Our Education Program
Traditional learning, re-imagined
Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance (SoWBA) is dedicated to ensuring that nature is for everyone! All of our long-term education program partners are groups where more than half of the kids are kids of color or from low-income families. These groups were historically excluded from the mainstream environmental movement. By providing them with FREE outdoor education programming, we’re taking steps towards making environmental education more equitable.
Classrooms and community centers are great, familiar spaces to introduce kids to the wonders of nature. Our staff offer a variety of lessons for all ages, ranging from animal tracks to bird identification, from nature journaling to climate change. We make either regular or one-off visits, and our personalized lessons support what kids are learning in the classroom. We get kids outside as much as we can, and just as importantly, we are working very hard to make access to nature safe, equitable, and appealing to diverse communities.
Students at Lincoln Elementary School in Madison, WI participate in a schoolwide birdathon field day supported in part by SoWBA (photo by Carolyn Byers/SoWBA).
“Before I would look at a bird and I wouldn’t care about it because I thought they were all the same. But now I know the little things we can do for these birds make a lot of difference.”
Classroom Partnerships
SoWBA usually works with about 15 Madison-area classrooms each school year.
We visit them weekly September through June, and visits are usually 1–2 hours long. We’re outside in almost all weather! Thunderstorms and extreme heat or cold will chase us back inside, but usually you can find us in outdoor classrooms, community gardens, or nearby parks.
Our classroom lessons focus on getting science information to kids in a fun way. We play lots of games, learn about scientists doing amazing things, and try out some of those things ourselves. Kids use microscopes, binoculars, and do a lot of nature journaling. We’re always amazed at how quickly their knowledge grows!
Getting kids outside has innumerable benefits, including increased academic performance, better physical health, and better social skills (photo by Carolyn Byers/SoWBA).
Kids from Vera Court Community Center enjoy the gorgeous prairie at Cherokee Marsh North (photo by Carolyn Byers/SoWBA).
Community Center Partnerships
SoWBA partners with Madison community centers for after- school and summer programming. During the school year we visit with groups about once a month, but we get to see them weekly during the summers!
Our time with community centers is often more focused on nature exploration and connection. These kids spend all day in school, so we want them to relax and enjoy. Our educators meet groups at local parks for hikes, scavenger hunts, and games. We love bringing them to places they can return to with their grown-ups!
One-time visits
SoWBA has limited capacity to make one-time visits to schools and community centers. We try to say “yes!” to as many events as we can, but our educators’ schedules are full to bursting!
Many of our lessons are available for free online, and we would love for you to use them. If our educators are unable to join you in person, we are often able to support your lesson planning virtually.
OPERATION FRESH START CONSERVATION ACADEMY
Since 2014, our organization has partnered with Operation Fresh Start, a local organization committed to providing disconnected youth with practical job training. During the summer, SoWBA’s Conservation Academy aims to help disconnected youth in Dane County gain inspiration and learn skills to enter the conservation workforce. We partner with Operation Fresh Start to host five career-oriented sessions with local conservation experts. The topics range from urban forestry and wildlife to invasive plants and biodiversity, and include conservation leaders from the University of Wisconsin and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
Brian Wahl, urban forestry coordinator with the Wisconsin DNR, shows Conservation Academy participants the subtle differences between oak tree species during his talk about urban forestry careers (photo by Emily Meier).
Funding for our education program provided in part by these supporters:
Banner photo: A classroom of students learn together outside in wintry weather (SoWBA photo).
