PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A nationally-renowned Chester County botanical garden, often praised for its size and beauty, recently won an educational award for bringing 1,100 acres into classrooms near and far.
Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square have long been known as a place where people could physically go and interact with nature, with countless floral and tree gardens.
But the organization’s virtual field trip programs recently won Longwood Gardens their fifth Pinnacle Award in seven years for helping bring nature to K-12 students around the world.
“The Pinnacle Award is given through the Center for Interactive Learning (and Collaboration). That Pinnacle Award is awarded to different cultural institutions based on how your programs are rated by people taking them,” said Longwood Gardens Director of School and Youth Programs Heather Drzal.
She said they used Zoom to reach classes long before it was widely adapted, and the shift to virtual learning during the pandemic was a natural fit, helping them reach a bigger audience.
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“We use different photographs and video footage we’ve taken here at the gardens,” said Drzal.
“Our virtual field trip educators stand in front of a green screen. So just like [a TV meteorologist does when] doing the weather, we're able to project those images and videos behind them and point out different parts along the way.”
She said that the program brings that Longwood piece alive within students’ classrooms.
“You’re seeing an actual educator talking one-on-one from your classroom with that educator as well as getting to see bits of Longwood Gardens along the way,” said Drzal.
She adds those virtual field trips are free for any teacher, anywhere. Longwood hosted more than 500 programs last school year, serving more than 20,000 students.