Learning in the Living Lab: An Educator Workshop for Grades 6-8

Join us for an immersive Project Learning Tree (PLT) workshop at the New Jersey School of Conservation, designed for educators working with students in grades 6–8. This experiential professional learning opportunity uses the natural setting as a living laboratory to strengthen environmental literacy and engage middle school learners through hands-on, inquiry-based instruction.

Participants will explore and implement activities from the Environmental Education Activity Guide for NJ Teachers, with a focus on ecological systems, human–environment interactions, and critical thinking. Educators will practice field investigations, data collection, and collaborative problem-solving while learning strategies to connect environmental concepts to science, social studies, math, and language arts curricula aligned with New Jersey Student Learning and Climtae Change Standards.

The optional overnight format supports deeper exploration of environmental topics through evening programs, reflective discussions, and team-based learning experiences. Educators will leave with practical classroom-ready activities, increased confidence teaching outdoors, and tools to help students analyze environmental issues, develop solutions, and become informed environmental stewards.

Tentative Schedule (Rain or shine)

FRIDAY (Optional early arrival to alleviate the stress of morning travel)

• 4:00 – 5:00pm – Arrive and settle in to cabins
• 6:00 – 7:00pm – Dinner – please bring your own
• 7:00 – 7:45pm – Paddle on Lake Wapalanne
• 8:00pm – Campfire + Storytelling

SATURDAY

• 7:00 – 8:00am – Morning walk (optional)
• 8:00 – 8:45am – Breakfast for Overnighters (provided by NJSOC)
• 8:30 – 9:00am – Arrival for single day participants
• 9:00 – 9:15am – Icebreaker
• 9:15 – 9:45am – Welcome and Introductions
• 9:45 – 10:00am – Exploring PLT Resources
• 10:00am-10:15am- Break
• 10:15-11:30- Activity 1- Field, Forest & Stream
• 11:45 – 12:45pm – Lunch (provided by NJSOC)
• 1:00 – 2:15pm – Activity 2- Nature’s Skyscrapers
• 2:30 – 3:45pm – Activity 3- Invasive Species
• 3:45 – 4:00pm –Workshop Summation & Gratitudes
• 4:00pm – Departure

Workshop Details:

Workshops are presented through a collaboration of the NJSOC and the NJ Forest Service.

Registration fee for overnighters includes breakfast and lunch, overnight accommodations in cabin-style housing and all workshop materials, including the PLT Explore Your Environment K-8 Activity Guide (valued at $45) . The fee for a single day includes lunch and all workshop materials.

Please contact Tanya Sulikowski, NJSOC Director of Education, with any questions. tsulikowski@njsoc.org

Refund Policy:

Your event fee, minus Eventbrite Fees, is fully refundable if canceled 7 or more days before the event. While we appreciate being notified if you are unable to attend an event, refunds are not given for cancellations within 7 days of the event.

If we must cancel an event, your registration fee, including Eventbrite fees, will be refunded.