https://marramcollaborative.com/blog daily 0.75 2025-04-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/2b138b19-e39b-4aaa-bfe4-ee168dac9208/20140301_Trade+151_0124+1.jpg https://marramcollaborative.com/blog/april-2025-the-beauty-of-becoming monthly 0.5 2025-04-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f3d4200dfedfb5639fbfa1f/03933280-3c5e-4f7d-b2aa-077cbe4b1678/21D6DF79-8C8A-49F9-9EA7-F37FBC795CED_1_105_c.jpg Notes from the Ecotone - April 2025 - On Spring Beauty & the Beauty of Becoming - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://marramcollaborative.com/blog/december-2024-winters-gifts monthly 0.5 2024-12-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f3d4200dfedfb5639fbfa1f/b7510aa5-8fe3-41d7-8b76-a45e9b4a4be0/IMG_2908.jpg Notes from the Ecotone - December 2024 - Winter’s Gifts - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://marramcollaborative.com/blog/fall2023 monthly 0.5 2023-11-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f3d4200dfedfb5639fbfa1f/9353422e-3bbb-4c31-a747-d9e215fc3d12/IMG_2072.jpg Notes from the Ecotone - Returning to Intention . https://marramcollaborative.com/blog/blog-ecotoneeducation monthly 0.5 2024-12-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f3d4200dfedfb5639fbfa1f/1700605285070-6RYSQLWIXFN9ELWI3US8/IMG_2304.jpeg Notes from the Ecotone - Notes from the Ecotone https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f3d4200dfedfb5639fbfa1f/1700605285142-JLXR8CSPG8VXW3O0X8SS/IMG_2072.jpeg Notes from the Ecotone - Notes from the Ecotone https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f3d4200dfedfb5639fbfa1f/1700605524613-YS2RGRPOF08TSD2UIZZR/IMG_7444.jpeg Notes from the Ecotone - Notes from the Ecotone https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f3d4200dfedfb5639fbfa1f/1700605523668-DCI9AXQYR7EPFSDP62UH/IMG_7224.jpeg Notes from the Ecotone - Notes from the Ecotone https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f3d4200dfedfb5639fbfa1f/1700605621496-QWLK4Y7XF77QQD3B2KQN/IMG_0475.jpeg Notes from the Ecotone - Notes from the Ecotone https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f3d4200dfedfb5639fbfa1f/1700605626367-57RHO8GSUA2CUOOBSE55/IMG_2351.jpeg Notes from the Ecotone - Notes from the Ecotone https://marramcollaborative.com/events daily 0.75 2025-12-15 https://marramcollaborative.com/events/wildedibles2026 monthly 0.5 2025-12-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f3d4200dfedfb5639fbfa1f/9552732f-2805-470f-9510-d166b488e304/image.png Events - Wild Edible Plants of the Midwest - 2026 - About Your Teacher Patricia K. Armstrong grew up in Michigan, spending her days around Otsego Lake and Detroit. Her knowledge and understanding of all things wild and free come from a life-long personal and intimate relationship with Nature that is passionate and scientific. Pat has a B.A. in Biology, English, and Teaching from North Central College in Naperville, and an M.S. in Biology (Botany and Ecology) from the University of Chicago. She has taught classes on botany and ecology for nearly 60 years and was previously the manager of the Morton Arboretum’s Schulenberg Prairie. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f3d4200dfedfb5639fbfa1f/a4ea7b2e-e00d-4a1c-89f2-e3a230d15abd/IMG_0158.jpg Events - Wild Edible Plants of the Midwest - 2026 - Course Details The 2026 Course meets on Saturdays, from 9:30 am to 4 pm, at The Clow House, Conservation Foundation McDonald Farm, in Naperville, IL. Each day-long class includes interactive discussions, a wild edible tasting session, and a guided hike through local parks and preserves. Please plan to bring your own lunch and drink. By the end of the course, you will be able to identify over 100 wild edible plants of the Midwest and feel confident finding nourishment and joy in the natural world. Course Dates: Feb 14, Mar 28, Apr 18, May 16, Jun 20, Jul 18, Aug 29, Sep 26, Oct 17, and Nov. 21, 2026. A graduation celebration will take place on December 5. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f3d4200dfedfb5639fbfa1f/16faed4e-9d19-45ef-914a-93e89c0372ce/Clow+House.jpg Events - Wild Edible Plants of the Midwest - 2026 - About the Location This course focuses on the rich ecological diversity of the Midwest and the edible wild plants found throughout the Great Lakes Region. Each class begins at the Conservation Foundation’s historic Clow House at McDonald Farm, in Naperville, Illinois. Each class ends with a guided foraging hike in nearby DuPage County parks and preserves, where we have permission to collect and sample the wild delicacies of the region. