Workshops & Field Trips

Saturday, October 23


9:30-12:30 Session FG Workshops & Field Trips


FG1. Kay Morgan, Monadnock Institute of Nature, Place and Culture at Franklin Pierce University - DIGGING INTO PLACE

How do we get past a superficial study of place? Has the phrase, "a sense of place" become cliché? Participants will experience several methods of infusing the study of place in their own curriculum. This session will include large group discussion, small group collaboration and individual writing activities.


FG2. Erica Curry, Education and Outreach Coordinator, Shelburne Farms - FARM BASED EDUCATION: Connecting Schools and Communities to Farms

This interactive workshop is designed for educators, farmers, students and community members seeking to explore farm-based education. We will highlight a variety of farms that model incorporating food and farm education into their mission, operations and programming. A field trip to a local farm will be included to experience farm-based education.


FG3. Markey Read & Tim King, Honey Dew Homestead - SUBURBAN/URBAN HOMESTEADING: A Movement Supporting Sustainable Community

Come join this lively presentation on homesteading models, planning and resources. Learn how the resurgence of urban/suburban homesteading is becoming a vital ingredient in building resilient local food systems. Savvy suburbanites are planting gardens, keeping bees & chickens, producing value- added products – resulting in more localvore options and community collaboration.


FG4. Robert Sanford, Professor of Environmental Science & Policy, University of Southern Maine - PROMOTING GREEN DESIGN THROUGH EFFECTIVE SITE PLAN REVIEW

This workshop will explore how a relational, experiential and reciprocal pedagogic approach to environmental education (EE) will work uniquely to cultivate sense of place. The workshop will take place as a local amble/exploration, where our encounters with the wider world will guide, inspire and bring alive our activities and discussion.


FFG5. Neil Kessler, Student, Ph.D. in Natural Resources, University of New Hampshire, Founder, Flicker Institute - RELATIONAL PEDAGOGY AND SENSE OF PLACE: The Effects of a Relational, Experiential, and Reciprocal Focus on the Practice of Environmental Education

This interactive workshop is designed for educators, farmers, students and community members seeking to explore farm-based education. We will highlight a variety of farms that model incorporating food and farm education into their mission, operations and programming. A field trip to a local farm will be included to experience farm-based education.


FG6. Angela Gibbons, Earth Walk - LIVING VILLAGE: Co-creating a Nature-Based Mentoring Community

To better steward our natural and human communities, we can (and need to!) change the ways we live and learn together. Come outside and join EarthWalk Vermont, as we connect to the land and one another through: sharing gratitude, utilizing our senses, natural crafts, primitive skills, games, singing and storytelling.


FG7. Jess Sankey and Josh Kelly

Title and description pending.


FG8. Rose Graves and Tate Bushell, Field Naturalists, University of Vermont - MOTHER NATURE'S NEIGHBORHOOD: Decoding the Pieces, Patterns, and Processes in your Natural Community

Through exploration of natural patterns and trends, participants will gain tools to interpret landscapes and understand the relationship of ecosystems as a whole to biotic and abiotic factors. We will practice field science, interpretation of natural history, and brainstorm ways to share this understanding with students in an engaging way. Participants will be provided with background materials on reading the landscape, sample lessons to use in the classroom, as well as useful resources for decoding the natural communities in your neighborhood.


FG3. Susan Sawyer, Naturalist/Artist/Educator, Four Winds Nature Institute - LENS-SCAPE TO LANDSCAPE: Making a Visual Record of a Place in Many Scales

In this workshop, participants will see and use a thoughtful and creative approach to making a visual record of a place. From the smallest of details to map and panorama, drawing can be used to record a day or a season or a year in one place. (Drawing expertise not necessary.)



9:30-11:00 am Session F Workshops & Field Trips

F1. Judy Tumosa, Watershed Education Specialist, New Hampshire Fish and Game Departmen - BRINGING A NEW HAMPSHIRE RIVER INTO THE CLASSROOM

Introducing the updated "Simulating a New Hampshire River Ecosystem" manual and the new warm water fish curriculum, learn about warm water fisheries ecology, behavior and management by setting up a river tank in the classroom and studying your local river or stream. Learn a whole new meaning to "native fish".


F2. Delia Clark, Principal, Confluence Associates - THE VITAL ROLE OF COMMUNITIES OF LEARNING, INQUIRY AND PRACTICE (CLIPS) IN NURTURING PLACE-BASED EDUCATION INNOVATION

CLIPs are emerging as an approach to accomplishing rapid dissemination of innovative place- based education approaches, while ensuring that program quality is retained and amplified. Through convening practitioners from diverse programs in deep dialogue, shared learning, and ongoing virtual exchanges, CLIPs function as support networks for sustained transformation and program evolution.



11:15-12:45 Session G Workshops & Field Trips


G1. Tim Birmingham and Jason Rhodes, Vermont Youth Conservation Corps - THE VYCC MODEL OF TRANSFORMATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

The Vermont Youth Conservation Corps places youth within transformative environmental education experiences where they can earn academic credit while completing priority projects in their community. All aspects of daily life, from cooking breakfast to conservation work to educational workshops, are designed to forster leadership, responsibility and environmental stewardship. In this hands-on workshop, experience life on a VYCC crew while exploring the VYCC model.


G2. Drew Dumsch and Meg Edstrom, Ferry Beach Ecology School - NARRATIVE EDUCATION: Using Storytelling Techniques to Enhance Environmental Literacy

Explore the narrative education methodology used at Ferry Beach Ecology School to instill environmental literacy. Demonstrations and hands-on activities will include theatrical skits, journal activities and lesson theme creation. Use skits, themes and analogies as ways to convey difficult science concepts into entertaining & inspiring ecological stories.