Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/669580
BioTrek, where they are led by curator/lecturer Mike Brown's students. The presentations are aligned with the new math, science and social studies standards. Visitors have ample opportunity to taste, smell and feel plants such as false sarsaparilla, allspice, sage and island cur- rant. At wild food tasting events, visitors can sample agave, from which tequila is made, and elderberry syrup, which is a flu pre- ventative and prompts a quicker recovery for those afflicted. "When visitors come, we talk about nature, history, people, culture and science," says Brown, a California Faculty Associa- tion (CFA) member. "e kids are very excited to taste, touch and smell things in our outdoor classrooms. ey love the cacao pods with seeds, from which chocolate is made." Jayson Smith, a marine conservation ecologist, and Angel Valdes, a marine biologist, are CFA members who are affiliated with BioTrek's Aquatic Biology Learning Research Center, which has huge indoor aquariums and takes researchers to oceanic environments to study marine life. BioTrek has many habitats but one main goal — preserving the environment. "Around the world, native peoples and the plants that they have relied upon are disappearing at an alarming rate," says Brown. "Our gardens represent the importance of preserving habitats and cultures — and also offer visitors opportunities to make connections with nature." The outdoor spaces are open to the public for K-12 field trips and self-gui ded vi sits. For more information , vi sit cpp.edu/~biotrek. At BioTrek, Mike Brown's presentations involve the new math, science and social studies standards. At right, Brown with Jayson Smith and Angel Valdes. Get Outdoors There are several ways educators can bring their classrooms outdoors, from cultivating a small garden in the ground or in planter boxes to more elaborate projects that require special equipment or funding. A few ideas to get you started: • The Outdoor Classroom Project is dedicated to increasing the quantity, quality and benefits of outdoor experiences for children. outdoorclassroomproject.org • TD Friends of the Environment Foundation, which funds environmental projects and programs across the country, developed an "Outdoor Classroom Guide" to developing, implementing and fundraising for outdoor classroom projects. fef.td.com/resources • KaBOOM!, a national nonprofit, has a step-by-step guide to building an outdoor classroom. kaboom.org/resources/ enhancement_projects/how 22 cta.org