Schedule of Events

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Workshops

What’s a “Naturalist?”- Karyn O’Hearn, Yosemite National Park-What is the title of your position?  What does “Naturalist” mean?  What skills are involved in being a Naturalist and how valuable are they?  What do the Naturalists have to say?  After 10 years of working in this field I have worked with many who hold the title “Naturalist”
yet came to the career with no Naturalist skills.  I offer an opportunity to explore the distinctions between being an Educator and being a Naturalist, highlight the value of employing Naturalist skills, encourage those of us who come with no Naturalist training to gain some, while also recognizing those at our schools and in our organization who are Naturalists as a resource.  And most definitely we will go on a Naturalist saunter, John Muir style.  Please bring an activity to share that you feel put children and others in the role of Naturalist.

Fun with Taxidermy-Garth Harwood, Hidden Villa-At Hidden Villa’s EE program, kids get to see and touch a variety of taxidermy specimens ranging from shrews and bats to reptiles, skunks, and bobcats.  This hands-on workshop will acquaint participants with the animals themselves, with the do’s and don’ts of collecting, preparing and storing taxidermy, and with ideas on how to share the specimens with children.  General adaptations of the animals and their groups (e.g. mammals) will also be discussed in a relaxed, interactive, lecture-with-lots-of questions format.  You don’t have to be a nerd to have fun at this workshop, but if you are one, even better!

Aquatic Invertebrates and Stream Health-Ted Robertson, Lawrence Hall of Science-How do you monitor the health of a stream using aquatic invertebrates?  We’ll use different sampling techniques (bottom samplers, kick nets, and white-out) to study the populations of aquatic invertebrates.  You’ll identify and sort invertebrates to order and learn a few quick methods to quantify stream health.

The Middle School Mind: Teaching the big kids on campus-Erik Kellner, Headlands Institute- Get to know how to reach your middle school students with activities, techniques, and games designed to engage the younger teenage mind.

Age Appropriate Activities in Outdoor Education- Jennifer Block, Camp Campbell Outdoor Science School- What can kids do about Global Warming and Rain forest destruction?  Learn about which Environmental Education topics should be presented at different stages in a child’s development.  Join an interactive process of discovering developmental characteristics of students age 4-18, followed by a discussion on what tactics work best to get kids motivated to take action on issues that affect them and their environment.  Part of the workshop will include information from David Sobel’s book “Beyond Ecophobia”.

Treasure Hunt Hike from Tamarack Flat to Old Big Oak Flat Road in Yosemite Valley -Kim Taylor, Yosemite Institute- Keen for an adventure? Love to look for treasures? Wanting to hike an old abandoned road, 8 miles in measure? Join me maties, for a dash through the past from here to Yosemite Valley. This journey is not for the weak at heart, feeble in body, or dull in mind! It requires a full day's investment of stamina, agility, imagination, and zest! Prepare your pack with provisions to sustain you for a challenging, yet rewarding, 8 mile hike/boulder hop down the Old Big Oak Flat Road with Captain Kim. We won't be back until dinner time, so please plan accordingly. Argh! (maximum 7 people)

Easy Native Crafts for Kids- Alena Porte, Ventana Wildlife Society- Participants will learn how to make tule mats, soapstone beads and abalone beads as well as cordage.  Participants will learn how to make the crafts through this hands-on interactive workshop, as well as tips on teaching children these skills.  There are limited supplies so participants will be asked to choose one of the three crafts to work on and take home.

Overcoming Astrono-Phobia-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.

The California Junior Duck Stamp Program-Sarah Johnstone, CA Waterfowl Association- The California Junior Duck Stamp program is a dynamic, hands-on art and science program in which students are given the opportunity to make a personal contribution to conservation through art.  The California Waterfowl Association and The Department of Fish and Wildlife offer free Junior Duck Stamp classroom presentations in several counties in Northern California.  In this hands-on, fun workshop educators will learn about the Junior Duck Stamp program, how to get a free classroom presentation, and how to run a presentation themselves.  Participants will also be introduced to the other free educational opportunities available to them through the California Waterfowl Association.

