This week-long investigation of Vermont biodiversity is designed for 7-12^th grade teachers and educators looking to incorporate nature-based concepts and activities across their curricula. Each day is spent immersed in a different ecosystem, exploring the species, systems, and processes driving local ecology. We’ll practice field-based activities and classroom-based extensions aligned with Next Generation Science Standards and Proficiency-Based Learning frameworks.

A typical day may include a “BioBlitz” of a local forest, an online biodiversity mapping session, a conversation with state ecologists about conservation and climate change, and picking blueberries during a soggy walk through a beautiful bog.

By the end of the week, participants will be equipped with a range of resources, activities, and frameworks to understand and teach about Vermont biodiversity and its conservation. This course is about reconnecting with local ecology, re-imagining nature-based teaching and learning at the middle and high school level, and cultivating a community of educators passionate about exploring and understanding our wild world.