The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is sponsoring workshops for K–12 and early childhood educators on Iowa’s outdoors this spring.

A Project WILD and Aquatic WILD workshop for teachers, naturalists and other K-12 educators is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on March 23 at the Nahant Marsh in Davenport. Learn how outdoor projects, exploration, and field investigations provide relevant learning opportunities for students that support STEM-based learning. Trainers will work with educators to incorporate activities from these resources into inquiry based learning units, and to conduct real field investigations with their students.

Growing Up WILD workshops for early childhood educators are scheduled at three locations for 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. on March 28 at the Story County Conservation Center in Ames; April 4 at Starr’s Cave Nature Center in Burlington; and April 18 at Camp Autumn in Sutherland. Provide an early foundation for your students with a collection of activities written by educators and wildlife professionals and reviewed by early childhood education experts.

You must register to attend the workshops. Find links to electronic registration forms and more information on the DNR website at www.iowadnr.gov/idnr/Conservation/For-Teachers/Projects-WILD-WILD-Aquatic.

Media Contact: Barb Gigar, training specialist, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, 515-494-3891.