2006 AEOE Southern Fall Camp-out Conference Wrap up
"Discovery
in the Desert"
Conference Wrap Up
..The stars, the desert, what gives them their beauty is invisible...
It is only with the heart that one can see rightly.
What is essential is invisible to the eye.” ~ The Little Prince
Here is some of the news and a few of the resources from the conference - not all is complete yet, and this page will be updated as photos, workshop resources, write-ups, etc get submitted - so check back for new additions! Thanks to all who helped make the conference great!
Workshop Handouts and Resources from the Conference
(In alphabetical order)
Bright Ideas for Night Hikes Hosted by Maggie Wolfe
Share ideas for group management, stories, games, science lessons and activities to teach about nocturnal animals and their adaptations, night vision, directional hearing, and cool tricks you can play on your eyes! Is the Rodopsin Breakdown a bluegrass song? Learn the real story behind triboluminescence and how it relates to the stars.
Strange Moonlight Interesting article covering rods and cones and the blind spot that allows you to play "Disappearing Heads" on night hikes ("It's not scary, it's science!") from Science@NASA. By the way, even though this article is about full-moonlight, it's really too bright to make heads disappear in the moonlight - you have to get under a tree on those nights.
Dewey It Up! Experiential Education 101, Tim Parker, Pathfinder Ranch
John Dewey, the “father of experiential education,” who lived from 1859 to 1952, will be gracing the conference with his presence in order to share his educational beliefs. Through role-playing, discussion, and quite a bit of silliness, participants will explore the realm of the working mind as well as ethical issues inherent to education. Through a critique of current practices in Outdoor Education, this workshop will emphasize practical implementation of discussed ideas. Come join this back-from-the-dead philosopher on his quest to make meaning out of experiences and words into action.
Tim Parker has been goofing off in the educative woods of learning since 1995. He holds a Bachelors degree in secondary education and a Masters degree in experiential education. Work experiences have included adventure education programs, outdoor science schools, and the traditional classroom. He currently teaches at Pathfinder Ranch in southern California.
If you are a beginning teacher/naturalist or if you feel you need a review of good teaching stategies, this workshop is for you! In this workshop we will cover many techniques of effective teachers, including inquiry-based learning, questioning techniques, assessment strategies and some fun back-pocket tricks. We will learn about some important educational philosophies such as Bloom's Taxonomy, Gardner's Multiple Intelligences and Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs and how these can be useful in helping us to become better teachers. Participants will gain useful teaching strategies to engage their students and increase student learning. There will be lecture (not too long!), hands-on activities, small group and whole group discussion.
Laura 'Leaf' Vandezande currently works at Hi Hill Outdoor School in the San Gabriel Mountains. She has been lucky to work at many wonderful outdoor schools throughout the state in the last 10 years. She has a BA in Environmental Studies from UC Santa Cruz and a Multiple-Subject Teaching Credential from San Jose State University. She has a love of learning that is insatiable and loves to share this love with her students! Loves it!
Getting Touchy Feely with Earth and Space Science, Chris Milly Milford, Astrocamp
Getting Touchy Feely in Earth and Space Science will include all hands on activities to bring the wonders of earth and sky into your programs at your camps. Whether you are a seasonal amateur astronomer or not this program will give you some tools to use space science in your programs. Understanding the constellations, motions of the sky, effects of our closest star (The Sun) on life on earth and how to safely share the views of the sky with your groups. Hands-On activities such as creating a star wheel, making constellations and sharing stories of constellations both traditional Greek as well as some Native American stories in order to illustrate a life lesson. We also will show you how to safely observe the sun and what you might expect to see. We also will share some of what we do at Astrocamp in our solar classes in terms of facts about our nearest star.
Spending my 2nd year in Southern California working as an instructor at Astrocamp in Idyllwild I originally became interested in space science in high school by a teacher. I understand the importance of giving kids a sense of wonder about nature and feel that both Earth and Sky deserve equal time in the classroom so that kids get a big picture of what is going on around them. I have a background in Physics, Astronomy, Space Studies and Geology and utilize all these specialities while teaching both at astrocamp and in North Dakota where I participate as a Jet Propulsion Laboratory NASA Solar System Ambassador.
This session is a study of the techniques, gimmicks and tools a naturalist can use to successfully get a group of students to walk silently along a stretch of trail without degenerating into a gaggle of inattentive, rock-throwing, screaming hoodlums. Participants will learn group management skills specifically relating to leading portions of trails in "silent mode." This is useful for increasing observational abilities, for stalking animals, for limiting distractions, and for giving enough mental space for "a sense of wonder" to be kindled in your students.
