Do you have a school or community garden that you want to use to get students interested in writing and curious about the natural world? Learn about tools and techniques for how to use nature journaling to engage students in describing what they notice in the world around them.

As schools provide students with choice, support the development of critical thinking skills and promote project-based learning, incorporating a focus on sustainability is a natural progression of the learning process. In 2012, the US Department of Education (DoE) developed a federal outreach initiative entitled Green Ribbon Schools (GRS) that promotes sustainability, healthy living, and collaborative efforts. This research focuses on case studies of K-6 schools that have been awarded the Green Ribbon School designation and how these schools build a foundation for adopting and continuing sustainable principles. Nine thematic categories were found to be the driving factors that supported the GRS success in their sustainable policies. The themes from this research help to articulate the conditions needed to create and advance sustainability initiatives.

Experts predict a gap in STEM workers prepared to deal with complex environmental issues. It’s critical that informal learning centers increase capacity to work with schools. Riverbend’s Philadelphia Children Access Nature program is a catalyst for change, using a comprehensive supports and aquaponics in the classroom.

Experts predict a gap in STEM workers prepared to deal with complex environmental issues. It’s critical that informal learning centers increase capacity to work with schools. Riverbend’s Philadelphia Children Access Nature program is a catalyst for change, using a comprehensive supports and aquaponics in the classroom.

Connecting place, people and story, through the design of inclusive outdoor spaces for schools, communities, and parks. Designing with the 8 senses and the Autism Design Guidelines to allow for collaboration and connections with nature in an educationally intentional way. Discuss types of outdoor space that afford learning for all age groups, nimble spaces with inter-related programming. All of course from the perspective of a landscape architect.

Gardens have a growing importance in urban areas nowadays. They serve as spaces for recreation, education, and reconnection with nature. It is important to examine the educational and environmental roles of these spaces considering their colonial history and potential to serve as conducive spaces for inclusion and transpersonal more-than-human relationships.

No money? No time? No problem! Join a former AmeriCorps VISTA as she discusses developing a native pollinator and crop garden on a budget. This presentation will profile the garden at Sequoyah HS, a Title I vocational school in Tennessee.

Learn more about becoming a Certified Phenology Leader in your community! Join us for a discussion of the Nature’s Notebook Local Phenology Leader Certification Program, bringing educators together with new audiences, natural resource managers, practitioners, and other leaders across the US who are teaching about climate change through citizen science.