Progams for Schools at Oak Knoll
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Through field studies and classroom explorations, Mass Audubon school programs provide hands-on, inquiry based experiences with science content and practices. Our educators enhance students’ scientific understanding of species and habitats; ecological concepts such as food webs, cycles, systems, adaptation, and evolution; climate change; and interrelationships between people and nature.
The wildlife sanctuaries of Mass Audubon South East support science learning and the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks through engaging, hands-on, student-centered programs. Our sanctuaries are home to a variety of habitats, including salt marsh, rocky beach, tidal flats, upland forests, meadows, and freshwater wetlands, which include both vernal pools and ponds. School groups can explore local natural history and delve into the interdependence of people, land, and wildlife with trained teacher naturalists at one of our four breathtaking locations.
Looking out over Lake Talaquega, it’s hard to imagine that this serene setting was once a buzzing entertainment destination, complete
with a casino and hotel. Now Oak Knoll, just minutes from downtown Attleboro, offers a natural respite with wooded trails and boardwalks winding through a red maple swamp, upland forest, a freshwater marsh, and around the lake’s perimeter. Less than a mile up the road is Oak Knoll’s sister sanctuary, Attleboro Springs; once a center for healing, nature has reclaimed the land and it now provides habitat for forest birds as well as trails for all to enjoy.
Program Types
In-School and at the Sanctuary
Whether you want to bring nature into the classroom or take lessons outside, our programs for schools offer insight into New England habitats and native species and enrich natural history and science lessons while strengthening students’ connections to the environment.
Oak Knoll offers field trip programs for schools at the wildlife sanctuary, in-school programs led by a Mass Audubon teacher naturalist, and hybrid programs that incorporate both an in-class and in-the-field experience. Download the South East School Programs Brochure to learn more about our offerings and contact us to design the right program for your needs.
Teacher Professional Development
Mass Audubon’s Professional Development programs are designed to increase content knowledge, provide teachers with hands-on, STEM-focused learning experiences, and offer resources for teaching engaging, inquiry-based science lessons in the schoolyard or classroom. In-person and virtual workshops are available, along with consulting and site visits.
Mass Audubon works with districts and schools to engage Pre-K–Grade 12 teachers in meaningful professional development experiences that immerse teachers in the science of nature and the nature of science, furthering teacher expertise in nature-based learning, climate change, environmental literacy, environmental justice, and inquiry-based science. Our instructors are experienced educators, deeply interested in the experiences of teachers, and able to relate to the challenges of classroom teaching.
Mass Audubon offers both school-based PD programs to engage an entire grade level team or department in a deep dive on a particular topic or unit, as well as virtual and in-person public workshops throughout the year that are open to any educator. For an immersive experience, try one of our professional development Summer Institutes!