Ecological Education
Support ecosystems and wildlife by growing your ecological literacy
Grow your knowledge of native plants, enhance your ecological gardening know-how, and increase your capacity to advocate for pollinators and wildlife. No matter your age, interest, or available time commitment, Waxwing has created Ecological Education services for the whole community.
In partnership with several regional organizations, we offer a variety of hands-on environmental education experiences including:
Ecological Gardening Certificate
Ecological Restoration Certificate
Habitat Advocates (full certification or one-off classes)
Crews Conservation Landscaping Certificate
Teacher Professional Development
Schoolyard Habitat Artist in Residence Program (PA STEELS aligned)
Mt. Cuba Center Ecological Design classes
Other classes/trainings/conference sessions related to growing resilient habitats with native plants
We invite you to learn more about our recurring classes, certificates, and other programs below.
To see upcoming trainings and learn how to register, please visit our Events page!
ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION TRAINING | Certificate Program
This hands-on, 3-day certificate program is geared toward ecological practitioners and serious home stewards. Participants learn how to partner with nature and assist in the recovery of degraded ecosystems to create healthy, resilient habitat for wildlife. The skills you’ll explore can be applied in a landscaping business, rewilding projects, habitat conservation and management, restoration projects, agriculture, and more.
Community Partner: Horn Farm
ECOLOGICAL GARDENER TRAINING PROGRAM | Certificate Program
The Ecological Gardener Training Program (EGTP) guides landowners, landscape practitioners, conservation volunteers, and aspiring land stewards in the craft of designing, building, and stewarding biodiverse native habitats that support the well-being of wildlife and humans. Participants explore native plants and landscapes, lawn conversion methods, scaled designing, keystone species, food webs, shifting baseline theory, ecological memory, plant identification, rights of nature, and seasonal management techniques that can be applied to community, residential, and wild spaces. Hands-on design and planting projects develop applicable skills while increasing biodiversity.
Community Partner: Horn Farm
HABITAT ADVOCATE
| Certificate Program & Individual Classes
The Habitat Advocate Certificate class series brings together inquisitive native gardeners at SACA’s Tec Centro. Whether you’re a homeowner, a seasoned landscaper or groundskeeper, or a passionate community member, you’ll learn skills and insights that empower you to transform your neighborhood, school, or place of worship into a thriving space for wildlife. Classes explore topics ranging from nature journaling to green mulch, stormwater management, and powerhouse native plants for wildlife. Complete all 10 classes in the series to earn a Habitat Advocate Certificate, or simply attend an individual class that suits your interests.
Community Partners: Lancaster Conservancy, SACA, and Community Wildlife Habitat
CONSERVATION LANDSCAPING CREWS TRAINING | Certificate Program
This program is an abbreviated version of the Habitat Advocates certificate and is designed for working landscapers to nurture conservation-based practices. Participants learn about the value of native plants, native plant swaps for introduced or “invasive” species, and simple methods to convert conventional landscaping practices to more eco-friendly alternatives. Participants apply their newly acquired knowledge by completing a group project that includes a proposed native plant palette, suggested site preparation, and recommended seasonal stewarding techniques.
Community Partner: Lancaster Conservancy and Lancaster Clean Water Partners
SCHOOLYARD HABITAT & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMING FOR EDUCATORS
Educators are invited to participate in a thought-provoking training that explores ways to engage youth in meaningful, rigorous, interdisciplinary learning in outdoor living laboratories. This training will guide you in how to build empathy for the small critters that sustain our world, enhance student collaboration skills, and create project-based solutions to challenging questions about pollinator decline, stormwater runoff, and more.
School District of Lancaster staff, please sign-up via the district-wide PD schedule.
All other schools/school districts, please contact us to book your next PD!
Community Partners: National Wildlife Federation and School District of Lancaster (other regional school districts can inquire with secured funding)
