Center helps students Discover learning

The 40 fifth grade students from Lewis-Arriola Elementary School listen as Lauren Isbell discusses the fact that every rock has a story to tell. Isbell holds their attention with fascinating insights that harken back to the creation of the earth.
Despite the complicated and potentially boring subject, the students are spellbound. Even the most easily distracted fifth grader is focused on the lesson at hand.
By the end of the day, Isbell is exhausted after leading additional discussions ranging from the lessons that can be learned from animal scat to taking a look at the sun through solar telescopes.
The students are also exhausted after a full day of learning and fun.
It is all in a day’s work for the Canyon Country Discovery Center (CCDC), which has had more than 5,000 participants in its education programs in 2018, including programs at the CCDC campus in Monticello, on fieldtrips, and at the schools. 
In total, the CCDC presented 50 school-based education programs in 2018. Student groups came from 31 separate public schools, including 15 from Utah schools and 16 from schools in surrounding states. The school-based education programs were presented to 2,465 students.
An additional 35 programs were offered to summer groups, at general education programs hosted at the CCDC, and at area events. The summer groups include Upward Bound groups, Scout and church groups, and programs at local libraries.
Area events include the USU Steam Expo and Cultural Fairs, Dolores River Festival, Moab Science Festival, and Pioneer Day. In total, 5,050 participants joined CCDC education programs through November 13, 2018. 
Every public and charter school that participated in the CCDC Education programs has Title I status, with 75 percent of students coming from low income households. 
Feedback from the programs is positive. One teacher wrote, “I was very impressed with the general science knowledge of our instructor. Her lessons were engaging and age appropriate.”
Another added, “Lauren is a treasure and sets the bar high delivering exceptional education programs for the Discovery Center!”
“Thank you for all you have done and all your work in helping us,” writes a third teacher. “The students loved it and that is the reason we do what we do. I am very grateful for all your hard work and efforts to make this successful for us.”
 The education programs range from a morning or afternoon of instruction and fun in a school setting to multi-day adventures in the Canyon Country. The Edith Bowen Laboratory School, a charter school operated by Utah State University, sent two groups of students on a San Juan River trip.
The goal is to encourage experiential learning. Eric Newell, director of experiential learning at the school, said, “It’s not some abstract concept in a textbook. All of a sudden, it is real.”
The lessons learned from the trip was the focus of a recent KSL-TV news story. It can be found at http://ksltv.com/401901/logan-charter-school-takes-students-on-experient...
The CCDC program is a result of a partnership with a host of local schools, with generous funding from foundations and donors, and with the assistance of local, state, and federal agencies.
Grants for the programs were secured from a variety of sources, including the George S and Dolores Dore Eccles Foundation, the Stranahan Foundation, the Sorenson Legacy Foundation, the Janet Q. Lawson Foundation, My Good Fund, the Utah Humanities Council, and sPower, Inc. Agency partners include the Bureau of Land Management.
The Canyon Country Discover Center promotes lifelong learning experiences on the Colorado Plateau through adventure, education and stewardship. Located in Monticello, UT, the CCDC generates more than 70 jobs. The organization will mark its 35th anniversary in 2019 with a variety of events, opportunities and service projects. If you would like to participate or support their many efforts, contact them at ccdiscovery.org.