Everything has become complicated. From tough decisions between buying gas or groceries, to the many layers of technology that insulate us from the world and each other, we have lost many of the joys that come from simple pleasures in life. But these moments have not disappeared entirely. Last summer, I lay in an open field with nothing but a warm blanket between myself and the stars. I gazed at the gentle shadows those stars cast upon our sleeping campers, snuggled up against one another in the meadow for companionship and warmth. Forty young children, many at camp for the first time, most sleeping out without a tent for the first time - and none of them was asking where their iPods were.

But they had spent five days asking many other questions as they explored the natural world.

"What are the tiny black specks in the aspen's bark?"
"Can we make boats and launch them to measure water speed?"
"Why did we find more caddis fly larvae in the faster-moving water?"

And in each case, they worked collaboratively to find the answers.

Environmental education is more than taking a walk outside and learning the names of a couple birds or plants. It is about harnessing or reinvigorating curiosity. It is discovering that there are myriad questions that remain unanswered about the world around us, and learning that you have the ability to find the answers. It is about empowering our youth and connecting to people and to place.

Critical thinking. Life-long learning. Self-efficacy. Collaboration and team. These are goals our community has explicitly stated as benchmarks our students should achieve in school and in life. Environmental education is a demonstrated means of achieving these goals, and it does it in a way that can bring joy to a child's life.

Through Wild Connections, we create the opportunities for children, adults, families, school groups, and a variety of community organizations to find these moments of connection in nature, and to create a meaningful experience when they walk into the outdoors. To learn how you can participate in Wild Connections, please explore one of the options on this page.

See you on the trail,

Lisa, Education Coordinator for the ERC

Want to learn more about Wild Connections? Choose one of the following options...

At Our Schools: the ERC is committed to delivering inquiry-based natural science programs that align with BCSD standards. Whether you are seeking a 45 minute workshop, or a multi-day investigation, we have amazing options for all grades.

In Our Community: children, adults, families, and organizations can join scheduled programs, or contact us for a personalized experience. Birds, beavers, rivers, snow, or whatever aspect of the valley captures your imagination!

At Our Camps: our overnight programs provide tailored experiences to participants Grades 4-7. More than just a camp, we are a field ecology program that uses exploration, research, games, and art to make learning complex topics fun and meaningful.

Through SnowSchool: the ERC is an official SnowSchool site through the Winter Wildlands Alliance. We offer public, private, and school programs tailored to meet the goals and objectives of each group. Through an experiential, inquiry-based approach, we address topics such as winter ecology, snow science, energy transfer, and animal tracking.

The Islands Fund

The Richard K. and Shirley S.
Hemingway Foundation 

Wood River Women's Charitable Foundation

 The Deer Creek Fund