Wildlife Tag
Outdoor Classroom Program: Step 3
1 Collect Info | 2 Organize Committee | 3 Enroll | 4 Evaluate Campus | 5 Develop Master Plan | 6 Obtain Funding | 7 Construct OC | 8 Integrate Curriculum | 9 Establish Maintenance Plan | 10 Certify
Step 3: ENROLL IN THE ALABAMA OUTDOOR CLASSROOM PROGRAM (Click Here for PDF)
Step 3: ENROLL IN THE ALABAMA OUTDOOR CLASSROOM PROGRAM (Click Here for PDF)
A school can enroll in the Alabama Outdoor Classroom (AOC) program at any time during their outdoor classroom development, but we encourage schools to enroll as soon as you have administrative approval and have created your planning committee so that your school can enjoy all of the AOC program benefits. Below are the enrollment and program details. Click on orange links to learn more.
Enrollment
Contact us to enroll your school, register your planning committee, and pay your one-time enrollment fee on the Alabama Wildlife Federation (AWF) website. When the AWF receives your enrollment, we will send you your free Outdoor Classroom Planning Guides and an Outdoor Classroom Consultant will contact you to set up a meeting with you and your planning committee. Once the school is officially enrolled in the Alabama Outdoor Classroom Program (AOC), be sure to notify the faculty and place an announcement in the school’s newsletter so that everyone will be informed of your plans and progress.
Alabama Outdoor Classroom Program Benefits
The AOC program partners strive to provide as many benefits and opportunities as possible for enrolled Outdoor Classroom Schools, including the following:
Recognition
> Upon enrollment, your school will be added to the Alabama Outdoor Classroom Schools Map on AWF’s website which will link to a customized webpage for your outdoor classroom.
Technical and Organizational Assistance
Enrollment
Contact us to enroll your school, register your planning committee, and pay your one-time enrollment fee on the Alabama Wildlife Federation (AWF) website. When the AWF receives your enrollment, we will send you your free Outdoor Classroom Planning Guides and an Outdoor Classroom Consultant will contact you to set up a meeting with you and your planning committee. Once the school is officially enrolled in the Alabama Outdoor Classroom Program (AOC), be sure to notify the faculty and place an announcement in the school’s newsletter so that everyone will be informed of your plans and progress.
Alabama Outdoor Classroom Program Benefits
The AOC program partners strive to provide as many benefits and opportunities as possible for enrolled Outdoor Classroom Schools, including the following:
Recognition
> Upon enrollment, your school will be added to the Alabama Outdoor Classroom Schools Map on AWF’s website which will link to a customized webpage for your outdoor classroom.
Technical and Organizational Assistance
> AWF Outdoor Classroom Consultants, Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES) Agents, and trained Master Gardeners provide free technical advice and organizational assistance.
> AWF’s Outdoor Classroom E-newsletter includes important information about grants, workshops, activities, and maintenance tips to help you create, use and sustain your outdoor classroom.
> Your local Outdoor Classroom Consultant will work with your planning committee to develop a Master Plan with short-term and long-term goals, an outdoor classroom site map that demonstrates where the various learning stations will be located, and a list of materials and estimated budget for each of the learning stations.
> Your local Outdoor Classroom Consultant will work with your planning committee to help you hold Outdoor Classroom Work Day(s) so that your students, teachers, parents and community volunteers can work side-by-side during a school day to build new outdoor learning stations, plant plants, and/or carry out maintenance tasks.
Educator Workshops
> AWF Outdoor Classroom Consultants provide free in-service Outdoor Classroom teacher training workshops and professional development.
> AWF, ACES, and other AOC Partners offer thematic Outdoor Classroom workshops throughout the year that provide tips, advice and activities about a wide variety of topics such as “Birds & Butterflies,” “Citizen Science Activities,” “Gardening,” and other topics.
Grant Opportunities
> AWF offers competitive, annual Outdoor Classroom grants (when possible) for schools enrolled in the AOC program. Visit the OC Grants, Funding & Support section of AWF’s website for details.
Outdoor Classroom Social Media
> The Alabama Outdoor Classroom Program Facebook page includes posts by OC Consultants and teachers about resources, grants, and activity ideas for schools with outdoor classrooms.
> Follow the Alabama Outdoor Classroom on Pinterest for ideas about outdoor classroom activities, learning stations, educational signs and more.
Certification
> Once a school completes AOC certification requirements (see Step 10 for certification details), an Outdoor Classroom Consultant will help your school host a Certification Ceremony to celebrate your accomplishments.
> AOC certification benefits include a personalized certificate, an Alabama Outdoor Classroom sign, a full set of the APTV Discovering Alabama DVDs, and a National Wildlife Federation Schoolyard Habitats® certification (optional).
Questions? Contact April Waltz, Alabama Outdoor Classroom Program Coordinator, at aprilwaltz@alabamawildlife.org.
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> AWF’s Outdoor Classroom E-newsletter includes important information about grants, workshops, activities, and maintenance tips to help you create, use and sustain your outdoor classroom.
> Your local Outdoor Classroom Consultant will work with your planning committee to develop a Master Plan with short-term and long-term goals, an outdoor classroom site map that demonstrates where the various learning stations will be located, and a list of materials and estimated budget for each of the learning stations.
> Your local Outdoor Classroom Consultant will work with your planning committee to help you hold Outdoor Classroom Work Day(s) so that your students, teachers, parents and community volunteers can work side-by-side during a school day to build new outdoor learning stations, plant plants, and/or carry out maintenance tasks.
Educator Workshops
> AWF Outdoor Classroom Consultants provide free in-service Outdoor Classroom teacher training workshops and professional development.
> AWF, ACES, and other AOC Partners offer thematic Outdoor Classroom workshops throughout the year that provide tips, advice and activities about a wide variety of topics such as “Birds & Butterflies,” “Citizen Science Activities,” “Gardening,” and other topics.
Grant Opportunities
> AWF offers competitive, annual Outdoor Classroom grants (when possible) for schools enrolled in the AOC program. Visit the OC Grants, Funding & Support section of AWF’s website for details.
Outdoor Classroom Social Media
> The Alabama Outdoor Classroom Program Facebook page includes posts by OC Consultants and teachers about resources, grants, and activity ideas for schools with outdoor classrooms.
> Follow the Alabama Outdoor Classroom on Pinterest for ideas about outdoor classroom activities, learning stations, educational signs and more.
Certification
> Once a school completes AOC certification requirements (see Step 10 for certification details), an Outdoor Classroom Consultant will help your school host a Certification Ceremony to celebrate your accomplishments.
> AOC certification benefits include a personalized certificate, an Alabama Outdoor Classroom sign, a full set of the APTV Discovering Alabama DVDs, and a National Wildlife Federation Schoolyard Habitats® certification (optional).
Questions? Contact April Waltz, Alabama Outdoor Classroom Program Coordinator, at aprilwaltz@alabamawildlife.org.