Professional Development

PROJECT NEST: Elementary teachers are participating in our pilot program, Project NEST (Nurturing Environmental Stewardship Together).  This program, funded by the US EPA and NOAA/B-WET, supports teachers as they take the first steps to “bring Boxerwood” back to their schools.  Training has been ongoing since fall, 2008. Teachers have developed strategies for successfully using inquiry-based learning in their own schoolyards, developed student service-learning projects to enhance their schoolyards, building on the inquiry model, and have better incorporated river-related investigations back into the classroom. The last workshop took place on March 5, 2010.

WATERSHED INVESTIGATORS: Boxerwood continues its three-year professional development initiative for middle school science teachers engaged in the Watershed Investigators program.  This program is funded by a grant held by Rockbridge County School from the Learn and Serve Foundation.  Opportunities for teachers have included workshops, classroom support, field studies, and one-on-one collaboration with Boxerwood staff.

CREATING HABITAT PLAY AREAS FOR YOUNG CHILDREN - presented by Carol A. Heiser Wildlife Habitat Education Coordinator for the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.  Participants produced a “toolkit” for developing and using a natural area at their own facility for play and outdoor learning.

PAM NEWITT of "Nature by the Yard" conducted a multi-day workshop for preschool teachers on nature observations, teaching strategies, and outdoor classrooms.