Winter Solstice Newsletter
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 Supporter

As 2022 comes to a close, ECO would like to take a moment to reflect and honor your partnership that made a significant impact in the role we play in Oregon’s schools, playgrounds, and natural spaces where many youth develop their first connections to land, water, and wildlife.

Highlights from 2022
The call to understand and create climate action curriculum for high school students put our staff to work to adapt curriculum for middle schoolers by incorporating teacher and youth feedback so that what we teach is student-centered and nature-based. As the pandemic receded, ECO walked straight back into the classroom where youth are provided with the tools and resources to understand and recognize what they will experience when heading out to Oregon’s natural areas. We developed our TeachECO.org website to host all of our Free Lessons and (coming soon) our Elementary Place-Based Units and Climate Action Education Program resources and materials. ECO’s Board and staff engaged in strategic planning that will extend into the early part of 2023.

Looking ahead!
ECO is working now to create strong internal systems as we prepare to hire our next executive director in Spring 2023. This position will set ECO up for program expansion into other Pacific Northwest states, increase engagement with teachers who need our support for greater environmental education impact, and expand our JEDI capacities that resonate with diverse communities, schools, teachers and classrooms. 

ECO exists to educate the next generation of climate educators, scientists and advocates, and here’s what they have to say:
 
“I am excited because we get to do fun things like talk to nature, 
and when I hear that we have ECO, I feel excited. 

Your thoughtful engagement and generosity makes a profound difference in the lives of children, youth, and families, now and into the future. 
 
With gratitude,
Lara Jones
Interim Executive Director
‘tis the Season of Giving
In this season of giving, a challenge match up to $25,000 has been offered by an ECO anonymous donor! Your generous gift received by December 31st, doubled-up by the match, will substantially increase the number of Elementary Place-based Units containing the most current and impactful teaching methods and materials available for educating youth today. ECO’s Climate Action Program will grow to reach more teachers and students in 2023. In addition, your gift will enhance our free ecology education materials that you are welcome to access online anytime. Invite your family and friends to join you for a free gift this holiday season. Donate today and your generosity will uplift teachers in the classroom and kids in the outdoors.

And, because ECO steps up to meet the need, Brew Dr. Kombucha will match your donation and double your impact through December 31st!! Your partnership will help ECO answer the call of youth in our region and beyond. They will lead the way if we give them the tools and resources to make their lives meaningful and resilient. That’s what ECO is all about.
“ECO is a wonderful organization with knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and kind staff. Our organization has been thrilled to provide support for programming and content development and we appreciate the meaningful work that you all do!”
Visit our profile to learn more and donate. While you’re there, check out all the fun
incentives you can receive when you donate and remember to
check out the Big Give Days! 
Climate Action Curriculum Live Learning Lab
In response to direct requests by middle-high school teachers, ECO launched a brand new Climate Action Series designed to engage 6-8th grade students in the classroom on topics including renewable energy, consumption and waste, biodiversity conservation, our built environment and climate justice. Students come away with a better understanding of climate science and the socioeconomic systems that increase impacts on our land, air, water and wildlife – our ecosystems. 
 
Students at Cedar Park Middle School recently engaged in co-creation of the materials and lessons based on their own learning style and needs. Our ECOsystem staff listened, learned, and responded to students from where they are. As collaborators in environmental education curriculum, ECO avails itself to the students and teachers who rely on us for a collaborative and engaging educational experience. Thank you students!
From the Board: Executive Director hiring
As the ECO Board of Directors looks ahead to 2023, we are faced with an exciting and important task: hiring our new, permanent Executive Director. The job announcement will be released in January and we hope to engage you and other friends of ECO by asking you to think about the people in your networks - perhaps you know the perfect person for the position! As we move through this process, we are grateful to know that our current Interim Executive Director, Lara Jones, will continue to lead ECO and to support the leadership transition as the new Executive Director is hired and onboarded.
The ECO board and I hope you enjoy the holiday season and wish you a Happy New Year! ~ Bethany
Big Thanks to Outgoing Girl Scouts!
ECO was surprised and grateful to receive a recent donation from an unexpected source! Emily Taylor, the leader of a local Girl Scout troop, sent us a generous check along with the following letter that said:

Dear ECO, 

After 10 years, our scouts, now juniors in high school, are moving on to other activities so our troop is disbanding. These are the last of the troops' funds from cookie sales and they wanted to donate them to a local nonprofit that benefits the environment and helps address climate change.

Wishing you continued success in your work, 

Emily Taylor and Girl Scout Troop 45041

While we are sad to hear that this group is disbanding, we are thankful for their donation and their shared understanding about how important it is to tend to the environment and take climate action. We promise to put these funds to good use as we continue to work with students to steward and advocate for the natural world.

In the meantime, we wish this remarkable troop the best of luck in their future endeavors and thank you again for the timely donation!