Professional Development
NatureConnect Central Oregon offers professional development for PreK-12 teachers and out-of-school program providers in Central Oregon. Our workshops provide curriculum and skills to help educators make outdoor learning a regular part of their classrooms and programs, benefiting youth across Central Oregon.
Upcoming Workshops
Embracing the Big and Discovering the Small: The Restorative Power of Nature Journaling
Nature journaling is a flexible and engaging practice that helps students develop NGSS-aligned science skills, nurture curiosity and wonder, and strengthen their relationships with the land and with each other. Join us for a workshop series to learn about this wonderful practice!
Discover the power of nature journaling as both a personal restorative practice and an engaging, cross-curricular classroom routine! In this hands-on workshop, you’ll explore diverse approaches to journaling that inspire curiosity, creativity, and deeper connections to the natural world. Walk away with curriculum guides from How to Teach Nature Journaling and Project WILD, plus practical strategies to seamlessly integrate journaling into your teaching. You’ll also get the chance to experiment with art supplies provided during the workshop and learn inspiring, customizable ways to create journals your students will love!
Details
This same workshop is being offered on 2 dates, in 2 locations. Please select one when registering.
Workshop 1:
Friday, April 4
9:00am-3:30pm
The Environmental Center
Workshop 2:
Friday, April 25
9:00am-3:30pm
Redmond – TBD
Free! Substitute costs covered. Register here.
Benefits for Educators
- Personal Wellness: Being allowed the time to attend this workshop provides educators with an opportunity to learn a routine wellness
practice steeped in mindfulness. - Professional Development: PDU’s are made available through Oregon Natural Resources Education Program and each session we will cover an aspect of Oregon Model Core Teaching Standards.
- Curriculum Guides: Each participant will receive a free copy of Project WILD and How to Teach Nature Journaling Guides
Benefits for Students
- Transformative Social and Emotional Learning: Self-Awareness, Identity, Self-Management, Agency, Responsible Decision-Making, and Curiosity
- NGSS Science and Engineering Practices: Asking questions, developing and using models, communicating information
- NGSS Crosscutting Concepts: Patterns, cause and effect, scale, proportion, and quantity
Workshop Facilitators:
Molly Alles: NatureHoods Coordinator, NatureConnect
Kirin Styrker: Oregon Natural Resources Education Program
