By: Michela Sales, NJSOC Executive Assistant
Last week, teachers from across New Jersey gathered together at NJSOC for our latest professional development workshop, Beavers: Nature’s Engineers. Led by NJSOC’s Director of Education, Tanya Sulikowski, and Holly Romahn, a 4th grade teacher at Hardyston Elementary School and part-time naturalist at High Point State Park, this immersive hands-on experience gave K-12 educators the chance to explore how one small mammal has an outsized impact on our ecosystems, and how to bring that story into their classrooms.
The two-day workshop blended science, creativity, and plenty of outdoor adventure. Participants began Thursday evening with an optional overnight experience, complete with a canoe paddle across Lake Wapalanne in search of beaver activity. To everyone’s delight, “Justin Beaver”, NJSOC’s resident beaver, made an appearance twice! The educators watched in awe as he glided through the water, and for many of them, this was their first-ever beaver sighting! The night ended beautifully with campfire conversations, s’mores, and stargazing.
Friday’s full-day session began with an introduction to beaver ecology, followed by a 3.5-mile hike to the Steam Mill Beaver Meadow, where participants explored “Ways of the Wild” and observed the incredible environmental engineering of beaver-created wetlands up close. These field experiences grounded later discussions on how beavers build ecosystems that support biodiversity, purify water, and even help mitigate the effects of climate change by preventing floods, wildlife, and drought
Back indoors, the educators took part in a STEM Design Challenge, where they constructed model beaver dams and tested their durability, which is an engaging way to explore engineering, structure, and function. They also played active learning games that are designed to help students grasp complex ecological relationships in a playful, memorable way. The day concluded with a reflection circle filled with laughter, gratitude, and fresh ideas to bring back to the classroom.
Throughout the workshop, educators gained ready-to-use lesson plans and activities aligned with NJ Science Standards (NJSLS-S), NJ Social Studies Standards (NJSLS-SS), NJ English Language Arts Standards (NJSLS-ELA), SEL Competencies (CASEL), and Career Readiness, Life Literacies, and Key Skills (NJSLS-CLKS), helping bridge outdoor ecology with classroom learning. From beaver-themed musical chairs for younger grades to model-building ecosystem web games for older students, educators left equipped with new strategies to inspire their own “beaver believers”.
NJSOC is proud to provide workshops that empower educators with field-based, interdisciplinary experiences that connect science, stewardship, and joy. A huge thank you to all who joined us, and to “Justin Beaver”, for reminding us that sometimes, the best teachers have tails.
