Nearby Nature
P.O. Box 3678, Eugene OR 97403
(541) 687-9699
www.nearbynature.org | info@nearbynature.org
Mission
Nearby Nature is a non-profit education organization dedicated to fostering appreciation of nature nearby and providing tools for ecological living. Our staff and volunteers lead nature walks, teach summer day camps, host school programs, and work on environmental restoration projects primarily in Alton Baker Park, the Willamette River and Amazon Creek watersheds.
History
In 1992, a dedicated group of environmental educators and local residents formed an organization to help community members discover, experience, and care for local natural a-reas. Several of these individuals had successfully worked to promote a local ballot measure to protect Alton Baker Park from becoming a golf course. Since that time, Nearby Nature has touched the lives of thousands of people through nature education and restoration programs that delight, challenge, and inform. Every year roughly 3,200 children explore the ’Äúwild side’Äù of Alton Baker Park through our school walks program, summer day camps, monthly nature quests, and unique special events. More have participated in our in-school and after-school programs. Hundreds of adults have taken part in our ongoing restoration projects, public nature walks, and our volunteer guide program. Starting in 2001, Nearby Nature staff played a key role in developing the proposal for the Network Charter School to the Eugene 4J School District.
Program Set-up / Course Offering
Nearby Nature’Äôs offerings for the Network Charter School integrate academics with hands-on activities, career related skills, field trips to local natural areas and public libraries, and more. All of our classes revisit our mission to focus on nature, natural history, or ecological sustainability. For example, in addition to life and earth sciences, physical geography, natural history and outdoor literature, our Physical Education classes make an effort to visit green spaces throughout the city of Eugene, our health classes investigate environmental health issues, and our math classes study practical, real world situations.
Like other Network Classes, our class sizes are small affording great opportunities for teacher and student contact. Our science classes are situated at our yurt in Alton Baker Park, allowing students great opportunities to study and explore local nature.
Courses include:
- Nature, Culture & Science
- Explore Nature through Fishing I, II, & III
- Green Worlds - Science Fiction and Ecology
- Independent Living (diploma requirement)
- Math and Physical Education
- Math and Urban Hiking
- Math and Health
- Math and Building Design
- The Life Aquatic
- Nearby Nature Guide Training
- Permaculture
- Elemental Earth II
- Math and our National Parks