I have taught elementary school children about wetlands and forests, teenagers about zoo animals, college students about writing, and more. Below is a list of the places I’ve taught.
Teaching at North Cascades Institute’s Mountain School
Dates: September 2016 – November 2016
Location: North Cascades National Park, WA
Activities: I led outdoor trail groups of students in grades 5-7th at North Cascades National Park. Students attended three days of class at the Park (one full day and two half-days), exploring the local environment and learning about forest ecosystems. Lesson themes included the water cycle, rock cycle, food chains and food webs, plant and animal adaptations, and developing observation and inquiry skills.
Schools involved: See below for a list of schools I worked with in Mountain School and the dates on which I led trail groups with them.
September 12-14th, Carl Cozier Elementary
September 14-16th, Jefferson Elementary
September 19th-21st, Skagit Adventist
September 21st-23rd, Methow Valley Elementary
October 3rd-5th, Happy Valley Elementary
October 17-19th, Lowell Elementary
October 19th-21st, Islandview Elementary
October 31st-November 2nd, Evergreen Elementary
Teaching at Clark Fork Watershed Education Program
Dates: March 2013 – May 2013
Location: Various sites in Missoula County, MT
Activities: Worked with CFWEP’s elementary schools education program, assisting with school field trips to wetland sites and visiting classrooms to talk about wetlands ecology. Themes included the water cycle, macroinvertebrates, human impacts on wetlands, and wetlands restoration.
Teaching at University of Montana
Dates: August 2011 – May 2012
Location: University of Montana, Missoula, MT
Activities: Taught two semesters of Writing 101 for college freshmen. The theme for that year’s 101 class was “Writing about place.”
Teaching at Jackson Bottom Wetlands
Dates: September 2004 – June 2006
Location: Jackson Bottom Wetlands, Hillsboro, OR
Activities: Assisted in running the once-weekly “Lunch With The Birds” bird-watching program at the wetland; gave talks to wetland visitors and volunteers about aquatic macroinvertebrates.
Teaching as an Oregon Zoo volunteer
Dates: May 2003 – March 2008
Location: Oregon Zoo, Portland, OR
Activities: Spent a summer as a Zoo Ambassador, doing interpretive work at the Zoo’s butterfly tent and lorikeet exhibits; spent three years as a ZooTeen, doing interpretive work and animal care at various Zoo sites including the Insect Zoo, Family Farm interactive exhibit, African Pygmy Goats yard, and Education Program Animals facility; spent five years as a volunteer in the Zoo’s Bird Show program, doing interpretive work about raptors, handling birds, and assisting with summer bird shows and school visits; spent one year as a College Intern at the Family Farm exhibit.
Nick Engelfried 