Bryan Snyder is a naturalist at the Rancho Alegre Outdoor School with 12 years of teaching experience in outdoor fields.
Mission to Mars: Do Martians exist? If so what might they be like? Separate fact from fiction in this hands-on class where you’ll look closer at evidence that scientists use to better understand our neighbor in the solar system. 4-6th grade lesson. An update of what is currently happening on Mars (Rovers, satellites etc.) Lesson ideas of how to share this topic with students in a hands-on setting. Lesson handouts and Mars info to take home
For the past 6 years Coleen has been teaching in various outdoor and informal settings. She is currently working as an Outreach Instructor at the Natural History Museum of LA County, and for the 2 previous years worked as a Naturalist for LA County Outdoor schools.
Teaching Simple Outdoor Navigation, Frank Padilla, Jr of Yaquimagic and retired, California State Parks
This session offers outdoor educators a simple way to instruct students on basic outdoor navigation skills and staying found. The techniques that will be demonstrated are educational and fun. If you fear the compass then you may want to attend this session!
Participants will walk away with a variety of techniques to teach simple outdoor navigation, including information on *Lost Prevention during outdoor educational outings and events. (*STOP method and "Don't Forget Your Essentials") A combination of a short lecture and hands-on activities makes this a informative and fun session. Recommended to bring a compass. Session has limited amount.
Frank worked as a Patrol Ranger at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park for 8 years. During his tour of duty Frank had the misfortune to respond to lost and missing children in the park. These type of incidents can be minimized if children are taught some simple outdoor skills and prevention techniques to reduce serious situations. Now Frank wants to share these techiques so that we can reduce lost and missing children in our outdoor environments.
A birding class that has absolutely no reliance on seeing or hearing any real birds! Of course it is always better when you do see the birds, but these activities stand on their own and will get students pumped to see and meet real birds. We will revisit some favorites, learn some new games (hopefully, they will be new to you) as well as bring in some unexpected twists. The two main themes of this class are what is it like to be a bird and how do they fly? The capstone of the class is applying the information learned to an egg drop contest. Be prepared to run around and play…these are hands on fun time activities!
Sacha Charny is currently the assistant director of education at Pathfinder Ranch Outdoor Science School, where she teaches, makes the naturalist schedule and sometimes even gets to ring the bell to start classes. She is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire and her BS is in Recreation Management and Policy. Before moving to California she worked for a huge YMCA in Colorado where she did her best to balance being the outdoor education director with playing in the snow.
Who cares about the standards? What Educators Might Want To Know About Working With California Public School Students, Amy Frame, Environmental Charter High School
Why should environmental and outdoor educators bother with the standards? Are the goals of experiential education at odds with current educational policy? In this workshop we will review the scope and sequence of those aspects of the California content standards applicable to work as environmental educators. Then, we will discuss (or perhaps debate) best teaching practices in light of the pressures public schools and teachers face in establishing meaningful, productive partnerships with EE/OE organizations. Participants will analyze the scope and sequence of the K-12 California content standards and the rationale behind standardized testing. They will be able to evaluate their own organization's role in working with the standards and develop an informed point of view on controversial educational policies. Discussion/Debate
Amy has taught public school in her native Southern California for 8 years, both inside and beyond the classroom walls. Her three passions in life are nature, coffee, and research - in that order.
At the Sunday Breakfast Council Meeting, we signed up TEN (count 'em!) new "Members-at-Large"! We also have a new Chair-elect, Tara Murgatroyd, and Tonya Mandl will be taking over as Secretary for Kris Pamintuan (who is staying on as a member-at-large, also - so that makes 11!). Our new members-at-large include Jay "Blue Jay" Bishop, from Rancho Alegre, who will be playing an integral role in the planning of the 2008 conference along with Tara; Frank "Pack Rat" Padilla, who is already working to plan an AEOE desert ecology outing to Anza Borrego; Julie Tosten, who may be interested in taking over the website, if she finds her next job in California - let's give this girl a job, people!! :-) Also Bryan "Rain" Snyder of Rancho Alegre, who signed up to be a "lurker" since he will be in New Zealand for 3 months (lucky guy!); Patrick McLaughlin of Orange County Outdoor School, George Dunn of Astrocamp, Steven Murphy of Oak Glen, Classroom Teacher Sandy Jones, Coleen Ryan of the LA Natural History Museum, and Christine Kirk of the new (so new it's not built yet) Orange County Outdoor Education Center.
