Quality Care Connections is a Child Care Resource and Referral Agency serving child care and early education programs in Lane County. We offer training and technical assistance to new and established child care providers and educators serving children 0-5 years old or providing summer/after-school care.

We are available to present to classrooms about working in the early education field, what qualifications are needed, and finding employment.

We are a local non-profit dedicated to Environmental stewardship and biodiversity through education and habitat restoration. We offer an education program for students in grades 5-12. The core lessons are 4-5 hands-on activities with the purpose of propagating native plant species for use in restoration projects. 1. Collect seed, 2. Clean seed, 3. Prep seed for cold stratification, 4. Sow seeds into soil, 5. Plant the previous year's plants. My middle school and high school classrooms typically just do these core lessons.

I offer thirty-two additional ecology-based lessons in addition. Most of them have an outdoor or hands-on element in addition to short informative presentations. My elementary-aged students usually engage in more of the lesson plans, and I visit once per week or every other week throughout the year. I am happy to customize lessons, plans, and scheduling to meet the participation needs and availability of each educator who is interested in collaborating with me.

I host class field trips for any educators who want them and can provide transportation. The trips are typically to one of our adopted meadow sites in Alton Baker Park and are ecosystem health and restoration based. They can include planting, surveys, scavenger hunts, and more.

We have worked with the Rachel Carson Academy students at Churchill High School for the past 5 years as a community host for field studies. I see them up to fourteen times per school year.

We host high school and college-aged interns each year for credit-based programs or as paid seasonal staff.

As an organization, we are also interested in partnering with others on projects with aligned missions or values. We work with the Lane County Parks Department frequently and can collaborate with them to make projects happen. This can and has included things like pollinator plant gardens at schools and revegetation projects on school or park-owned property.

Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions you may have or for more information about our organization and its programs.