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Staff Feature – Nature in Your Classroom

July 30, 2021

Biweekly Curriculum-Linked Livestreams Hosted on YouTube

TRCA education team members lead online Nature in Your Classroom livestream

Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, TRCA’s education team took a lead role in adapting their programs and events to virtual platforms.

Since the launch of the Education and Training Division’s Virtual Learning Strategy on March 31, 2020, many TRCA teams from across the organization have closely collaborated to deliver virtual learning experiences to community members — including webinars, virtual school programs and field trips, pre-recorded videos, and educational livestreams.

Throughout the spring and summer of 2020, the livestreams were primarily hosted through Facebook as part of TRCA’s #AtHomeWithNature campaign.

As of fall 2020, these livestreams shifted to address needs identified by teachers across TRCA’s jurisdiction. For the entire 2020-2021 school year, TRCA’s Nature in Your Classroom team has been broadcasting live through YouTube every two weeks.

TRCA education team member William Sorley conducts livestream session in the fall for grade 3 students

Each curriculum-linked session was designed for a specific grade, with digital worksheets for teachers and students available upon request.

The team successfully navigated the ebb and flow of COVID-19 restrictions, with sessions hosted from TRCA greenspaces, partner sites, and team members’ homes. A variety of TRCA partner organizations and funders were also creatively integrated into sessions, providing innovative examples of virtual collaboration.

The Nature in Your Classroom Team

TRCA education team member Jasmine Thompson conducts livestream session in the fall for grade 4 students

The core team members who have developed, coordinated, and implemented the Nature in Your Classroom sessions over the entire school year are Raja Raudsepp, William Sorley, Jasmine Thompson, Carley Borja and Emma Brookfield.

This team has been leading TRCA’s version of a live education broadcast production studio, rapidly learning and refining a wide range of technological tools to bring a high-quality product to community members in TRCA’s jurisdiction and beyond.

This effort has involved seamlessly pulling together, both in front of the camera and behind the scenes, a truly innovative TRCA virtual learning experience.

TRCA education team members lead online Nature in Your Classroom livestream

Over the course of the 17 episodes hosted by the Nature in Your Classroom team from October 2020 to June 2021, more 10,000 viewers tuned in! Feedback from residents, partners, funders, and colleagues has been overwhelmingly positive.

To experience for yourself, please check out TRCA’s Nature in Your Classroom video playlist on YouTube. You can also enjoy a fascinating summer episode about electrofishing — produced in collaboration with TRCA’s Aquatic Monitoring team!