Edible and Medicinal Plants-Dani Mazzotta, Sierra Outdoor School- Learn to properly identify wildland edible plants and how many of these plants can be utilized medicinally.  During this workshop you will have the chance to sample some of the plants we discuss and take home recipes and ideas for projects to share with your friends and family.

The Forgotten Yosemite- Mara Dale, Yosemite Institute- “The Forgotten Yosemite” is to a location that until the Wilderness Act of 1984 had a maintained and allowed camping, however, through overuse and the new designation this area is now a “cross-country” hike remembered only by those who hiked it in the 1970’s of found it in one of the Sierra Club guides from that earlier era.  It is considered strenuous due to the terrain (x-c) and the elevation.  Mileage is approximately 2.5 miles and just under 1400 feet of elevation gain.  Discussion en-route will be about the Wilderness Act of 1984, its effects, and the philosophy of Leave No Trace.

Beginning Guitar for Outdoor Educators- Mountain Mike Merritt, Exploring New Horizons- Do all your friends and co-workers play an instrument and you don’t?  Have you been thinking about learning to play the guitar but just haven’t gotten around to it?  Well wait no more, now is the time!  Bring, borrow or steal a guitar and bring it to Mountain’s Beginning Guitar Workshop for Outdoor Educators.  Absolutely no experience is needed for this inspirational, hands-on workshop to get you on the road to playing, not just for yourself, but for your students as well.

Teaching Compassion & Respect:  The Connection between Humane and Environmental Education- Liz Maul, Lake Tahoe Humane Society- What do humane, character, and environmental education have in common?  Come find out by taking part in activities that focus on animals and people, the environment and social justice.  The California Education Code lists character education as an important part of a teacher’s curriculum.  Yet, it has fallen by the wayside as teachers scramble to meet required content standards.  Humane education adds animals and the environment to character education- and can meet the content standards at the same time.  In this workshop we will discuss some of the principles of humane and character education and do several interactive activities that focus on environmental and social issues.  You’ll take away sample lessons and resources for further exploration.

Hands on Fire-Ben Walker- Green Meadows Outdoor School- Learn hands-on EASY fire-by-friction for Outdoor School Native American Culture Class (or as a student Team Building activity).  Spark student interest with a quick quartz-n-steel fire in your Geology class.  Make you Wilderness Ethics Class really hot with a little magnesium.  Even light a fire with Ram pressure to show how a shooting star burns.  And stun students at your Campfire Night by lighting the fire with a student’s flashlight.  YOU get to practice these skills at the workshop. ($5.00 lab fee for this workshop)

Spider Cave Exploration- Laura Manczewski, Mindy Wiper, Genny Rice, Yosemite Institute-An interactive challenge of the senses!  Explore the Spider Caves, a Yosemite “secret” mostly known only to YI students and staff.  Spider Caves is the ultimate team building experience.  You might not have a cave back at your outdoor education facility, but you will learn how to frontload and debrief an amazing group experience.  (Please note: This will involve carpooling down to the Valley: but it’s worth it!)

“One World”- Deepak Dathatri, Yosemite Institute- This phrase is often used by many in a spirit of unity, but unfortunately, it can limit us from effective transformative teaching and in inspiring change.  Different people experience the natural world in very different ways based on their cultures.  This workshop will use an in-depth discussion to examine a case study on diversity issues in Environmental Education to help us see the many cultural perspectives that come into play in our field.  You will leave this workshop feeling that it is actually “Many worlds, working together.”

Native California Basketweaving for beginners-Cathy Chambers, K.E.E.P. Ocean- Participants will weave a simple twined basket out of tule.  This basket can easily be made with students out of a relatively common material.  Other basketweaving techniques and materials will be discussed.

