Teacher Resources
Wallowa Mountain Institute (WMI) strives to support local teachers in delivering high quality, engaging science lessons to students of all ages. We specialize in teaching natural resource based topics and the local ecology and biology of the Wallowas. We love teaching hands-on, place-based lessons which can be adapted for an outdoor or in-classroom setting. Explore the options below to learn more about how WMI can support your needs as a teacher.
Classroom Visits
We offer engaging lessons on a wide variety of natural science topics. For example, we’ve visited local classrooms to teach lessons on salmon biology, plant anatomy, glaciers and local geology, animal behavior, and ecology. Our classroom visits can be adapted to meet your specific scheduling needs, topics, and standards being taught. Our teaching style is hands-on, and we cater to different learning styles by utilizing a variety of teaching methods such as group discussion, physical models, games, and art.
If you would like a WMI instructor to visit your classroom, let us know what you would like us to teach by filling out the form below. Please give us at least two weeks notice to schedule your lesson, and understand that certain times of year (May and September in particular) are busy for us, but that we’ll do our best to accommodate you.
Field Trips
Do you want to give your students more outside learning opportunities but aren’t sure where to start? WMI can help! Outdoor education is what we love most! WMI instructors can help you curate an exciting local field trip to meet your learning needs. We can help you choose a location, instruct and teach, and provide any necessary equipment for the lesson. For example, we’ve taken classes out to Hurricane Creek to learn about riparian habitat by doing vegetation surveys and collecting macroinvertebrates. We’ve learned about native edible and medicinal plants at the Lostine Wildlife Area by leading students on a nature walk. And we’ve used chemistry to test the water quality of the Wallowa River with high school students at Tamkaliks.
Whether you just need a nature guide, or a fully formed outdoor lesson, WMI is here to assist. We can offer half or full day excursions and can meet you just about anywhere in the county. If you would like to arrange a field trip, fill out the form below. Please give us at least two weeks notice to schedule your field trip, and understand that certain times of year (May and September in particular) are busy for us, but that we’ll do our best to accommodate you.
Questions? Contact Emily Bratcher
