This past year, we’ve made some of our preserves available as “learning landscapes” through partnerships with schools. We recognize the benefits of place-based learning and are grateful to be able to bolster students’ educational experiences in the natural world.
In February of 2020, we entered into a Preserve Access and Use Agreement with Little House in the Forest School, an outdoor preschool, on San Juan Island. We were able to extend their learning landscape to designated areas of our Eureka Preserve(s), which are within toddler walking distance of the school’s home base!
Amy Plant, who runs the Little House in the Forest School, recently sent us these adorable photos of the students at the neighborhood preserves. She reports: “We are using either one of the Eureka Preserves about once a week and the children are loving these adventures. I am so grateful to the Preservation Trust!”
This past April, we completed a Preserve Access and Use Agreement with Shaw Island School to extend their learning landscape to nearby areas of the Marilyn and Fred Ellis Preserve. Ruthie Dougherty, our Ellis Preserve Curator, introduced Shaw School students to the cultural and natural history of the preserve earlier this month and they expressed their gratitude in creative ways!
We look forward to staying connected to these schools through SJPT-led nature walks and hands-on stewardship activities, and hope to provide more schools with access to natural outdoor classrooms for teachers and students to observe nature, practice science, journal, and explore.