Hollin Meadows Teachers Attend Leadership Summit

Educators including teachers from Hollin Meadows Elementary gathered for the Children in Nature Leadership Summit over the weekend, an event that promotes children having fun in the outdoors.

“It was a fantastic opportunity to encourage people to impact legislation in a favorable way so that our students are able to focus on environmental stewardship and science,” said Shawn Akard, Outdoor Education Coordinator at Hollin Meadows Elementary School, said.

The event, sponsored by NoVAOutside at Meadowlark Gardens in Vienna, brought out about 70 area science teachers, parks staff, and conservation advocates. NoVAOutside works to increase unstructured time for children in the outdoors.

Attendees explored ways to provide outdoor experiences for every student every year at every grade level and how to reach underserved communities. 

Akard told the group, “Use your space, your school grounds.”  The nationally-recognized, science-based program at Hollin Meadows has helped raise student achievement, Akard said. The school also has an exansive garden program. First Lady Michelle Obama visited the school in November 2009.  

“Kids pick their passions when they are young,” said Myra Thayer, Fairfax County Public Schools Science Coordinator. “If they’re never exposed to nature, they will never value nature.”

Other speakers contended that getting kids outside can reduce obesity, address attention deficit syndrome, and improve mental health.

For information on NoVAOutside, visit their website. To learn more about the Hollin Meadows Elementary School program, visit their website.