Monticello Nature Based Education

08/24/2026

Something exciting is cooking at Bertram!

Our students are getting a brand new mud kitchen, handmade with lots of love and built especially for little hands and BIG imaginations! 🥣🪵

Soon this space will be filled with mud pies, leaf soup, rock cupcakes, stick stew, and whatever else our little chefs can dream up.

At Monticello Nature Based Education, some of the best learning happens when kids are given the freedom to create, explore, get messy, problem solve, and PLAY.

We can’t wait to see this mud kitchen finished… and, even more, to see what our students create with it! 🌱

Monticello Public Schools - ISD 882

08/21/2026

The summer days are winding down,
And fall is coming back around.
The woods are waiting, paths are clear—
Nature Based school is almost here!

The shed stands ready, big and red,
For busy hands and curious heads.
There’s dirt to dig and trails to roam,
Where trees and critters make their home.

The stump seats wait beneath the sky,
For stories, questions, 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘺.
The outdoor classroom’s ready too—
There’s so much exploring left to do!

We’ll learn by climbing, building, seeing,
Wondering, searching and simply being.
With muddy shoes and leaves in our hair,
The best kind of learning happens out there.

Around the fire we’ll laugh and share,
Make new memories everywhere.
Through sunny days and chilly weather,
We’ll learn, explore and grow together.

So grab your backpack, lace your shoes,
There are trails to wander and things to choose.
A brand-new adventure is ready to start…

Welcome back to Nature Based at Bertram—
where learning is wild at heart! 🌿🦋🐛🍎

Monticello Public Schools - ISD 882

07/29/2026

Nature Based Education offers countless proven benefits for children of all ages. The impact goes far beyond academics—research continues to show significant physical, mental, emotional, and social health benefits from learning in and connecting with nature. We’re incredibly grateful for the support of our community and the many families who believe in this program.

We’re also excited to support Laura as she runs for the Monticello School Board. As a fellow Nature-Based parent and longtime advocate for outdoor learning, she has seen these benefits firsthand and has been a passionate voice for Nature-Based learning. Take a moment to read her story below, and be sure to follow Laura Pelant for Monticello School Board - ISD 882.

Some of the best learning happens outside the four walls of a classroom. Research shows that nature based learning offers real, measurable benefits for students of all ages, including:

•Improved focus, memory, and cognitive development
•Stronger social skills and collaborative problem solving
•Better mental health and emotional wellbeing
•Academic gains across subjects like science, math, language arts and more
•Increased resilience, curiosity, and confidence
•A deeper connection to the environment and the world around them

Research even shows that nature based learning is an equalizer, with some of the strongest benefits showing up for kids from diverse and lower income backgrounds. When I say that I want all kids to feel welcome in Monticello schools, this is one way to achieve that goal.

Anecdotally, we saw all of this firsthand with our daughter. One of my favorite memories was ice fishing with her class out on Bertram Lake this past winter. My husband and I, along with other parent volunteers, stood out there getting pelted by snow and wind…and the Nature Based kindergartners were having an absolute blast. They were talking about fish species, building snow sculptures, and skating around in their boots, completely unbothered by the weather. They headed back inside to cover the assigned curriculum after, but it was clear that they were learning about science, nature, and how to be resilient out there on the ice.

This year the Nature Based program was scaled back to pre-k and kindergarten only, and I think we can do better. The interest from families is there, the research backs it up, and I believe we can expand it back through all elementary grades. Yes, there are real challenges around staffing literacy specialists at an offsite program, but that’s exactly where creative fundraising comes in.

Grants from organizations like the Jeffers Foundation and parent driven initiatives can help make this happen. The parent community around this program is one of the most motivated I’ve ever seen, and I want to help channel that energy into something lasting. My background in nonprofit fundraising and project management will come in handy when it comes to spearheading fundraising initiatives for these critical programs.

This is why I’m running. Programs like Nature Based are special, and they deserve to grow.

