Awarded Outstanding EE Program in 2021 by AAEE & Educator of the Yr in 2022 by AZGFD.
"Teaching children about the natural world should be treated as one of the most important events in their lives."Thomas Berry
About Educating Children Outdoors LLC
Welcome to Educating Children Outdoors (ECO)!
ECO began its mission to get more children outdoors to experience nature and learn about their natural world in 2017. The program began in Atlanta, Georgia and launched in Phoenix, Arizona in 2019, after the founder relocated due to health reasons. Since 2017 ECO programs have assisted over 150 children in spending over 1,000 hrs outdoors.
ECO is a 100% outdoor, place-based program that is similar to the "forest school" programs prevalent across Europe, minus the forest. Instead we have a wondrous, beautiful, and biologically diverse desert to explore, so we refer to our program model as a "desert school." We are one of the few 100% outdoor desert schools across the world. Our mission is to immerse children in connecting with the natural world. Through ECO, children learn about and explore nature through cross-curricular, hands-on, experiential activities, so that they will develop knowledge about, love for, and dedication to nature's wonders.
Our program has been very well received since launching in Phoenix. As a result, we have expanded our programming so that we can assist even more children with getting outdoors to learn. We now offer outdoor programs in Tucson, Casa Grande, Marana Prescott, Show Low, and Phoenix Metro. In addition to our semester homeschool programs, we are also offering weekend and evening programs for families, as well as private programs for groups (school, after-school, scouts, etc). We also offer wildlife wonder drop in class options, nature journaling classes, nature-themed book club, family hikes, and youth bird outings for families who are unable to commit to our semester program. And in Fall 2022 we will be adding ECO Guardians a program just for adults. View our calendar below, and check back often because we are always adding programs.
We have expanded our semester homeschool programs and will have 11 program options beginning in August 2022. Our Pathfinders program is for children in PreK-K, our Trailblazers and Adventurers programs are for children in 1st-4th, our Explorers program is for children in 4th-7th (Show Low Location), and our Teen Naturalist program is for children in 8th-12th. In Fall 2023 we will be launching ECO Inchworms a program for toddlers and moms.
If you would like to help us ensure that no child is left inside, please consider making a donation to our scholarship fund. This fund will help cover program costs for families that need financial assistance.
If you would like to learn more about our programs we invite you to join our next Info, Meet and Greet or view our Info, Meet and Greet video.
Thank you for visiting our website. Please let us know if you have any questions.
AAEE 2021 Outstanding Environmental Education Award Recipient
AAEE 2021 Outstanding Environmental Education Award Recipient
AAEE 2021 Outstanding Environmental Education Award Recipient
We are honored to b awarded the 2021 Outstanding Environmental Education Program award!
AZGFD 2022 Educator of the Year Award Recipient
AAEE 2021 Outstanding Environmental Education Award Recipient
AAEE 2021 Outstanding Environmental Education Award Recipient
Kathy is honored to be awarded the 2022 Educator of the Year Award award!
ESA Approved Vendor
NASA PLACES Case Writer
NASA PLACES Case Writer
We are now an approved vendor with ESA!
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ECO received 2 classroom water quality testing kits from EarthEcho International!
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