Professional Development Conference for Science Educators
Wild Science 2011
Professional Development Weekend
Bridging Outdoor Education with Classroom Science
This workshop combines eight break-out sessions of life science programming with a stay at a historic estate in a spectacular northern forest on the rocky shoreline of Lake Champlain in Upstate New York.
Get inspired for the coming year with new perspectives, skills, resources and a comprehensive curriculum packet.
Science Education Solutions
• Do you yearn to integrate the outdoors into your every day classroom science?
• Do you want to cross curricular boundaries using science activities?
• Do you want to learn to identify trees, draw wildlife, read animal signs, and observe food webs and life cycles in action?
We have the program for you!
About the Program
This program is designed to give personalized instruction to small groups of educators. The program cost is $495. $100-200 Scholarships are available on a first come first serve basis. Group size is limited to 20 participants – so register soon! Registrations are confirmed by email, followed by informational packets sent by mail.
Program Dates
Program runs from 2pm on Friday, August 26th through Sunday, 1pm August 28, 2011.
What Costs Include
• Programming: Friday 2pm - Sunday 1pm.
• Housing (including bedding)
• Meals: Friday dinner – Sunday lunch
• Pick up from Westport Train stop (by request)
• Science Activity and Curriculum Packet
• One-year subscription to Exploringnature.org ($50 value)
• Discount for guided trips booked separately
• Special reduced pricing for book purchases
Getting Inservice Credit
Teachers who wish to receive professional development credit for participating in the Wild Science Workshop can contact the North Country Teacher Resource Center at SUNY Plattsburgh at: 518-564-5000 or email NCTRC at: nctrc5000@excite.com. Upon completion of the course, participants will have 30 hours of professional development (2 in-service credits as per your school districts policy). It will cost $60 ($30 per credit).
Cancellation Policy: Because programs can only accommodate 20 participants and have a waiting list, cancellations must be made by August 1 for a full refund.
Weekend Schedule:
Friday - August 26
2 - 4 pm Arrival and settling in at the Big House.
4 - 5 pm Orientation and hike along Lake Champlain.
5 - 6 pm Welcome Reception
6 - 7 pm Dinner and Adirondack Wild slideshow
7:15 - 8:45 pm Breakout Session I - An evening of green science activities.
Saturday - August 27
Breakfast between 7 - 8 am.
8:30 - 10 am Breakout Session II -
A. Tree and Plant Identification, Succession and Decomposition
B. Animal Signs, Tracks and Habitats
10:30 - 11 am Break
11 - 12:30 pm Breakout Session III -
A. Tree and Plant Identification, Succession and Decomposition
B. Animal Signs, Tracks and Habitats
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch
1:30 - 3 pm Breakout Session IV -
A. Water Studies - Aquatic Life, Quality Testing, Watershed Maps
B. Field Study Experience - Putting Your New Knowledge to Work
3 - 3:30 pm Break
3:30 - 5 pm Breakout Session V -
A. Field Study Experience - Putting Your New Knowledge to Work
B. Water Studies - Aquatic Life, Quality Testing, Watershed Maps
5 - 6 pm - Free Time
6 - 7:30 pm Grilled Dinner by the Lake
7:30 - 8:30 pm Breakout Session VI - Participant Led Activities (Brings a 10-minute activity to share.)
Sunday - August 28
Breakfast between 7-8am
8:30 - 10 am Breakout Session VII -
A. Developing a Nature Trail at Your School
B. Teaching Kids to observe and experience the natural world right in your schoolyard
10:30 - 11 am Break
11 - 12:00 Breakout Session VIII - Drawing Life Cycles
12 – 1 pm Lunch and Awards
Receive curriculum packets and depart
After this weekend you will:
• Have a collection of science activities to bridge the outdoors with classroom science
• Be able to connect outdoor science activities with national science standards
• Feel confident using keys and guides
• Complete ten contact hours of professional development in science education
Target Audience:
• Elementary Teachers
• Middle School Life Science Teachers
• After-school Programmers
• Science Center Programmers
About the Wild Science Instructors:
Sheri Amsel (B.S. Botany, Zoology, M.S. Anatomy, Physiology, Biomedical Illustration) has written and illustrated more than 20 books for children, including, The Everything Kids Environment Book. Amsel has brought science programs to more than 500 schools nationally, spoken at national conferences for NSTA, NAAEE, AAAS, etc., and brought more than 1,000 students and educators to nature trails for environmental studies. In 2009, Amsel won the Elizabeth Abernathy Hull Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Environmental Education of Youths from the Garden Club of America. Website Link.
Elizabeth Lee (B.A. in Visual and Environmental Studies from Harvard University) is a Licensed Guide and Outdoor Educator. Lee has led educational and recreational trips for adventurers of all ages, most recently being awarded a grant from the Adirondack Arts in Education Partnership for her program on Patterns in Nature.
Facilities: The conference is held at a historic private estate built in the 1920’s as a summer residence on Lake Champlain. The same family has owned the land for 175 years and has preserved the rustic Adirondack style of the building while upholding the heritage of its working forest.
Room Preferences: The design of the house provides varied room accommodations. Rooms are assigned on a first come first served basis. Let us know if you have a roommate preference. There are five shared bathrooms with antique claw foot
bathtubs and one available shower. Refreshing swims in the lake are encouraged.
Food: Fantastic, locally grown food will be served family style. Beer and wine will be available via cash bar.
Travel: Amtrak trains stop at Westport train station once a day from Albany and Montreal. By car Westport is about 5 miles from Exit 31 off the I87 Northway. Flights are available to Plattsburgh, NY and Burlington, VT.
The Champlain Valley and Adirondack Region are a premier vacation destination. We encourage you to explore the area’s rich resources at:
www.lakechamplainregion.com
www.champlainareatrails.com
www.westportny.com
Special Offer for Essex County, NY Teachers
Teachers who wish to participate without living on site are offered a special workshop price of $300. This includes all workshop sessions, programming materials, lunch and dinner. In addition, scholarship funding may be available to Essex County Teachers on a first come first served basis. Please contact us today with interest.