Posts Tagged ‘ECO’
A 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 MoreECO Homeschool Program
Knowing that more students will be learning from home this school year, we are glad to announce our new ECO Homeschool program. Each Monday, the woods and fields of North Branch Nature Center will be our classroom, where students will learn by doing, using all five senses to engage with the landscape through standards-based lessons led by ECO Teacher-Naturalist Dave Muska. Each session will consist of games, songs, stories, and activities that are designed to help students directly engage with the land and what lives on it.
Read MoreOutdoor Educators Share Tips for Learning in Nature
We invite you to check out this great article in KidsVT by Heather Fitzgerald, interviewing several outdoor education organizations, including NBNC, about new opportunities for learning in nature this fall, given the restrictions and realities around COVID-19 and the classroom. Enjoy! — “A few weeks ago, as I was listening to a podcast about going…
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 MoreLIVE Online (For Parents and Teachers): Songs, Rhymes, and Finger Plays for Young Children
Young children love to sing and they don’t mind what your adult voice sounds like! Experimenting and playing with musical notes and the spoken word can help young children develop language, practice fine motor skills and learn social skills! Join our NBNC education team for an hour of engaging and nature based songs, rhymes and finger plays celebrating all seasons and species. Let’s sing, laugh and be joyful!
Read MoreLIVE Online (For Parents and Teachers): Sense of Place through the Sense of Taste
As outdoor educators, we have long known the importance of engaging the senses of our students and the role that plays in building a sense of place. However, there is one sense that is often left out of the equation: taste. Every landscape has its own cast of characters that work together to form a unique identity. This includes a unique palate of flavors. Becoming aware of the edible landscape around us adds a whole new layer to how we can interact with and perceive our environment…
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