Just for Educators
We’re here to help support your teaching goals! Gathered here are resources and recorded trainings, free for you to use and share.
To request specific resources or training related to nature education, email Director of Education and Community Science Sarah Gladu. CEU credits may be available on request.
Tips and Tools
Tips for teaching outdoors
Teaching outdoors takes practice, commitment and a degree of flexibility on the part of teachers and students. But the potential payoffs are big. In terms of boosting motivation, learning to face challenges, and offering authentic, hands-on opportunities, outdoor learning can re-ignite curiosity and spark wonder.
Community Science Projects
There are many local, national, and international programs where you can collect data, submit it, and learn from the collected information. These can be done as an individual, but are often most interesting when done as a group or partner activity when participants can compare their data.
Schoolyard nature fun facts
Did you know that spiders have blue blood? Or that there are more than 12,000 species of ants? Impress your students with some nature trivia on common local flora and fauna: trees, worms, ants, grass, moss, and more.
Letter writing campaign
This resource is includes all you need to help students write a letter about an environmental issue they care about. Includes a link to get contact information for your elected officials and an outline for writing a persuasive argument.
Financial assistance for outdoor gear
It's important for kids to have the right gear for the conditions when you are teaching outside. Karl’s Kids is a program of the Rotary Club of Damariscotta-Newcastle that helps families, teachers, and coaches with the cost of sports and other outdoor equipment for students.
Recorded Trainings
Taking your class outdoors – hints and hazards
Make your outdoor classes even MORE successful and learn new ways to extend and expand outdoor learning for your students. Bonus: learn some walking games you can use to enhance your class’ travel to and through the outdoors.
Who are the Wabanaki?
On-site at the Whaleback Shell Midden, Sarah reviews basic history and discuss food through the seasons, shelter design, and canoe travel. She shares resources, art projects, math games and games you can play with students, all from Wabanaki culture.
Birds of Midcoast Maine
Fostering a love of birds can open up a world of nature to a child. Learn how to teach basic bird identification. We also share several activities that will help students understand their behaviors and adaptations.
Mammals of Maine
Learn about the mammals of our region, with a focus on tracks and signs. This program integrates mammal adaptations for survival and identifying how animals interact with their habitat – both biotic and abiotic factors.
