Watkins Nature Center takes pride in the community and in providing support to local schools and centers wanting to become Green Schools and Green Centers. In all of our programs, we make participants aware of the support we provide for schools interested in become green schools and are constantly promoting the Green Schools programs in public outreaches.
EXAMPLES OF HOW WE ADHERE TO THOSE GOALS AT WATKINS NATURE CENTER
1.3 - Green Schools Promotion
Green School Promotion during Programs
We have Watkins Nature Center, representing the Maryland - National Capital Park and Planning Commission, is passionate about our promotion of the Green Schools Program. Every teacher that comes into the center is given a Green School Support Flyer to let them know that we can aid them in their Green School ambitions.
1.4 - Supporting Maryland Green Schools through School-Based Programming, Application Support,and Center Based Programs
1.4.3 - School-Based Programming and Public programming
Watkins Nature Center offers a wide variety of Environmental Education programs to schools and local community organizations. Below are some examples of our programs, photos from outreach programs at local schools, and opportunities offered here at the nature center. Each of our programs educate students about plant and animal conservation and teach them ways that they can lessen their environmental impact on the earth. All of our programming is now Next Generation Science Standard Aligned.
School and Center Programs
Student Volunteer Program
During the pandemic, we had to suspend our volunteer program. We decided to use that time to restructure it. Before, our volunteer program was focused almost solely on animal care. Now, our volunteers get so see all aspects of what it means to be a Park Naturalist, including being involved in environmental programming.
1.4.1 Outdoor EXPERIENCES and Invasive Weed Pull support for Green Schools
We have partnered with the William S. Schmidt Outdoor Education Center for their Sunfish in the Classroom Program. When they come out to us, they get to perform hands-on water quality testing and then engage in an invasive weed pull that the school may use toward their Green School Goals.
Curriculum Support
When schools book an educational program through us, we supply them with a lesson plan with Learning Objectives, Big Ideas/ Enduring Understandings (EU’S), Essential Questions, Content Outcomes Addressed, Common Misconceptions, Background Information, and Vocabulary. This allows teachers to discuss things with their students before and after the field trip and continue the lessons learned in the classroom.
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1.4.2 MD Green School Application Support Examples:
Below are example of correspondence from various green schools requesting support. All requests have been honored, and we are currently in the process of working with all potential and active green schools listed below.
Green School Support to Saint John the Evangelist School
Professional Development Support
Watkins Nature Center offers Professional Development support to school by offering to do teacher training at their facilities. We offer Project Wet, Wild, and Learning Tree on site for professional development days. At the Maryland Recreation and Park Association Conference in 2022, Park Naturalist Morning McGinnity taught the workshop Using Nature to Facilitate Wonder, aimed at other Park Professionals and Teachers to help them in using nature to engage their students.
Objective 1.5: Center-Wide Environmental Behavior Changes Examples:
Watkins Nature Center has implemented a number of changes in the last 4 years to become green. We have updated our outdoor pond, making it a more wildlife friendly habitat. We installed automatic sinks in the restrooms to reduce water waste. We have also installed a water bottle refill station, to reduce solid waste and reduce water waste. We have installed new pillar lights that are on a timer heading down to our amphitheater to reduce energy waste. Lastly, we have installed new energy efficient lights in our offices to reduce energy waste.