The Foundation for Geauga Parks raises funds to supply each graduate from the Geauga Park District's Nature Scopes program with a set of binoculars and field guides. 

Nature Scopes is the first binocular-focused nature education program of its kind in the country. It was established in response to research showing that close encounters with nature create a direct, personal involvement with the outdoors that cannot be matched by classroom discussion or photos in textbooks. This year-long program enhances school science instruction by providing hands-on lessons matched to the Ohio Content Standards for fifth-grade science education. 

Fifth-graders participate in a total of six interactive sessions involving outdoor exploration, concluding in May with a field day at a Geauga County park where students are awarded their own binoculars and field guides to keep with the hope that the tools will provide them with a lifetime of opportunities to observe and enjoy nature.

Several of our Conservation Scholarship recipients were Nature Scopes participants, many crediting the program with sparking their love of nature and desire to pursue nature-related careers post high school. Currently, 11 schools participate in Nature Scopes including all public schools and many private/parochial schools in Geauga County.