KSB’s “Discover the Wonder” is a 2-hour educational field trip experience designed for students in grades 5 through 7. The program combines a classroom presentation with self-guided exploration of four distinct areas of KSB’s EcoHub Educational Garden.

The inaugural session, hosted in partnership with Camp Verde Middle School, demonstrated the program’s immediate impact. 40 students arrived with varying levels of familiarity with their natural surroundings and left with expanded knowledge, enthusiasm, and, in many cases, a sense of wonder about their home landscape that they had never before articulated.

Using field guides designed by Diane Kristoff, students investigated native plants and their uses by Indigenous peoples, identified local pollinators and their role in the ecosystem, examined the region’s unique geology, and learned principles of xeriscaping and responsible land stewardship. The classroom component introduced students to Leave No Trace principles and the geological and natural history of the Sedona region.

Following the field trip, students were asked to share the most interesting thing they learned. Their responses speak powerfully to the program’s reach and the breadth of topics it brings to life:

  • “That environmental sustainability means using nature responsibly.” — Joshua
  • “I liked learning about xeriscaping.” — Aveny
  • “About the 7 Leave No Trace rules.” — Brien
  • “Learning about the history of Sedona.” — Martika
  • “About all the different types of plants because that was so cool.” — Shelby
  • “I liked the dinosaurs, and how they roamed Arizona.” — Reagan
  • “All of the cool plants outside and the diversity.” — Sierra
  • “I liked learning about the Arizona barrel cactus and the Fendler’s hedgehog.” — Kiara
  • “Why the rocks are red.” — Jesus

We were thrilled by the enthusiastic response of both students and teachers, and look forward to holding additional sessions in the coming months.

If you would like to help out at these field trips as a docent for a small group of students exploring our educational garden, contact us at ksb@keepsedonabeautiful.org or leave a voice mail message at 928-282-4938.