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f3d4200dfedfb5639fbfa1f/1729094983611-UDTMBXFO40CWF42SVEAX/unsplash-image-AENirjL7AyY.jpg Events - Wild Edible Plants of the Midwest - 2026 - Course Fee: $2150.00 The course fee includes: 10 full-day classes 60+ hours in-person learning w/ Ms. Pat 10 expert-guided plant hikes Wild Edible Plants workbook A Copy of The Plant Family Cookbook Seasonal Snacks & Drinks prepared by Ms. Pat (BYO Lunch + Water) Certificate of Completion Optional CEUs for professional educators https://marramcollaborative.com/events/summer-gathering-eco-pedagogy-through-natural-dyes monthly 0.5 2025-09-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f3d4200dfedfb5639fbfa1f/ad7abae6-69ea-47dc-81f5-fce2aacaf2ce/3D030668-39AC-412A-B7FA-0FC3686A4E60.jpg Events - Summer Gathering: Eco-Pedagogy through Natural Dyes - A Different Way of Doing Pedagogy This summer gathering brings art and science together in tangible, take-home ways. Through hands-on natural dye workshops, foraging hikes, and collaborative discussions, you'll discover how natural dyeing can serve as a gateway to broader concepts of sustainability, place-based learning, and ecological awareness. Our intention is simple yet profound: for you to leave feeling fulfilled, inspired, and connected—to nature, to fellow educators, and to your authentic teaching self. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f3d4200dfedfb5639fbfa1f/75b76d38-652a-4ee9-9d56-05d1f49cbec1/unsplash-image-GzfPyf9Pwyc.jpg Events - Summer Gathering: Eco-Pedagogy through Natural Dyes - What You'll Experience: Hands-on Natural Dye Workshop: Create your own personalized swatch collection and dyed items while learning techniques you can bring to your classroom Guided Foraging Walks: Discover local plants and their dyeing potential in the beautiful Indiana Dunes landscape Rejuvenating Practices: Optional beach yoga, sound bath, and intention-setting sessions to nourish your wellbeing Collaborative Learning: Share ideas, build curriculum, and connect with like-minded educators Fireside Discussions: Engage in meaningful conversations about the future of ecological education Time to Rest and Reflect: Balanced schedule with space for personal renewal https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f3d4200dfedfb5639fbfa1f/4fb030d8-3809-4246-b8c1-fec519eac73f/IMG_9988.jpg Events - Summer Gathering: Eco-Pedagogy through Natural Dyes - By Weekend's End, You'll Have: Practical knowledge of summer plant dyeing processes and techniques A beautiful collection of dyed swatches documenting your experiments with plants Fresh ideas for integrating ecological concepts into your first weeks of school Strategies for fostering belonging, flexibility, and authentic learning A supportive network of educators to inspire you throughout the year Renewed energy and purpose for the school year ahead https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f3d4200dfedfb5639fbfa1f/1744815089385-ZSGG4044GXN3KE65OTO7/unsplash-image-dNjMqj4emkc.jpg Events - Summer Gathering: Eco-Pedagogy through Natural Dyes - Our Guiding Principles: Throughout this retreat, we'll explore key concepts that can transform your teaching practice: Belonging: Finding our place in the ecological community Flexibility: Embracing the beautiful unpredictability of natural processes Service & Reciprocity: Understanding how we can give back to our environment Authenticity: Discovering the rich diversity of nature's true colors Unlearning: Challenging conventional narratives about our relationship with nature https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f3d4200dfedfb5639fbfa1f/35b569b7-e4d4-4b57-8876-513a13b50498/IMG_9463.jpeg Events - Summer Gathering: Eco-Pedagogy through Natural Dyes - Details: Dates: August 1 - 3, 2025* Location: Three Moons Fiberworks in Chesterton, Indiana Cost: $375 per person, limited scholarships available. Cost includes all dye materials, breakfast & snacks, 7-day Indiana Dunes National Park pass, and campground accommodations at Indiana Dunes National Park (BYO Tent, etc.) Please note: Workshop provides 20 hours of Continuing Education Credits! *Gathering begins Friday, August 1, 2025, at 5 pm and ends Sunday, August 3, by 2 pm. Optional pre-workshop outings and activity schedules will be shared with registered participants. