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Starwatch - Friday Evening 8-10 pm, Spencer Nielsen, Sierra Outdoor School
The granite rocks of Tamarack Flat provide an ideal location for star gazing! Join Spencer Nielsen and other Sierra Outdoor School staff for an informal star watch. We'll practice reading star maps, learn new constellations, and use a telescope to view galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters. Bring questions, stories or constellations to share, and binoculars!
Continuation/practice of techniques learned in: Mysteries of the Night: Quartz Sparking, Eye Tricks, Galaxies, Stars, the Moon, and Black Holes, Aaron J. Clegg, Foothill Horizons Outdoor School (Main workshop led during daytime)
(New workshops added to the bottom of the list daily!)
Making Cordage From Natural Fibers, Pam Callaway, Oregon Interpretive Ranger
Learn how to make cordage from dogbane sticks, sage bark, etc., learn how to teach the techniques, learn where to harvest and how to preserve materials. Hands-on cordage construction, take home a complete project (poster, materials, finished cordage) to use for instruction.
Devil's Dancefloor LNT hike, Mara Dale, Yosemite Institute
Leave No Trace (LNT) principles for off-trail travel specifically National Park Service (NPS) rules & regulations regarding off-trail travel. Discussion as we hike cross-country to the spectacular Devil's Dancefloor flat-top granite dome - leaves from the campground (no cars needed)
Visiting a glacial cirque, Pete Devine, Yosemite Association
Join this expedition to see some unusual low-elevation glacial geomorphology, enjoy off-trail travel, observe different life zones, and learn a bit about climate change. This is a short, fun scramble to explore a unique, little-known feature of Yosemite's landscape. After a short carpool to the "trail-head," off-trail climb and descent of under one mile round trip, moraine scrambling, naturalizing en route, lecture review of Ice Ages, with miscellaneous visuals pulled from the daypack.
Pete has been in Yosemite for over ten years, working for Yosemite Institute and Yosemite Association, where he is the Education Director. He is a past AEOE Chair, is interested in archeology and travel, and he believes Pluto should be called a 'planette.'
Playing with Paint: Incorporating Art Activities into an Outdoor School Curriculum, Spider (Julie Grinvalsky) and River (Jamie Eldrett), San Joaquin Outdoor School
Participants in this workshop will get a chance for some hands-on experience with activities that integrate art with outdoor school themes. We will have a variety of activities to share that we have used in the past to teach both art and science concepts to students. The teaching methods utilized in this workshop will be a combination of hands-on participation and discussion of other techniques that participants may have used in their lessons. All materials for art activities will be provided.
Spider (Julie Grinvalsky) and River (Jamie Eldrett) have 5 years combined experience in outdoor education, working at San Joaquin Outdoor School in the Santa Cruz Mountains. They both love expressing themselves through art and see a natural link between the arts and nature. They try to use artistic activities in their lessons as much as possible.
Overcoming Astrono-phobia: Teach about Constellations beyond Orion's Belt, Hilary Hobbs, Sierra Outdoor School
Does the thought of teaching about Constellations and Galaxies make you want to crawl into a Black Hole? Want to identify and tell stories about constellations on your night hike, but don’t know how? Participants will add to (or begin) their bag of tricks for teaching about the night sky. Learn the basics of navigating the sky using star maps and celestial landmarks. You’ll come away with an arsenal of new ideas for using creative writing, drawing, and story telling to foster historical and cultural connections to the stars.
A former astrono-phobe, Hilary has overcome her fear of astronomy and now loves to share its wonders with students of all ages. She loves to incorporate stories into night hikes, star watches, and astronomy classes both for entertainment value, but also to inspire students to observe and build connections to the night sky. She is a Program Coordinator at Sierra Outdoor School in Sonora.
Yoga for the Naturalist's Life, Carly Jefferies, Sierra Outdoor School
How to incorperate the benefits of Yoga (patience, peace, confidence, and cheerfulness) into a Naturalist's lifestyle.
Come enjoy an all-levels Vinyasa flow class in the surrounding beauty of Yosemite. After a complete yoga practice, we will discuss how to incorperate the benefits of yoga into the Naturalist's everyday life. This workshop has been a hit at the last two AEOE conferences! Please bring a mat or large towel if possible.
Carly Jefferies is a Kripalu Certified Yoga Instructor. She has been trained in many styles of yoga as well as studying yoga at institutes all over the world. She has taught classes at many studios in New York, and recently at the YogaLoft in Sonora, CA. After beginning the first outdoor yoga program in Syracuse, NY- she has recently moved on to leading backpacking/yoga trips in Yosemite National Park.
