Burlington-- Middle and high school teachers interested in integrating watershed science into their curriculum are invited to apply for a year-long program that incorporates ongoing water research projects and development of educational materials and lesson plans.
The program kicks off with an intensive, week-long summer session, July 8-12. Hands-on learning will take place at several locations, including the R/V Marcelle Melosira, University of Vermont’s research vessel and “floating laboratory,” and the university’s Rubenstein Ecosystem Sciences Laboratory. Additional sessions will be planned for throughout the school year.
The program is offered by Lake Champlain Sea Grant through its Watershed Alliance Teacher and Researcher Partnership and costs $200 to participate. All other expenses, including overnight accommodations for the summer session, are funded through a grant from the Lake Champlain Basin Program. Only teachers employed by schools in the Lake Champlain Basin in Vermont and New York are eligible to apply.
For details and an application form, go to https://go.uvm.edu/watr-partnership. Priority will be given to teachers from schools with a high percentage of students who receive free or reduced lunch and/or diverse student bodies. Teaching teams are encouraged to sign up together.
Applicants should apply as early as possible and will be notified of acceptance by June 1. Once accepted, if a disability-related accommodation is needed to participate, teachers should contact Ashley Eaton at (802) 391-4410 or akeaton@uvm.edu by June 17.
Teachers also may register for six graduate credits with tuition at their own expense. All participants will receive a stipend for their time and purchase of supplies to implement their lessons.
In the summer session, teachers will learn how to conduct field assessments, monitor water quality and do limnological, geological and fisheries sampling of Lake Champlain, among other activities. They also will partner with a researcher to collaborate on the development of a watershed Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics (STEAM) based unit for their classroom.