Activities throughout the year:

• Participation in summer institute – A four day learning experience where educators get to be the students. Participants learn practices and skills to take their teaching outdoors, gain resources and knowledge to help incorporate the land, water, and community into their teaching, and build connections and relationships with local experts, community members, and fellow educators.
• Monthly check-ins with Rivers2Lake staff to generate ideas, work through challenges, and plan learning experiences for students.
• Monthly connections with Rivers2Lake staff in the classroom — Rivers2Lake staff come teach or coteach with you and your students.
• Participation in Winter Workshop — One day learning experience in February where current and former members of the Rivers2Lake cohort connect and gain support and ideas around teaching in the winter.
• End of year celebration — One day celebration to reflect on a year of learning together.
• Dreaming and scheming sessions — After school drop-in sessions to talk through challenges, plan lessons, and collaborate with other teachers.

Program benefits:

• Stipend for participation.
• Classroom resources — Receive a small budget for classroom resources or supplies.
• Transportation funding — $500 for bust funds for field experiences.
• Aquarium visit –Take your students to the Great Lakes Aquarium in Duluth to explore and learn with the Rivers2Lake staff.
• Access to Rivers2Lake curriculum library — lessons that meet state standards and incorporate local examples or outdoor learning.
• Collaboration — being within a cohort of 8-16 other educators provides numerous opportunities for cross-grade, cross-school, or cross-district collaboration.

Here about it from teachers:

• “I saw students become more comfortable outside and in the elements, and I saw students who normally struggle to engage in academics thrive and engage in authentic ways.”
• “I think that the most lasting and impactful lesson for me is that I have the agency to create my programming/curriculum in ways that get students out of the classroom and engaging with curiosity.”
• “If every teacher training was this effective and fun, I’d wish for more in-service days.”
• “This program is amazing on so many levels. The opportunity to learn from so many experts has been a true gift. I haven’t experienced a learning experience that is authentic, informative, and inspiring. Thank you!”

Rivers2Lake students on the South Shore have:

• Paddled the Bark Bay Slough to test and compare water in the Bark River, Slough, and Lake Superior.
• Visited Madeline Island canoed in the Big Bay Lagoon and tested and compared lagoon and Lake Superior water.
• Sampled macroinvertebrates from the Bad River in Copper Falls State Park.
• Practiced nature journaling in their school forest.
• Investigated what was under the ice at Big Bay Lagoon.
• Visited the Great Lakes Aquarium.
• Learned about climate change impacts through Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife lessons and materials.
• Played!