October 4, 2019
Eagle Bend Golf Course and Learning Center turf maintenance team and Lawrence Parks and Recreation District 1 staff will host the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America’s First Green program for the Lawrence Virtual School next Friday, Oct. 11 at Eagle Bend Golf Course, 1250 East 902 Road.
The GCSAA’s First Green program is a science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education and environmental outreach learning program that employs golf courses as learning labs. Many times these outdoor classrooms represent the first exposure for students.
During the program, students will rotate between stations, which include stations that teach about components of soils and the ideal mixture that support growth of grass and plants, as well as teaching math through measurements and understanding square feet and acreage, as well as its application in calculating amounts of seed or topdressing sand needed for areas.
The First Green program was founded in 1997 as a grassroots organization of Pacific Northwest. In 2018, the GCSAA acquired the program to assist in its mission of pairing golf courses with local schools for STEM learning opportunities.
Lawrence Virtual School is an online public charter school serving students statewide kindergarten through 12 grade with Kansas-certified teacher support, curriculum and supplementary education programs. The school is based in Lawrence, Kan.
The GCSAA is the professional association for those who manage and maintain the golf course grounds. Founded in 1926, the GCSAA focuses on golf course management and has more than 18,000 members in more than 78 countries. The GCSAA is headquartered in Lawrence, Kan.
For more information, please contact Darin Pearson, park operation manager District 1 and Eagle Bend Golf Course, dpearson@lawrenceks.org, (785) 748-0511.