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f3d4200dfedfb5639fbfa1f/f4a30e48-f8c3-4acb-9caa-ddde22596dc2/sar%2Band%2Bjess.jpg Events - Summer Gathering: Eco-Pedagogy through Natural Dyes - Drift Lab Earth Sarah and Jess, co-founders of Drift Lab Earth, are nationally certified educators with a combined 4 decades and 4 degrees in education. They’ve spent their career in classrooms, schools, barns, living rooms, backyards, and more, huddling over dyepots and other creative projects, having emergent discussions about life, art, systems, relationships, health, and culture. They also work in textile art, community advocacy, organizing community art projects, supporting local systems & regenerative farming, and working with textile supply chains, all while parenting & teaching! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f3d4200dfedfb5639fbfa1f/f6042138-5ff5-401c-b28e-eb9cc03a9207/IMG_2160.jpg Events - Summer Gathering: Eco-Pedagogy through Natural Dyes - Marram Collaborative Emily, founder of Marram Collaborative and managing director of the University of Chicago’s Ecological Field Station, has lived and worked with communities worldwide, sharing her passion and expertise for ecological education and place-based teaching through collaborative curriculum design and educational coaching. Emily works with educators, students, community leaders, and individuals to create educational transformation through ecological design. When she’s not teaching and designing, she’s growing native & bioregionally adapted plants for local garden projects, tending Chesterton’s micro-compost site, and running wild in the woods with her doggo, Roo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f3d4200dfedfb5639fbfa1f/b66603ac-2603-4214-bcfd-9b31b75de7b3/Logo_Color_w_Tourism_w_Website_9d3ffe13-e65f-4f37-813e-22d1e2694416.png Events - Summer Gathering: Eco-Pedagogy through Natural Dyes - Thank you. This workshop is generously supported by grant funding from Indiana Dunes Tourism. https://marramcollaborative.com/events/wildedibles monthly 0.5 2025-11-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f3d4200dfedfb5639fbfa1f/9552732f-2805-470f-9510-d166b488e304/image.png Events - Wild Edible Plants of the Midwest - About Your Teacher Patricia K. Armstrong grew up in Michigan, spending her days around Otsego Lake and Detroit. Her knowledge and understanding of all things wild and free come from a life-long personal and intimate relationship with Nature that is passionate and scientific. Pat has a B.A. in Biology, English, and Teaching from North Central College in Naperville, and an M.S. in Biology (Botany and Ecology) from the University of Chicago. She has taught classes on botany and ecology for nearly 60 years and was previously the manager of the Morton Arboretum’s Schulenberg Prairie. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f3d4200dfedfb5639fbfa1f/a4ea7b2e-e00d-4a1c-89f2-e3a230d15abd/IMG_0158.jpg Events - Wild Edible Plants of the Midwest - Course Details The 2025 Course meets on Saturdays, from 9:30 am to 4 pm, at The Clow House, Conservation Foundation McDonald Farm, in Naperville, IL. Each day-long class includes interactive discussions, a wild edible tasting session, and a guided hike through local parks and preserves. Please plan to bring your own lunch and drink. By the end of the course, you will be able to identify over 100 wild edible plants of the Midwest and feel confident finding nourishment and joy in the natural world. Course Dates: Feb. 22, Apr 19, Jul 19, Sep 20, Oct, 18, and Nov. 15, 2025 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f3d4200dfedfb5639fbfa1f/16faed4e-9d19-45ef-914a-93e89c0372ce/Clow+House.jpg Events - Wild Edible Plants of the Midwest - About the Location This course focuses on the rich ecological diversity of the Midwest and the edible wild plants found throughout the Great Lakes Region. Each class begins at the historic The Clow House, Conservation Foundation McDonald Farm, in Naperville, Illinois. Each class ends with a guided foraging hike in nearby DuPage County parks and preserves where we have permission to collect and sample the wild delicacies of the region. