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For Teachers

The Watershed Association offers a variety of services for educators, including class field trips and teacher workshops. We recognize the unique opportunity that educators have to provide children with an appreciation, understanding and knowledge of the world in which we live. We offer more than 50 years of experience working with schools and educators to address challenges in environmental education. We strive to provide educators with the fuel to fortify their efforts to teach children and to instill in them the passion for the natural environment.

Field Trips

Our year-round field trips are designed to connect children with the natural world and meet New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards. All of our programs include a language arts component in addition to the science or math NJCC specific to each program.

Field trips combine hands-on activities with exploratory walks on our Watershed Reserve. Our teacher naturalists reinforce learning with guided reflection time that incorporates language or visual arts activities. At the end of the program, groups can continue their exploration and discovery with a visit to the Buttinger Nature Center to view the live exhibits, turtles, and snakes and engage in the many hands-on interactive displays.

Learn more about what we offer by downloading our Field Trip Brochure.

Workshops / Training

The Watershed Association offers a series of teacher workshops throughout the year at the Buttinger Nature Center. These workshops are designed to empower teachers by increasing their understanding of the local natural environment through hands-on, inquiry-based activities that promote environmental literacy and provide students with a sense of stewardship. The workshops are fun learning experiences that explore the natural environment while demonstrating that we are inextricably connected to and dependent on the earth. Watershed Association staff are registered by the state of New Jersey as certified providers of professional development.

Participants must be prepared to be outside for most workshops. To find out what workshops are coming up and to register for a workshop call the Buttinger Nature Center at 609-737-7592 or email bnc@thewatershed.org.

Curriculum

The Watershed Association works to provide educators with a curriculum of field-tested, ready-to-use lessons on the environment. Our curriculum offers educators engaging lessons that will elevate the level of environmental literacy in their students. All activities are correlated with New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards.

Lessons can be downloaded from our Resource Center.