Naturalist Program

• To provide a rich and meaningful experience for youth that empowers them to become voices and stewards for the environment in their local communities
• To help students develop skills and interests to become lifelong learners and engaged citizens
• To connect youth to nature and develop critical thinking skills through hands-on experiences
• To inspire youth to pursue STEM career pathways
• Dovetail with MA Frameworks for life and earth sciences* such as HS-LS2-7. Analyze direct and indirect effects of human activities on biodiversity and ecosystem health, specifically habitat fragmentation, introduction of non-native or invasive species, overharvesting, pollution, and climate change.

Life Science

Standards focused on ecosystems: interactions, energy, and dynamics help students formulate an answer to the question, “How and why do organisms interact with their environment, and what are the effects of these interactions?” Students can use mathematical reasoning to demonstrate understanding of fundamental concepts of carrying capacity, factors affecting biodiversity and populations, and the cycling of matter and flow of energy among organisms in an ecosystem. These models support students’ conceptual understanding of systems and their ability to develop design solutions to reduce the impact of human activities on the environment and maintain biodiversity.

HS-LS2-1. Analyze data sets to support explanations that biotic and abiotic factors affect ecosystem carrying capacity.

HS-LS2-6. Analyze data to show ecosystems tend to maintain relatively consistent numbers and types of organisms even when small changes in conditions occur but that extreme fluctuations in conditions may result in a new ecosystem. Construct an argument supported by evidence that ecosystems with greater biodiversity tend to have greater resistance to change and resilience.

HS-LS2-7. Analyze direct and indirect effects of human activities on biodiversity and ecosystem health, specifically habitat fragmentation, introduction of non-native or invasive species, overharvesting, pollution, and climate change. Evaluate and refine a solution for reducing the impacts of human activities on biodiversity and ecosystem health.

Earth Science

HS-ESS3-2. Evaluate competing design solutions for minimizing impacts of developing and using energy and mineral resources, and conserving and recycling those resources, based on economic, social, and environmental cost-benefit ratios.

HS-ESS3-3. Illustrate relationships among management of natural resources, the sustainability of human populations, and biodiversity.

If you have any questions about any policies related to the Naturalist Program, please reach out to naturalistprogram@ecotarium.org.

Health Documentation

Naturalist Program participants' health & permission forms are digital. Once you are accepted into the program, our Naturalist Program Coordinator will submit your registration details to CampDoc. Watch your email, including spam/junk folders, after receiving your acceptance email for an online link to complete the required paperwork through CampDoc.

Required camp paperwork includes acknowledgment of our guidelines and required health forms, field trip permission forms, and any needed waivers. The caregiver's responsibility is to complete and return these forms before the first program session.

All information and documents will be submitted via our online health profile system CampDoc and contents will be kept confidential and shared only with the staff supervising the program and offsite field trips. 

COVID-19 Guidelines:

The Naturalist program is a commitment. For the safety of everyone involved, we're asking you to partner with us by ensuring you complete a health screening before attending each program session.

This screening will ask you to monitor for symptoms and report if any person in your immediate household has been exposed to COVID-19. Any youth who fails to meet screening requirements will be unable to attend the daily program session. Program staff will follow up with youths who report symptoms, a fever, and/or exposure. Youths and staff identified as possibly symptomatic of COVID-19 or any other contagious disease during the drop-off process will be asked to leave the grounds and return home immediately.

Symptom Monitoring: 

Staff will keep alert for any symptoms that may develop in themselves or their youths throughout the day. Anyone who begins displaying symptoms of a contagious illness or disease will be quarantined under the supervision of an EcoTarium staff member and sent home. The EcoTarium Naturalist Program reserves the right to restrict the enrollment and/or participation of any youth deemed to be a risk to the health and safety of themselves, staff, or other youths.

Transmission Prevention: 

The following health and safety regulations will be observed during the program. These include, but are not limited to, the following measures:

• Staff and youths must maintain three feet of distance between themselves and others indoors.

• Staff and youths must wear a face mask at all times, excluding the few circumstances where at least six feet of distance can be ensured for the duration of outdoor activity and while eating meals. Exceptions will be made for individuals with sensory, mental, emotional, or health issues that prohibit them from wearing a mask. Youths guardians must email naturalistprogram@ecotarium.org to discuss youth medical conditions with the Naturalist Coordinator.

• All staff and youths will be required to wash their hands according to best practices regularly throughout the day and to use hand sanitizer whenever washing with soap and water is not possible.

Mask Guidelines:

Staff and youths must wear a face mask at all times, excluding the few circumstances where at least six feet of distance can be ensured for the duration of outdoor activity and while eating meals. Masks should also be worn near any animal, indoors and outdoors, that is susceptible to COVID-19 (such as North American river otters, mountain lions, red fox, etc.).

The EcoTarium is setting this guideline based upon recommendations from CDC, state, and other trusted medical and scientific officials.

Vaccination Recommendation/Available Vaccine Information

We recommend that all eligible participants get vaccinated. The City of Worcester website has a page about vaccinations full of local resources. Free clinics are available to get vaccinated against and tested for COVID-19. There are also some cost-free options regarding transportation. Notably, vaccinations are available to every person medically eligible free of charge with no identification, insurance, or payment needed.