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Getting a kids perspective
My internship with PDXWildlife came about through unexpected introductions by Dee’s and Moxie-Jo’s teacher at Helen Gordon Child Development Center, so it’s fitting that this experience will involve assisting with the development of the PDXWildChild wildlife conservation education and outreach program. I’m looking forward to expanding my awareness of wildlife conservation, and sharing what I learn with kids and their parents. I don’t have experience teaching, so it will be particularly challenging to compile learning activities to suit all ages. I will be working primarily with Meghan Martin during the course of this 6 month internship.
Our first order of business was to see what is going on with environmental education in Oregon. In June, Meghan and I attended the 2013 Sustainable Schools – Sustainable Solutions Conference thanks to scholarships generously provided by the Gray Family Foundation. This conference was held at Trillium Creek Primary School in West Linn, Oregon. This is no ordinary school.
Cubicles with a view
It’s unlike any I’ve ever visited; and winner of the 2013 National School Board Association Grand Prize in Architectural Design. It has outdoor spaces full of trees and wildflowers for kids to explore. The library has plenty of reading cubbies to help create a relaxed atmosphere for individual learning, but also areas to accommodate small and large group learning experiences. The center of the library has an overlook from the second floor giving a view of books and fun décor.
Daydreaming
The slide (Meg and I both had to try it out – see my picture above and Meghan’s below) from the second floor sends the library over the top.
Better than an Elevator
There was an array of topics, but most focused on sustainable operation of learning environments. Plenty of great ideas and programs were presented; especially the school gardens. We even got a crash course on bonds and local option levies.
-Ed