Outdoor Learning Conference 2026

How can we prepare future educators to teach STEM outdoors while connecting instruction to local environments?
This workshop showcases a collaboration between a Northwest Indiana teacher education program and Lake County Parks and Recreation that models outdoor, place-based STEM teaching. Teacher candidates co-design and deliver lessons rooted in local landscapes with park naturalists. Participants will explore two sample lessons: Maple Syrup Monkeys, where students learn how trees are tapped and syrup is made through biology, chemistry, and math; and I Spy Young Naturalists, where students identify native species, map habitats, and study ecological relationships in the region’s swale landscape at Gibson Woods. The session also shares strategies for building sustainable partnerships using a train-the-trainer model, including co-planning fieldwork, managing logistics, and embedding reflection and equity. Ideal for teacher educators, pre-service teachers, and community partners.