therapeutic Riding Center. Both are poised to make a lasting positive impact on our community.
Reimagine Education is a new program developed by the ODC Network in collaboration with local schools and employers. It expands ODC’s successful nature-based preschool model to K-12 students. During my visit, I witnessed a group of wide-eyed pre-kindergarteners netting and tagging birds, contributing to national migratory pattern tracking. This age-appropriate lesson had children using tools, taking measurements, and identifying different types of birds. I was amazed by the level of engagement and eagerness to learn displayed by these 5-year-olds. Their teachers shared the same excitement in implementing these lessons and watching their students grow and develop.
This program was initially funded by a group of committed philanthropists and business leaders. The response from school districts throughout the region exceeded ODC’s expectations for this pilot program. Teachers are provided with lesson plans, tools, and everything they need for instant hands-on sessions in any outdoor setting. This partnership will lead to tremendous strides forward in our students’ development for years to come.
During a Lakeshore Non-Profit Alliance gathering, I had the opportunity to visit Renew Therapeutic Riding Center, a nationally accredited equine therapy center that uses horses to help children and adults with speech impairments, disabilities, and post-traumatic stress disorder to develop and grow. Renew welcomes more than 150 students and adults on its campus every day. The director shared a remarkable story of a four-year-old who came to Renew for speech therapy and was told by his doctor that he would need therapy for many years. Within one year of horse riding, which stimulates neurological and sensory functions, the child no longer required therapy. His parents were ecstatic, but their son will miss his horse buddies.
Renew and the ODC Network are just two of the many treasures that make our region so extraordinary. The children and adults positively impacted by these exceptional nonprofits will have a better chance of gainful employment and improved quality of life. These support programs and so many others will help ensure that current and future generations want to live and work in our vibrant community.
Jennifer Owens is the president of Lakeshore Advantage, the leading economic development organization for West Michigan’s Ottawa and Allegan counties.