Interdisciplinary experiential learning during COVID-19: lessons learned and reflections for the future

Environmental education enables students to critically analyze their impact on the world while producing environmentally knowledgeable and engaged global citizens with the skills and motivation necessary to participate in developing and implementing solutions to societal and environmental challenges. Beyond facilitating student learning, experiential learning opportunities that allow students to interact with the natural environment can also help facilitate students’ overall well-being and resilience. Although the nature of the COVID-19 crisis acts as a barrier to hands-on learning, during this unprecedented time, the benefits of experiential environmental education are more needed than ever. Lessons learned from creative adaptations to COVID-19 highlight the value and resilience of experiential and interdisciplinary learning models. As the pandemic continues, it is increasingly important to share these lessons learned from efforts to safely provide hands-on experiential education opportunities. This paper shares the experience of the Oregon Extension, an undergraduate study away program based out of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument in Southern Oregon that successfully adapted field-based environmental education programming during the COVID-19 pandemic. The paper describes the Oregon Extension Program and adaptations made during COVID-19. It then provides a set of reflections and lessons learned regarding adaptations to COVID-19 and implications for environmental education beyond COVID-19.