2009 Professional Development

 June

Wetland Stewardship
June 12; 9:am - 3:00pm
Three Lakes Nature Center, Richmond

What makes wetlands different from streams and rivers? The Department of Environmental Quality in partnership with the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries will offer a 6-hour workshop for educators highlighting the biological and physical characteristics of wetlands. Participants will receive training in the Wonders of Wetlands (WOW!) curriculum and the statewide Wildlife Mapping program. This workshop will be held at the Three Lakes Nature Center in Henrico County. Dress appropriately for the weather and please bring rubber boots or hip waders if you have them available. Email Stephanie Feaser by June 1, 2009 to register for this workshop.

Project Learning Tree Workshop
Advanced Workshop at Holiday Lake Forestry Camp, Appomattox
June 15 - 21
PreK-8 Educator Workshop

Each year, Holiday Lake Forestry Camp provides an in-the-woods residential camp experience for about eighty 13-16 year olds. We seek camper nominations from teachers who have students interested in natural resources careers. We also are able to include six teachers per year in this residential camp program for their own professional development. Teachers receive the full Project Learning Tree curruculum, participate in PLT activities during the camp classes, and learn about PLT resources during special teacher sessions at camp. Cost is $60, all meals and lodging are included. Contact Lisa Deaton at 804-328-3031 or lisa.deaton@dof.virginia.gov for more information.

Water Stewardship: Living Shorelines & Rain Barrels
June 18; 1:00 - 5:00 pm

Longwood University’s Hull Springs Farm will conduct a 4-hour workshop for educators that will explore many aspects of protecting water quality and aquatic habitats. We will visit an award-winning Living Shorelines marsh, look for resident animals, and help plant marsh grasses. Participants will also make a functioning rain barrel from a recycled pickle barrel that they will take home. They will also receive a CD with watershed and rain barrel presentations, plus a copy of Virginia’s Water Resources: A Tool for Teachers correlated to Virginia's Standards of Learning.  Dress appropriately for the weather and outdoor activities. Fees: $47.00 Pre-registration is required by June 9, 2009 by calling Bobbie Burton at 804-472-2621 or email: hullspringsfarm@longwood.edu.

The Box Turtle Connection: Virginia's Box Turtle Monitoring Program for Teachers and Their Students
June 18, July 7, July 16

The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) is offering three workshops for educators interested to helping to monitoring Box Turtle populations. Participants will learn field methods and protocols including setting up a census plot and conducting a visual survey, equipment use and maintenance, collection of morphometric data, and radio telemetry and other tracking techniques. Download and submit registration from www.dgif.virginia.gov/events.

Nature Journaling across the Curriculum
June 22-26
Mary Baldwin College Environment-Based Learning Course

Nationally-known author and illustrator Clare Walker Leslie will lead this course as we practice the wonderful art of nature journaling. In the course, educators will study a variety of journaling techniques and artistic medium for observing and documenting the natural world. The course is designed to: 1) introduce educators to strategies for improving the artistic, written and reflective abilities of K-12 students using nature experiences; 2) encourage educators to use the outdoors around the school and community as sites for nature-related observation, documentation, and artistic/written expression; and 3) help educators develop school-based curriculum strategies for integrating art with science and writing through nature journaling. For more information or to register, go to www.mbc.edu/ebl.

Project Underground
June 23

Project Underground is a national education program focused on cave and karst awareness. Each participant will receive a Project Underground Education Guide (for K-12 students) as well as other resources. Facilitators and participants will work together to model hands-on activities found in the guide. “These materials and workshops are designed for classroom teachers, cavern, park, museum, and nature center staff, or any youth-oriented group leaders.” Visit www.dcr.virginia.gov/underground.shtml for more information about Project Underground. Cost is $15, lunch is provided and registration is required. To register or for more information contact Emily Ford or Lisa Green at 540-837-1758 or email at schprog@virginia.edu.

Project Learning Tree
June 25

Project Learning Tree is an award winning environmental education program designed for teachers and educators. Each participant will receive a (preK-8) Project Learning Tree Activity Guide. Facilitators and participants will work together to model hands-on activities found in this guide. Activities are interdisciplinary and designed to help educators add environmental education to their curricula. Visit www.vanaturally.com for more information on PLT. Cost is $15, lunch is provided and registration is required. To register or for more information contact Emily Ford or Lisa Green at 540-837-1758 or email at schprog@virginia.edu.

