Schools in Parks: Making STEAM Education Natural and Fun!

Dr. Diane's Adventures in Learning

This week, join me on a journey where the classroom canopy reaches the sky, and every leaf turns the page to a new lesson and experience. On this week's Adventures in Learning Podcast, we meet some of the creative minds behind North Carolina's successful Schools in Parks program. Join Randy Bechtel and Mary Meyer of North Carolina State Parks, and Sarah Yelton and Taylor Prichard from UNC Institute for the Environment, as we uncover the magic that happens when third through fifth graders swap their desks for dirt and textbooks for the textures of the great outdoors. Our guests bring to life strategies for building STEAM experiences — think water quality testing or wildlife tracking — that complement the curriculum while also fostering connections between children and the world around them.
Afraid of bringing the kids outside? Not sure where to begin? This episode is a treasure trove of strategies for transforming STEAM education into unforgettable outdoor experiences. Starting small can ignite a wildfire of curiosity — even a ten-minute jaunt outside the classroom can open new possibilities. Randy, Mary, Sarah, and Taylor share some of their favorite outdoor lessons and experiences, as well as strategies for engagement.
The Schools in Parks Collaborative page on the UNC Institute for the Environment website includes some great lessons and activities that can be taught in parks or on school grounds, as well as contact information for Taylor Prichard and Sarah Yelton. NC listeners can also find teacher application information for the 2024-25 cohort of the Schools in Parks Collaborative!

• Taylor Prichard [e-mail], Environmental Education Specialist
• Sarah Yelton, [e-mail], Environmental Education & Citizen Science Program Manager

Here is a link the NC State Parks Field Trip webpage, which includes a variety of resources for setting up a successful park field trip in NC. Even if you are joining us from another state, I highly encourage you to check out the resources as they may spark inspiration that can lead to your own memorable field trips wherever you live.

The full time NC State Park educators that are part of the Schools in Park program include:

• Sean Higgins [e-mail] - Interpretation and Education Manager
• Mary Meyer [e-mail] - SiP Program Manager
• Randy Bechtel [e-mail] - I&E Specialist
• Melissa Mitchell [e-mail] - SiP Outdoor Recreation Coordinator

By collaborating with informal educators like park rangers, and by integrating outdoor experiences with the curriculum, teachers can confidently guide students of all ages through nature's endless classroom. So lace up your boots, grab a notebook, and join us in inspiring an enduring love for nature that grows with every STEAM lesson learned in the great outdoors.

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1. Schools in Parks: Making STEAM Education Natural and Fun! (00:00:00)

2. Nature Education Partnership (00:00:01)

3. Schools and Parks Collaborative Program (00:12:57)

4. Connecting With Nature in Education (00:27:59)

5. Outdoor Environmental Education and Technology (00:34:27)

6. Engaging Teachers in Outdoor Education (00:52:20)