Engaging the rock-skipping, frog-catching spirit that lives in each of us!
We connect with educators to explore the outdoors, foster inquiry, and engage learners through discovery. We are developing a robust network of educators across Wisconsin and beyond. Join our online community.
Our Strategy
Through FIELD Edventures, learning begins with investigations of the students’ place, grows into deeper understandings of the interconnectedness between human and natural systems, and evolves into actions of care and stewardship. Through these hands-on experiences in the real world, students gain the skills and knowledge necessary to effect change, along with the belief in their ability to do so, their sense of self-efficacy. FIELD Edventures facilitates positive change in our communities—both immediately and into the future. FIELD Edventures takes a three-pronged approach to transforming the educational experience of students. FIELD Edventures:
- works with classroom educators and educators in other settings to support place-based outdoor learning in early childhood, through the school years, and beyond.
- supports students with engaging, place-based content and opportunities to learn from peers, and
- partners with schools and the greater community to create the infrastructure for sustainable change.
Connecting with Educators
FIELD Edventures works with classroom educators and educators in other settings to improve student learning through integrating outdoor inquiry in early childhood, through the school years, and beyond.
Online Professional Learning Community
FIELD Edventures provides an online professional learning community where educators can connect with one another, share resources and ideas, and get feedback and advice.
It is refreshing to connect with all of these teachers who are thinking about the best way to make learning meaningful for kids. – Mary, 4th grade teacher
Institutes & Workshops
From single to multi-day offerings—in-person or virtual—FIELD Edventures workshops are designed to meet adult learners where they are by providing both entry points for educators to start using student-led, inquiry-based learning as well as opportunities for more experienced educators to improve their practice.
The camaraderie is awesome!…We love the support that comes with being a member of FIELD Edventures. – Amanda, high school advisor
Offerings are designed to respond to current needs of educators. For example, Campfire Chats were held from April - October 2020 to support educators who were suddenly thrust into the remote learning landscape. These free, weekly, online conversations provided space for classroom teachers and informal educators to network, collaborate, and learn about and share resources and strategies, specifically to support place-based learning in blended learning environments.
Partnering with Schools and Organizations
FIELD Edventures collaborates with schools to seek funding, transform instructional design, develop school and district-wide curriculum frameworks, embed environmental literacy across content areas and grade levels, and foster partnerships between schools and diverse community partners. This systems level approach results in long lasting impacts where place based outdoor education becomes integrated into the school culture.
Instructional Coaching
During instructional coaching cycles, teachers work in partnership with a FIELD Edventures coach over 6 to 36 weeks to increase their knowledge and ability to integrate place-based, outdoor inquiry experiences. The teacher and coach collaborate on designing outdoor inquiry experiences that meet existing goals for student learning, teaching the lesson, assessing student learning, and identifying next steps.
Customized Inservice
FIELD Edventures offers professional learning opportunities, content development, and other support for educators and school leadership. We take a customized approach to our professional services in order to help you reach your goals and vision for learning.
Technical Assistance
FIELD Edventures collaborates with schools to seek funding, transform instructional design, develop school and district-wide curriculum frameworks, and embed environmental literacy across content areas and grade levels. This systems level approach results in long-lasting impacts where environmental literacy becomes integrated into the school culture.
Supporting Youth & Families
FIELD Edventures programming and services for students enriches their education with high quality content and opportunities to connect with and share their learnings with peers.
EEK! Environmental Education for Kids (EEKwi.org)
EEK! Environmental Education for Kids provides high-quality, locally-relevant information about Wisconsin’s ecology and natural resources. Designed for upper-elementary and middle school students, EEK! has over 1,000 pages of student-friendly content, including 70 Spanish language resources. EEK! content may serve as a catalyst to connect, explore, and engage in learning outside as well as a resource to deepen that learning.
Story Edventures
Beginning in Fall 2020, Story Edventures connect students with authors who are otherwise inaccessible during the pandemic and uses books as springboards for outdoor exploration. Story Edventures builds upon the successful Lunch and Learn series piloted in May 2020 to inspire students and caregivers to learn outdoors. See Story Edventures recordings and activity ideas on the EEK Blog.
Youth Summit
FIELD Edventures encourages place-based, outdoor inquiry where students engage in projects that impact the health and sustainability of both natural and human communities. The Youth Summit provides a unique opportunity for youth in grades 6-12 from across Wisconsin to share projects with peers, participate in facilitated activities and discussions, and engage with diverse perspectives around sustainability.
I like getting to meet kids from other schools and hear how they’re implementing sustainability at their school. – Youth Summit participant
Contact us about any of our services.