Learning Landscapes
Connecting Kids to the Land
Learning Landscapes connects kids in our community with nature by conserving and restoring, where needed, land within a short walk of schools and by supporting teachers to use these living laboratories as part of their regular instruction. The program also includes a scholarship fund to promote environmental careers.
Why Outdoor Learning?
Outdoor learning has been shown to increase kids’ physical, mental and social health, as well as their overall academic performance. Importantly, it also increases their understanding of local natural and human communities, fostering a sense of place and an ethic of care. In this way, the Conservancy is excited to be a part of raising the next generation of active citizens who understand the importance of taking care of our shared landscape.
Creating Outdoor Classrooms
We are collaborating with teachers to implement their vision and create spaces that enhance outdoor experiences for kids. We currently have two outdoor learning sites, The Homestead and Fox-Shank Living Laboratory. Both sites have Learning Landscape lending libraries for teachers to use where their classes can borrow backpacks outfitted with nature exploring tools, muck boots, and rain ponchos.
Teacher Support
Learning Landscapes offers teachers professional development through a free outdoor learning retreat. The retreat is open to K – 12 educators in our service region. Participants can choose to become part of an outdoor learning cohort and receive ongoing support. If you are interested in learning more about joining an outdoor learning cohort please contact Laura Rodriguez at [email protected] or by calling (419) 833-1025.
The Homestead
The Homestead’s Bell Woods and Pat & Clint Mauk’s Prairie, are located adjacent to Eastwood Schools. Bell Woods provides 80 acres of remnant Great Black Swamp woods to explore. Mauk’s Prairie has 22 acres of restored native prairie with a storybook trail along its 1-mile walking path. The Homestead also has an ADA accessible outdoor learning pavilion with picnic tables.
Fox-Shank Living Laboratory
Fox-Shank Living Laboratory, adjacent to Otsego Schools, is an H2Ohio project that the Conservancy acquired and restored. Planned with input from teachers and students, Fox-Shank offers walking trails, a boulder amphitheater, a demonstration field for supervised agricultural experiences, safe student access to Tontogany Creek for water quality monitoring, a sustainable food forest, and restored wetlands.
Volunteers
Our vision is to create a network of support around the schools in our service region. Many of the teachers we are working with are looking for volunteers with a variety of skill sets: from an extra adult to keep students safe on outdoor excursions to passionate ecologists who can help guide lessons. If you are interested in volunteering with Learning Landscapes, please contact Laura Rodriguez at [email protected] or by calling (419) 833-1025.
Dr. Donald R. Knepper Memorial Scholarship
The Black Swamp Conservancy, in partnership with Sandusky County Community Foundation (SCCF), encourages high school seniors interested in an environmental career to apply for the Dr. Donald R. Knepper Memorial Scholarship . This scholarship has been funded in perpetuity by an estate gift to the Conservancy by Dr. Knepper. Dr. Knepper was a well-loved veterinarian by the community that held a passion for conservation.
Accessibility to natural spaces by conserving and enhancing land adjacent to schools and support teachers to independently use these places...
And frequency of outdoor instruction among K-12 teachers will increase...
Allow for the creation of student learning experiences that positively impact attitudes and behavior in relation to their education, sense of place, environmental self-efficacy and environmental stewardship.
Questions?
Please contact Laura Rodriguez at [email protected] or by calling (419) 833-1025.
