Workshops and Webinars

The Alabama Wildlife Federation provides a variety of workshops and webinars to help schools with the development, use and sustainability of their outdoor classrooms.  We provide these educational opportunities for educators, administrators, school volunteers, Extension Agents, Master Gardeners, and Master Naturalists.

Click on the links below to learn more about these opportunities:
Workshops   |   Webinars   |  OC Expo  |    OC School Professional Development   

 

Upcoming Workshops


2024 Outdoor Classroom Workshop Series:
AWF is TEAMS Approved!

How to Increase the Use and Sustainability of Your Outdoor Classroom

Tuesday February 20, 2024 - Jemison, AL - Petals From the Past
Wednesday February 21, 2024 - Flomaton, AL - Turtle Point Science Center
Thursday February 22, 2024 - Cullman, AL - North AL Agriplex

Please join us at one of our upcoming workshops: How to Increase the Use & Sustainability of Your Outdoor Classroom!  These workshops are designed to help you increase your teachers use of the outdoor classroom as an effective educational tool and to help your school easily maintain your outdoor classroom site for years to come!  

These 1-day regional workshops will cover:
  • An introduction to the OC Program
  • Tips on how to design an outdoor classroom that is simple, smart, and sustainable (educational signage, garden layouts, native plants, and more...)
  • How to create an OC Annual Maintenance Plan (checklists, maintenance packets, OC Records Hub, and more...)
  • How to use the OC as an educational tool (OC Field Investigation Actvities, Student Exploration Links, eNewsletters, and more...)





The registration fee for our workshop is $10 per person, which includes handouts, materials, snacks, drinks & lunch.  You can use a Purchase Order # or credit card to pay the registration fee. 
 
 

2024 Outdoor Classroom Expo



When: Wednesday, July 17, 9 am - Thursday, July 18, 1 pm
Where: The Natureplex at the Alabama Nature Center in Millbrook, AL
Teachers can earn up to 10 CEU credits.

Join us for two days filled with fun activities that you can do with your students in your outdoor classroom!   

Example Topics:
  • Dissect a Plant
  • Build a Bird Nesting Box
  • Minimize OC Maintenance 
  • DIY Weather Instruments 
  • Backyard Habitat Basics
Stay Tuned!
More Details and Registration Info to be announced soon!  


 
































 








Other Upcoming Workshops and Webinars: 
 
January 14-15, 2024 Growing Your Classroom Garden
February 15-17, 2024 Environmental Education Association of Alabama 
February 20, 2024 OC Sustainability Workshop - Jemison, AL - Petals From the Past
February 21, 2024 OC Sustainability Workshop - Flomaton, AL - Turtle Point Science Center 
February 22, 2024 OC Sustainability Workshop - Cullman, AL - North AL Agriplex
July 17-18, 2024 OC Expo









Sign up for our eNewsletter to receive updates about future workshops, webinars, grant opportunities, and activities that can benefit your outdoor classroom.   Be sure to unclick “General eNewsletter” and click on “Outdoor Classroom eNewsletter” instead. 
 
 
                         
Outdoor Classroom Professional Development
Professional Development (PD) is required for all schools who apply for certification through the Alabama Outdoor Classroom Program to ensure that all of your teachers feel comfortable using the outdoor classroom as an educational tool.  For a full list of the Requirements and Benefits of certification through the AOC Program, CLICK HERE.
 
Focus of PD
The focus of this professional development is to provide fun, multi-disciplinary, hands-on activities that your teachers can conduct with your students in conjunction with your outdoor learning stations and schoolyard wildlife habitat.  We also review the free resources available for your school as you work to sustain your outdoor classroom from year to year.

Participation Requirements
  • Faculty Participation - At least 50% of your teachers, including at least one teacher from each grade and ALL science teachers, must participate.
  • Training Video - Your teachers will watch a 30-minute video (at a time that best fits in their schedules) and then fill out a quick 5-minute survey about the resources discussed during the video.
  • OC Activity Assessment - All of the trained teachers must then conduct one of our AWF OC Field Investigation Activities using the online interactive lesson plans and then submit feedback about the activity through a quick online survey to help ensure that the teachers feel comfortable using at least one activity in the outdoor classroom with their students.

 
Questions? Contact AWF's Outdoor Classroom Consultants: 
April Waltz at aprilwaltz@alabamawildlife.org in north Alabama,
Avy Elmore at aelmore@alabamawildlife.org in north Alabama,
Allison Mathis at amathis@alabamawildlife.org in central Alabama,
Tyler Burgener at tburgener@alabamawildlife.org in south Alabama. 
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