In the Fall of 2017, The Robert Crown Center for Health Education (RCC) will shift to 100% in-school delivery and discontinue the “field trip” model that was once part of the RCC tradition. This change comes as a result of customer feedback and the organization’s commitment to providing cost-effective, science-based health education to the greatest number of Chicagoland students each year.
RCC Chief Executive Officer R.J. McMahon said, “Over the decades, we have been honored to serve as a field trip destination for schools seeking health education for their students. In recent years, however, the landscape has shifted. Fewer and fewer schools are utilizing the field trip as a preferred mode to enhance their curriculum.”
A district administrator recently noted, “While the trip to Robert Crown has been a long standing tradition, many of our schools have already made the switch to an ‘in-school’ field trip due to lost instructional time and costs.”
RCC currently teaches three-quarters of its students in their own schools. Not only does the in-school delivery model eliminate bus fees and travel time to and from the Center, it optimizes instruction time.
There are additional benefits to the in-class presenter. Many studies show that guest presenters enhance classroom curriculum by introducing variety and expertise; that due to variations in teaching style, a guest presenter can reach students who would have been less responsive to the classroom teacher. Teachers have also reported that they often pick up new information from speakers, which inform future lesson plans and impact their teaching style. It’s possible for students to have all the innovation of a field trip in the comfort and convenience of their own classroom.
RCC Educator Lance Williams said, “We’re discussing topics, like sex and drugs, that may already have students on edge. Having RCC educators come into their schools make students a little more comfortable.”
School customer Judy Rambo, MSW, said, “We found that having the presentation in the students’ classroom provided an environment that appeared to allow the students to feel comfortable enough to ask questions and participate. Logistics and budget-wise, the classroom presentation was a life-saver – no bus expense – no transportation planning.”
Of the organizational updates, Brian Hammersely, Robert Crown Center Board Chair, said “This direction will help us to best serve our communities’ youth. We are excited to continue to partner with schools in providing cutting edge health education in its most convenient and efficient form.”
For further information about the Robert Crown Center for Health Education, please contact: Katherine Leibforth at 630-325-1900 x 212 or [email protected].
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