Our Mission

At Owl STEAM Academy, our mission is to inspire curiosity, confidence, and responsibility through hands-on STEAM education. Guided by our long-standing motto—Explore, Learn, Conserve—we empower young scientists to discover the world around them, engage with meaningful scientific concepts, and grow into thoughtful stewards of our planet.

We believe college-level science concepts can be grasped at a young age when taught in ways that are engaging, accessible, and developmentally appropriate. Our mission is to challenge students, trust their capabilities, and support deep understanding through experience and exploration.

Our Values

🔍 Explore

Curiosity drives discovery. Students are encouraged to ask questions, investigate their surroundings, and explore science through hands-on experiments, outdoor experiences, and real-world connections.

🧠 Learn

Learning happens best by doing. We believe young scientists are capable of understanding complex, college-level scientific ideas when they are presented through engaging, age-appropriate instruction. We value critical thinking, problem-solving, and learning from mistakes.

🌎 Conserve

Science connects us to our planet. We teach students how scientific knowledge informs conservation and why caring for our environment matters—now and in the future.

🤝 Community & Collaboration

Learning thrives in community. We partner with families, educators, artists, and organizations to create environments that support collaboration and shared growth.

💚 Joy in Learning

Education should spark excitement and confidence. We create welcoming spaces where students feel safe to explore big ideas, ask bold questions, and discover how STEAM connects to their everyday lives.

How it all Started

Owl STEAM Academy began in 2020 as Biology With Berta, during a time when learning looked very different for families everywhere. What started as small, outdoor science classes designed to keep kids safe, curious, and connected to nature quickly grew into something much bigger than originally imagined.

Our founder, Berta, created Biology With Berta with a simple guiding motto: Explore, Learn, Conserve. From the very beginning, classes were built around exploring the natural world, learning through hands on discovery, and understanding how science helps us care for and protect our planet. Students were not just taught science. They did science alongside their teachers.

At the heart of our approach is a core belief: college level science concepts can be grasped at a young age when they are taught through engaging, age appropriate, hands on experiences. By trusting students with real scientific ideas and tools, we help build confidence, critical thinking, and a deeper understanding of the world around them.

As our community grew, families asked for more classes, more age groups, and more opportunities to learn. Passionate educators joined the team, bringing new perspectives, talents, and subjects into our programs. As we looked ahead, it became clear that our mission had expanded beyond biology alone while still staying rooted in our original values.

Today, Owl STEAM Academy reflects both our growth and our future. We offer engaging STEAM based classes including Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. These classes are designed to spark curiosity, meet academic goals, and inspire creativity through meaningful, real world learning.

While our name has changed, our heart and our motto have not. Explore, Learn, Conserve remains at the center of everything we do as we empower young scientists to grow into thoughtful learners and passionate stewards of our planet.

Our Founder

Berta Chatman

Berta’s love for animals, science, and the outdoors began early. She spent her childhood exploring every inch of nature she could, often getting dirty along the way, and always dreamed of becoming a zookeeper. That passion never faded as she grew older. Instead, it deepened as she learned more about the world and its wildlife. While working her way through college, Berta held several hands on wildlife positions, including wildlife rehabilitation technician, raptor team member at a local nature center, and field trip guide in natural reserves where she taught children about the wildlife in their own backyards. Through these experiences, she discovered a deep love for teaching and inspiring young learners. After graduating from Chico State, Berta returned to the Monterey area and in 2020 founded Biology With Berta. Guided by the motto Explore, Learn, Conserve, her mission is to keep people excited about science, our world, its wildlife, and the importance of conservation by showing students that meaningful, college level science concepts can be understood at a young age through engaging, hands on learning.

Frequently Asked Questions

Our programs cater to a wide range of age groups. We offer specific classes and activities tailored to students of all ages ensuring that each child can explore and learn about biology in a way that is engaging and appropriate for their level of understanding.
Check out our current classes page to check which classes and offering's are best for you!
Biology with Berta is currently an approved vendor with Ocean Grove Charter School and Yosemite Valley Charter School. If you homeschool through either of these charters, you can use your school funds for most of our offerings!
Most classes take place at the Prunedale Youth Center, which is reserved exclusively for our use during our scheduled class days.
We also rent a classroom space through Kairos Learning Solutions in Salinas and have various events in the community throughout Monterey County
Please be sure to complete the class registration from the scheduling page. If you have multiple children to register, you will need to fill this out once for each student.
If you have already placed a PO with your school, you still need to sign up on our website to reserve your spot!
Our instructors are highly qualified and passionate about science and education. Berta, the founder, holds a degree in Biology from Chico State and has extensive experience working in wildlife rehabilitation, conservation, and education. All our instructors have backgrounds in science and education, and they are committed to providing an enriching and safe learning environment for all students.
To ensure a safe learning environment, each instructor is background checked and has completed basic CPR and first aid classes.
Learn more about our team on our "Meet the Team" page.
We strive to create a supportive environment where students of all learning styles, social levels, and unique needs can thrive.
Because our classes are group-based, we must also prioritize the learning experience and safety of all students. We reserve the right to decline or discontinue service if a student's behavior becomes too disruptive for the class as a whole.
Whenever possible, we work with families to find supportive solutions that allow everyone to succeed.
The Great Horned Owl has been part of our story from the very beginning. Both our original Biology With Berta logo and our Owl STEAM Academy logo feature this powerful silhouette as a symbol of who we are and what we believe.
Owls hold personal meaning for our founder, Berta. Before starting Biology With Berta, she spent several summers as a wildlife rehabilitator, caring for orphaned and injured animals—including owls, hawks, and other native wildlife. Raising and rehabilitating these animals deepened her respect for nature, conservation, and the responsibility humans have to protect the world around us.
Beyond that personal connection, the owl represents the qualities we strive to nurture in every young scientist. Owls are intelligent, curious, and observant—creatures that learn by listening closely and watching the world with care. With their eyes and ears always open to their surroundings, owls remind us to slow down, pay attention, ask questions, and truly understand the world before acting within it.
For us, the owl embodies our guiding motto: Explore, Learn, Conserve—a symbol of curiosity, wisdom, and thoughtful stewardship that continues to guide Owl STEAM Academy as we grow.