Equinox Edition
Ecology in Classrooms and Outdoors inspires students to care for nature and their communities with hands-on science
education and climate action.
From the Executive Director
Dear ECO supporters & friends,

As I look back on the last year, I do so with gratitude. The challenges we encountered were real and through it all our ECO community came together like never before to provide hands-on science education for students throughout Oregon and beyond.

In 2021, ECO’s Board of Directors and staff agreed that the organization is evolving and as a result our new mission is - to inspire students to care for nature and their local communities through hands-on science education and climate action. We agreed that as educators we can impact climate change by developing curriculum to increase students’ understanding of the global systems that are affecting our climate.

The desire to address climate change resonated deeply with our community, generating 170 donations through the Give!Guide Campaign for Climate Action, including 120 new ECO supporters.

This year, with your generosity, we will launch our Climate Action curriculum for middle and high school students. This incredible outcome is a direct result of your partnership. Together we can inspire each other to leave the legacy of health and well-being for our children, grandchildren, and the generations to come.

With gratitude,
Sarah Woods
Co-Founder and Acting Executive Director
ECO is Back in School & Back in Nature
ECO’s first in-person programming for the 2021-2022 school year took us to a familiar place: a small, wooded neighborhood greenspace in southwest Portland with a stream running through it that feeds into Johnson Creek. ECO has run field trips at this site with the middle school students and teachers from Rachel Carson Environmental School for a few years, but it had been two years since any of us, students and teachers included, had been able to visit the site. It has felt like a deep, soothing breath to be back in-person with students again.

A moment that stood out to me was during a discussion I was leading as part of a sit spot activity. We were circled up in the deeper, darker part of the forest and the students had just sat quietly for thirty or so minutes, practicing observing their surroundings using all of the senses available to them (except for, of course, taste). We were going around the circle talking about how the experience had felt and what the students observed. Many reflected on noticing things they normally would not, such as a spider moving across a log or the diversity of bird sounds. However, one student reflected on how they felt during the activity, sharing about how many students have a lot going on in their lives and this was a nice break from the stress and pressure of daily life. It was a beautiful reminder of the impact of spending some quiet time outside can have and how important it is that we continue to provide those opportunities for Oregon’s youth. 
We want to hear from you
You can provide valuable feedback on our Learn at Home lessons. This will help ECO improve our programs in the future. Click the button below to learn more and get involved today.
Signs of Spring:
Coming Soon to a Natural Area Near You

In 2022, ECO will continue our Climate Action campaign for Earth Day on April 22 in partnership with Earth Day Oregon. Earth Day Oregon was also founded by ECO’s Co-founder, Bethany Shetterly-Thomas to amplify environmental organizations doing great work in Oregon.

As we prepare to celebrate, we would like to ask, what does Earth Day mean to you? Just reply to this email with your thoughts.
Red Flowering Currant
Western Trillium
Osoberry in bloom