Ecology Center — Environmental Education

Environmental Education

Welcome to Environmental Education at the Ecology Center! The highlight of our educational programming is our classroom workshops, where we bring hands-on environmental lessons to schools throughout southeast Michigan and beyond. We believe that environmental awareness and caring for the natural world should be crucial components of youth education, and we hope to make a difference by improving the environment one child at a time.

For more information about our programs, please select a topic below.

Classroom Programs — Our experienced educators can visit your classroom to present exciting, hands-on workshops on a variety of environmental themes.

Renewable Schools — Learn more about the Michigan Renewable Schools Program, a project that works to bring programming about energy efficiency and renewable energy systems to schools all across the state of Michigan.

Educational Services — Past activities have included teacher training sessions and curriculum development services. Let us know what your environmental education needs are, and we will see if we can help!

Resources for Teachers — We have compiled a list of web links and print resources that teachers may find useful. Look here for some great curriculum ideas!

EENOW — Learn more about the Environmental Education Network of Washtenaw, a consortium of Washtenaw County organizations providing environmental and science programming to youth and families.

Meet Our Education Team

Laura Holladay, Education Director -- Laura joined the Ecology Center staff in June 2005. She holds a bachelor's degree in Geological Sciences and a master's in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, both from the University of Michigan. Before coming to the Ecology Center, Laura worked as a faculty member in Schoolcraft College's Biology Department, as an outreach education specialist for the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum, as an outdoor education specialist for Ann Arbor Public Schools Dept. of Recreation & Education, and as education program coordinator for the Leslie Science & Nature Center. In her spare time, she can often be found singing, baking cupcakes, or following birds through the woods.

Lauren LaRocca, Environmental Educator -- Lauren LaRocca joined the Environmental Education team in October 2009. She has a bachelor's degree in Environmental Science with a minor in Earth Science, from the University of Michigan. She has been in the environmental education field for several years now, working at many places throughout Ann Arbor, focusing on instruction, curriculum and outreach. She is often found at either the library or a park with two of her loves: books and rocks.

Courtney Peterson, Education Program Associate -- Courtney joined the Environmental Education team in August 2009. She has taught science in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and New York, and has a Michigan K-8 teacher certification. She has worked as a curriculum consultant for a range of organizations including NYC Audubon, Urban Divers, and Michigan State University and developed curriculum on topics including ecology, sustainability, and composting. She has a Master's degree in Environmental Education from New York University (NYU) and is currently also a part-time PhD student in Science Education at Michigan State University.