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• nurtures respect for and understanding of the natural world
• promotes literacy in all its forms
• trains teachers how to integrate the arts into core curriculum subjects
• gives youth a forum for expressing their creativity and concerns
• helps children develop a sense of belonging to a particular place
• builds community partnerships
• leverages existing resources in support of education
• facilitates interdisciplinary teaching methods
• distributes, publishes and displays children's art & poetry
• publishes an Educator's Guide and curriculum support materials
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