What?! Animals Do That?! 

Ages 5 - 11 (families welcome)

Animals have developed some incredible ways to survive that may surprise you! Through stories, puppets, and songs, children will explore how local animals use creative adaptations to find food, stay safe, and raise their young.

From unexpected diets to clever defenses, these wildlife tales help children discover that what may seem strange to us often has an important purpose in nature. Along the way, participants will practice observation, build science vocabulary, and begin to respect animals not just as cute characters, but as wildlife suited to their habitats.

Participants will:

• explore animal adaptations through story and hands-on activities
  
• practice observation and descriptive language
  
• build basic science vocabulary
  
• develop respect for wildlife and habitats
  

Program details:

• Length: 60 minutes
  
• Fee: $150 per program
  
• Group size: Maximum of 20 participants
  

Adult participation: Children must be accompanied by an adult

Capturing the Wonders of Nature Through Journaling

Middle & high school students (families welcome)

Nature journaling, sometimes called field journaling, is a powerful way to slow down, look closely, and develop a deeper understanding of the natural world. In this hands-on program, students practice observing the way naturalists, scientists, and artists do: by combining sketching, writing, and reflection to record what they notice and wonder.

Participants will experiment with a variety of journaling techniques that strengthen curiosity, attention to detail, and critical thinking. Time is spent both indoors and outdoors (weather permitting), with students carrying their supplies as they explore and document the world around them. No art experience is required.

Participants will:

• strengthen observation and inquiry skills
  
• practice translating observations into words and sketches
  
• build confidence in noticing and wondering
  
• connect personal experience to scientific thinking
  

Program details:

• Length: 90 minutes
  
• Fee: $150 per program
  
• Group size: Maximum of 20 participants
  
• What to bring: Pencil, journal, portable chair
  

Adult participation: All participants must be accompanied by an adult

Outdoor Guided Nature Walks

These guided walks invite adults to investigate the natural world through observation, stories, and conversation. Each walk combines natural history, seasonal phenomena, and shared exploration, encouraging participants to slow down, ask questions, and increase their sense of place.

• Format: Outdoor, guided exploration
  
• Offered: Public walks listed on the calendar, or private group bookings
  
• Contact: natureinvestigations@gmail.com to schedule a walk for your group
  
  

Nature Journaling: Reflections from the Field

This welcoming, outdoor-based group invites adults to slow down and connect with nature through creative journaling. Nature journaling blends curiosity, creativity, and mindfulness, increasing our observations of the world around us.

I’ll guide you through techniques in writing, sketching, and observation so you can discover a style that feels right for you. We’ll wander with our supplies in hand, pausing to notice whatever surprises nature offers that day. Whether you’re brand new or have been journaling for years, I welcome you to this relaxed space to practice, learn, and connect with fellow nature lovers. 

• Format: Outdoor, small-group experience
  
• Experience level: No prior art or journaling experience required

• Contact: natureinvestigations@gmail.com to schedule a walk for your group

Before You Use AI (Artificial Intelligence)
Making Defensible Decisions in Interpretation & Environmental Education

A focused, 90-minute on-line working session.

Feb. 4, 2026, 1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. ET

Artificial Intelligence tools are already finding their way into interpretation and environmental education, often informally, inconsistently, and without clear guidance. Interpreters and educators are being asked to make decisions about AI use with little support, few policies, and real professional risk.

This interactive, online workshop is designed for interpreters and environmental educators who want to make intentional, defensible decisions about AI, before those decisions affect trust, credibility, or relationships with audiences and communities.

Through facilitated discussion, real-world scenarios, and guided reflection, participants will examine how AI use can impact authenticity, trust, integrity, and connection to place. We will also explore AI’s often-overlooked environmental and social costs, including energy use, data extraction, and embedded bias that directly conflict with many environmental educators’ professional values.

Rather than focusing on how to use AI tools, this workshop centers on when not to use them, and how to recognize limited, intentional situations where AI may support planning or efficiency without replacing human judgment, local knowledge, or lived experience.

Participants will leave with a practical decision-making framework they can use to:

• evaluate AI tools and requests,
  
• ask critical ethical questions before adopting new technologies,
  
• and develop clear, values-aligned guidelines they can defend to supervisors, colleagues, and the public.

This workshop is especially relevant for educators with decision-making responsibility, those supervising others, or anyone feeling uneasy about AI use but unsure how to articulate or act on those concerns.

Registration: $75

Registration link: https://forms.gle/D2rVJnKXandtdDB19

Includes a facilitated 90-minute live session, the AI Compass Framework, a reusable ethical decision-making worksheet, and a drafted guideline you can bring back to your organization.

Interactive programs are offered to libraries, schools, senior centers, and more to investigate the wonders of nature. Tailored to each audience, programs explore natural history with hands-on activities, storytelling, and more to inspire curiosity of nature around us.

Contact: natureinvestigations@gmail.com to discuss your needs.