Learning Under the Canopy: Ashland SWCD Invites Educators to Go WILD This June

Trade fluorescent lights for filtered sunlight and start your summer with a breath of fresh air—literally. The Ashland Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) is inviting educators to step outside the classroom and into the woods for their Learning Under the Canopy Conservation Chat.

This hands-on, educator workshop will take place June 8 from 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. at the Hazel Willis Woods. The event is free, but pre-registration is required by May 20 and space is limited. Reservations will be take on a first-come, first-serve basis. Participants can bring their own lunch or order a box lunch for $15.

“Learning Under the Canopy is all about reconnecting educators with the outdoors and giving them tools to spark curiosity in their students,” said Ashland SWCD Director Jane Houin. “Plus, it’s hard to beat a classroom with a canopy of leaves when it comes to providing inspiration for tired teachers at the end of the school year who are looking for fresh ideas to implement next year.”

This isn’t your typical educator workshop, though. It’s professional development with birdsongs, fresh air, and a healthy dose of inspiration.

Led by Emily Rugg of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the program will feature Project WILD and Aquatic WILD training, equipping participants with engaging, hands-on activities that bring wildlife and natural resource concepts to life for students of all ages.

Whether a seasoned educator or someone jjust looking to branch out (pun fully intended), this workshop is designed for K–12 formal and informal educators eager to incorporate the natural world into their teaching.

Participants will walk away with two curriculum and activity guides packed with ready-to-use lessons, a certificate of completion, wildlife resources and publications, eligibility to apply for the Division of Wildlife’s Education Grant, and fresh ideas that will have your students actually excited about learning

And because no great day in the woods should be spent hungry, registration includes bringing your own lunch, or optional box lunches are available for $15. Snacks provided for all (because trail mix is basically a teaching tool, right?)

Houin encourages both formal educators and informational educators to grab their boots, pack their curiosity, and get ready to go a little WILD this summer. Interested participants can call Holly Hale, natural resources assistant at Ashland SWCD, for more information and to reserve their spot at 419-281-7645.

Ashland Soil and Water Conservation District is committed to promoting responsible land stewardship through education, technical assistance, and community partnerships that protect and enhance our natural resources.