2008 Professional Development

Environmental Education and Training Partnership (EETAP) 
We are now preparing for the summer and fall semesters and would appreciate your assistance in announcing the summer offerings of the “Fundamentals of Environmental Education” and “Applied Environmental Education Program Evaluation” online courses and the fall offering of these courses along with “Strategic Planning and Implementation” and “Making EE Relevant for Culturally Diverse Audiences” to your EE networks.  Below, you will find information about the online courses as well a link to the online courses website.  View the flyers for the summer 2008 and fall 2008 courses.

There are $200 scholarships available for the FEE and AEEPE courses!  The FEE scholarships are offered to course participants that are state EE leaders and the AEEPE scholarships are offered to course participants that are community and/or state EE leaders.  Information on the scholarships is available at the online course website listed below.

Dominion Generation
Science Teacher Workshops

Explore Your Natural Resources with NEST (Neighborhood Ecological  Stewardship Training)
April - June 2008
Northern Virginia
Looking for a reason to spend more time outdoors? Want to try something new and meet people? Do you enjoy science and art? Then participate in the free Neighborhood Ecological Stewardship Training (NEST) program. Explore your NEST this spring! Adults are invited to learn about natural resources through a series of hands-on workshops and outings held throughout Northern Virginia from April - June 2008. Events will be held on weekends and evenings and will include: (1) classes about streams, soil, native and invasive plants, history, and eating locally; (2) land-based exploration including walks, hikes, and bike rides; (3) water-based exploration including kayaking, canoeing, and boating; (4) outdoor arts including photography, music, drawing, and journaling.  

The NEST program is coordinated by the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District in cooperation with over 50 non-profit and agency partners. For more information contact Joanna@exploreyournest.org.

Chesapeake Classrooms Summer schedule
Detail decriptions can be found at www.cbf.org/chesapeakeclassrooms/ and click on Summer Immersion Courses.

2008 Professional Development Opportunites for Educators
Smithsonian National Zoological Park Conservation & Research Center

Holiday Lake Forestry Camp
June 16 - 21, 2008
The Deptartment of Forestry will again offer an opportunity for teachers and other educators to attend Holiday Lake Forestry Camp, receiving about 35 hours of field forestry instruction and Project Learning Tree training (all modules). The location is Holiday Lake 4-H Center near Appomattox, and the cost is only $60. If interested, please contact Lisa Deaton at 804-328-3031 or lisa.deaton@dof.virginia.gov no later than April 15. Space is limited, so early contact is recommended.

Elementary Science Institute for Teachers
June 18 - July 1, 2008
Hollins University
A great opportunity for grades 3-5 teachers in Roanoke City, Roanoke County, Salem, Franklin, Botetourt, Floyd & Craig counties.

Mary Baldwin College Environment-based Learning Courses
Summer 2008
For more information or to register, please contact Dr. Tamra Willis, Master of Arts in Teaching Program, Mary Baldwin College, 540-887-7135.

2008 Summer Teacher/Ranger Institute
Virginia National Parks
June 23 - June 27, 2008

Trees to Products: Virginia's Hardwood Forests, Production to Utilization, Environmental & Social Issues
June 23 - 26, 2008
The Inn at Norton
A Virginia SOL field program for 4th, 6th, LS, and Bio teachers.

E. Claiborne Robins, Jr. Teacher Institute: Before Jamestown
July 7 - 11, 2008
Application deadline is May 15, 2008
Named for the former president of the Virginia Historical Society, with the assistance of the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, this program will immerse a group of selected teachers in an intensive one-week study of Native American culture before the contact with European powers. The institute will take a multi-disciplinary approach by exploring Native American societies through the expertise of leading historians, archaeologists, linguists, ethnologists, and anthropologists.

The Teachers Institute is open to all Virginia public and private elementary and secondary school teachers, but is targeted for teachers of Virginia Studies, USI, and VA/US History. Participants are selected by members of the Society's teacher advisory board.

Virginia’s Eastern Shore Habitats: Field Studies for Science Educators
July 7 - 11, 2008
This is a residential program at the VIMS Eastern Shore Laboratory in Wachapreague, Virginia. Ecology and oceanography concepts will be illustrated with examples in the field, including salt marsh, mud flats, tidal creeks, barrier islands, and near-shore ocean. Laboratory and classroom activities will provide additional teaching resources. Contact Vicki Clark, vclark@vims.edu.

Project Coal to Electricity Summer Teacher Workshop
July 13 - 18, 2008
University of Virginia's College at Wise

A Day in the Garden with Agriculture in the Classroom
July 14 and 28, 2008
9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Join "Ag in the classroom" for a day at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden to explore using a garden in the classroom as an educational tool to engage students in hands-on learning.  Instructor David Pippin brings science, mathematics, and social studies together as he presents activities designed to introduce students to the importance of agriculture in Virginia.  Enjoy a tour of the Garden and learn more about many of the resources available to teachers.  Each participant will receive free, SOL-aligned educational materials for his/her classroom. Workshops are provided free of charge by the Virginia Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom, a not-for-profit organization. Lunch provided.   Maximum class size: 30.  Call 804-262-9887 ext.322 to reserve a spot.

Virginia Science Standards Institutes
July 20 - 25, 2008
Twin Lakes State Park
This week-long summer learning experience provided by the Virginia Museum of Natural History is for fourth and fifth grade teachers and is designed to closely support the Science SOL and provide detailed training, print, and hands-on resources on the SOL content and skills.

2008 Water & Watershed Based Science Standards Institute
July 28 - August 1, 2008
9:00 am - 4:00 pm daily
Lousia County Middle School
Click here for the registration form.

Species of Special Concern Workshop for Educators: Seagrass
July 30, 2008
This is an annual series of workshops on marine species which are the focus of VIMS research. Classroom and informal educators are invited to participate in a one-day workshop including lecture, discussions, lab and on-water activities, led by scientists and Sea Grant educators. Learn why seagrasses are critical to a healthy Chesapeake Bay, what stressors are impacting the grasses, and how scientists, managers, and citizens are working to restore them. Teaching resources and classroom activities will be featured. Contact Lisa Ayers Lawrence,  ayers@vims.edu.