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f3d4200dfedfb5639fbfa1f/1729094983611-UDTMBXFO40CWF42SVEAX/unsplash-image-AENirjL7AyY.jpg Events - Wild Edible Plants of the Midwest - Course Fee: $1250.00 The course fee includes: 6 full-day classes 40+ hours in-person learning w/ Ms. Pat 5 expert-guided foraging hikes Wild Edible Plants workbook A Copy of The Plant Family Cookbook Seasonal Snacks & Drinks prepared by Ms. Pat (BYO Lunch + Water) Certificate of Completion Optional CEUs for professional educators Please note: The course is also available ‘à la carte’ for an additional fee. The Course Workbook + Plant Family Cookbook are not included in this option. They will be available for an additional fee on-site. +We have limited scholarships (partial & full) for educators, seniors, veterans, BIPOC, and other participants in the 2025 Wild Edible Plants of the Midwest course. Please complete this Scholarship Application to help us determine which scholarship will best serve you and our plant-loving community. We strive to make our teachings accessible while compensating our teachers and other partners fairly and equitably. https://marramcollaborative.com/events/winterstudy monthly 0.5 2025-02-12 https://marramcollaborative.com/home daily 0.75 2020-09-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f3d4200dfedfb5639fbfa1f/1597961936945-4FC3IFOMPWSI95FVL1R2/ED68D455-4C1C-4013-B918-3348FDBF733A.jpeg Home - An ecological approach We use an interactive, open-hearted, and imaginative approach to collaboration, evaluation, and design of curricula and programs that help create a better world. We are guided by ecological principles like interdependence, diversity, nested systems, and dynamic equilibrium, because we believe that Nature is a powerful teacher. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f3d4200dfedfb5639fbfa1f/1597962686103-S0MZ0QURUZBPWGGVUM4F/IMG_8457.jpeg Home - Of specialists and generalists We specialize in project-based learning, place-based science education, and ecological design for outdoor learning and sustainability. That said, we are also systems thinkers - generalists of the best kind! - who see the big picture, make surprising connections, take note of distinctions, and keep an open mind while working through complex and dynamic projects. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f3d4200dfedfb5639fbfa1f/1597960854438-IWSNTFVQTGV3YYMVCBQ2/3D030668-39AC-412A-B7FA-0FC3686A4E60.jpeg Home hand-drawn armchair icon https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f3d4200dfedfb5639fbfa1f/1597960897268-024N458AKWBJH8SYTWZQ/IMG_8259.jpeg Home hand-drawn empty pill bottle icon https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f3d4200dfedfb5639fbfa1f/1597960932710-667DRVH9SFPF2V3SL2SG/IMG_8395.jpeg Home hand-drawn aim target icon https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f3d4200dfedfb5639fbfa1f/1597961212671-IB91SA13CFN2JMJR9QJK/IMG_8500.jpeg Home hand-drawn simplified needles in back acupuncture icon https://marramcollaborative.com/about daily 0.75 2025-11-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f3d4200dfedfb5639fbfa1f/1597943039165-FVNEQ5RUPE3B09BFRCRP/Echinacea+purpura About - Teaching and Learning, Together Marram Collaborative provides educational consulting, instructional coaching, and ecological systems design for schools, organizations, and families. We are experts in project-based learning, place-based education, and ecological design for outdoor learning and sustainability education. We support schools, organizations, and families in creating, implementing, and evaluating unique and robust curricula and experiences that inspire curiosity and creativity while nurturing connection to the people around us and the places in which we learn and live. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f3d4200dfedfb5639fbfa1f/1597942898195-863B490IQ7M3BPLANNT4/Monarch+and+Marram About - Consulting, Coaching, and Professional Development We believe that creating a different sort of world requires a different sort of education, one that is hands-on, heart-forward, and nature-based. Marram Collaborative’s guiding principles are grounded in developing ecological literacy, scientific inquiry, artistic expression, and joyful exploration. We create opportunities for educators, organizational leaders, and parents to experience a sense of wonder, engage creatively in the world, and cultivate compassion for the people around us while deepening understanding of sustainability science, ecological education, curriculum