2012 Summer Institutes

Dates for 2012 coming soon!

These BTW summer institutes will prepare teachers to incorporate one or more of the BTW stand-alone curriculum modules into science courses. During these institutes, participants will explore the Potomac watershed to learn the local history, geology, and ecology and work with student investigations in the BTW curricula. An integral part of the institutes is an opportunity for teachers to engage in a field study in their participating parks to collect and analyze authentic data.

Building bridges between national parks and schools has been a main focus for BTW. The goal is to reach middle and high school students and heighten their awareness of the real-world issues in their backyard—the Potomac watershed. During the institute, teachers and national park rangers (and volunteers in national parks) work together engaging in activities students will do in the classroom and work together in the parks getting their “feet wet” engaging in field studies.

General Info

WHO SHOULD APPLY: Secondary school (grades 6 – 12) environmental science, Earth science, chemistry, biology, integrated physics teachers, National Park Service and Maryland Park Service rangers and volunteers in parks. Teachers who have attended a previous institute are ineligible.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN: During this four and half day institute, participants will learn BTW curricula and strategies to implement hands-on activities in the classroom, engage in field studies in national and state parks, and complete a project due at the end of the institute.

EXPECTATIONS: Participating teachers must implement one BTW module with their class by November 30th, 2011. This includes completing classroom lessons and bringing students to a participating national or state park for a field study. All participants must also complete a final, written project, submit a student work portfolio, and participate in an online web forum. Out-of-class independent work will total approximately 6-10 hours between the start of the institute and November 30th.

STIPEND AND STIPEND REQUIREMENTS: $700 for teachers for full participation in the 4.5-day institute plus a follow-up field study with secondary school students in a participating national or state park before November 30, 2011 and full completion of the expectations listed above. Stipends will be issued in December 2011.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CREDIT:

Participants who complete the full requirements for the following credits may be eligible to receive:

• Three (3) graduate credits are available from Catholic University at current university rates (pending approval). Credit will be issued at end of Summer 2011 semester. To receive graduate credit, in addition to full participation in the institute, teachers will be required to submit a portfolio of lesson plans, a program evaluation, and participate in 6 additional hours of workshops during the summer (find dates here). Tuition must be paid to the university. In 2010, the cost was $300.
• MSDE - 2 credits (tentative)

APPLICATION AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS: Please send, via email a letter of support from your principal and a personal statement. Both should be in either .doc or .pdf format and no more than a page each. Your application will be considered incomplete until these two documents are received.

• Supporting Paragraph from Your School Principal:
  A paragraph of support is requested from your school principal, or the appropriate administrator who can approve a field study, on school letterhead. The letter should demonstrate support for your plans to bring students on a field study in the fall. Please submit the paragraph of support either with this application or separately, by mail, before the deadline.
• Personal Statement:
  Bridging the Watershed is a partnership and exists to create future stewards of their watershed and students more engaged in hands-on science learning. Include a one-page summary of your reason(s) for applying to this institute and an indication that you would be willing to work with BTW to provide students with field studies in national parks and public lands.

INSTITUTE TIMES: Monday – Thursday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM; Friday 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM

LOCATIONS: Classes are conducted in the field and in the classroom at C & O Canal NHP- Cumberland and Rocky Gap State Park.

Please note: teachers who will be participating in Outdoor School next spring do not need to complete a field study by November 30th to receive the stipend.

INSTITUTE TIMES: Monday, June 20 – Thursday, June 23, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM; Friday, June 24, 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM

LOCATIONS: Classes are conducted in the field and in the classroom at Anacostia Park, C&O National Historical Park, Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, national Mall and Memorial Park, Oxon Cove Park, Rock Creek Park.

INSTITUTE TIMES: Monday – Thursday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM; Friday 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM

LOCATIONS: Classes are conducted in the field and in the classroom at George Washington Memorial Parkway, Great Falls Park, Manassas National Battlefield Park, Prince William Forest Park, Rock Creek Park.

NOTE: Arlington County teachers, we will offer a make-up day in July to accommodate your snow-delayed schedule, or you may complete one of a few extra projects to satisfy the requirements of the course.