Flying Deer has 24 years of experience in outdoor nature education. In that time, we’ve mentored more than 9,000 children and adults in Columbia County, New York, and Berkshire County, Massachusetts, in the powerful work of nature connection. We’ve partnered with 15 public and private schools, and with students from pre-school through high school, both on-site and on our own land.
Today, all around the world, educators are being forced to reimagine school. Many are turning to the out-of-doors, since the risks of contracting the virus there are so much lower than they are indoors. This is our area of expertise. All of our programming takes place outside. We adhere to the adage, “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes.” If we need to, we use tarps and tents, or shelters we’ve made ourselves using natural materials.
In addition to being the safest option during the current crisis, teaching outside accesses countless benefits for students—psychologically, socially, and academically. Children and teens are suffering; many are experiencing the COVID crisis as trauma, and have lost daily in-person contact with teachers, peers, and support systems at school. The psychological benefits of spending time outdoors go a long way toward helping children learn positive ways to cope with their feelings. Outdoor learning can be especially supportive for children who are frustrated by online learning, many of whom have lost academic ground and, more importantly, confidence in themselves. One of the everyday miracles of our work is in seeing the “bad kids” in school transform into skilled, respected, vital team members in a supported outdoor-learning environment.
We offer several options training and consultation options:
Put On Your Owl Eyes Professional Development for Educators
This online training is for teachers of Grades 1–12 who wish to gain comfort, knowledge, and inspiration about teaching and learning in the out-of-doors. The 15-module course opens the door to the wealth of discovery available right in your schoolyard. The course is based on the nature guide Put On Your Owl Eyes, by our Program Director Devin Franklin, and includes recorded video components, stories, activities, and workbook pages that can be used directly with students or adapted to provide learning units for a class. Teachers will experience first-hand the world of learning that’s available outside, immerse themselves in the inquiry-based method of education, and gain an understanding of how to integrate outdoor learning into their curricula and learning standards. This course is not just for science teachers; it supports teachers of all backgrounds and can stimulate ideas for a variety of curriculums, including writing, art, science, math, and more. Devin has been teaching wilderness survival, tracking, and awareness skills for 26 years, and is an expert educator of children, adolescents, and adults.
In-Person Teacher Trainings
Our experienced, passionate staff will lead socially distanced in-person trainings for your staff, demonstrating ways to take language arts, math, science, and visual arts outside. They are also expert in leading team-building, creative problem-solving, and respectful reflection activities for elementary school children. Flying Deer programs create an equal playing field for all children, often accessing children’s strengths that may be hidden in classroom settings. Teachers will learn how programming can empower all children and create lasting change in classroom dynamics.
Consulting with Schools and Teachers
Our nature educators can consult with teachers and teams to support moving teaching experiences out-of-doors. Consultants can advise in the process of building and maintaining outdoor-learning spaces, and assessing your campus for locations that will support different learning scenarios. Our staff can also work with individual teachers to convert specific in-class lessons to outdoor lessons. We are also available to consult on outdoor classroom management, and to help develop a successful Outdoor Learning Behavior Plan tailored to fit the unique needs of your school or class.