Grandfather Mountain, a nonprofit nature park operated by the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, is pleased to announce a lineup of four free-to-attend educator workshops for the 2024 season.
Offered specifically to environmental educators from a variety of professions, these workshops offer opportunities for career growth and professional development by leveraging the wonders of Grandfather Mountain to further deepen participants' expertise. To do.
Additionally, environmental educators can earn North Carolina Environmental Education Certification credits and teacher continuing education credits by participating in these workshops. These workshops are not open to the general public.
“This is an opportunity to have fun learning in a stimulating environment while earning certification credits as a North Carolina Environmental Educator,” said Lauren Farrell, Interpretation and Education Program Manager at Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation. said. “Education is a big part of what we do here, and we want to give participants the tools they need to further expand their knowledge and curriculum.”
Instructors include Tanya Poole, environmental educator at Grandfather Mountain and outreach education specialist with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. Workshops will consist of a combination of in-class instruction and outdoor fieldwork, allowing participants to quickly engage with the subject matter. Best of all, workshops are held in a collaborative environment where groups can share knowledge and expertise with each other.
Advance registration is required. The workshop will be held on Grandfather Mountain and may involve walking, so participants are encouraged to bring appropriate footwear and be prepared for inclement weather. There is a restaurant on site, but participants must bring their own lunch.
The workshop includes:
About Wild Bear – June 13th
Time: 10am to 4pm | Limited to 25 participants
“WILD About Bears” focuses on North Carolina's black bears. During the workshop, you will learn about the life history of these creatures, current research, and activities that can be incorporated into participants' programs. This special themed project WILD includes a visit to a grandfathered black bear in a mountain animal habitat. The program is hosted by Lauren Farrell, Interpretation and Education Program Manager at Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation.
Educators who participate in Project WILD workshops are eligible to earn continuing education credits, training hours, or NC Environmental Education Certification credits.
Free registration begins April 29th. For more information, visit www.grandfather.com/event/educator-workshop-wild.
Growing Up Wild – July 19th
Time: 10am to 4pm | Limited to 25 participants
Growing Up WILD is a preschool program that develops children's sense of wonder about nature, focuses on promoting appreciation and stewardship of aquatic resources, and invites them to explore wildlife and their habitats. Growing Up Wild provides an early foundation for developing positive impressions of nature and lifelong social and academic skills through a wide range of activities and experiences. This workshop is aimed at formal and informal educators who work with children ages 3-7. The course will be taught by Tanya Poole, Outreach Education Specialist, and Michelle Mallan, Grandfather Mountain Education Specialist, with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.
Participants who complete the Growing Up WILD training will receive a free Growing Up WILD Activity Guide and be eligible for continuing education credits, training hours, or NC Environmental Education Certification credits.
Registration for this free event begins June 3rd. For more information, visit www.grandfather.com/event/growing-up-wild.
Environmental education teaching method – August 3rd and 4th
August 3rd: 10am to 4pm
August 4th: 10am to 2pm
Limited to 25 participants
The focus of this 10-hour environmental education teaching method workshop is to prepare participants from a variety of educational backgrounds and experiences in both formal and non-formal sectors to use exemplary environmental education teaching methods. is. Participants will learn about a variety of teaching techniques, methods, and teaching strategies, and the workshop will include multiple interactive components. Instructors will be Michelle Malaran, Grandfather Mountain Education Specialist, and Lauren Farrell, Interpretation and Education Program Manager.
This is a required workshop and recognized standard for all NC Environmental Education certification candidates. NC Environmental Education Certification Credits: Standard I and continuing education credits are available upon completion of the workshop.
Free registration begins June 19th. For more information, visit www.grandfather.com/event/educator-workshop-methods.
beatles workshop – September 14th
Time: 10am to 4pm | Limited to 25 participants
BEETLES (Better Environmental Education, Teaching, Learning and Sharing Expertise), hosted by Grandfather Mountain Education Specialist Michelle Malaran and Interpretation and Education Program Manager Lauren Farrell, aims to improve the quality of outdoor science education. Provide specialized learning resources to field instructors, leaders, and classroom teachers. . BEETLES learning sessions focus on specific aspects of research-based science pedagogy and encourage educators to think more deeply about their personal teaching and learning.
Maralan and Farrell discuss two BEETLES professional learning sessions, Making Observations and Questioning Strategies, and how to develop students' observational skills by encouraging curiosity and wonder, as well as how to stimulate students' sense of inquiry. Explore how to use questions to ask. discourse.
NC Environmental Education: Standard I (6 hours) and continuing education credits are available upon completion of the workshop.
Free registration begins July 31st. For more information, visit www.grandfather.com/event/beetles-educator-workshop.
About the series
Grandfather Mountain launched the Educator Workshop Series in 2018 as a way to provide Western North Carolina educators with a nearby venue where they can earn NC Environmental Education Certification credits.
Such workshops were already being held on-site for members of Grandfather Mountain's education staff, who are required to hold a North Carolina Environmental Education Certification. As a service to North Carolina educators, the park has made the course free to all teachers in the state who are pursuing an environmental education credential.
For more information about the Educator Workshop Series at Grandfather Mountain, visit www.grandfather.com/educator-workshops.
The nonprofit Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation strives to encourage conservation of the natural world by helping guests explore, understand, and appreciate the wonders of Grandfather Mountain. For more information, please visit: www.grandfather.com.
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