Environment-Based Learning
June 29 - July 2
Mary Baldwin College Environment-Based Learning Course

In this course, educators will learn to integrate problem-based themes of the local community into the K-12 curriculum. Using the complex interconnections of natural and built environments, educators from rural to urban areas will learn to facilitate investigations of real-world issues from a variety of perspectives: historical, scientific, socio-cultural, economic, and personal. This course will emphasize the use of Environment-Based Learning (EBL) to teach state and national standards. For more information or to register, go to www.mbc.edu/ebl.

Rain Barrel & Water Conservation Workshop for Educators
Late June or Early July

Clean Virginia Waterways (affiliated with Longwood University) will host this 3 hour water stewardship workshop for educators in late June or early July. Participants will make a functioning rain barrel from a recycled pickle barrel that they will take home. The workshop will provide educators all the knowledge, PowerPoints, budgets and handouts they need to host Rain Barrel Workshops in their schools and communities. Participants will receive a CD with watershed and rain barrel presentations, plus a copy of Virginia’s Water Resources: A Tool for Teachers correlated to Virginia's Standards of Learning . Workshop is open to teachers, teachers-in-training, and natural resource professionals. Fees: $30 Pre-registration is required by calling or emailing Katie Register at (434) 395-2602 (email: cleanva@longwood.edu). Class size is limited.

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July

Storytelling: A Pathway to Curriculum Integration
July 6 - 10
Mary Baldwin College Environment-Based Learning Course

The oral tradition of storytelling provides a window into the context of culture and environment; therefore, the process can address standards in language arts, science, and social studies. In the course, educators will come to understand how to use this timeless tradition as a tool for motivating student learning while enhancing the oral and written abilities of k-12 students. Through storytelling, students will learn to observe, reflect upon, and document their own sense of place in time. Donald Davis, nationally known and award winning storyteller, will return this summer as the facilitator for this course.  The course will begin with a 3-day stay on historic Smith Island with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and end at Mary Baldwin College in Staunton; the Chesapeake Bay and Shenandoah Valley will provide a cultural/environmental context for practicing the process. For more information or to register, go to www.mbc.edu/ebl.

Agriculture in the Classroom Elementary Workshop
July 9; 9:00am - 2:00pm (lunch is provided)
Virginia Beach Farmers Market, Rural Heritage Center

Virginia’s AITC program provides teacher training workshops throughout the Commonwealth.  Hands-on activities and grade level appropriate, SOL-aligned lesson plans cover multiple content areas.  Additionally, each teacher receives a free teacher resource kit with curriculum, books, posters, and much more! For more information please contact kalvarez@vbgov.com or 757-385-4395.

Trout in the Classroom
July 13 - 17
Mary Baldwin College Environment-Based Learning Course

Trout in the Classroom (TIC) is designed to teach educators about a science-based curriculum developed through the conservation organization Trout Unlimited. In TIC programs, students in grades K-12 raise trout from eggs, monitor tank water quality, engage in stream habitat study, learn to appreciate water resources, begin to foster a conservation ethic, and come to understand ecosystems. Most programs end the year by releasing their trout in a state-approved stream near the school or within a nearby watershed. In the MBC course, educators will focus on integrating TIC across the curriculum, coordinating efforts with local resources, finding grant and funding options, and TIC tank set-up and maintenance. Field experiences will include stream studies, fisheries biology, and land use/watershed issues. For more information or to register, go to www.mbc.edu/ebl.

Garden in the Classroom Workshop
July 14; 9:00am - 3:00pm (lunch is provided)
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden (Richmond)

Virginia’s AITC program provides teacher training workshops throughout the Commonwealth.  Garden in the Classroom workshops focus on the indoor and outdoor instructional garden.  Hands-on activities and grade level appropriate, SOL-aligned lesson plans cover multiple content areas.  Additionally, each teacher receives a free teacher resource kit with curriculum, books, posters, and much more! For more information, call 804-262-9887.

Agriculture in the Classroom Elementary Workshop
July 20; 9:00am - 2:00pm (lunch is provided)
Loudoun Farm Museum

Virginia's AITC program provides teacher training workshops throughout the Commonwealth.  Hands-on activities and grade level appropriate, SOL-aligned lesson plans cover multiple content areas.  Additionally, each teacher receives a free teacher resource kit with curriculum, books, posters, and much more! For more information, call 571-258-3800.

