Co-founders, Sarah Bercume and Bethany Thomas, developed the idea for ECO after working and volunteering with local environmental education groups. During their work with these organizations the two were struck by the limited time they had to connect with students and pursue science exploration and discovery.

In an effort to address the ever-present issue of time, Sarah and Bethany created an instructional model that engages a student from kindergarten through sixth grade – providing an average of 36 science enrichment lessons during their elementary experience. And thus, the foundation of Ecology in the Classroom & Outdoors was established.

• ECO is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in Portland, Oregon in 2005

• Our mission is to connect students to the world around them through Science Enrichment Programs.

• ECO lessons are hands-on, cumulative and aligned with educational standards & benchmarks.

• As the name implies, lessons presented by ECO occur both in the classroom and outdoors as students explore habitats, watersheds, botany, and geology.