Schoolyard Network Professional Development
Schools across the country are moving to more experiential models of teaching and learning, often combining place- or problem-based education frameworks with various versions of outdoor classrooms.
The Schoolyard Network provides a collaborative space where we model best experiential-learning practices through professional development sessions, hearty discussion, and shared success stories.
Great Backyard Bird Count
Each February, for four days, the world comes together for the love of birds. Over these four days we invite people to spend time in their favorite places watching and counting as many birds as they can find and reporting them to us. These observations help scientists better understand global bird populations before one of their annual migrations.
Earth Science and Environmental Club Educators: City Nature Challenge Training
Earth Science and Environmental Club Educators: Bring real-world science into your classroom with City Nature Challenge!
The City Nature Challenge is a global, four-day community science event that invites people to observe and record as many local species as possible. From April 24-27, 2026, educators and students across our region will join thousands worldwide to explore and document biodiversity. Locally, the event is coordinated by Ijams Nature Center, Zoo Knoxville, Discover Life in America, Sierra Club, the City of Knoxville, and Seven Islands State Birding Park. Join us in this teacher training to learn how to bring City Nature Challenge into your classroom. We’ll explore the purpose of the event, walk through an educator-friendly toolkit, and share practical ways to incorporate this experience into science standards while connecting your students to their schoolyard. Strategies included come from Project Credible at UT and Ijam's Nature Center.
Presenters: Paige Crane (Ijam's Education Director), Jennifer Sauer (6-8 Environmental Science & Project Credible), Kathryn Henley (Ecology, IB ESS & Project Credible), and David Krebs (IB Biology & Project Credible).
This training will be held on Monday, February 16th during the KCS in-service day, Time- TBD; information should be sent out to all KCS Science Teachers.
For any questions, please reach out to Jen Sauer (jennifer.sauer@knoxschools.org)
Schoolyard Network Professional Development
Schools across the country are moving to more experiential models of teaching and learning, often combining place- or problem-based education frameworks with various versions of outdoor classrooms.
The Schoolyard Network provides a collaborative space where we model best experiential-learning practices through professional development sessions, hearty discussion, and shared success stories.
School Environmental/Garden Club Meet-Up
Environmental/garden clubs will do a meet up at kerns on 3/20 at 4:30pm. Hear what other clubs are doing and ways we can collaborate. Contact Anne for more information-anne@gsmit.org
Schoolyard Network Professional Development
Schools across the country are moving to more experiential models of teaching and learning, often combining place- or problem-based education frameworks with various versions of outdoor classrooms.
The Schoolyard Network provides a collaborative space where we model best experiential-learning practices through professional development sessions, hearty discussion, and shared success stories.
Schoolyard Escape Professional Development
Join Tremont on Saturday, April 11th, 2026, for our one-day Schoolyard Escape workshop at Belle Morris Elementary – an amazing professional and personal development experience for educators across the Schoolyard Network and beyond. (Looking for a Schoolyard Escape Weekend in Ohio? Join us on April 18.)
City Nature Challenge!
The City Nature Challenge is an international collaboration between cities to see how much wildlife we all can observe, how many species we can find and how many people we can engage in a four-day period. It's a bioblitz that happens all over the world! This year’s challenge starts on April 24th and ends on April 27th.
Even in urban areas, we are surrounded by nature. In fact, pockets of habitat in urban areas are becoming increasingly important for wildlife to survive as urban areas expand. Documenting the nature around us helps scientists, local governments, land managers and citizens like you understand what lives where, how this changes over time and what we can do to protect wildlife. We need your help to learn as much as we can about the wild plants, animals and other wildlife of Knox and the surrounding counties of central East Tennessee.
Join us for the City Nature Challenge! Cities all over the world will collaborate to observe as much wildlife as possible. Help us record observations of wild plants, animals, fungi and more for the world’s largest wildlife census while learning who lives nearby.
Where and When: Anywhere in Anderson, Blount, Campbell, Claiborne, Grainger, Jefferson, Knox, Loudon, Monroe, Morgan, Roane, Scott, Sevier, and Union Counties, TN from April 24th – April 27th. More information: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2026-knox-area
Cattywampus Parade & Block Party: Where the Waters Meet
Schools are welcome to make puppets and join the parade! Line-Up: 2pm (Suttree Landing Park Pavilion) Kick-Off: 3pm Block Party: 3:30-6pm (Suttree Landing Park Festival Lawn) In east Knoxville, the confluence of the French Broad and Holston Rivers form the headwaters and start of the Tennessee River, one of the most biodiverse and 5th largest waterways in North America. We know water is not only one of our greatest sources of life but also a source of struggle for many communities, including our own, threatened by pollution and our ever-shifting climate. This parade season, we invite you to make giant puppets, costumes and other people-powered creations in celebration of water and a commitment to protect our waterways and all of the life they support, including our own. On Sunday, May 17th, we will then flow together as one and process along the Tennessee River at Suttree Landing Park, a beautiful confluence of community and art. More information-https://cattywampuspuppets.org/events
Teacher Escape Weekend I
When teachers use nature as a tool for their classroom, their students engage more – they ask more questions, share more observations, and feel emotionally invested in learning. That’s why we offer our Teacher Escape Weekends, an opportunity for educators to connect, get inspired, and find tools to make their work a bit easier.
