NSEE receives grant to expand Teacher Field School

Natural Sciences and Environmental Education (NSEE), part of Hamline's School of Education and Leadership, received a $250,000 grant from a local foundation to expand the Teacher Field School program. The program serves early childhood through elementary educators by helping them use nature as a context for teaching across disciplines.

Created by Patty Born, program director for the Natural Sciences and Environmental Education, the Teacher Field School is an immersive, research-backed professional development experience designed to support educators in cultivating nature-based approaches to teaching and learning.

“This support will enable us to serve more teachers and create innovative new opportunities for school leaders who are committed to using nature as a way to support  children’s learning and development, social emotional  skills and well-being.” Born said.

Some of those opportunities, according to Born, include deepening a partnership with a nature-based elementary school to increase opportunities for Hamline students, developing environmental education projects and programs at a conservation preserve, and hosting regular teacher meetups to support and increase nature based education efforts across Minnesota.

The Teacher Field School is open to K-12 teachers and specialists across Minnesota. This year, participants include teachers, administrators, paraprofessionals and special education staff from 10 different schools. The program offers a one-week summer session in August and a year-round cohort beginning in fall.