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Welcome!

Schoolyard Ecology Explorations seeks to increase student and teacher expertise in ecological research, natural history and sustainability. Through summer workshops, curriculum and schoolyard garden grants, teachers gain the skills and the tools to lead their student to investigate the natural world. Please click on the links on this page to learn more about our program, or email see@monarchlab.org to ask questions.

Objectives:

  • Study Ecology - Learn about the study of ecology at University of Minnesota's Long Term Ecological research (LTER) station at Cedar Creek, thus increasing teacher (and student) exposure to and interest in science.
  • Conduct Research - Learn how to conduct ecological research with their students in schoolyard nature areas using observation skills and practicing scientific inquiry methods.
  • Frameworks - Better understand the interconnecting framework between ecology, science and sustainability by utilizing the SEE curriculum.
  • Partnerships - Form partnerships between educators and the researchers at Cedar Creek LTER station.

To learn why outdoor education is so important, click to view two articles from our 2007 MITC Newsletter ("Kids for a Sustainable Future" and "Schoolyard Attitude is Key!").

Schoolyard Garden Grants

Applications for SEE garden grant awards in January 2013 are no longer being accepted. Please come back next year! Click here for more information on how to apply. Register or Login.

News and Updates

Google Earth Monarch Tour

A story about the migration of the eastern population of monarch butterflies in North America, and the people that help them out along the way. This Google Earth Tour was produced by Atlantic Public Media in cooperation with the Encyclopedia of Life Learning + Education group located at the Harvard Museum of Comparative Zoology. It was produced by Eduardo Garcia-Milagros & Ari Daniel Shapiro, and features scientists Karen Oberhauser and Isabel Ramirez.
Google Earth Monarch Tour on YouTube
Meet the Scientists

No Monarch Live Organism Distribution in 2013

The MonarchLab has decided not to distribute monarchs in 2013. In other words, Live Organisms will not be available at our Monarch Store. Read More ยป

Archived News