design, and program development. https://marramcollaborative.com/services daily 0.75 2024-10-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f3d4200dfedfb5639fbfa1f/1598382516433-QH2C51GD0V3T3491JHC8/3D030668-39AC-412A-B7FA-0FC3686A4E60.jpg Services https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f3d4200dfedfb5639fbfa1f/1597960932710-667DRVH9SFPF2V3SL2SG/IMG_8395.jpeg Services https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f3d4200dfedfb5639fbfa1f/1598382610691-MQRK792UZYY3N1NZ9RYB/IMG_8259.jpg Services https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f3d4200dfedfb5639fbfa1f/1597961212671-IB91SA13CFN2JMJR9QJK/IMG_8500.jpeg Services https://marramcollaborative.com/community daily 0.75 2024-10-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f3d4200dfedfb5639fbfa1f/ba2312ae-2425-4ba3-bfdb-95869d145ab6/EA3BF895-80CB-4757-9EC3-43EA708D3085.jpeg Community - Emily Bretl, Ed.D. Founder, Director Dr. Bretl is the founder and managing director of Marram Collaborative. She has been working in the field of education in different capacities for fifteen years including as a middle school science and math teacher, school founder and teacher leader, science specialist, project-based curriculum designer, and environmental educator. Dr. Bretl started her career as an environmental scientist and conservation technician and quickly realized her passion for sharing ecological knowledge and cultivating care for the earth and one another through hands-on, project- and place-based education. Many of her interests are found at the intersection of place-based curriculum design, ecological education, educational research, and artistic expression. Dr. Bretl has lived and taught all around the country and world. She currently lives on the southern shores of Lake Michigan, a place that inspires her daily to care for the earth and the people who dwell on this planet. Curiosity is her superpower. Email — LinkedIn https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f3d4200dfedfb5639fbfa1f/43cffd95-1623-4ac5-9893-3a47783da806/IMG_9634.jpeg Community https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f3d4200dfedfb5639fbfa1f/39760d9b-261a-4075-b1d8-233dd71950a7/sar%2Band%2Bjess.jpeg Community https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f3d4200dfedfb5639fbfa1f/b15e9cbf-635d-404f-8aa0-c6e87b5fbd2f/IMG_6664.jpg Community https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f3d4200dfedfb5639fbfa1f/1598381588130-6EW0Z5PYBRFOKQ7Z5KF5/Wild+Bee+on+Yarrow Community https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f3d4200dfedfb5639fbfa1f/00639cc4-edf7-413f-8dab-6d00f40074b2/IMG_7638.jpg Community https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f3d4200dfedfb5639fbfa1f/198ee784-f867-451d-81e8-3bcaed24eb0d/IMG_4901.jpeg Community https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f3d4200dfedfb5639fbfa1f/1597957936244-FBTY8LIQFP0B7QG21H5Q/Spider+Web Community - Interested in being a part of Marram Collaborative? We are building a diverse, passionate, and exceptionally talented network of individuals and organizations committed to transforming communities - from schools to businesses to families and neighbors - through artistic expression, ecological education, and sustainable systems design. Please email Dr. Bretl if you are interested in learning more about career and partnership opportunities. https://marramcollaborative.com/contact daily 0.75 2020-08-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f3d4200dfedfb5639fbfa1f/1597960161930-50UI6CG19NJGKV3EFB35/IMG_9298.jpeg Contact - Contact us. To learn more about our work, our projects, our rates, and our commitment to artistry, ecology, and sustainability, please contact Dr. Emily Bretl. emily@marramcollaborative.com https://marramcollaborative.com/summergathering2025 daily 0.75 2025-07-21 https://marramcollaborative.com/winterstudy2026 daily 1.0 2025-12-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f3d4200dfedfb5639fbfa1f/b7510aa5-8fe3-41d7-8b76-a45e9b4a4be0/IMG_2908.jpg https://marramcollaborative.com/store daily 0.75 2024-11-15 https://marramcollaborative.com/store/p/wild-edible-plants-of-the-midwest-2025-in-person-course-f7f88 monthly 0.5 2026-02-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f3d4200dfedfb5639fbfa1f/79af59d7-3373-4566-8557-0e02ab9272da/IMG_6664.jpeg Store - Wild Edible Plants of the Midwest, 2026 In-person Course