October 17 – Take it Outside! (Panel Discussion)

Outdoor education has a lot of benefits, but it can be hard to know where to start. Learn from a panel of experienced teachers who have embraced outdoor learning. You’ll have the chance to hear about their experiences and share your own. You’ll discover tips, tricks, and tools that make taking it outside more practical, effective, and fun. 

In this webinar, you will:

  • Discover strategies for engaging all students in outdoor learning.
  • Learn how experienced K-12 teachers foster a safe and effective outdoor learning environment.
  • Have a chance to ask teachers your questions 
  • Get advice about supporting outdoor learning on your schoolyard or within your program.

Meet our panelists!

Marisa Saelzler is a life long learner! One of her many interests includes exploring the intersection of literacy, technology, coding and nature. You will find her joyfully learning alongside students at Albert Chapman Elementary School (Dublin City Schools, Ohio, USA). She loves to go on family adventures with her husband, Mark and their two daughters, Maizy and Marcella!

Phil Kahler has a passion for the outdoors and actively engages his students at Opportunity Program (Walla Walla, WA) in all things birds. With over 30 years as an educator, Phil is an integral part of the K-12 Education Advisory board. Phil is also a co-founder of the Amazon Binocular Project, a project that recycles binoculars to students in the Amazon.

Sarah Swanson-Hysell grew up in Pennsylvania until she left to attend Carleton College in Minnesota. There she majored in American Studies and studied Spanish. After college, she taught middle school English in both general and special education settings. Sarah moved with her family to the Bay Area and has since taught 3rd-6th grades in Oakland and Berkeley. She’s done a project based learning unit on birds with 3rd graders for the last 5 years.

Erin has taught 6-12 grade science for the past 19 years in public schools in upstate NY, and recently transitioned into solely teaching 10-12 grade science at South Jefferson CSD and Environmental Science classes at Jefferson Community College. It doesn’t matter what grade level she teaches, she always finds a way to bring the outdoors into her lessons and to encourage her students to find their true passions in life. Her mission over the past 4 years has been to end “bird blindness” and to help her students recognize the importance of protecting the Earth. Every unit she teaches has some type of connection to conserving and preserving other species and she lives by the motto “Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt” ~John Muir

View the archived webinar on our YouTube channel.