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What is UrbanWatch Atlanta (UWA)?

Ecological Restoration

UrbanWatch Curriculum now available.

UrbanWatch Atlanta helps connect your students with the environment through this unique hands-on outreach program led by Fernbank educators. UWA trains teachers and students to investigate and improve local green spaces, such as schoolyards and neighborhood parks. Participants learn to identify native and invasive plant species and discover why native biodiversity is key to a healthy ecosystem.

  • UWA is a hands-on, inquiry-based program that fulfills a variety of Georgia Performance Standards.
  • Expert Museum educators will visit your classroom to help you get started.
  • Participation in UrbanWatch Atlanta can be extended to include in-depth research projects, school yard improvement and other environmental learning activities.
  • UrbanWatch Atlanta outreach programs fee waived for Title I schools.

UrbanWatch Ecological Restoration
This extension of UrbanWatch Atlanta is a service learning restoration program at Fernbank Museum that serves metro Atlanta middle and high school students and allows them to learn about local urban ecology while actively restoring disturbed habitat. There is a fee for restoration field trips (fee waived for Title I schools).

This program includes:

  • An interpretive hike in Fernbank Forest
  • Plant and animal ID with students in a natural setting
  • Active, hands-on removal of numerous invasive plant species
  • Replanting of a variety of plant species native to the Piedmont region of Georgia
  • Pre and post-trip activities for participating classes

UrbanWatch Curriculum
I’m a Survivor Activity
Bead of a Different Color Activity

For more information, or to get started with UrbanWatch Atlanta Outreach or Ecological Restoration, please contact us:

UrbanWatch Atlanta
Fernbank Museum of Natural History
404.929.6396
urbanwatch@fernbankmuseum.org

The UrbanWatch program was developed through a partnership between the Field Museum and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Illinois Natural History Survey, with partial support of EDS. Now through a partnership between the Field Museum and Fernbank Museum of Natural History, UrbanWatch has been modified to support conservation efforts in Atlanta, Georgia.