Inspiring Observation & Imagination, Korena David, Foothill Horizons Outdoor School
My goal in this workshop is to share easy, minimal prop activities that highlight observation and imagination in students. This will be a hands on and discussion based workshop primarily targeting naturalist who are new to outdoor ed. Please bring all 5 senses and don't forget your imagination!
Korena David is a naturalist at Foothill Horizons Outdoor School in Sonora, Ca. Most of all she's excited about reptiles, wildflowers and people playing music (but not particularly in that order).
Engaging Students in Science - an Inquiry-Based Approach, Lisa Murphy, Fall Creek School
Participants will learn how to engage their students in inquiry based hands on science. They will get experience with approaches of introducing students to the scientific method, and how to help students become life long learners that are actively engaged in their own learning processes.
Lisa Murphy has been an environmental educator, director, and teacher. Currently she is engaging homeschool students in inquiry based activities as a teacher at Fall Creek School.
The Interaction Matrix - A New Way To Teach Ecology, Adam Burns, Yosemite Institute
Participants will learn about a creative tool for describing ecological interactions. This framework can be used to create teaching themes and discuss interactions that you encounter while out hiking. At the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:
The workshop will involve a small amount of verbal description, lots of active participation and some discussion.
Adam grew up in a rural community in the Peak District National Park in England. His love of plants and animals led him to study Biology at the University of Leeds and river ecology for his PhD at Lancaster University. He then worked as research coordinator for a broad-ranging biodiversity project in Kafue National Park, Zambia. It was here that he met his wife, who brought him to California, where he took a job as a field instructor with Yosemite Institute. Now in his third year at the institute, Adam combines field teaching with staff training and professional development as a Mentor Teacher. He is also an eclectic singer/songwriter and spirited live performer.
Jam Session- Bring instruments and voices, Adrienne Webster
Tips about jamming. Words and chords to a few popular songs.
Adrienne teaches child development at Columbia College and plays classical viola and bluegrass fiddle in her spare time.
Biology Basics: Beyond the Plant & Animal Kingdoms, Traci Fesko, Sierra Outdoor School
What exactly makes something a plant or animal? And if it's not a plant or animal, then what is it? In this workshop we'll examine the lesser known kingdoms of fungi, protista and monera. You'll gain an overall understanding of the variety of life forms found on this planet. So, when kids keep asking you, "What's this? What's that?" you'll have a better understanding to guide them in their discovery. This workshop will be a mixture of lecture and discussion. There will be visuals of organisms that cannot be seen without a microscope or cannot be found in the area.
Traci's love of all things living began many moons ago. After obtaining a degree in Forest Biology, she entered the field of environmental education. She has been in outdoor ed for 6 years now and is currently a program coordinator at Sierra Outdoor School in Sonora.
"It Ain't Barf!" - Owl Pellet Dissection & Discussion, Nathan Goepfert, Sierra Outdoor School
"Whoa! What's that on the trail - scat?" Come discover what exactly owl pellets are made of, how they form and what you can learn from them. The many unique adaptations of owls will be discussed. And by the end of this workshop you'll also know how to lead this activity with students. Participants will walk away with bone identification sheets and owl pellet findings! A donation of $1-$2 would be appreciated to cover the cost of the owl pellets (these owls don't work for free!).
Nathan can often be found at the raptor center of Sierra Outdoor School or on the slopes of Dodge Ridge. It has even been reported that he has casted pellets.
Spider Caves! Sarah Lyon, Yosemite Institute
This is an opportunity for participants to stretch beyond their comfort zones. They will gain trust with eachother as they navigate together through a dark tunnel network. Without the sense of sight, they must rely on their other senses to help guide them through. This is definitely a hands-on, exploratory activity that requires transportation into the valley. Spider caves can be seen as a team-building initiative as well as a rite of passage for some.
Sarah graduated from Whitman College (Walla Walla, WA) and went on to earn a Masters of Arts in Teaching at Lewis and Clark College (Portland, OR). She worked Outdoor Education on Orcas Island, WA and is currently a Field Educator for YI
Mother Earth is Rockin', Heather Acuna & Shelley (Shasta) Tennyson, Sierra Outdoor School
Geology science standards will come to life through a variety of easily taught hands-on activities, stories, and songs. Learn how to creatively teach your students the earth science standards including plate tectonics, topography, erosion, and the rock cycle. Geology will be transformed from a dry subject to an exciting experience for all. This is a repeat of a workshop presented at the spring conference. Participants will gain several very specific activities, songs, and stories that will help them teach geology to elementary age students. All activities will be accompanied with a handout to help them use it in their teaching. We also will go over the geology science standards briefly. Hand-outs available online!
