Helping Teachers to Use Their School's Backyard as an Outdoor Classroom: A Report on the Watershed Learning Center Program

Abstract

The Watershed Learning Center (WLC) was developed by the Brandywine Valley Association (BVA) to provide outdoor environmental lessons to schools on their own properties or on sites close by. Teachers are trained to take over the lessons by observing BVA instructors and attending workshops. The program was evaluated to discover how the WLC was introduced and expanded in the schools, the program's impact on students, and the effectiveness of the teacher training for program take-over and continuation. The accomplishments and challenges of the WLC program are described and insights provided that can serve as a model for replication.

Key Words:

• environmental teacher training
• outdoor environmental education

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Mary Horrocks Donohue

Jane L. Kenney is the evaluation consultant, Heidi Price Militana is the program coordinator, and Mary Horrocks Donohue is the marketing coordinator/production manager for the Watershed Learning Center program in West Chester, Pennsylvania.