November 2023 e-news | River City Wild Ones

Sally Triant of Grow Wise Learning asked Wild Ones River City to participate in an October webinar with Grand Rapids Public School (GRPS) teachers. Sally and Jessica Vander Ark, GRPS Science Curriculum Supervisor, have been meeting with teachers on a monthly basis for 4 years to provide professional development to encourage environmental learning opportunities. Seventeen teachers were on hand to listen to Amy Heilman (WORC Garden Co-Chair) and Linda Gary (WORC President) talk about the Wild Ones mission and ways that they can incorporate native plants into their curriculum and increase biodiversity in their school yards. The teachers were excited to learn about resources on the Wild Ones website, as well as, local native plant sales and also the Lorrie Otto Seeds for Education Grant program offered through national Wild Ones. Wild Ones River City donated Dr. Douglas Tallamy’s book Nature’s Best Hope (Young Readers’ Edition) to each of the teachers for use in their classrooms. It is a wonderful thing to be a part of inspiring the next generation to care for our earth and appreciate native plants!

Learn more about River City Wild Ones

October 12, 2023 | Grand Rapids Public Schools District News

Scholars in sixth, seventh and eighth grades at Burton Middle School will take to the great outdoors October 17-19, getting down-to-earth with environmental science and place-based learning.

The Burton Middle School Science team—in conjunction with Sally Triant, the district’s environmental education consultant, and Jessica Vander Ark, the district’s science curriculum supervisor—has been working to put together a day of outdoor fieldwork with an ultimate goal of improving learning outcomes for all of the scholars.

Stacey Post, a Burton Middle School science teacher, said the team will use the Plaster Creek Family Park and Burton’s own outdoor classroom space, called “The Nest,” to create an exciting learning day for scholars.

Cross-curricular connections with history, social studies and English/Language Arts will be included and scholars will spend time at five stations for each grade level.

October 2, 2013 | School news Network | Riley Kelley

[Nature journaling was] discussed during a pair of recent teacher training sessions — one at Shawmut, the other at Ken-O-Sha Elementary — aiming to boost teachers’ confidence in educating outside the classroom, while also helping the district make progress toward achieving a long-standing goal.

“GRPS has a mission and vision for environmental education for every scholar to have an environmental learning experience every year, every grade, pre-K through 12th,” Triant said.

May 24, 2023 | School News Network | Erin Albanese

Stephanie Nielsen explains of place-based education, “I was able to put a name to what I was already doing and also got inspiration and ideas (from community partners) to do more.”

The approach roots education in the community and involves real-world experiences through local resources and partnerships.

May 2, 2023 | Grand Rapids Public Schools

A trio of teachers came together as the Sugarbush Team to give their scholars lessons in maple syrup, including what is being billed as the first-ever district taste-testing challenge.

“This project to me epitomizes place-based education and the capacity we have as educators to teach children to have a deeper relationship with the places where they live and learn,” she said. “Our schoolyards serve as powerful tools for education, and this is a perfect example.”

April 22, 2022 | School News Network | Phil De Haan

Erin Fettig, the Groundswell Stewardship Initiative “Swell Teacher” was awarded for her work connecting students to place. She explains, “I wanted to bring more joy to my teaching and to my classroom - I love being outside and active, but I am not an expert on gardening or learning outdoors. Often that feels scary and disorganized. But it also feels empowering.”

January 20, 2022 | Trout Unlimited | Jamie Vaughan

“Environmental education does not require extensive field trips or even visits to nature centers. This misconception perpetuates because most teachers are not considering the schoolyard directly outside their classroom as an environment ripe with opportunity for education and community connection.” Utilizing schoolyards can also be equitable. Schools that don’t have the funding for high-quality field trips need only to look outside their school walls with fresh eyes to recognize the possibilities that may already exist.

October 19, 2020 | School News Network | Phil De Haan

When the project is complete, every GRPS campus will have a lengthy and detailed report, replete with photos, on what opportunities exist to take learning outdoors.

Triant commended GRPS for its forward-thinking approach to outdoor education. That includes looking at the entirety of the district and its campuses “through the lens of the land that they steward and the potential their property has to promote environmental stewardship in education.”

June 8, 2020 | Great Lakes Echo | Andrew Blok

Today, educators recognize the importance of environmental awareness. They see environmental education as a path to success for students and the start of long-term care for the earth.

Editor’s Note: This is the third part of a four-part series on Environmental Risk in Michigan: Past, Present and Future.

December 17, 2018 | MLIVE | Monica Scott

Grand Rapids Public Schools announced plans to pilot an initiative that will create outdoor education experiences for all students beginning the 2019-20 school year.

GREEN – Grand Rapids Environmental Education Network – is described as an innovative program that’s a collaborative partnership with multiple organizations committed to an environmental education.

Spring 2017 | Groundswell Spring Showcase

Groundswell Stewardship Initiative works with local schools and students, cultivating the next generation of environmental stewards. Learn about Groundswell students educating their communities on non- point source pollution.

See the start of the Nash Creek Project with “keystone teacher” Sue Blackall here.

May 15, 2008 | Rapid Growth | Amy Whitsall

Gardens meet a real need for beauty, hobby, and fresh food in cities. But growing food in the city takes more than soil, water and sunlight. Urban growers need the backing of their cities and communities to make agriculture flourish.