The Matagorda Island Teacher Workshop-Cooperative Initiative was developed to give local teachers an array of subject based learning opportunities at Matagorda Island. The initiative is a collaboration of state, local and national agencies. Cooperative Organizations are U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Region III Education Service Center, The Nature Conservancy, Victoria College, The University of Houston, The Guadalupe-Blanco River Trust, Friends of Aransas and Matagorda Island and many volunteers. Matagorda Island is the only barrier island along the Texas coast that remains uninhabited and in its natural state.  Educators will have the opportunity to visit the Refuge and realize its importance to both humans and nature as they explore the many facets of this extraordinary wonder. The goal of the partners is to develop a yearly two day workshop consisting of sessions that address the applicable Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills from grades 7 to 12 science, social studies, and technology courses. Teachers will receive integrated-TEKS based lessons, classroom activities, and ideas as well as resource materials, including a personal journal and the McAlisters' Book, A Naturalist's Guide to Matagorda Island.

Exploring Matagorda Island Objectives:

• Discover how this valuable local resource will make science, social studies, and technology come alive in the classroom.
• Naturalists will guide participants through hands-on experiences that explore the bay and beach ecology, barrier islands and dune systems, human environment interaction, and cultural history of Matagorda Island.
• Participants will use digital cameras, GPS & GIS systems to collect, analyze, and communicate acquired data to their students and colleagues.
• Participants will gain knowledge of the Natural World around them through this interaction thus developing a sense of stewardship.

The workshop is scheduled for November 17-18, 2006. Participants can register for the workshop "Exploring Matagorda Island" through the Region III Website at www.esc3.net, workshop #23582. The workshop offers 16 hours of CEU for teachers. The workshop is not limited to teachers but is free for all teachers in the Region III coop.