NOVA Outside

There are still a few slots left for this wonderful free training for Arlington teachers. Four hours of professional development, a copy of Nature Play at Home, and a delicious dinner all held in an innovative new outdoor play space! Follow the QR code or register at BlueSwallowFarmFoundation.org/workshops/TLOC/

NoVA Outside board member and Four Mile Run Conservatory Foundation president Kurt Moser will lead a trail walk at Four Mile Run Park in Alexandria, highlighting the features that make this park a biodiversity hotspot in our urban setting.

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nova-outside-walk-at-four-mile-run-park-tickets-1063339620429?aff=oddtdtcreator

Check out the cool work on place based education and outdoor learning Dr. Steph Dean (former NoVA Outside Board member) is doing at Clemson. Congratulations Dr. Dean!

Get outside and teach Clemson faculty use place-based education in teaching and bring best practices to districts and schools for the good of student learning.

If you’re interested in learning ways to easily incorporate engaging outdoor activities into your teaching curriculum, register for a FREE hands-on 2-hour workshop! Join us Monday, July 10 at 9-11am (for elementary school educators) or 3-5pm (for middle/high school educators) at Haycock Elementary School in Falls Church, VA to discover:

● Tips & tricks for managing students during outdoor activities
● Benefits of teaching outdoors
● Gardening with students
● Engaging activities that will work with your lessons on your school grounds

You’ll receive:
● Resources and sample outdoor learning activities that can be modified for different grade
levels and subjects
● Contact information for local organizations and professionals who can support your
outdoor teaching
● Professional Development Certificate of Participation

Register at this link: https://shorturl.at/hBPX2

Professional Development Coordinator

NoVA Outside, an alliance of environmental and outdoor educators, schools, businesses, nature centers, non-profits, “green” groups, and government agencies who strive to connect people of all ages to the natural environment is seeking a professional development coordinator who will be hired on a part-time contractual basis from February through July to develop and execute a series of approximately 2 to 3 workshops. This position is virtual and the majority of tasks can be done on a flexible schedule.

Responsibilities will include:
Development and coordination of a series of workshops in collaboration with Board committee for environmental and outdoor educators focusing on the creation and use of outdoor classroom spaces
Coordinating video production of workshops with a team
Making connections with speakers to feature during the workshop series.
Supporting marketing efforts for the workshop series.
Coordination with NoVA Outside board members.

To apply – send a resume and cover letter to [email protected] by January 30, 2023.

We will also continue to accept applications after the deadline if the position has not been filled

Celebrating transition, reflection, a new season, and light. Embrace the wonders of nature during this special time of year.

Cirrocumulus clouds are recognized by their collection of cloudlets, which are usually grouped together at high levels. Composed almost entirely from ice crystals, the little cloudlets are regularly spaced, often arranged as ripples in the sky, sometimes referred to as a “mackerel sky.”

Take time to pause your day and walk outside. You may be amazed at what you discover.

Exploring light and shadow. Don’t miss the wonders of nature. Get outdoors. Be present. Feel replenished.

California leads the way on schoolyard transformation with the launch of the California Schoolyard Forest System. Join the webinar to learn more about how we can all work to bring the mental and physical health, educational, and climate benefits of outdoor learning to schoolyards everywhere!

We invite you to join us on Tuesday, October 4th for a public webinar marking the launch of the California Schoolyard Forest System℠.

Event registration details for this free webinar can be found here: https://bit.ly/CASFS-Kickoff

Featuring speakers from the the initiative’s four founding partners — Green Schoolyards America, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), the California Department of Education (CDE), and Ten Strands — the webinar will discuss schoolyard forests as critical infrastructure that make schools more resilient to climate change; outline how the Schoolyard Forest System will center equity and advance California’s climate and education goals; present initial research findings and long term strategies to scale up the impact; and announce new public funding opportunities that will be available through CAL FIRE to create schoolyard forests. We hope to see you there!

For more information about the webinar, visit our blog: https://www.greenschoolyards.org/blog/2022/9/19/october-4-kickoff-webinar