Enroll Now and Reap the Benefits
By April Lupardus Waltz, AWF Conservation
Programs Specialist
As word spreads about the Alabama Outdoor Classroom
program, one of the first questions always asked is,
"How much does it cost to enroll in the program?"
There is a one-time $50 registration fee that must be
submitted with your application, but once your school
is enrolled in the program everything else is FREE.
So, the next question is, "What are the benefits
of participating in the program?"
Outdoor Classroom Planning Guides
Once your school is enrolled, you will receive six (6)
free Outdoor Classroom planning guides for your planning
committee. Each planning guide is a three-ring binder
filled with valuable information about how to get started,
create a master plan, write grants, and much more. In
addition, it includes great tips for outdoor classroom
projects such as building blue bird boxes, bog gardens,
and nature trails. |
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Technical Assistance
The most important benefit for your school is the free,
on-site, technical and organizational assistance for
your planning committee. This assistance is provided
by Alabama Wildlife Federation and Alabama Department
of Conservation and Natural Resources staff, Alabama
Outdoor Classroom partners including the Alabama Cooperative
Extension System, and 4-H Wildlife Steward volunteers
who have been trained to assist schools with the development
of outdoor classrooms. The Outdoor Classroom staff and
volunteers provide assistance and support to ensure
that you have an effective outdoor classroom that will
be available for students and teachers for many years
to come.
Teacher Training
Another important benefit to participating in the Alabama
Outdoor Classroom program is the free in-service teacher
training workshop that we provide for the faculty at
your school. Our goal is to equip teachers with cross-curriculum
activities and materials that can be integrated into
their daily lesson plans and used in the outdoor classroom.
This helps ensure that all teachers utilize the outdoor
classroom and all students have the opportunity to learn
more about Alabama's wildlife and related natural resources
thru hands-on activities in the outdoor classroom.
Grants/Gift Opportunities
Alabama Outdoor Classroom schools also receive a quarterly,
electronic Outdoor Classroom newsletter with helpful
information including grant opportunities, free giveaways,
and a variety of other tips to help your school. In
addition, these schools are eligible to receive free
gifts thru the Outdoor Classroom program such as free
tree seedlings that are donated by the Alabama Forestry
Commission. This year volunteers will deliver over 32,000
seedlings to Outdoor Classroom schools across Alabama.
Certification/Recognition
Schools enrolled in the Alabama Outdoor Classroom program
are also eligible to be certified as official Outdoor
Classrooms. Upon certification, we will invite local
press to attend your Dedication Ceremony where we will
award your school with a personalized certificate recognizing
your school as an official Alabama Outdoor Classroom
and an Alabama Outdoor Classroom sign to post on your
school grounds. In addition, you will receive National
Wildlife Federation's Schoolyard Habitats certification
including a personalized certificate recognizing your
schoolyard as an official Schoolyard Habitats site,
a Schoolyard Habitats poster and a free subscription
to the Habitats quarterly newsletter.
As you can see there are many benefits to participating
the in the Alabama Outdoor Classroom program. To learn
more about the Alabama Outdoor Classroom program and
schools participating in this program, click
here.
If you would like to receive a free information
packet about the Outdoor Classroom program, please call
us at 1-800-822-9453.
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