Date: June 4, 2008
Contact: Al Nash, 307-344-2015
Contact: Stacy Vallie, 307-344-2015
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Yellowstone National Park
P.O. Box 168
Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 4, 2008 08-043
Al Nash or Stacy Vallie (307) 344-2015
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YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK NEWS RELEASE
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Teacher Workshops Offered in Yellowstone National Park
The National Park Service (NPS) and its official educational partner, the Yellowstone Association Institute, are teaming up to offer a series of teacher workshops in the park this summer and fall thanks to generous funding from the Yellowstone Park Foundation.
The first workshop in this series will take place August 4-7, at the historic Lamar Buffalo Ranch. “No Child Left Indoors!” introduces educators to effective methods for teaching in any outdoor setting. The workshop highlights Expedition: Yellowstone!, the NPS’s residential (multi-day, overnight) program which has inspired hundreds of teachers and tens of thousands of students from across the country. This award-winning curriculum is an invaluable resource for educators who want to bring their students to Yellowstone or enliven classroom learning with park-relevant material. Workshop participants will experience curriculum activities taught by veteran instructors and learn excellent practices for teaching in any outdoor setting. These skills are easily transported home to inspire young people and encourage them to value spending time outdoors. Course activity will include hikes of up to five miles per day with occasional elevation gains up to 500 feet in undulating terrain.
Two additional workshops are scheduled to take place in the fall. “What Lies Beneath,” a four-day workshop focusing on geology as it relates to Yellowstone's geologic past, present and future, will be based at Old Faithful on October 16-19. The November 13 - 16 workshop, “Hunter-Hunted,” will be offered at the Lamar Buffalo Ranch. Focusing on carnivores and their prey, participants in this workshop will learn balanced approaches for addressing the complex societal and ecological issues related to predators, with ample opportunity to observe predators and their prey in the wild.
Workshops are open to any educator. While the workshops target middle school teachers, lessons are easily adaptable to both younger and older students, so elementary and secondary teachers are also encouraged to attend.
University and in-service credits are available. Limited scholarships are available for Wyoming teachers for meals, lodging, tuition, and course materials.
Registration is already under way for the August and October workshops. To reserve a spot, call 307-344-2294, or visit http://www.nps.gov/yell/forteachers/teacherworkshops.htm. Registration for the November workshop will begin June 25, for members of the Yellowstone Association, and July 2, for non-members. For more information, call the number above or visit the website.
- www.nps.gov/yell -
