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Welcome to AAPS Environmental Education!
Welcome to AAPS Environmental Education!
Since 1960, the AAPS EE Program has been educating and inspiring students through meaningful learning experiences in the natural environment. Lessons are designed to support and enhance classroom curriculum, most often with specific connections to grade-level life science units. We aim to help students become responsible environmental stewards, with the attitudes, understandings and skills to protect our one and only Earth now and in the future.
Have a question about the program? We would love to hear from you! Contact Coert Ambrosino (734-474-5277, ambrosinoc@aaps.k12.mi.us) or Sarah Hill (734-476-0508, hillsa@aaps.k12.mi.us) to learn more.
Interested in supporting our work? Please consider becoming a volunteer or contributing to the A2SEEE endowment .
During the 2025-26 school year, the AAPS EE Program will provide environmental learning experiences for approximately 500 Young Fives to Seventh Grade and high school environmental science classes across AAPS! You can find an overview of our 2025-26 program offerings here.
Dave Szczygiel wins the William Stapp Environmental Education award!
Dave Szczygiel wins the William Stapp Environmental Education award!
In October 2025, retired and legendary environmental educator Dave Szczygiel was honored with a lifetime achievement award by the Michigan Alliance for Environmental and Outdoor Education. The award is named for Dr. Bill Stapp, who helped found the AAPS EE Program. Find out more in this district news article. What a deserving recognition! Congratulations, Dave!
Thank you to everyone who was able to participate the Freeman Spring Environmental Festival!
This annual event is an afternoon of fun and educational activities - trivia, arts & crafts, native plants, high school student presentations, stewardship activities, and more!
This event is planned and facilitated by the Freeman Environmental Youth Council. Thank you to the A2SEEE Fund for providing financial support for Youth Council projects and events like this!
Community partners that contributed to this year's festival include VegMichigan, New Roots Institute, Leslie Science and Nature Center, Nature & Nurture Farm, Ann Arbor Parks & Rec, and Seeds to Community. Thank you!
See below for photos from this year's festival!
Our 2024 "A2 Nature Guardians" summer day camp was featured in the AAPS District News! You can check out the story here.
Our 2024 "A2 Nature Guardians" summer day camp was featured in the AAPS District News! You can check out the story here.
Learn about the past, present, and future of our unique site with this neat digital tool, which was developed through a collaborative project with the UM School for Environment and Sustainability. Click here to view.
Thank you to the MANY students, staff, and community volunteers who have been involved in recent efforts to promote biodiversity at the Freeman EE Center by collecting seed, removing invasive species, and planting native seeds and seedlings. These activities provide authentic and engaging learning contexts while also leaving a positive legacy on the landscape.
AAPS EE Program and IB Program Collaboration Featured in District News
Check out this article, which describes the experiential learning that we helped facilitate for Huron High School IB students for the launch day of their Collaborative Science Research Project.
🌱 New Rain Gardens at the Freeman EE Center 🌱
🌱 New Rain Gardens at the Freeman EE Center 🌱
Returning and prospective Youth Council members came together on a sunny September afternoon in 2024 to plant a rain garden, transforming a muddy and eroded strip next to our outdoor seating area into a new home for 15 native plant species. The garden was designed and dug with the help of 'A2 Nature Guardians' summer campers in July, and planted with seedlings grown in the Freeman nursery! Coming soon...a new rain garden to be added in September 2025!
Freeman Environmental Youth Council facilitated the "Our Trash Tells a Story" workshop and served as the closing speakers at the 2025 A2 Climate Teach-In!
See photos from the event below and a video of the YC speech here.
During the 2024, Teach-In Youth Council members served as the opening speakers, introduced break-out sessions, and staffed a table during the networking session!
This has been a meaningful opportunity for our council to get out into the community and participate in climate education and action!
Huron IB Cooperative Science Research Project @ Freeman
In October 2023, we hosted a large group of students from Huron High School's International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme for a day of experiential learning at Freeman. This year's research topic focused on soil conservation. Check out this AAPS District News story to learn more.
