Great Lakes Educator Programs
Great Lakes Institutes
Educators are invited to attend a six-hour Great Lakes Institute which will familiarize teachers with a watershed close to their school. These workshops will be held in Erie, Monroe, and Niagara counties and they will focus on a specific Area of Concern. An Area of Concern is a watershed along the Great Lakes that has suffered from degraded environmental conditions. Participants will receive training in the Project WET and Project WILD Aquatic curricula, as well as receiving site-specific information about the Area of Concern. Workshop dates and locations are listed on the Upcoming Educator Workshops page.
- Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) is an award-winning, international, interdisciplinary water science program for educators of K-12 students.
- Aquatic Project WILD is an award-winning, interdisciplinary conservation and environmental education program emphasizing aquatic wildlife and ecosystems for grades K-12.
Great Lakes Academy
July 29 through August 2, 2013
9:30 AM to 4:00 PM daily
This inter-disciplinary five-day training academy will help educators explore ways to infuse their existing curricula with activities and stewardship opportunities connecting their students to the Great Lakes. During the academy, participants will participate in and receive:
- Science Afloat program aboard the Spirit of Buffalo to explore the Buffalo River and Lake Erie
- Training in three curricula related to the aquatic environment
- Two activity guides filled with over 100 lesson plans and activities correlated to state learning standards, including Common Core math and ELA standards
- Field experiences with ideas and tips for connecting students to the outdoors
- 30 contact hours of professional development
Topics covered in the academy include water sampling, local plants and animals, geology, history, aquatic invasive species, ecology and habitats, and restoration projects.
After the academy, all participants will receive at least one free in-class lesson presented by a professional environmental educator as well as ongoing support to involve students in a stewardship project. Educators who complete the academy and the follow-up activities will receive a $200 stipend. To apply for the 2013 Great Lakes Academy, download the application form (PDF) (15 KB).
For More Information
To register for a day-long institute, the five-day academy, or to schedule a day-long institute for your area, please contact the Great Lakes Educator, Brittany DiLeo, at 716-683-5959 x204 or email Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve
Special Thanks
"NYS Teachers Get W.E.T. for the Great Lakes" is a two-year program funded by a generous grant to Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. The program is a collaboration between the NYSDEC, Friends of Reinstein Nature Preserve, Buffalo Urban Outdoor Education, and Buffalo Audubon Society among other local environmental organizations. The goal of the program is to give educators the resources to connect area students to the Great Lakes through hands-on activities and meaningful stewardship projects.
More Educator Workshop Opportunities
Check the Upcoming Educator Workshops and Annual Teacher Institutes & Academies pages for additional information on other workshops and institutes in your area.
