OST LI Training 2025-26

STEAM Lab!
Inspire. Create. Empower.
STEAM and Nature is designed to offer participants (new and advanced learners) an opportunity to learn new and exciting ways to infuse environmental education and justice into programming. These sessions will focus on bringing the STEAM Habits of Mind alive through environmental learning activities connected to the seasons, a connection to where we live and play (our neighborhoods, communities and region) and how to build awareness and action around environmental impact at any age. Our activities will focus on building a connection and love of the natural world while also sharing ways and strategies we can support the care of the earth, humans and society.

October: Don’t Leaf your excitement at home! Getting to know your Neighborhood in Fall: SIGN UP BY OCT 16th

What does it take to go outside? Have you explored your neighborhood in the Fall? Are you curious about what is happening in nature as our seasons change? Are you curious about how you benefit from being in nature? How do we begin to build comfort, safety and excitement in the outdoors? As part of our workshop, we will share activities and ways of engaging young people of all ages in nature through learning activities and play that will foster an appreciation and love of outdoor learning while also sharing the health benefits of being in nature. This workshop will focus on nature and outdoor exploration, opportunities to challenge and stretch learning and comfort with the outdoors and discuss ways to encourage young people to be caretakes of the earth.

January: It’s cold outside (maybe), let’s explore our Community in Winter: SIGN UP BY JAN 15th
Do you explore nature in the Winter? What makes this season different from the rest? In this workshop we will continue exploring and learning in nature while also discussing how to make the outdoors accessible both in winter and throughout the entire year. We will engage in activities that bring us out in nature and also experience different ways to bring nature indoors. We will spend time learning and thinking together about our community, its nature connections and the ways climate change is affecting our winters and the work we can do to support our young people to be environmental advocates for our communities.

April: Spring has Sprung (almost), let’s learn about natural places and resources we depend on across our area: SIGN UP BY APRIL 23rd
What’s happening in the natural world in spring? What are the ways we depend on the Spring season and the warmer seasons of the year? What are the natural systems that are coming alive in this season and how do humans and other animals depend on them? How are we affecting systems that bring us clean water, air and soil and how do we see and experience the effects of food justice in our lives and our community.