Sources: Children & Nature Network, Edutopia, National Institutes of Health

07/23/2026

At Monticello Nature Based Education, we are incredibly grateful for parents who not only believe in our program but are willing to step up and serve our entire school community.

Laura Pelant has been a passionate advocate for Nature Based Education, our students, and the dedicated teachers who make learning come alive every day. She leads with kindness, listens with intention, and is deeply committed to ensuring every student has the opportunity to thrive.

School board members help shape the future of our district, and we’re excited to see someone with Laura’s heart for education, respect for educators, and dedication to students seeking to serve in that role.

We wish Laura the very best in her campaign for the Monticello School Board and thank her for her continued commitment to our schools, our teachers, and our community.

Hi Monticello! I’m Laura Pelant and I’m officially running for School Board!

I’m a Monti mom with two young kids in this district, a Nature Based parent, former nonprofit event planner and fundraiser, and current account manager - and I am so excited to bring all of that to the table for our kids and our community.

Over the next few posts I’ll be breaking down the issues I’m most passionate about and why I’m running. But the short version is that I want every kid in this district to succeed, our teachers to feel supported, and amazing programs like Nature Based to have room to grow.

Stay tuned! In the meantime, drop your questions below! I’d love to hear what matters most to you.

PS - here’s a photo of me and my daughter on her first day of Nature Based kindergarten. The nerves she felt that day was nothing compared to the joy she experienced throughout the school year. Just today, she asked if she could go to school at Bertram forever 🥰

06/08/2026

School may be out for the summer, but we still have so many memories to share from this year’s Nature Based adventures! ☀️🌿

Each morning, the Nature Based students start their day at Eastview for breakfast and Specials (STEAM, Music, or Gym) before hopping on the bus to Bertram for a day of outdoor learning and exploration.

That also means they’re still part of all the fun school traditions and activities — from music programs and STEAM Night to Track & Field Day!

05/30/2026

Happy Birthday to our incredible Nature Based Kindergarten teacher, Ms. Amber! 🌿💚

From muddy puddle jumps and creek explorations to sledding hills, sand pit adventures, baby chicks, ice fishing, and spotting Barry the Barred Owl in the trees… you make childhood magical. Your energy, patience, creativity, and love for the outdoors create memories our kiddos will carry forever.

You have a special way of making every child feel seen, celebrated, capable, and excited to learn. Whether it’s dancing out the wiggles, hiking through the woods, splashing in Bertram Lake, or simply laying in the beautiful grass to appreciate nature, you remind all of us to slow down and see the wonder in the world around us.

Thank you for pouring your heart into your “little cubs” each and every day. We are endlessly grateful for the joy, confidence, curiosity, and kindness you help grow in our children.

Wishing you the happiest birthday filled with sunshine, laughter, adventure, and all the things that make your heart happy! 🌲☀️🦉

05/28/2026

Creek days are some of our FAVORITE days! 🌿💧

Our Nature Based kindergarteners teamed up with our amazing 4th grade learning buddies for a hands-on freshwater creek investigation adventure! From searching for tiny creek critters to exploring water flow, habitats, and ecosystems, these young scientists turned curiosity into discovery. 🐟🪱🔍

Outdoor learning creates opportunities for teamwork, critical thinking, and real-world science experiences that simply can’t be replicated inside four walls. Watching students explore, ask questions, and learn through nature is what Nature Based education is all about.

Who knew a creek could teach so much?

05/23/2026

“This grass is BEAUTIFUL!” - Student 🌿✨

And just like that, learning paused for a moment of wonder.

“It sure is! Let’s pause and lay down in it,” Ms. Amber replied.

Sometimes the best classroom moments are the simplest ones — slowing down, soaking in nature, and seeing the world through a child’s eyes.

05/22/2026

Work hard, play hard 🌿✨

Our Nature Based kiddos had a big week filled with assessments, and they absolutely crushed it! We’re so proud of their hard work, focus, and growth… and of course, they made plenty of time for outdoor adventures and fun along the way. 🍃

05/22/2026

Great information on why nature based learning is so important! 🌱