Huron IB Service-Learning; October 19-20, 2023
Huron IB Service-Learning; October 19-20, 2023
Students from Huron High School's International Baccalaureate Diploma and Career Programmes planted 30 trees and helped remove invasive woody plants. Learn more in this district news story here.
Native Plant Propagation at the Freeman EE Center
Native Plant Propagation at the Freeman EE Center
In 2023, we added an outdoor nursery area and produced approximately 650 herbaceous plant seedlings and 100 tree saplings.
In 2023, we added an outdoor nursery area and produced approximately 650 herbaceous plant seedlings and 100 tree saplings.
We are using these native plants for restoration and habitat enhancement projects at the Freeman EE Center.
We are using these native plants for restoration and habitat enhancement projects at the Freeman EE Center.
Before
After
Native plants in our front courtyard, in their second growing season (Photo taken July 2023)
Environmental Sustainability Framework approved by AAPS Board of Education
Environmental Sustainability Framework approved by AAPS Board of Education
In December 2022, the Ann Arbor Public Schools Board of Education approved a robust sustainability framework for the school district, which includes plans for expanded sustainability and environmental justice learning opportunities for students. EE Program staff contributed to the development of the instructional aspects of the plan, and are excited to support the implementation of new lessons throughout the district.
Volunteer Spotlight: Michael Benham
Volunteer Spotlight: Michael Benham
Michael Benham has been volunteering as a small-group naturalist guide for the EE Program since 2018. He has interacted with thousands of AAPS students during that time, imparting knowledge, demonstrating care and respect for the natural world, and modeling a genuine curiosity to constantly learn more.
He started his career working for the City of Chicago and the Metra commuter rail system, where he had responsibility for environmental issues. He moved to Michigan in 1997 and worked for a small management consulting firm with Ford, SBC Global, Pfizer and others as clients. In 2008, he was contracted by the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority to assist in commuter rail projects, and he worked there until his retirement from paid work in 2017.
Michael has been interested in the environment since before he even knew how to define it! He grew up on the fringe of Chicago suburbia, watching the bulldozers impact the natural areas as development spread. In his early years, he would run free through the woods, prairies, swamps and creeks, spending entire days wandering, examining, climbing trees, and catching critters. However, every year another chunk of our "jungle" got taken. The creek was put into a pipe underground. The woods and prairies were mowed down and the swamp filled in.
By then, Michael had gone on to high school and a bunch of other interests. But he’s been back to the “jungle”, and comments that “there are some nice houses there now.” Michael sees this story being repeated all over the country, the world, and even in our community. He shares, “I think it is incredibly important that our young people have a deep understanding of their larger environment and be equipped to fix things before it is too late. That's one reason I am involved in this program.”
Of course, there is also the sheer joy of working with the kids, and even learning from them. The trips give Michael incentive to brush up on his own knowledge (why don't duck's feet freeze in the winter?). Although he has taken both the Michigan Master Naturalist and Stewardship Programs, he says he can always learn more and enjoys doing so in preparation for trips. Michael also appreciates the way that EE field trips get him outside and active - good for health!
Michael is also a local park steward who somehow finds time to also pitch in with hands-on volunteerism at the Freeman EE Center, helping with activities like invasive species removal and planting projects. Michael shares that he “really enjoys getting to know fellow volunteers and working together to have a successful outing or project. Great teamwork is exciting!”
Thank you Michael, for your continued efforts on restoration activities at the Freeman EE Center, and for all of your volunteerism on EE field trips to support our local students!
Click HERE to see more volunteer pictures.
Volunteers make this program work! Community volunteers join AAPS teachers and EE staff in the field, sharing extensive knowledge about science and the natural environment. It is thanks to their dedication and participation that these field trips are enjoyable and productive for AAPS students. Thinking of volunteering? Contact Coert Ambrosino at 734-474-5277 or ambrosinoc@aaps.k12.mi.us to learn more.
Get the latest news and consider donating to the Science and Environmental Education Endowment!
Help secure the future of experiential, environmental education in our schools. Learn more by clicking HERE, and thank you!
Website: EE webmaster - Coert Ambrosino
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