Awarded Outstanding EE Program in 2021 by AAEE & Educator of the Yr in 2022 by AZGFD.
"Teaching children about the natural world should be treated as one of the most important events in their lives."Thomas Berry
IMPORTANT INFORMATION - Arizona Programs Coming Again Soon
I have some exciting news to share. I am moving back to Arizona in early May and will be offering programs again. Please subscribe to the newsletter and if you are on Facebook join the group I created, Educating Children Outdoors - Arizona to keep everyone posted.
There are many reasons I'm moving back, but a large part is that I love the desert, I feel more connected to my children there, and their legacies are there. For those unaware on November 7, 2022 tragedy struck and my children, Gwyn and Rowyn, and I were in a car accident. Gwyn age 16 (daughter) and Rowyn age 15 (son) didn't survive. They were the reason I found my passion for environmental education and teaching children about the nature world, and it is in their memory that I will continue to serve families to ensure that no child is left indoors.
Gwyn and Rowyn's Cabinet of Curiosities a one-of-a -kind nature swap subscripion box in memory of Gwny and Rowyn has officially launched. Visit www.ecoecabinetofcuriosities.com to learn more.
Another big announcement is that I am going to be working towards opening a desert learning center in memory of Gwyn and Rowyn, because they are the reason I found my passion for environmental education. The center will be called the Wynsum Desert Learning Center. Wynsum is a word that means joyful or childlike and has the "wyn" that was in both of my children's names. You can learn more here www.wynsumdesertlearningcenter.org. Right now I am working on getting funding from grants, donors and investors so I can purchase land. In the meantime I will offer programs at local natural areas like I always have.
About Educating Children Outdoors
Welcome to Educating Children Outdoors (ECO)!
ECO began its mission to get more children outdoors to experience nature and learn about their natural world in 2017. The program began in Atlanta, Georgia and launched in Phoenix, Arizona in 2019, after the founder relocated due to health reasons. Since 2017, ECO programs have assisted over 400 children in connecting with the natural world. And ECO has offered over 3,000 hours of outdoor program options.
ECO is a 100% outdoor education, place-based program that is similar to the "forest school" programs prevalent across Europe, minus the forest. Instead we have a wondrous, beautiful, and biologically diverse desert to explore, so we now refer to our program model as a "desert school." We are one of the few 100% outdoor desert schools across the world. Our mission is to immerse children in connecting with the natural world. Through ECO, children learn about and explore nature through cross-curricular, hands-on, experiential activities, so that they will develop knowledge about, love for, and dedication to nature's wonders.
Our program has been very well received since launching in Phoenix. As a result, we expanded our programming so that we could assist even more children with getting outdoors to learn. We were offering 11 desert school programs in 5 cities until we had to stop our programs in 2022 after the accident. However, with our return we will not be able to offer programs in as many locations because Kathy is no longer driving and needs to rely on public transportation. Most of our programs will take place in the North Phoenix, Tempe, Scottsdale, Glendale areas. In addition to our semester/yearly-based desert school homeschool programs, we also offer weekend and evening programs for non-homeschool families, as well as private programs for groups (school, after-school, scouts, etc). We also offer a variety of drop-in class options for families who are unable to commit to our semester/yearly-based programs. These include wildlife wonders programs, nature journaling club, tree hugger club, survival skills/bushcraft classes, family hikes, mental health nature journal club, Cabinet of Curiosities Junior Naturalist club, youth bird outings. We will also be offering online programs. View our calendar below, and check back often because we are always adding programs.
For our semester/yearly-based desert school programs there are 4 options. Our Inchworms program is for toddlers and children in PreK-K, our Trailblazers program is for children in K/1st-3rd, our Explorers program is for children in 4th-7th, and our Teen Naturalist program (Conservation Biology) is for children in 8th-12th.
We do accept Arizona Empowerment Schoalarship Funds through Class Wallet.
If you would like to help us ensure that no child is left inside, please consider making a donation to our scholarship fund. This fund will help cover program costs for families that need financial assistance.
If you would like to learn more about our programs we invite you to join our next Info, Meet and Greet in June or view our Info, Meet and Greet video.
Media Coverage:
Cronkrite News Article: Heat deaths hit record in Maricopa County, but there are ways to stay safe
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AAEE 2021 Outstanding Environmental Education Award Recipient
AAEE 2021 Outstanding Environmental Education Award Recipient
AAEE 2021 Outstanding Environmental Education Award Recipient
We are honored to be awarded the 2021 Outstanding Environmental Education Program award!
AZGFD 2022 Educator of the Year Award Recipient
AAEE 2021 Outstanding Environmental Education Award Recipient
AAEE 2021 Outstanding Environmental Education Award Recipient
Kathy is honored to be awarded the 2022 Educator of the Year Award award!
NASA PLACES Case Writer
NASA PLACES Case Writer
NASA PLACES Case Writer
Kathy was selected to be a NASA PLACES Case Writer for 2022-2023.
ESA Vendor
NASA PLACES Case Writer
NASA PLACES Case Writer
We accept Arizona ESA scholarship funds through Class Wallet.
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ECO received 2 classroom water quality testing kits from EarthEcho International!
Have your organization highlighted here by becoming a sponsor. Learn more here.