Inspiring Stories
#TeachOutdoorsMinnesota
Do you currently teach outdoors? Share your story and help us inspire others! TeachOutdoorsMinnesota@gmail.com
Explore this page to see examples of how teachers and schools in Minnesota are teaching outdoors, as well as how organizations and individuals are partnering to provide environmental education opportunities and support.
Rob Marohn teaches fifth grade science and language arts at Bay View Elementary School in Duluth, Minnesota. He is a 2008 National Project Learning Tree Outstanding Educator.
Stories from the Schoolyard: Making the Outdoors your Classroom
Highlands Elementary, Edina Public Schools
Educators: Leah Bulver (2nd-3rd grade) and Jen Heyer (3rd grade)
Featured School: Highlands Elementary
Primary Audience: PreK-12 Educators
These fabulous teachers have several years of experience teaching outdoors with students from different grade levels. They also have experience implementing “Wilderness Wednesdays” and TimberNook (several Highlands teachers went through TimberNook training this past summer). Bring your questions!
Follow on Twitter: @leah_bulver @heyerlearning
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HLHappenings
Leah Bulver
Jen Heyer
Eisenhower Elementary, Hopkins Public Schools
Featured School: Eisenhower Elementary
Educators: Abby Larson and Lisa Hake
Primary Audience: K-12 Educators
Follow on Twitter: @Hop_MrsHake @AbbyLarson270
Learning in the Park (article)
Hopkins school program allows kids to learn outdoors (Kare 11)
Prairie Science Class (4th & 5th Grade), Fergus Falls Public Schools
Featured School: Prairie Science Class: Partnership between Prairie Wetlands Learning Center & Fergus Falls Public Schools
Educators: Tia Thysell, Mona Davis, Molly Stoddard
Primary Audience: PreK-12 Educators
RESOURCES:
Better Together: Successful Partnerships to Support Outdoor Learning at Schools
Hopkins Public Schools (Eisenhower Elementary) and the City of Hopkins
Hopkins school program allows kids to learn outdoors (Kare 11)
Get outside and learn: Hopkins offers outdoor immersion program (SUN Sailor)
Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center and Head Start
Nature preschool pilot program starts with Eagle Bluff and Head Start
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services and Marshall County Central Schools
Marshall County Central Restored Prairie Site & Outdoor Classroom
(Facebook page: Follow along to see how they use this site with 7th-12th grade students)
Tamarack Nature Center and White Bear Lake Public Schools
Karner Blue Education Center and MN DNR
The Giving Trees: Children with special needs benefit from nature-based teaching tools, including a 5-acre school forest.
Whitewater State Park and Riverside Central Elementary School in Rochester
It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood! Connecting city kids to nature where they live
Twitter!
Use #TeachOutdoorsMinnesota to share how you are teaching outdoors (or supporting others to do so)
Blogs
Blogging is a great tool for sharing your work with others. If you have a blog to share, please let us know!