Learning About Lenexa

Kids holding up I Like Lenexa signs

The Learning About Lenexa program is designed to teach students more about our city, including the buildings and infrastructure, city planning, mapping technology, stormwater management, and the Santa Fe Trail history. We offer this program to all third-grade students attending the nine elementary schools located within Lenexa. Our staff and Lenexa Historical Volunteers travel to each school several times throughout the school year giving presentations and demonstrations allowing students a hands-on learning experience. The program gives students an opportunity to see up close a police vehicle, public works equipment, and even a restored Conestoga wagon. Part of the program invites teachers, students, and parents to the civic campus to visit with Rec Center staff and to spend time with the Mayor, the Municipal Court judge, and City Hall staff. Students participate in a mock city council meeting and budget discussion. Learning About Lenexa not only teaches how our city works, but also how young people can be good citizens.To date, over 20,000 Lenexa students have participated in this program.

History

In 1995, several staff members approached the city administrator about the concept of creating an educational program for local schools. With his encouragement, city staff contacted the Shawnee Mission School District about developing a program for their elementary schools. From these discussions, a pilot "Learning About Lenexa" program was developed for the third grade classes at Mill Creek Elementary School. The pilot program was such a success that the District immediately requested the program expand to all six of their public elementary schools. The city also offered the program to the private Holy Trinity Catholic School and later to Olathe Public School's Manchester Park Elementary School (in 2005) and Canyon Creek Elementary (in 2019.)