Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center has begun offering free online lessons to help students meet state academic standards.
The nonprofit organization, from its 2,000-acre campus near Lake Superior, has assembled 10-minute "Adventures in Learning" videos, each with two naturalists. After viewing each video, children head outside for hands-on activities: building and testing their own solar oven, creating natural art pieces or collecting data.
Nature journaling is part of each lesson, where children reflect on the outdoors.
"When teachers who normally bring students to Wolf Ridge were forced to cancel their spring field trips, we asked how we could help them meet their learning goals," said Shannon Walz, the center's associate director. "They let us know that they wanted to be sure their students would learn outside in the real world rather than be stuck on a screen all day."
The free "Adventures in Learning" series can be found at wolf-ridge.org.
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VA caregiver honored with fellowship
Jenny Schmidt, who serves as her husband's VA-approved caregiver, was named one of 30 military and veteran caregivers nationwide to be a 2020 fellow for the Elizabeth Dole Foundation.
Schmidt met her husband after he was medically retired from the Army as a sergeant; they share five children. His military service was marked by wounds both physical and mental. He was medevaced twice while in combat zones. He has recovered from his physical injuries but still struggles with post-traumatic stress.
