ECO
Embracing Outdoor Learning All Year
By Amy Butler The COVID-19 pandemic has presented numerous challenges for teachers, students, schools, and families. One response has been increased interest in outdoor learning as a safer alternative to traditional classrooms. Over the past year Inside-Outside: Nature-Based Educators has produced three position statements aimed at helping schools embrace outdoor learning year round. These statements…
Read MoreMoving class outside: Decades-long movement gets boost from pandemic
By Laura Nikolaides (reposted from https://lauraniko.medium.com) “Maria Libby had always wanted to make outdoor education a fundamental part of the school district she runs near Camden, Maine. Libby, a former Outward Bound instructor, had a bounty of outdoor resources in her district, a river, a lake, an ocean, and mountains. Taking advantage of the natural…
Read MoreTeaching and Learning through Winter and COVID-19
Outdoor Learning in Cold Weather: a position statement for educators in a pandemic By Amy Butler, NBNC Director of Education, in collaboration with Inside-Outside: Nature-Based Educators of New England Since schools reopened for in-person teaching and learning, those communities where teachers and students have been outdoors in nature as much as possible have reported excellent…
Read MoreA Porcupine in the Classroom
By Zac Cota, NBNC Teacher-Naturalist The first and second graders at Moretown Elementary know they share their forest with many other animals. Chickadees sing while searching for food in the treetops. Worms and slugs live under moist logs. The antics of Red Squirrels provide daily entertainment. One special visitor, however, left only a trace…
Read MoreA Spotlight on ECO (Educating Children Outdoors) with Amy Butler
By Natural Start Alliance “Educating Children Outdoors (ECO) is a nature immersion program developed by the North Branch Nature Center located in Montpelier, Vermont. ECO was founded in 2009 by two teachers within the Montpelier City School District for Kindergarten and 1st grade students. With a passion for learning and exploring the nature of Vermont,…
Read MoreCreating Community by Learning With Nature
By Amy Butler * This post was written on October 28 for the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) Blog On a cold and blustery October morning in northern Vermont, 15 public preschool children tumble about their indoor classroom space getting ready for a morning in the forest. Winter coats, neck warmers, snow pants, mittens…
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