Birds as a Window to Science: Observing, Understanding, and Teaching the Local Avian World
Birds offer rich opportunities for place-based science learning. In this session, teachers will build their skills in bird identification and learn about the species most commonly seen in Southwest Washington. Through exploration of migration patterns and environmental challenges, participants will gain insight into how bird studies can support NGSS-aligned instruction. The workshop includes ready-to-use classroom activities and strategies for engaging students in authentic observation and data collection outdoors.
Join local birding experts and environmental educators for this interactive session.
Register for TLO Session #1 HERE
All sessions are free to register
Up to 2 FREE STEM Clock Hours upon completion for this workshop
Each session includes presentations by topic matter experts, discussion, and 1/2 hour planning time for teachers (walk out with action items for your school)
Sign up for one session, or sign up for multiple sessions!
Taking Learning Outside 2025-26 Courses:
Discover how to turn your schoolyard into a dynamic space for curiosity, connection, and hands-on learning. Taking Learning Outside is a year-long professional learning series designed to help educators integrate outdoor experiences into everyday instruction. Each session explores practical ways to teach science, stewardship, and sustainability through topics such as birds, native plants, school gardens, and urban tree canopy.
Over the 2025-26 academic year, the Taking Learning Outside Series offers six sessions (both in-person and online) that cover a wide range of topics and grade levels. In-person sessions will happen at various locations across SW Washington.
1/21/26 - Session #2: Beyond the Classroom: Planning Outdoor Spaces that Support Learning (on-line). Register HERE
2/26/26 - Session #3: Planting with a Purpose: Native Species and Pollinator Connections (In-person, Good Year Farms - Camas, WA). Register HERE
3/10/26 - Session #4: Spring Into the School Garden: Planning, Planting & Growing Together (In-person, Hough Elementary, Vancouver, WA). Register HERE
4/22/26 - Session #5: Branching Out: Exploring Trees and Urban Ecosystems (In-person, Frontier Middle School, Vancouver, WA). Register HERE
5/21/26 - Session #6: Schoolyard Stewardship: Connecting Gardens, Students and Community (In-person, Northlake Elementary School, Longview, WA). Register HERE
The Taking Learning Outside Series is a partnership of the Lower Columbia Nature Network, Pacific Education Institute, Lower Columbia School Gardens, Master Gardener Program at Washington State University Extension, Washington Science Teachers Association, and ESD 112.