Environmental Educator of the Year: David Macander
David is one of those educators who is always working to make things better, wherever he works. He is an inspiration to others to improve their own teaching as he is constantly thinking of ways to improve his own. He is truly deserving of this award, having made a positive impact on every southern California program for which he has worked. Read more about him here
At left - David, appropriately shown balancing the needs of family and career quite literally -- Daughter Sierra in one arm, the Environmental Educator of the Year award in the other!
Special Award for Outstanding Service Given to Maggie Wolfe
This year, AEOE chose to recognize someone whose contributions to the field are not easily categorized with a special award. The Outstanding Service Award was created for Maggie Wolfe in 2006, "for tremendous contributions in the field of environmental education through her continued volunteer service" with AEOE. Read the transcript of the presentation of the award here (written and compiled by Michael Charnofsky, presented by Laura "Leaf" Vandezande). Photos coming soon!
We all likely made discoveries this weekend in the desert - whether it was a new friend, a new activity to try next week, ideas or inspiration, or discovering something within - such as finding you are able to present a workshop successfully, or perform stand up comedy at the talent show!
John Muir said, “Whenever we go in the mountains, or indeed in any of God’s wild fields, we find more than we seek” and "Finding more than we seek" is the essence of discovery. We hope you all found more than you sought this weekend in the desert.
"Not to have known - as most men have not - either mountain or the desert is not to have known one's self."
- Joseph Wood Krutch
"Follow the Path With Heart" – Don Juan in Carlos Castaneda’s books
All of us who teach children to love and appreciate nature, are truly on a path with heart.
“If it’s wild to your own heart, protect it. Preserve it. Love it. And fight for it. Whether it’s a mountain range, your wife, your husband, or even (god forbid) your job. It doesn’t matter if it’s wild to anyone else; if it’s what makes your heart sing, if it’s what makes your days soar like a hawk in the summertime, then focus on it. Because for sure, it’s wild, and if it’s wild, it’ll mean you’re still free. No matter where you are.”
-- Rick Bass, Wild to the Heart
Stay Wild, AEOE people!
(And if you like inspirational quotes, find lots more on the AEOE inspiration page!)
The Southern Fall Conference experienced a turn out well above expectation compared with previous years. With about 130 pre-registered naturalists, that sets a record for attendance in the South. The weather was great, sunny and dry during the day, just like a desert. We learned to appreciate the meaning of car-pooling and how we might do better at the next conference. Surely we will anticipate a larger crowd and aspire to increase the size of the group camping. Location, location, location was weighty factor in the large turn out at Joshua Tree.
Starting with a folksy Joni Mitchell song on Friday night during registration the music just kept getting better. Thanks to Helen De La Maza, pre-conference registration was as smooth as silk. Tara Murgatroyd, from Camp Marston / Raintree Ranch, managed on-site check-in. Segue into a full blown drum circle and booty shaking under the stars; yours truly hammered the djembe as the camp-fire warmed my tootsies. The next evening, Saturday night live, featured a multitude of stand up comedians and Rhymin’ Reason Tonya and Rich Mandl. Word has it that Tonya and Rich have a new CD coming out shortly from which they played some new tunes. Thanks for organizing the entertainment!
Maggie Wolfe took great care getting together the workshops and uploading the details to the website. Maggie was ever present behind the scenes pulling this conference together along with a dedicated crew. Laura Leaf Vandezande presented teary-eyed Maggie with a well deserved “Outstanding Service Award”. Michael Charnofsky’s ability to write sultry epilogues can only be compared to Maggie’s stream of consciousness e-mails, in my mind. It was a tear jerker folks!
The Environmental Educator of the Year Award for the Southern Council went to David Macander of Camp High Hill. Hats off to David. There is more to come about David in the Southern Council’s next newsletter. Way to go David!
Christine Kirk from the Outdoor Education Center coordinated the Saturday night potluck that sported vegan, veggie and omnivore entrees. There was more than enough for everyone. No belly went un-fed.
At the Southern Council’s Sunday morning meeting we picked up about 10 members at large. The more grass roots organizing the better! Must have been Laura Leaf’s banana bread. Heard through the grapevine that an outing to the Anza-Borrego Desert is in the works. Desert fever is contagious!
Bellies full, great entertainment and awesome workshops, thanks everyone for making this the best Southern Fall Conference ever!
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