In-school with ECO Educators

Ecology starts in the classroom

ECO educators lead dynamic inquiry and project-based activities in your classroom to prepare students for outdoor experiences. Through themes such as watershed studies, food webs, animal adaptations, and native plants, students learn about Pacific Northwest ecology and build skills in communication, creativity, and collaboration.
We take learning outdoors

Our in-school programming always includes an outdoor experience to reinforce learning and a connection to nature. From field studies and guided exploration to habitat improvement, students conduct experiments, throw native seed bombs, investigate their schoolyards, or participate in stewardship opportunities, adding a new dimension to academic content while developing skills for a lifetime.
Education through collaboration

We work with teachers and community members to craft a plan to support classroom learning goals and deepen students' learning experiences through civic engagement. Teachers also develop professionally by working with our team, gaining scientific knowledge and teaching skills they can continue to use in their classes.

Our education model

We deliver multidisciplinary, place-based curriculum rooted in community partnerships to deepen a student's sense of place through engaging hands-on content and outdoor experiences where they live and learn. We expand ecological concepts across core subjects to ensure learners of all styles and abilities will be able to engage with the content in a meaningful way. Our lessons are standards-aligned and support classroom teachers in meeting academic benchmarks.

I like ECO because you get to learn and do new things and it doesn’t feel like you’re at school.
— 4th-grade student, View Acres Elementary
My class loves it when ECO comes to visit. ECO brings new energy and perspective to the topics that we are learning about in science. They always have engaging materials. One of our favorite sessions was when we found microinvertebrates in the soil and ECO allowed us to take a look with the digital microscopes. The students were in awe of the intricacies.
— Teacher, from Great Nonprofits
I like ECO because it teaches you about climate and how the things we do affect our future.
— 4th-grade student, Lent Elementary
ECO has been such an important part of our school community for over 16 years. They have guided our students in knowing the world around them and the important role they play in taking care of it. Our students are excited to see the educators from ECO. They know they will be engaged in a fun lesson inside or better yet, heading outside to our nature garden. Our students know and understand the world around them better because of our relationship with ECO.
— Teacher, Corbett Grade School
I can't wait to tell my parents all about what we did today.
— 4th-grade student, Marysville Elementary
ECO is a great way to teach science with hands-on fun activities. The ECO teachers make every attempt and succeed in matching lessons with curriculum and also standards! What an amazing help for teachers and learning for students!
— Teacher, Seth Lewelling Elementary School
Before today when I saw plants and trees I thought that’s all they were, but today I learned they are so much more.
— Student, View Acres Elementary