activities · 21
what they do
direct service · 21
- Adult Workshops and Nature Skills Training Hands-On Natural History & Traditional Skills WorkshopsConducts monthly adult workshops led by local experts covering topics such as wild foods, foraging, tracking, herbal remedies, and watercoloring, delivered through hands-on activities or outdoor excursions. Also offers hands-on training in tree measurement using professional forestry tools through pre-registered, free 3-hour workshops.
- Adult and College-Level Environmental Education Hands-On Natural History & Traditional Skills WorkshopsOffers guided tours and hands-on learning experiences for college-level and adult learners, including workshops on topics like tree measurement, traditional food preparation, wild foods, foraging, tracking, herbal remedies, and watercoloring.
- College and Adult Environmental Education Hands-On Natural History & Traditional Skills WorkshopsProvides guided tours and hands-on learning experiences for college-level and adult learners, including monthly adult workshops led by local experts on topics such as wild foods, foraging, tracking, herbal remedies, and watercoloring, often involving hands-on activities or outdoor excursions.
- Community Craft and Engagement EventsHosts free community workshops where participants, including families, can assemble and decorate pollinator masks with staff, fostering creative engagement with environmental themes.
- Environmental Education Programs for K-12 Students Guided Environmental Field TripsProvides hands-on environmental education programs for K-5 students, as well as adaptable classroom programs for middle and high school students focused on critical thinking and nature connection. Programs range from 30 minutes to a full day, are tailored to grade level and location, and are limited to 30 students per session to support interactive learning.
- Environmental Education Programs for K-12 Students Guided Environmental Field TripsProvides hands-on environmental education programs for K-5 students, as well as adaptable classroom programs for middle and high school students focused on critical thinking and nature connection. Programs range from 30 minutes to a full day, are limited to 30 students per session, and can be delivered at the Willow Bend Center or at summer camps.
- Environmental Education Programs for K-12 Students Guided Environmental Field TripsProvides hands-on environmental education programs, including classroom programs and field trips, for K-12 students, tailored to grade level and location, with a maximum of 30 students per session to ensure interactive learning.
- Family Science and Special Themed Events Family Science Events & Nature WorkshopsOrganizes seasonal "Family Science" events with nature themes, including live animal presentations (e.g., eagles, desert tortoises, Gila Monsters), and hosts annual special events such as an ArtX puppet show, Herb Fest in June, and a Community Celebration in August.
- Family and Seasonal Public Events Family Science Events & Nature WorkshopsOrganizes seasonal "Family Science" events with nature themes, including live animal presentations (e.g., eagles, desert tortoises, Gila Monsters), and hosts annual special events such as an ArtX puppet show, Herb Fest in June, and a Community Celebration in August.
- Field Trips and Guided Tours Guided Environmental Field TripsConducts guided field trips featuring trail exploration and wildlife observation, and offers guided tours for college-level and adult learners focused on Flagstaff’s history, geology, and wildlife at locations such as Picture Canyon, Downtown Flagstaff, and the Beale Wagon Road.
- Guided Field Trips and Nature Exploration Guided Environmental Field TripsConducts guided field trips that include trail exploration, wildlife observation, and hands-on learning experiences. Offers guided tours focused on Flagstaff’s history, geology, and wildlife at locations such as Picture Canyon, Downtown Flagstaff, and the Beale Wagon Road.
- Guided Nature and History Tours Guided Environmental Field TripsConducts guided field trips and tours focused on Flagstaff history, geology, and wildlife, including trail exploration, wildlife observation, and visits to historical sites like Picture Canyon, Downtown Flagstaff, and the Beale Wagon Road.
- Living History and Cultural Expeditions Living History & Historic Skills EducationOrganizes a two-day living history adventure along the historic Beale Wagon Road, featuring camels and re-enactments of Lieutenant Edward Beale's expedition, including evening activities at Spring Valley Cabin such as Dutch oven dinners, campfire storytelling, interpretive hikes to Laws Spring to view petroglyphs, and presentations on the U.S. Army's camel experiment.
- Living History and Cultural Expeditions Living History & Historic Skills EducationOrganizes a two-day living history adventure along the historic Beale Wagon Road, featuring camels and re-enactments of Lieutenant Edward Beale's expedition, including evening activities such as Dutch oven dinners, campfire storytelling, interpretive hikes to Laws Spring to view petroglyphs, and presentations on the U.S. Army's camel experiment.
- Monthly Science Saturday Events Family Science Events & Nature WorkshopsHosts free, hands-on "Science Saturday" events on the first Saturday of every month from 9:30 am to 11:30 am, featuring rotating themes, interactive games, live demonstrations, crafts, and presentations from local experts to engage families and children in nature exploration and naturalist skills, including pollinator education.
