‘There’s no bad weather, there’s just bad clothing’
Green STEMS encourages the community to learn from nature in all seasons
By Lindsay White
‘There’s no bad weather, there’s just bad clothing’
Green STEMS encourages the community to learn from nature in all seasons
By Lindsay White
On a cold, cloudy Wednesday morning in March, most Bloomington-Normal parks sit empty. In Ewing Park, however, children’s laughter wafts through the bare trees. Toddlers run down the trail, magnifying glasses in-hand; their parents following closely behind to marvel at the next bird, snowdrop, or stick pointed out.
“We asked ourselves, ‘If we could do anything to live out a mission for change, what would we do?’” said Dr. Allison Antink-Meyer, professor in the School of Teaching and Learning. The answer was the Green STEMs Project, an initiative that encourages leaving the traditional classroom and allowing young children and their adults to engage and learn in nature together, working towards a greater good.
“The first step to getting people to care about sustainability and climate change is to get people to engage with nature, wildlife, and the environment,” said Dr. Tony Lorsbach, professor in the School of Teaching and Learning. “We know that families that enjoy outdoor time are more likely to be good stewards of the environment.”
One such opportunity is through Wonder Walks, like the one Antink-Meyer, Lorsbach, and their colleague Dr. Ryan Brown, professor in the School of Teaching and Learning, coordinated in early March. Wonder Walks welcome families to a park or nature reserve in the community to meet new friends, explore, and learn about their environment. Exploration tools are given to children, and prompts are given to adults for reference as they experience unstructured play.
Research has shown that unstructured play supports physical and mental health and social and emotional learning in children, but it can be hard for caregivers to step back and let children take the lead. By providing support and resources, Green STEMS makes this an easier transition.
Scheduled throughout the year, Wonder Walks do not always fall on warm and sunny days, nor are they meant to. “Not every experience is possible when the weather is perfect,” said Antink-Meyer. While the weather was cold and gray in March, the children in attendance were able to see snowdrops, flowers which are often missed due to their short blooming season occurring while many are still hesitant to venture outdoors for very long.
While Wonder Walks have grown in popularity since their first implementation in 2022, Green STEMS also utilizes relationships with schools, employers, and community agencies to engage children and their families in educational environmental play. Their partnership with the Children’s Discovery Museum in Normal for the annual Day of Play allowed for even the youngest of children to get involved.
With a theme of “textures in nature,” kids were welcomed to touch and play with items such as sand, wood shavings, and corn on the cob while parents and guardians read more about how these activities benefitted their young ones. Before leaving, families were invited to select a seedling to take home and nurture, bringing environmental stewardship even closer to home.
As Green STEMS grows and develops, Antink-Meyer, Brown, and Lorsbach remain focused on the overarching goal: to grow the community’s interest in sustainability and climate change through education. “If you don’t know, you can’t care,” said Brown. “And we need people to care.”
Learn more about Green STEMS and access resources on Facebook and Instagram.
Children and their adult explore nature during a Wonder Walk.
A child plays during the Children's Discovery Museum's Day of Play.