I’m finally starting to wake up to the world again. Still proceeding cautiously through life, I’m doing everything I can to remain as physically, emotionally, and mentally healthy as possible. But now I have a few announcements, and it feels good to be back to putting myself forth again, doing some things and feeling more creative! Aside from a couple projects that I’ll be able to let you know about in the next few months, I have a few immediate announcements:

First of all, I’m going to be having a Meet and Greet for prospective, current, and former students and their families! It’s on Friday, 3/22/24, 11:00 - 1:00 in the community space at the Berkeley Sports Basement. Here’s all the information:

Next up, I’m announcing various outreach programs. I’m excited that for the first time in ages I’m reopening opportunities for mentorships! Just as is the case with my teaching with children, these build upon the creation of long term relationships. I also have other various outreach programs available: articles, interviews, consultation, speaking engagements, and workshops. Educators- I’ve missed this a lot, I’d love to work with your kind again! For more information, please see my Outreach page:

Finally, I was written up in the El Cerrito Chamber of Commerce newsletter, “Byline.” Please check out the article, “Outside School Offers Something Different and Extraordinary,” on page 5:

Enrollment

Enroll now!

School Year Program

-Last day to apply for the remainder of the 2023 - 2024 school year is 2/14 for a 3/1 start!

-Apply now for the 2024 - 2025 school year!

8 Week Peek!

-If you’re uncertain about full enrollment, the last day to apply for an “8 Week Peek” is 2/14 for a 3/1 start!

Summer Camp

Summer Camp Session 1:

-Week 1 (July 8 - 12, 2024)

-Week 2 (July 15 - 19, 2024)

Summer Camp Session 2:

(Just one more spot is up for grabs in Session 2!)

-Week 3 (July 22 - 26, 2024)

-Week 4 (July 29 - August 2, 2024)

For more information, please go to:

Nature News

Mushrooms Galore!!!

One of my favorite things about Winter is all the mushrooms! I’ve always felt they have some sort of magical presence, with their popping up seemingly from nowhere, but scientifically knowing their hyphae reside under our feet. I couldn’t wait to hike up to what the Outside School children named, “The Mushroom Forest.” As usual, it didn’t disappoint, and once again we had to watch our step to avoid treading upon these beauties. Check out a few of our finds!

For more information on how we handle mushrooms, please visit Outside School’s handbook page.

“Outside School Nature Helpers: 2023 Results Are In!“

Our goal at Outside School is to get in at least 40 hours of community service to help our park per calendar year. This year we got 42!

Want to find out more about helping your local environment and getting your Outside School Nature Helper badge and time log? Go here:

https://www.teachoutside.org/outside-school-nature-helpers

Be sure to #outsideschoolnaturehelper with what you’re doing and how you’re sporting your badge!

Newt Inspector Update

I am not leaving out my fellow Newt Inspectors- at the time of this writing, we have not yet seen the return of California newts to our usual sections of Wildcat Creek.

Inspiration and Resources

“Life is Wild”

By Sonya Bennett-Brandt for East Bay Magazine, a highlight of some of the animals living amongst us, some more common and others quite hidden. I love our urban wildlife, and feel fortunate that amongst the deer and birds, we regularly see and hear coyotes and frogs.

So, elves and sprites are real!

How cool is this thunderstorm activity graphic from the European Space Agency?!

“The Path to Clean Air Richmond, North Richmond & San Pablo DRAFT Community Emissions Reduction Plan December 2023”

I didn’t finish reading this long, detailed, and data-driven document, but wanted to provide it to you should you be interested in knowing more about air quality and pollutants in Richmond, CA, and knowing about the impacts caused by Chevron and other sources. Each day, I search the Bay Area Air Quality Management District site before heading out to the park (or deciding we need to cancel for the day due to poor air quality), and I found this document on their site:

“A Scandinavian’s Winter Survival Guide”

Lots of practical tips, and full of love, here’s and interview with Linda McGurk on MOMlitics with Rebecca Sheehan episode #205:

Reviews

If you’ve been an Outside School family, and you haven’t ever written a review, I sure could use your five star review! Here’s a link for google: https://g.page/r/Cdbg8k2pMPgeEB0/review. Additionally, if you or your child would like to email me a testimonial, I’ll put it up on my website. Thank you in advance!

Take care,

Heather

Heather Taylor, California Master Teacher, NREMT

Founder/Director/Teacher, Outside School (www.outside.school)

Founder, Teach Outside (www.teachoutside.org)

Feel free to forward to anyone you like!