- Monthly Science Saturday Events Family Science Events & Nature WorkshopsHosts free, monthly "Science Saturday" events for all ages, featuring hands-on activities, interactive games, demonstrations, and presentations from local experts, each focusing on a different environmental theme such as pollinators or what it means to be a naturalist.
- Nutrition and Cultural Food Workshops Nutrition Education & Cooking SkillsOffers workshops that combine cultural education and nutrition, such as preparing a traditional Blue Corn Parfait with a modern, nutritious twist.
- Science Saturday Community Events Family Science Events & Nature WorkshopsHosts a free, monthly "Science Saturday" event on the first Saturday of every month from 9:30 am to 11:30 am, featuring hands-on activities, interactive games, live demonstrations, crafts, and presentations from local experts, with rotating themes focused on nature and naturalist skills, including pollinator education.
- Special Community Events and Festivals Family Science Events & Nature WorkshopsOrganizes annual and seasonal special events for the community, including "Family Science" events with live animal presentations, an ArtX puppet show, an Herb Fest, a Community Celebration, and a two-day living history adventure reenacting the Beale Wagon Road expedition.
- Summer Camp and On-Site Program Delivery Guided Environmental Field TripsAdapts and delivers environmental education programs for summer camps, either at the Willow Bend Environmental Education Center or at the camp’s location.
- Workshops in Forestry and Traditional FoodsOffers hands-on workshops in measuring tree height, canopy, and trunk circumference using professional forestry tools, including a free, public 3-hour tree measurement workshop requiring pre-registration. Also offers culinary workshops such as preparing a traditional Blue Corn Parfait with a nutritious, modern twist.
strategies · 20
how they think
Theories of action extracted from this org's own source material. Click any to see the full field of orgs running the same approach.
- Adaptive and Culturally Sensitive Environmental Education adaptive_educationThe organization customizes its educational programming to meet the specific needs of students, considering their age, background, cultural sensitivities, and learning goals. This includes integrating Indigenous agriculture and community-based land stewardship, and offering sequential or blended program formats to ensure relevance and effectiveness.
- Adaptive and Inclusive Education Design adaptive_educationCustomizes environmental education programming based on age, cultural background, learning goals, and educational context—offering sequential, blended, or tailored formats to meet diverse community needs.
- Adaptive and inclusive education programming adaptive_educationCustomizes environmental education content and delivery based on student age, cultural background, learning goals, and context—including sequential or blended formats—to ensure relevance and accessibility.
- Community Access and Engagement Model community_engagementEnsures broad public access to environmental education through free events like “Science Saturdays,” while using fee-based adult workshops with take-home materials to support programming sustainability.
- Community access through free and fee-based programming community_engagementEnsures broad community access by offering free events like Science Saturdays while also providing fee-based adult workshops that include take-home materials to support continued learning.
- Community-Based Ecological Restoration and Food Sovereignty food_sovereignty_and_ecological_restorationThe organization focuses on strengthening food sovereignty and ecological resilience through practical initiatives like seed revitalization and rangeland restoration. This approach aims to empower communities through direct engagement in sustainable land management practices.
- Culturally-Integrated Environmental Education culturally-integrated environmental educationIntegrates plant science, Indigenous agricultural knowledge, and community-based land stewardship into educational programming to foster environmental awareness and strengthen cultural connections to the land.
- Culturally-integrated environmental education culturally-integrated environmental educationBridges plant science, Indigenous agriculture, and community-based land stewardship in educational programming to foster environmental awareness and promote responsible stewardship of natural and cultural resources.
- Experiential Learning Model experiential_learningUses hands-on, interactive, and immersive activities—both in classrooms and outdoor settings—to engage learners, promote critical thinking, and deepen connection with nature through direct experience.
- Experiential and Hands-On Environmental Education experiential_learningWillow Bend Environmental Education Center utilizes hands-on, interactive, and outdoor learning experiences to foster curiosity, critical thinking, and connection to nature. This approach includes activities like garden work, art projects, and family-friendly interactive events to engage participants of all ages in environmental education.
- Experiential learning through hands-on engagement experiential_learningUses interactive, hands-on activities—both in classrooms and outdoor settings—to enhance environmental education, foster curiosity, and deepen connection to nature through direct experience.
- Food Sovereignty and Ecological Restoration Integration food sovereignty and ecological restorationAdvances environmental education and community resilience through seed revitalization and rangeland restoration initiatives that link ecological health with Indigenous food sovereignty.
- Food sovereignty and ecological restoration through seed and land stewardship food sovereignty and ecological restorationStrengthens food sovereignty and ecological resilience by focusing on seed revitalization and rangeland restoration as core components of environmental education and community engagement.
- Interdisciplinary Environmental Education interdisciplinary_environmental_educationConnects environmental science with history, art, and storytelling—using living history re-enactments, art-based ecology projects, and historical context—to create holistic learning experiences that link past and present environmental practices.
