It's the Ninth Year of Kids Discover the Trail!
Watch video of Ithaca student and IPEI leaders present to ICSD
Watch video of Ithaca student and IPEI leaders present to ICSD
Check out NEW narrated slideshow!
Although the program began in 2005 as a once-a-year field trip by Ithaca elementary classrooms to their assigned Discovery Trail (DT) sites, KDT! has grown into a creative and collaborative academic experience for teachers, students, and DT educators alike. In the seventh year of the program, approximately 2900 students or nearly 100% of the students participated. Participation has been growing each year as teachers hear about the program and sign up for it. Find out more about KDT's Program Goals and Grade to Discovery Trail partnerships.
Kids Discover the Trail! (Brochure in PDF format and Video)
Here’s How Kids Discover the Trail!
Elementary grades are linked with Discovery Trail organizations. Individual classrooms from different schools visit in pairs and share the day at the site. Most also have shared activities before and after the visits. Curriculum is aligned with current state standards.
Full Circle
A milestone called “Full Circle” is being celebrated in 2011-12. KDT!.has been running since 2005. Fifth graders have participated since entering ICSD (whether for Pre-K or Kindergarten) which means the full KDT! program has been experienced across all schools and at all Discovery Trail sites.
KDT! Books
Books are provided to all students at all grade levels each year to encourage literacy and complement the KDT! curriculum. Books also help connect families with KDT! program goals since they are given to students to take home.
Families Visit
Take-home materials including free admission passes encourage families to visit. This program seeks to increase use of all Discovery Trail sites by expanding public awareness of their resources.
Classrooms Connect
Each year pairs of classrooms from different Ithaca schools are linked, and most visit their Discovery Trail sites together. Fifth graders have two opportunities to share academic experiences with their peers as they prepare for the transition to middle school.
Buddy Up
Classroom pairs are encouraged to make additional plans together to give students more chances to develop relationships with their “buddies”. Some visit a Discovery Trail site, or each other’s school or school neighborhood, or another cultural or recreational location.
Thank You!
Community support makes Kids Discover the Trail! possible. Your charitable gift of any amount is welcomed and needed. Join the many generous donors who help our kids discover the trail!
Individual, Corporate and Foundation Donors
$500 and up
Adams Foundation
Alpha Delta Phi
Anonymous
Robert Abrams
BorgWarner Morse TEC
Brooks Family Foundation
Jim and Terry Byrnes
Cornell University
Jennifer Engel and Larry Young
Mary and Brad Grainger
David Lee and Marjory Rinaldo-Lee
John and Robin Moss Hinchcliff
M&T Bank
Deborah O'Connor and Peter Lepage
Park Foundation
Triad Foundation
3D Cinemation
Up to $500
Anonymous (6)
Bob and Laura Andolina
Dan and Dianne Bordoni
Margaret I. Gibson
Ed and Anne McLaughlin
Janie Nusser
Ithaca Council of PTAs
Margaret and Frank Robinson
Roger and Carole Sibley
Roy and Fran Dexheimer
Sally and David Grubb
Elizabeth Anderson
Kevin and Vicki Brew
Vally Kovary, IPA
Judith Maxwell
Frank and Susan Piliero
Nancy Pringle and Noreen Ruff
Sloan Sheridan-Thomas
Arthur and Charlotte Shull
Janet Steiner and Edward Kokkelenberg
Charles and Nancy Trautmann
Millicent and Willoughby Clarke-Maynard
Joan M. Barnes
Deborah and James Casey
Donna Fleming and Rick Kaufman
David Feldshuh and Martha Frommelt
Denise Gomber
Joe Greenberg and Family
Robin and John Moss Hinchcliff
Mark and Peggy Jasinski
Christine and Mike Kimball
Beth Kunz and David Flaten
Daniel and Jean McPheeters
Frances and Scott Miller
Tiffany Phillips
Carol Hockett and Susan Zehnder
Joel and Cathy Zumoff
Michael Melamed
Susan Blumenthal and David Kreinick
Karen Powers and Jim Dennis
Denise Agati
Josh Bornstein
Matt and Melina Carnicelli
Ithaca Teachers Association
Marc and Phyllis Kaplan
Holly Kazarinoff
Shelia McEnery and Family
Catherine Savage and Bill Nunness
Margaret and Rich Steinacher
George and Carolyn Taber
Bill Van Slyke and Donna Levy
Joel and Cathy Zumoff
Mary Dooley
Daniel and Jean McPheeters
Esther Racoosin and Eric Alani
Christina C. Wu
Alma Mohike
Jarett Powers
Louise Yavelow
Laura Bronstein
Book Sponsors:
Ann Marie Bleach
Friends of Tompkins County Public Library
Friends and family of Dr. Judith Pastel and Kim Fontana made gifts in their honor
Gannett Foundation
Ian Alberta Fund, IPEI
Johnson Art Museum
Marcia Richards in memory of Elma "Dolly" Robinson
Service League
United Way of Tompkins County Youth & Philanthropy
Special Thanks to Past Program Sponsors (2005-2010):
Tompkins Trust Company
Legacy Foundation
BorgWarner Morse TEC
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