You are invited to join a 4-week, online course--Nature Education--starting July 11! And share with your friends, family, colleagues, and students -- anyone who is interested in teaching and learning in nature.
Cornell University
Nature Education
4-week Online course
July 11 – August 7, 2022
Nature experiences can be educational, joyful, and comforting, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and today’s rapidly urbanizing world. Nature education brings people closer to nature and thus contributes to human well-being, including physical and mental health. This course will introduce you to diverse nature education practices, including programs run by urban and wilderness nature centers, unstructured play time for children, adventure and outdoor education programs, educational experiences in national parks, forest schools, as well as citizen science and environmental stewardship programs that incorporate nature-based experiences.
Topics include personal and community benefits of nature education, cultural ecosystem services, traditional and novel approaches to nature experiences, and challenges and critiques of nature education. Based on research and practice examples, this course is designed to help educators, volunteers, community leaders, parents, grandparents and anyone else to gain professional credentials in nature education, and to incorporate nature in their educational programs and everyday life.
In this course, you will:
Apply research explaining how nature education contributes to human well-being, makes communities healthier, and encourages people to be better nature stewards.
Review and critique different types of nature education programs, explore their outcomes, and adapt their educational ideas for your own practices.
Exchange practical ideas for nature education with other course participants and instructors.
Create a plan for incorporating nature education activities in your organization, educational program, community, or family.
Participants who complete the course are awarded a Cornell University certificate (PDF).
Cost is $60 (strongly encouraged). Participants who cannot pay the full amount or who are not able to pay are accepted. The course fee enables the Civic Ecology Lab to pay instructors and continue to offer online courses.
Questions: Email us at CivicEcology@cornell.edu, Use “Nature Education” in the subject line.
Bethany Jorgensen, Yue Li, and Marianne Krasny
Civic Ecology Lab
Cornell University
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