Garden in the Classroom Workshop
July 28; 9-3 (lunch is provided)
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden (Richmond)

Virginia’s AITC program provides teacher training workshops throughout the Commonwealth.  Garden in the Classroom workshops focus on the indoor and outdoor instructional garden.  Hands-on activities and grade level appropriate, SOL-aligned lesson plans cover multiple content areas.  Additionally, each teacher receives a free teacher resource kit with curriculum, books, posters, and much more! For more information, call 804-262-9887.

Agriculture in the Classroom Middle School Workshop
July 29; 9:00am - 2:00pm (lunch is provided)
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden (Richmond)

Virginia’s AITC program provides teacher training workshops throughout the Commonwealth.  Hands-on activities, experiments, and grade level appropriate, SOL-aligned lesson plans cover multiple content areas.  Middle School Workshops emphasize natural, life, and physical science as well as language arts and economics.  Additionally, each teacher receives a free teacher resource kit with curriculum, books, posters, and much more! For more information, call 804-262-9887.

Garden in the Classroom
July 31; 9:00am - 3:00pm
Hahn Horticulture Garden (Blacksburg)

Virginia’s AITC program provides teacher training workshops throughout the Commonwealth.  Garden in the Classroom workshops focus on the indoor and outdoor instructional garden.  Hands-on activities and grade level appropriate, SOL-aligned lesson plans cover multiple content areas.  Additionally, each teacher receives a free teacher resource kit with curriculum, books, posters, and much more! For more information, call 540-231-5970.

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August

Garden in the Classroom Workshop
August 3; 9-3 (lunch is provided)
Norfolk Botanical Garden

Virginia’s AITC program provides teacher training workshops throughout the Commonwealth.  Garden in the Classroom workshops focus on the indoor and outdoor instructional garden.  Hands-on activities and grade level appropriate, SOL-aligned lesson plans cover multiple content areas.  Additionally, each teacher receives a free teacher resource kit with curriculum, books, posters, and much more! For more information, call 757-441-5838.

Wetlands Across America
August 4-6

Workshops will be conducted at the Claytor Nature Study Center of Lynchburg College. Program lead by collaboration between Environmental Concern, LLC, Project WET, Claytor Nature Study Center. and Citizens for Clean Lynchburg. Day1 - Introduction to wetlands ecology through a study of the 3 parameters of wetlands, and the wetlands functions and values by utilizing hands on, inquiry-based, cross-curricular activities. Day 2 - WOW! Facilitator to learn the processes and protocols of the nationwide WOW! Facilitator network, or Advanced Wetlands Investigations. Participants leave with skills and materials to lead WOW! Worshops. The WOW! Workshop is a prerequisite. Day 3 - POW! The Planning Wetlands guides educators through the process of creating, restoring, or enhancing a wetland on school grounds, or within a community. Free for the first 25 participants each day.

Exploring Earth Science in Shenandoah National Park
August 11-12

Geology and earth science teachers! Join us for a hands-on teacher workshop that will introduce two brand new units of Exploring Earth Science in Shenandoah National Park: An Integrated Curriculum Guide for Grades 7-12. Workshop participants will receive the complete curriculum guide with lesson plans and materials to use Shenandoah National Park for field-based studies that meet the Meaningful Watershed Education Experience (MWEE) requirement. The workshop includes instruction on the two new units, Protecting Our Water Resources and The Changing Face of Stony Man plus an overview of four other lesson plans in the curriculum guide. Free and space is limited to 20. Registration is required by contacting Shenandoah National Park's Education Office at shen_education@nps.gov or 540-999-3500, ext. 3489.

From the Mountains to the Ocean: Hydro-ecological Connections between the Northern Shenandoah Valley and Chesapeake Bay
August 12-13

Join us for a Meaningful Watershed Education Experience workshop that will be held at Blandy Experimental Farm. This pilot workshop will help promote an understanding of the hydrological and ecological links of the Northern Shenandoah Valley to the Chesapeake Bay. In this 2-day workshop, participants will work with scientists and educators to gain a deeper understanding of the Chesapeake Bay watershed and develop activities to use in YOUR classroom. Housing and all meals will be provided. Candace Lutzow-Felling at 540-837-1758 or lutzow-felling@virginia.edu. 

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