Heather and Shelley have a combined 23 years experience as Outdoor Educators, including training of new staff and curriculum development.
Exploring Nature with a Kid's Eyes, John DiDiego, Yosemite Institute
Participants will both have direct personal connections to the natural world and learn ways they can explore their environment and share that exploration with others. There will be emphasis on observation skills, questioning, and nature journaling. This will take the form of a walk in the woods with lots of opportunity for getting hands on the subject matter. I hope there will be discussion as well and maybe even some music thrown in.
John just recently made the move out west with his wife, Michele, and their not-quite-two-year-old Thomas, to take on the role of education director at Yosemite Institute. He grew up catching snakes, lizards, and salamanders in South Carolina and has worked in environmental education for the past 15 years in the US and overseas. He still can't resist turning over a log to see what's underneath.
A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words: Drawing Nature, Rachel Utzinger, Sierra Outdoor School
Nature drawing lets us connect with our surroundings on a deeper level and helps us to understand how things fit together. It is a useful tool for scientific inquiry as well as a relaxing pastime for those of us who enjoy spending time outside. In this workshop, we will discuss and practice a series of drawing techniques aimed at improving our ability to observe nature more closely. Paper and pencils will be provided, but feel free to bring your own journal or supplies if you’d like.
Rachel has loved art and nature since childhood. She is currently a naturalist intern at the Sierra Outdoor School and enjoys travelling, making clothes, and music in her spare time.
Keeping EE Fun, Wick Prichard, Emandal Environmental Education
Participants will gain, learn, or relearn how to engage themselves in the field of evironmental and outdoor education. So much time and energy is so often spent by a teacher, a naturalist, and instructor to engage students that we are often left disengaged from what we are teaching, whom we are teaching, and where we are teaching, and that's a drag! My aim with this workshop is to create a forum wherein naturalists, teachers, and intructors will have a chance to vent their feelings with respect to how much energy a job in environmental education actually takes out of you. Another aim, of course, is for all of the participants to share tips with each other on how to come out of "a funk" and push back into a state of fun for not only the students but also the teachers. The above aims will be the primary focus of the workshop. Another area to be included will be what effects our level of energy, enthusiasm, and engagement have on the students we teach.
It's been Wick's fortune to work with some great people teaching some great students in a variety of great places: Rock Eagle 4-H Center (Georgia), The Outdoor School (Texas), Newfound Harbor Marine Institute (Florida Keys), San Joaquin County Outdoor Education (California), Marin Conservation Corps (California), Naturalists at Large (California), and at present Emandal Farm and Emandal Environmental Education (California). "I like EE and OE. It's fun isn't it?"
Magic and Management. John Conant, Acorn to Tree
We’ll look at how to keep students on task, boost their self-esteem, build a sense of community within classes, all while having fun and incorporating a sense of wonder throughout the lessons. We’ll also look at what to do when these methods don’t work and problems arise. Yup, learn it all in one short workshop.
John is a former co-chair of AEOE, he's been a summer camp naturalist for three programs, worked at several outdoor schools over thirteen years, and has made a good many mistakes in that time and learned from most of them.
Mysteries of the Night: Quartz Sparking, Eye Tricks, Galaxies, Stars, the Moon, and Black Holes, Aaron J. Clegg, Foothill Horizons Outdoor School
Participants will gain a range of fun activities to use on a night hike, and will learn the amazing science behind them. There will be a brief lecture about stars, galaxies, black holes, and other large phenomena, followed by an open question session about astronomy and astrophysics. If time allows and if there is interest, I will teach moon phases and eclipses in a hands-on way, and I will give resources and instructions about viewing space stations and other artificial satellites during a night hike.
Aaron has a B.S. in Physics from the University of New Hampshire, and taught physics at the high school level for two years. Subsequently, he worked for two years in the electron optics industry, before returning to his native California to work in outdoor ed. He has also taught two semesters of college physics.
Fire on the Mountain: Fire Ecology of Yosemite, Mike Beasley, Yosemite NPS
This workshop will cover basic fire ecology principles, as applied to Sierran forest ecosystems. Workshop will take place in or around the Toulumne Grove, a short distance from Tamarack Flat (car caravan to trailhead, 1 mile walk down paved road (6% grade).
Mike has a B.A. in Chemistry from Carleton College, and he is currently the Fire Use Manager at Yosemite. His specialities include fire behavior analysis and modeling, as well as prescribed and wilderness fire planning & implementation. He's been in Yosemite for 5 years, loves dancing and running wild rivers.
