Eagle Eye’s Learning programs include 1 day Learn About programs and 3-day Learn More About sessions.

Learn About programs are Eagle Eye Institute's signature one-day programs that have been offered and refined since 1992. The Learn About program day is a magical, one-day experience that brings 10 to 15 urban youth to a rural environment and introduces them to the beauty and care of our natural resources. Additionally, it begins to build bridges to careers in environmental, green, and natural resource sectors for urban residents, especially people of color, who otherwise might not consider a career in these fields.

Why Learn About programs?

• Learn About programs open a young person's eyes to a whole new world
• They ensure the environmental movement includes ALL voices of many backgrounds
• They connect urban youth to rural natural resources
• And they link natural resource professionals with young people eager to explore and learn

Learn About components:

• Champions
• A youth group of 10 to 15 youths
• A remote natural site at least one hour's drive from the starting city
• Two natural resource professionals to serve as naturalist instructors
  and role models

Learn About programs involve:

• A journey from the city to a rural natural resource (forest, farm, water resource)
• Hands-on exploratory learning
• A stewardship project which develops new skills, builds teamwork and encourages responsibility
• A supportive environment that fosters learning, fun and adventure

The strength of the program has been, and is, the educational component and the exposure of our young people to the healing power of nature. I am constantly amazed by the simple fact that getting our young people out of the city and into the woods can make a big difference in their outlook, for some it is just for the day; but, for others it can make the difference in them completing the program.
Art Franz, Educator, Youthbuild Springfield

Learn About results:

• Youth are inspired to be environmental leaders
• Youth become more aware and knowledgeable of the natural environment
• Youth and youth workers form memorable and profound relationships
• Instructors connect with new populations

Eagle Eye's Learn About series include several one-day programs. These programs are:

• Learn About Forests™
• Learn About Water™
• Learn About Agriculture™
• Winter Exploration: An additional program that offers many of the same benefits but in a shorter and seasonally adjusted format that introduces young people to the wonders of winter, winter ecology, winter tree identification while teaching the basics of dressing for playing and working outdoors safely

These Learn About program days are enhanced by our Stewardship programs and the
3-day Learn More About Forests™ programs .

Learn More About Forests™

This three day, two night camping experience focused on leadership development, connecting with nature, and learning about additional types of green industry jobs.

During this three day two night camping experience students will connect with nature, challenge
themselves, expand their comfort zones and learn more about jobs and job skills in the area of arboriculture. …and participated in fun and educational nature based activities. Natural resource professionals visited throughout the three days and led the students in hands on activities. This three day two night camping experience proved to be a great way for YouthBuild staff and students to spend an extended time in nature together while learning more about the green industry, forests, the natural world and having fun. Participants slept in tents on tent platforms and had the opportunity to sleep out in the open air. YouthBuild students and staff set up and broke down camp, cooked and cleaned up meals and were put in positions of leadership throughout the program. There was deliberate time scheduled for the participants to reflect on their experiences in a group setting throughout the program. The entire three days was spent outside connecting with and learning about nature, other YouthBuild Program participants, Eagle Eye staff and green industry professionals. Participants received a deeper, clearer, more profound understanding of the power of nature, themselves, others and what it is like being part of a positive, safe and understanding community where it is okay to expand your comfort zones, take challenges, open up and make mistakes.

Activities may include a solar power workshop, wildlife photography, tree climbing and an introduction to arboriculture work and a land management stewardship project.

Below is a poem that one Learn More About Forests™ Program participant wrote during her time on the program.

The Sun Beating Down by Kendra Scaldione