Education and Outreach
GSWA fosters environmental awareness and promotes environmental education for all ages. We help teachers bring environmental learning to life in the classroom, by presenting a three-dimensional watershed model to students, that vividly illustrates how individual and group actions affect the water quality of our lakes, rivers, and streams, introducing the concepts of point and nonpoint source pollution. GSWA has delivered this program to dozens of schools, reaching over 1500 students.
We educate the educators with relevant teacher workshops. In 2005 we diversified our Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) workshops by introducing a School Yard Habitat Development workshop, which shows educators how to use their school grounds as areas for wildlife and learning.
In 2004, Watershed Association staff began offering a wide variety of educational programs for the public and GSWA’s nearly 2,000 member households. The goal of these family-friendly programs is to introduce participants to the natural and cultural history of the area in an interesting and hands-on way. Events take place at locations throughout the watershed, enabling attendees to visit and learn about new places in the area.
The Association provides environmental information to area residents and officials through its programs, website, and newsletter.
Programs and Workshops for Educators 2007-2008
Great Swamp Watershed Association is facilitating several interesting and useful workshops for K-12 formal and non formal educators. Educators will experience activities they can use back in the classroom or Nature Center to teach across the educational curriculum. The workshops are hands on, led by Hazel England, Director of Outreach and Education and an experienced Naturalist educator, and provide participants with activity guides for each workshop. The 6-hour workshops are offered at little or minimal cost, and often include breakfast and lunch. They confer 6 NJDOE professional development credits too!
For more information call Hazel, (973) 538-3500, x20, e-mail hazele@greatswamp.org. Please call the number listed by each workshop to register, as they take place at several different facilities.
Schoolyard Habitat Enhancement Workshop
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Morris County Outdoor Education Center, Chatham, (973) 635-9391
Enhancing your school ground creates habitat for wildlife, can help improve water quality, and offers students areas to study without costly field trips. You don’t need a country setting for habitat enhancement to work, and to offer teaching opportunities! Learn about the process of creating an outdoor place for learning including mapping, site design, and correlation to your existing curriculum. This workshop suited for K-12 educators in all subject areas. Start your planning this fall to be ready to make changes to your school site in the spring. Leave armed with ideas for your own site. This program will spend some time outside. Fee $10, includes breakfast refreshments.
Healthy Waters Healthy People Workshop
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Trailside Nature Center, Watchung Reservation, (908) 789-3670
The goal of this workshop is to encourage investigation of the connections between water quality, the environment and human health. This is an advanced workshop best suited for educators teaching grades 6-12, who have taken a Project WET workshop and who have basic water chemistry background. Participants receive 6 NJDOE professional development credits. Morning refreshments served. Cost $10, including curriculum guide. This program will spend some time outside, so please dress appropriately for the weather.
Project WILD Workshop
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Trailside Nature Center, Watchung Reservation, (908) 789-3670
Go WILD about learning, as you experience one of the leading supplemental environmental education curricula. The Project WILD activity guide contains hands-on activities that K-12 teachers across the curriculum can use to teach about wildlife and natural resources. The activities take students from awareness to action, and are designed to be incorporated into most major subject areas, strengthening basic skills while teaching existing curricula. Activities can be used to meet state standards for core course proficiencies. Best of all, the activities are enjoyable and educational. Cost: $25, including breakfast.
Project Wet Workshop
Friday, February 7, 2008, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
GSWA Headquarters, 568 Tempe Wick Road Morristown, (973) 538-3500 ext. 20
The workshop is an interdisciplinary, supplemental water education program for formal and non-formal educators, K-12. It is hands-on, action packed and informative! Educators will learn by doing, experiencing activities they can use to teach all kinds of water concepts from the water cycle, to water properties, aquatic ecosystems, and water pollution prevention. Participants will receive the curriculum and activity guide. The guide is a collection of innovative, water-related activities that are hands-on, easy to use and incorporate a variety of educational formats. Cost: $25, including breakfast.
Wonders of Wetlands Workshop
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Morris County Outdoor Education Center, Chatham, (973) 635-9391
WOW is an instructional guide for educators that provides a resourceful and creative collection of wetland activities, information, and ideas. WOW! includes: over 50 hands-on multidisciplinary activities in lesson plan format, extensive background information on wetlands, ideas for student action projects, and a wetlands resource guide. WOW! has been called “The most comprehensive introduction to wetland issues and definitions.” Great for educators who have access to, or are considering creating their own wetland site. Cost: $20, including breakfast.
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Publications
DEP
Comparative Risk Study
Conservation Tips
BioBlitz 2007
Breakfast Briefings