“Dear Nature.” That’s how students are asked to begin their reflection piece, by writing a letter with nature as their audience. This terrific idea didn’t just sprout out of nowhere. It is among the many brainchildren of Sarah Woods and Bethany Thomas, co-founders of Ecology in Classrooms and Outdoors (ECO). ECO inspires students to care for nature and their local communities through hands-on science education.
In 2005, after getting to know each other while working in environmental education, Bethany and Sarah were hired as scientists-in-residence through a program for which parents fund-raised. (Think “Run for the Arts.’ but transplant science in there.) “I was hooked after I worked with students,” said Sarah, an environmental scientist. “This is the way to make the connection, protect it to begin with, it’s so much more hopeful.” Sarah and Bethany started in Canby in one school and by the third year their program was in six schools.
These two smart, creative women put their heads together and built a curriculum for elementary students that included filming and producing place-based videos. The science lessons are units that ECO educators deliver that integrate English, math, foundational science, social studies and art. ECO provides full support to the elementary school teachers—who aren’t always trained in teaching hands-on science— in the form of a teaching guide and materials, vocab cards, presentations, card games, board games and rock samples.
ECO was awarded $100,000 by ninety-nine girlfriends in 2019 to fund additional instructional units. From this award grew “Beavers as Engineers,” a film about wetlands for 5th graders; and an instructional unit for 4th graders about beaver adaptation that also includes a video. They expect to reach 6,000 students a year with these additional resources. “The Impact Award was a boost that we really needed at the time and we are so grateful for all the ways that ECO has evolved as a result of it,” Sarah said.
The pandemic of 2020 didn’t stop Sarah and Bethany. By April they were flexing to find the best way to help parents and teachers at home and to ensure there was equity in what they were producing. They developed stand-alone activities that could be modified for K-12 and created free learn-at-home lessons that could be shared with anyone.
Bethany and Sarah will continue working on an adaptable model—programming designed to teach wetlands conservancy and beaver programs, and providing resources for organizations that might not have educators on staff. They are big believers in collaboration and synergy as vehicles to leverage their model. ECO celebrated its 15-year anniversary last year so we’re pretty sure they’ve got staying power. Meantime, consider writing a letter to Nature—it’s a thought-provoking activity.
-- Tammy Wilhoite & Heidi Yorkshire
“Nature is my sanctuary and always has been. I want to share my joy with other people.”