- Interdisciplinary Environmental Education and Outreach interdisciplinary_environmental_educationWillow Bend employs a broad approach to environmental education, combining various disciplines such as art, history, and science to promote environmental awareness and stewardship. This includes using storytelling, puppetry, living history re-enactments, and connecting historical exploration with modern environmental issues to provide a comprehensive understanding of the natural world.
- Interdisciplinary education linking ecology, art, and history interdisciplinary_environmental_educationCombines art, storytelling, living history re-enactments, and historical exploration with ecological themes to create engaging, multidimensional learning experiences that connect past and present environmental challenges.
- Tree- and Ecosystem-Focused Environmental Education environmental_educationUses trees and key ecological components (e.g., pollinators, rangelands) as focal points for science-based education to promote awareness of ecosystem interdependence and stewardship.
- Tree- and pollinator-focused environmental education environmental_educationUses tree-centric and pollinator-themed programming to educate the public about critical ecosystem components, combining science-based content with interactive demonstrations and art projects.
- Workforce Development through Internships workforce developmentBuilds capacity and provides learning pathways by engaging interns through academic partnerships, AmeriCorps, and other structured programs.
- Workforce development through internships and service programs workforce developmentEngages interns via academic partnerships, AmeriCorps, and other pathways to build capacity and provide experiential learning opportunities in environmental stewardship.
named programs · 9
what they call their work
ARTx: Nature Tales: Puppets and Pollinators
A creative collaboration with Red Herring Puppets and Momentum Aerial, blending storytelling, large-scale puppetry, and community workshops to celebrate pollinators.
Adult Workshops
Monthly workshops led by local experts on natural world topics around Flagstaff, including wild foods, foraging, tracking, herbal remedies, and art, often involving hands-on activities or outdoor excursions.
Arizona Magnificent Trees Program Workshop
A free workshop in partnership with AZDFFM to educate participants on champion, heritage, and witness trees, and provide hands-on practice with forestry tools for measuring trees.
Blue Corn Parfait Workshop
An adult workshop led by Darrell Yazzie Jr. teaching participants to craft a traditional blue corn parfait, bridging plant science, Indigenous agriculture, and community-based land stewardship.
Family Science
Seasonal nature-themed events for families, often featuring live animals and inspiring nature experiences.
Guided Tours
Interpretive tours exploring Flagstaff history, geology, and wildlife at various destinations like Picture Canyon, Downtown Flagstaff, and the Beale Wagon Road.
School Programs
Provides engaging in-class presentations and hands-on field trips for K-12 students, adaptable for middle/high school and college levels, focusing on environmental education.
Science Saturday
A free, monthly, hands-on community event held on the first Saturday of each month, featuring live demonstrations, crafts, and local experts on changing environmental themes.
Special Events
Annual events such as the ArtX puppet show, Herb Fest, and Community Celebration, offering unique educational and community engagement opportunities.
relationships · 20
who they work with
- APS Funder — Provides funding for the "Science Saturday" event.
- APS Funder — Provides funding for the Science Saturday event.
- Americorps Partner — Engages interns through Americorps.
- Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management Partner — Co-hosts a tree measuring workshop focused on the Arizona Magnificent Trees Program.
- Canva Network — Hosts Willow Bend's annual report through Canva's design and sharing platform.
- City of Flagstaff Funder — Provides funding for the "Science Saturday" event through BBB Revenues.
- City of Flagstaff Funder — Provides funding for the Science Saturday event through BBB Revenues.
- Creative Flagstaff Funder — Provides funding for the "Science Saturday" event.
- Creative Flagstaff Funder — Provides funding for the Science Saturday event.
- Creative Flagstaff Network — Presenting organization for the ARTx project, which includes Willow Bend's pollinator mask workshop.
- Darrell Yazzie Jr. Partner — Instructor and Diné biologist leading the Blue Corn Parfait Workshop
- Eric Souders Partner — Volunteer board member known for his immersive portrayal of Lieutenant Beale, who leads the camel hike event.
- Flagstaff365 Funder — Provides funding for the "Science Saturday" event.
- Flagstaff365 Funder — Provides funding for the Science Saturday event.
- Kaibab National Forest Partner — Mentioned in the context of modern forest restoration efforts connected to the historical landscape interpretation.
- Momentum Aerial Partner — Creative partner in the Nature Tales: Puppets and Pollinators project, contributing to interdisciplinary ecological storytelling.
- Neil Weintraub Partner — Former South Kaibab Zone archaeologist who leads the camel hike event.
- Red Herring Puppets Partner — Creative partner in the Nature Tales: Puppets and Pollinators project, contributing large-scale puppet design and fabrication.
- partners Partner — Partners provide support that allows the organization to offer discounted programs based on financial need.
- partners Partner — Partners provide support that enables discounted programming based on financial need.