Latest Posts
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MA vs. MS: Does “Science” Actually Beat “Arts”?
By Dr. Kevin Matteson, Associate Director “They were taught to be technicians, not thinkers, in a culture that is long on know-how and short on know-why.” – David Orr I often get asked if a Master of Science (MS) is more valuable than a Master of Arts (MA). Sometimes, it feels like there is a…
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Can Pyramids Fly? Our Investigation into Tetrahedron Kites
By the Fifth-Grade Class of John Cowens, Fort Vannoy Elementary, Grants Pass, Oregon Editor’s Note: This article is a “vintage” treasure from our archives, originally published in the September/October 1996 issue of Dragonfly Magazine. It captures the spirit of curiosity and hands-on discovery that has always been at the heart of Project Dragonfly. The Spark…
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Rooted in the Past: How Students Uncover the Secret History of America’s Witness Trees
By Maria J. Savaiano’s Fifth- and Sixth-Grade Students, Clara Barton Open School, Minneapolis, MN. Editor’s Note: This post is a “vintage” treasure from our archives, originally published in Dragonfly Magazine in April 1996. It captures a moment when a class in Minnesota decided to bridge the gap between local history and the natural world. The…
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How to Build a Neuro-Affirming Ecosystem: Beyond “Sensory Friendly”
When we talk about inclusion in public spaces like zoos, aquariums, or classrooms, we often look for a checklist. We want the “formula”—the specific certification or the designated “quiet hour” that solves the problem. But according to Grayson Ponti, founder of ZANE (Zoos and Aquariums for a Neurodiverse Ecosystem), true inclusion isn’t about a stamp…
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The Shrinking Heap: A Third-Grade Lesson on the Magic of Decomposition
By Phyllis Stewart’s Third-Grade Students, Horace Mann Montessori School, Dayton, Ohio Editor’s Note: Originally published in Dragonfly Magazine in 1996, this vintage inquiry takes us back to a playground in Ohio, where a group of third graders turned a pile of yard waste into a seven month-long lesson on the power of decomposition. The Spark…
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Embracing the Journey: Six Years of Heart Knowledge and Connection in Baja, Namibia, and Guyana
By Jessie Schrauger A timeline of global field experiences: Baja California (2019), Namibia (2022), and Guyana (2025). When I first started Project Dragonfly in 2019, I could not have imagined that I would still be on this journey of pursuing my Master’s six years later. I see it as a real blessing and opportunity though,…
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How to Turn Your Science Class into a “Choose Your Own Adventure”
Imagine a high school science classroom where the teacher refuses to hand out a rubric. Where students roll a 20-sided die (D20) to see if they can get five extra minutes on a quiz. Where the curriculum isn’t a rigid checklist, but a quest driven by the students’ own curiosity. In this episode of Dragonfly…
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Is a Master’s in Biology Worth It? Evaluating the ROI for Educators and Conservationists
By Dr. Kevin Matteson, Associate Director In my 14 years at Project Dragonfly, one of the most common questions I get isn’t about biology, field sites, or curriculum. It is a much more human question: What will this program actually do for my career? Most of our students are driven by passion. You are here…
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How to Redefine “Wilderness”: From the Bronx to Mongolia with Dave Johnston
Imagine driving a van across a landscape so vast it’s called the “Land of the Big Sky.” You have no GPS coordinates and no specific destination. You simply drive until you spot a white felt tent—a ger—on the horizon. You pull up, knock on the door, and ask a complete stranger, “Can we come in?”…