Outdoor and Environmental Education

Professional Development and Consulting

A variety of sessions are offered each season to teachers and administrators who like to "learn by doing." Among the opportunities typically offered are: using a compass, understanding GPS, exploring the geology of Long Island, climbing a 32-foot wall, canoeing in Lloyd Harbor, dredging off a fishing boat, and exploring one of the natural habitats of Long Island. These professional development sessions prepare teachers for future outdoor teaching experiences with their students, including the development of field/lab activities and pre/post trip lessons that meet academic goals and state standards.

You may sign up for the sessions offered or we can create a program at a convenient time and location to fit your goals and the size of your group. For "My Learning Plan" districts, please also check postings on that site.

Current offerings and scheduling for 2009-10
Register through My Learning Plan or click here to download the registration forms
¡ Energy
¡ Marine Biology
¡ Earth Science
¡ Ecology/ Living Environment
¡ Teambuilding
¡ Fourth and Fifth Grade Test Prep
¡ JASON Project and Immersion Curricula Programs and
      Professional Development

New! Junior Solar Sprint Workshop

Stay tuned for upcoming dates!

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Marine Biology:

There are two workshops remaining in this series:
 

• Oceanography Concepts and Classroom Lab Activities: February 9, 2010
  The session will begin with a presentation to review basic concepts in oceanography. Teachers will also experience hands-on labs to demonstrate temperature's affect on water density, salinity, erosion of rocks, shore-lines, shells, deposition of eroded materials and mapping the sea floor and tidal rise and fall.
  Registration:
  t  Connect to My Learning Plan:
       Marine Biology: Oceanography Concepts and Classroom
       Lab Activities
  t  Download Paper Registration Form
   

• Great South Bay Exploration on a Captree Fishing Boat: May 12, 2010
  The Great South Bay is filled with microscopic and macroscopic life forms and acts as a nursery and food source for the entire shallow water marine ecosystem.  During this session, we will convert a charter fishing boat into a floating marine biological lab and explore the life and water conditions in the bay. The cabin becomes our plankton lab, the bow is our water sampling station and in the stern, we'll drag an iron dredge to collect living specimens from the muddy depths and then examine them in our holding tank. After our morning research experience we may even have time to get in a little fishing! What's new for 2010? Use of probe ware to collect data, the correct use of binoculars for watching seabirds and the launching of a student-made ROV! This session is the fourth in a series of 4 (if you've registered for all four, take $80 off this session!)
  Registration:
  t  Connect to My Learning Plan:
       Marine Biology: Great South Bay Exploration on a Captree
       Fishing Boat
  t  Download Paper Registration Form

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Ecology: Our Caumsett Environmental Center and/or off-site locations are used to give teachers the content, concepts and methods to monitor abiotic and biotic factors and bring them to life for their students. Our Ecology workshops took place inthe Fall...watch this site for new listings!

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Earth Science

• EarthCaching:  March 2, 2010
  An EarthCache site is a special place that students can visit to learn about a unique geoscience feature or aspect of our Earth. Visitors to EarthCache sites can see how our planet has been shaped by geological processes, how we manage the resources and how scientists gather evidence to learn about the Earth. This “earth science treasure hunt” contains no physical caches as in geocaching but instead, teaches lessons about special geological features. The session will begin with an overview of Long Island Geology and then participants will be instructed in the use of GPS. Using this new skill, participants will go in search of some of earth's treasures found at Caumsett.
  Registration:
  t  Connect to My Learning Plan:
       EarthCaching
  t  Download Paper Registration Form

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Elementary Science and Social Studies:

• Preparation for 4th and 5th Grade Tests - Do it Outdoors! March 24, 2010
  Join us at our Brookville site to see how our 4th grade quest can prepare your students for the 4th grade science and 5th grade social studies assessments. Participate in real world, hands on activities such as measuring log diameters, large scale ball and ramp simulation, creating Venn diagrams with hoops, measuring mass and volume, using a map, and answering document based questions. The indoor and outdoor activities are designed to allow teachers to see what their students know and still need to learn.
  Registration:
  t  Connect to My Learning Plan:
       Preparation for 4th and 5th Grades Tests - Do it Outdoors!
  t  Download Paper Registration Form

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Team Building:

• Teambuilding and Meeting SEDL Guidelines through Challenge Course Activities
  April  22, 2010
  Our cooperative games, initiatives and ropes courses help to create and strengthen bonds between participants.  Administrators, teachers, and non-teaching staff benefit from the engaging social, emotional, mental and physical challenges presented.  Suitable for all ages and physical abilities, the program helps to develop cooperation and communication skills and appreciation of others. Educators will also learn activities that they can adapt to the school setting.
  
  What is SEDL? The Collaborative for Academic and Social Emotional Learning (CASEL) has identified 5 skill areas of socially and emotionally competent children:

  t  Self-awareness: emotions, values, strengths, limitations
  t  Self-management: emotions and behaviors
  t  Social awareness: empathy and understanding
  t  Relationship skills: positive relationships, conflict
       resolution
  t  Responsible decision making: ethical and constructive
       choices

  Teambuilding activities, including low ropes courses, give students hands-on, engaging experiences where they have opportunities to learn about and practice these essential skills. Download the Workshop Flyer

  How to Register:
  t  Connect to My Learning Plan:
       Teambuilding and Meeting the SEDL Guidelines through
       Challenge Course Activities
  t  Download Paper Registration Form
   

• A custom designed program for your staff can be held at Brookville or your school.. Call us to schedule.

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JASON Project and Immersion Learning: Great explorers, great events and GREAT science too! Call for details about Curricula Workshops. For more information also see: thelearningnet

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Please contact us for more information:

Mary Miller, Program Specialist, for scheduling information
mmiller@mail.nasboces.org
Phone: (516) 396-2264

For programs related to Challenge Courses, SEDL and  at risk youth:

Mary Watros, Program Specialist and site director
mwatros@mail.nasboces.org
Phone: (516) 626-1420

For programs related to ecology/environmental education:

Bill Monahan, Program Specialist and site director
bmonahan@mail.nasboces.org
Phone: (631) 549-0071

For Immersion Learning, JASON Project and The Learning Net professional development:

Carolann James, Supervisor
cjames@mail.nasboces.org
Phone: (516) 396-2264
Fax: (516) 333-6432