By Miriam Westervelt, PhD

This March Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy trained 52 Loudoun County Public School (LCPS) teachers in how nature observation can be integrated into curriculum using the Peterson Young Naturalist Program. Loudoun Wildlife is a partner with LCPS in bringing these workshops to K-12 teachers on teacher professional development day.

Photo by Miriam Westervelt

Each year the program has a different focus. Last year the workshop concentrated on how nature-based learning benefits children’s physical and mental well-being. This year the focus was how it can improve academic success.

Students using the nature journaling skills taught in the workshop can earn awards that will be presented at the annual meeting on June 2.  Their teachers are also equipped with “Peterson Packs” full of outdoor classroom equipment.  Parents and educators interested in using the Peterson program lessons taught at the workshop can find them on the Lesson Plan Examples page.

The workshops are inspired by the life of Roger Tory Peterson (1908-1996) the world-renowned naturalist and author of the Peterson Field Guide to the Birds. Peterson credited his direction in life to a teacher who nurtured his interest in drawing birds.

For more information about the Peterson program  contact  Norina.Treanor@lcps.org or Miriam Westervelt at Peterson.naturalists@gmail.com.

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