Wild Wanderers 2024 was a student-led outdoor education project from the Environmental Leadership Program at the University of Oregon. We created and implemented three 30-minute classroom lessons and one all-day field trip to Mount Pisgah Arboretum. We collaborated with three local elementary schools and reached over 300 students in eight weeks. Each field trip gave students opportunities to hike, observe, and learn about the patterns and phenomena of our local ecosystems. Our mission was to support students' inquiries in ways that encouraged confidence and gave them a sense of belonging in the natural world. 

As a member of the second grade Wild Wanderers team, we focused on the Next Generation Science Standard (NGSS) 2-LS4-1: Make observations of plants and animals to compare the diversity of life in different habitats. To meet this standard, second graders learned about common species found in Douglas-fir forests highlighting the interactions and relationships had in nature. The lessons used species that are local to the arboretum, to teach about biodiversity, forest layers, and symbiotic relationships, all of which shine a light on the diversity of life. The lessons implemented concepts related to the scientific processes, questioning, and language arts.