Avian Adventures with Aspen, Aspen (Katie Guffin), Exploring New Horizons
Come along for some avian activities in the AM! We’ll be bird nerds together as we get a few ideas and experience fun activities about sharing ornithology with the kiddos. Come join me for some avian adventures!
Aspen takes delight in birds and has always enjoyed their spectacular diversity and beauty. As a native to the Rocky Mountains she is still learning volumes about the birds around California, and particularly those in the Pescadero Valley where she happily spends her days at ENH.
Pine Needle Basket - child /adult, Lisa Whitney Sherman, USDA Forest Service - Groveland Ranger District
Come join in the discovery of the wonderful gifts of trees. A short stroll followed by hands-on demonstration of how to create a pine needle basket.
Lisa has been an interpretive specialist for the past two summers with the Forest Service - she has lived in the area for 10 years working as classroom teacher - preschool and elementary. She has also lived and worked in Yosemite.
Case Discussion on Diversity Issues in EE, Deepak Dathatri, Yosemite Institute
Become aware of your own biases when dealing with diversity issues in the workplace. We will read and discuss a diversity case in EE from as many different perspectives as possible. Participants involved with EE in any capacity are encouraged to attend. I hope that this workshop inspires growth of all forms, sparks further discussion or even organizational change, and at the very least, allows us to become more interculturally sensitive.
"Deeps" was born in India but was raised on Long Island. He graduated from college with a degree in environmental biology from McGill University. After graduation he went on a convoluted journey of work, play and travel until he found a career in EE. He worked in Illinois at the Lorado Taft Field Campus of NIU as an educator for one year, and has been at the Yosemite Institute for 2 full years. Deepak is the co-chair of the Institute's diversity committee and is a member of AEOE's inclusivity committee. He will be an instructor and site manager with YI for one more year and plans on attending graduate school in the near future.
Introduction to Aquatic Insects: Ecology, Natural History, and Educational Applications, Steve Holdeman, U. S. Forest Service, Stanislaus National Forest
Gain a basic appreciation of the diversity of aquatic insects in a small stream and an idea of the ecological roles the variety of species play in different habitats.
Steve is an aquatic biologist by choice, but a naturalist by preference. He is originally from the great state of Tennessee, but living in California now. He likes: fish/fishing, loud music, acoustic music, being outdoors, beer.
Easy Fire Tricks, Ben Walker ("Moose Chocolatte"), Green Meadows Outdoor School & www.BoyScoutAcademy.com
Learn easy Fire-by-Friction methods,Flint-n-Steel, Fire-by-Flashlight,and other kewl tricks to get students on fire for learning about science. ($5/person materials fee requested, but broke Interns free!)
Ben Walker is in his 8th year as a Naturalist at Green Meadows Outdoor School. He is also the Director of "Boy Scout Academy," and runs a Scout Camp in Tropical Mexico every Christmas. He learned fire-making while living with tribes in 30 countries, like the !Kung San Bushmen in the African Kalahari.
(Workshops cancelled at presenter request)
Cancelled: Get FIT! Looking at Forests in a New Way, Liz Maul, Environmental Education Leadership Team at CSUMB
“The goal of FIT is to provide K-12 teachers with knowledge, skills and tools to effectively teach their students about forest ecology and forest resource management practices.” Forestry Institute for Teachers is a week-long program that brings together teachers, natural resource specialists, industry professionals, and environmental advocates to gain a deeper understanding of the intricate interrelationship of forest ecosystems and human use of natural resources. Participants come away from the week with a plethora of educational resources and ideas! Best of all, everything is FREE (including lodging and meals)! This workshop will provide some of the highlights of the week which include several hands-on activities. I will bring many of the materials that I obtained at the FIT workshop - including posters, CDs, books, wood and pine cone samples. I'll talk about the workshop format and presenters, field trips that we took, and the facility. Come and explore this amazing resource!
Cancelled: Exploring the Links between Nutrition Education, Wellness and Environmental Ed, Aaron Reaven, Dover Elementary
Participants will become aware of new mandates, trends, opportunities and efforts to teach and link nutrition education, science, wellness and environmental literacy. The workshop will consist of a 20 minute introduction, in which Aaron share what he knows and a few thoughts, followed by group discussion.
Aaron is currently in his fourth year of teaching nutrition, cooking and a little gardening at Dover Elementary. Just before that, he finished his B.A. at New College with a focus on Teaching Ecoliteracy in Public Education.
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