Teacher Escape Weekend II
When teachers use nature as a tool for their classroom, their students engage more – they ask more questions, share more observations, and feel emotionally invested in learning. That’s why we offer our Teacher Escape Weekends, an opportunity for educators to connect, get inspired, and find tools to make their work a bit easier.
Teacher Escape Weekend III
When teachers use nature as a tool for their classroom, their students engage more – they ask more questions, share more observations, and feel emotionally invested in learning. That’s why we offer our Teacher Escape Weekends, an opportunity for educators to connect, get inspired, and find tools to make their work a bit easier.
KKB's 7th Annual Summit: Rooted in Place
KKB’s 7th Annual Summit:
Rooted in Place
January 30, 2026
EAST TENNESSEE HISTORY CENTER
The 7th Annual KKB Summit will be on January 30, 2026 at the East Tennessee History Center.
$20 per person (includes lunch)
We can’t wait for you to join us for another inspiring and empowering day of learning!
Check out our 6th Annual Summit Speaker Recap Videos & Blog here
Schoolyard Network Professional Development
Schools across the country are moving to more experiential models of teaching and learning, often combining place- or problem-based education frameworks with various versions of outdoor classrooms.
The Schoolyard Network provides a collaborative space where we model best experiential-learning practices through professional development sessions, hearty discussion, and shared success stories.
KOLC Quarterly Meeting
Join us for our Knox Outdoor Learning Coalition quarterly meeting this Thursday, January 15th!
This meeting will be held at United Way of Greater Knoxville (1301 Hannah Ave.) from 4:30pm-6:00pm.
What will be covered at this meeting?
Mac Post is presenting at Pachakecha Feb 12th Doors at 6:30 presentations start 7:30
United Way/Community Schools-Openings
Switch the date for our next meeting (middle school)
Subcommittees Action Plan Together (50 min total, subcommittee leads and share out)
What are the different KOLC Subcommittees?
Website Committee
Educator Professional Development
Enrichment
Placemaking
Project Wild Workshop
For more information visit: https://license.gooutdoorstennessee.com/Event/ViewEvent.aspx?id=59215
East Knoxville Community Cleanup 2025
The fifth annual East Knoxville Community Cleanup will be held on Saturday, September 27, 2025 from 9am-12pm. The event base will be at Caswell Park, located at 616 Jessamine Street, Knoxville, TN 37917.
We will be removing litter from East Knoxville roads, creeks, and parks. Participants of any age are welcome! This year, we have a special partnership with Ijams Nature Center to remove invasive species along the greenway as well.
We look forward to seeing those who live, work, or play in East Knoxville - as well as anyone who wants to lend a helping hand. Thank you for keeping Knoxville beautiful!
There are four volunteer options: two to sign up as an individual picking up litter, one to sign up as a group, and one to sign up for the invasive removal with Ijams. Please only fill out the section that applies to you.
Groups: Participating groups will send a leader to Mary Vestal Park to pick up supplies and then meet their group at their designated, or assigned neighborhood to pick up litter. Please only sign up as a group if you are wishing to lead your group in your own cleanup area.
Individuals
Caswell Park & Ashley Nicole Dream Playground
First Creek at Caswell Park
Invasive Removal
Keep Knoxville Beautiful will provide the following equipment:
Litter Pickers
Gloves
Safety Vests
Trash Bags
We highly recommend wearing long pants, and all volunteers must wear closed-toe shoes for the event. Please bring your own water.
The EKCC is rain or shine, but in the case of severe weather, the rain date is Sunday, September 28th.
Sign ups for groups close on Sunday, September 21st at 11:59 PM. Sign ups for individuals will stay open until filled.
Thank you to our sponsors Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA), The Pete and Thomas Foundation, Surveying and Mapping LLC, ZC Productions, Junk Galaxy, the City of Knoxville, Knox County, Keep Tennessee Beautiful, and Nobody Trashes Tennessee.
Please contact KKB at amanda@keepknoxvillebeautiful.org or (865) 521-6957 with any questions you may have.
Sign up here: https://app.betterunite.com/keepknoxvillebeautiful-eastknoxvillecommunitycleanup2025
Data in Nature Teacher Workshop
Are you interested in a FUN, FREE teacher workshop? Teachers of all grades and subjects are welcome!
Discover techniques to collect and analyze data with students! See attached flyer for more info.