Visit us at:
568 Tempe Wick Road
Morristown, NJ 07960
Mail us at:
P.O. Box 300
New Vernon, NJ 07976
Call us at:
(973) 538-3500
FAX:
(973) 538-5300
Programs & Workshops For Educators
In-class Instruction: The Watershed Model
GSWA helps teachers bring environmental education to life in the classroom. Our three-dimensional watershed model vividly illustrates to students how the actions of individual people and groups affect the quality of water in our lakes, rivers and streams. The model also helps simplify the concepts of point and nonpoint source pollution. GSWA educators have delivered their watershed model program in dozens of schools, reaching more than 1,500 children to date. Program is offered year-round depending upon availability of instructors.
For more information about the Watershed Model program or to schedule a classroom visit, please contact Hazel England, GSWA’s Director of Education and Outreach, at 973-538-3500 x20 or by writing to hengland@greatswamp.org.
Educating The Educator: Teacher Education Workshops
Learning about the importance of water is a vital part of any student’s academic career. Join the Great Swamp Watershed Association for all three of our hands-on, fun-packed teacher workshops to learn more about integrating water resource education, environmental stewardship, and critical thinking skills into your current curriculum. Workshops are held jointly with Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge and the Friends of Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, and take place onsite at the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge inside the Helen C. Fenske Visitor Center located at 32 Pleasant Plains Road in Harding Township, NJ. Each event will include indoor and outdoor experiences. All participants will leave with an activity-packed teaching guide and other useful resources.
The fee for participation in each workshop is $20/person. Up to six professional development credits (PDC) may be available for attendance at each workshop. Space is limited, so please register online right now on our Event Registration page. To register by telephone, please call GSWA’s Director of Outreach and Education Hazel England at 973-538-3500 x20. For more information, please write to hengland@greatswamp.org.
2012-2013 Programs for Educators
Download the flyer here (pdf).
Wednesday, November 28, 2012, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. CANCELED
Helen C. Fenske Visitor Center, Great Swamp N.W.R., 32 Pleasant Plains Road, Harding Township, NJ
Project WET
Project WET is a collection of nearly 100 science-based, interdisciplinary activities with teacher-tested, classroom-ready lesson plans for K through 12 students. Activities use the vital importance of water to educate students about diverse topics. The updated guide is integrated into new online resources that make learning fun. Take the Water Olympics challenge to learn about the properties of water. Go on an Incredible Journey to learn more about the real water cycle. Track the transmission of disease as you follow along with Poison Pump, an exciting whodunit that is sure to get your students’ attention. The Project WET teacher’s guide is only available to educators who participate in a six-hour Project WET Workshop. Lessons in the guide are correlated to New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards. Workshop participants also receive supplementary educational materials focusing on New Jersey’s water resources.
This event has been canceled. Please write to hazele[at]greatswamp.org for rescheduling information.
Saturday, February 9, 2013, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Helen C. Fenske Visitor Center, Great Swamp N.W.R., 32 Pleasant Plains Road, Harding Township, NJ
Testing the WATERs!
How much of the earth’s water is actually clean, safe, and available to drink? How can knowing what lives in a stream tell you about what has happened to it in the recent past? How can water testing help protect our water supplies? Find out just how much we learn by testing local streams and ponds in the Great Swamp Watershed region. We will use inexpensive, easy-to-obtain water quality test kits to maximize the scientific know-how you take away from this hands-on program.
This workshop takes place indoors and out. It features engaging lessons that introduce and deepen your students’ understanding of water resource issues. All activities relate to core content standards, and provide engaging instruction designed to help your students gain real-world science experience and critical problem-solving skills. Participants end the workshop with a new understanding of the importance of chemical and biological water quality monitoring, and the uses of data generated by water testing. This workshop is well-suited for formal and informal educators teaching in grades 4 through 12, and beyond.
Saturday, May 4, 2013, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Helen C. Fenske Visitor Center, Great Swamp N.W.R., 32 Pleasant Plains Road, Harding Township, NJ
The Wonders of Wetlands (WOW!)
Why is a wetland like a sponge? Can recreating a wetland in a kitchen pan tell you why protecting the soil is critical for water quality? Come to this workshop and learn all the answers to these water- and wildlife-based puzzles. The Wonders of Wetlands, also known as WOW!, is an engaging and activity-packed guide for formal and informal educators alike. It provides a resourceful and creative collection of wetland-related activities, information, and ideas that can be integrated into all areas of your curriculum. WOW! has been called, “the most comprehensive introduction to wetland issues and definitions.” The WOW! guide includes more than 50 hands-on, multidisciplinary activities in lesson-plan format, extensive background information about wetlands, ideas for student-action projects, and a wetlands resource guide. This workshop is well-suited for educators teaching in grades K through 8, as well as those who might have access to, or are considering creating their own wetland education site or field trip.