From Anxious to Amazing: KACEE Brings Environmental Education Professional Development to Local Educators

KACEE staff members Rachel Wahle and Amanda Campanella had the opportunity to present at USD 383's (Manhattan-Ogden School District) professional development day, bringing environmental education directly to educators. The day centered on one core message:

Getting students outside doesn't have to be complicated, and it doesn't have to take long.

Today's students are navigating more anxiety, more screen time, and more difficulty focusing than previous generations and educators feel that every day in the classroom. But these same students are also curious, creative, and capable of real engagement when something connects with them. The goal of the day wasn't to add one more thing to a teacher's plate, but to show how a small shift — like five minutes outside can make a difference for students and teachers.

The session introduced the #OutsideFor5 movement, a challenge inviting educators to get their students outdoors for just five minutes a day. No lesson plan required. No prep. Just a nature notice, a movement reset, or a quiet moment of observation. It can be as simple as five minutes outside can restore up to fifteen minutes of focus inside their classrooms.

Environmental Education Isn't One More Thing

KACEE's approach to environmental education starts with a simple belief: educators are already doing great work, and the outdoors can make it even better. We're not here to add to a teacher's to-do list. We're here to show how nature fits into what they're already doing — supporting literacy, math, science, art, social-emotional learning, and more.

Bringing KACEE to Your School

KACEE offers tailored professional development for school districts across Kansas. Every experience is designed for the educators in the room, their students, and the outdoor spaces already available to them. Whether your district is looking to address student anxiety, build stronger connections to science standards, or simply give teachers a meaningful and restorative day of growth, KACEE can design something that fits.

If you're interested in bringing KACEE to your school or district, we'd love to talk. Explore our professional learning programs, register for an eeCourse or eeCredential, or contact us to start the conversation.

Contact Rachel Wahle, Kansas Green Schools Director, rwahle@kacee.org