Gold Nuggets: Six Simple Steps for Student Success- Robb “Big Brown Bat” Stolberg, Walden West- This will be an interactive workshop covering 6 themes.  I will try to offer as many “gold nuggets” as I can that I have picked up in my 12 years of Outdoor Environmental Education.  Tailored toward new and veteran naturalists, the activities, tools, and philosophies I’ll offer have been passed down to me from co-workers, other AEOE workshops over the years, and my own discoveries.  I will share the “Best of the Best” with other teachers to increase their confidence, improve their students’ experiences, and fill their “bag of tricks” to make learning fun for everyone.  As time permits, I hope to end with a sharing of other peoples’ “gold nuggets” as well.

The Organic Café’- Burl, Ulli, and Simone Klein, Exploring New Horizons Outdoor School-The Organic Café’ is an active, collaborative experience in the search for the “emergence of novelty”.  Through open, small group inspiration, we will address situations collectively and lean different ways to live sustainably to teach about the earth.

Groovin’ with Troon- Rebecca Troon- This is a fun experimental workshop.  We will do community-building rhythm exercises, and learn a unique rhythm-based improvisational approach to songwriting while walking, that is accessible to adults and children.  There will be songs about our Earth community, the life cycle of a Monarch, and new rounds.  You will also learn a shaker-egg technique that is easy and fun, and can be used to accompany yourself and others while singing, or just to play.  Come and find your groove!  CD’s and song lyrics will be available.

Nurturing Environmental Citizens: Activity Ideas for Implementing Environmental Education in the Classroom and Schoolyard-Phaela Peck, Grad. Student, Prescott College-The presentation will include a discussion of environmental education, the role of environmental education in schools and activity ideas for both classroom teachers and environmental education providers.  Phaela will present her findings from a semester of graduate study in environmental education and invite discussion from participants.  Please come prepared to participate in activities and share ideas.

Addressing Hidden Diversity-Adam Hammes, Catalina Environmental Leadership Program- At CELP, we use the ecological concept of biodiversity as a metaphor in every aspect of life.  In the same way, we educate and empower our staff about the students that visit our program in innovative ways.  This allows us to adapt our teaching strategy from week to week, connecting with them on a personal level to better relate our curriculum to their daily lives.  We will describe our program highlights to ignite discussion and then do small group work so you can put these concepts into action at your own programs.

Round Robin Discussion Circle-Lisa Curnett, Camp Campbell Outdoor Science School- We’ll have a sharing circle of questions and answers about anything…in teaching 5th and 6th graders outdoors that is!  There will be a few planned activities to facilitate trust, questions and answers from us all.

Fire and Sierra Nevada Ecosystems-Mike Beasley, Yosemite National Park- We will meet and travel to nearby prescribed fires around the Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias.  We will discuss the practice of burning in Sierra Nevada timber ecosystems, air quality concerns, effects of climate change, and other issues related to the maintenance of fire-adapted landscapes.  We will discuss dendrochronology and look at burn scars to read the fire return interval from a piece of wood, prior to European settlement and the age of fire exclusion.  The emerging new paradigm of fire management that focuses more on point protection, rather than perimeter control will be discussed, along with the tremendous societal hurdles facing that paradigm shift in populous California vs. more rural areas.

Supervisor's Circle-Traci Fesko, Sierra Outdoor School-Did you once find yourself in front of a group of 6th graders on trail or in front of families at a campfire program and now find yourself in front of a computer? Did your legs used to ache from miles of hiking and now your back aches from hours in an office chair? If so, your one of many outdoor & environmental educators who have stepped into administration. Maybe you're a Lead/Head Naturalist, Program Coordinator, or Field Supervisor. If so, then this is the session for you. While outdoor school directors have COSA, other OE/EE administrators do not have a professional network/support group. If you'd like support in your position, to bounce ideas off others in similar positions, to share problems & possible solutions, and to be part of collaborative network, then please attend! We'll discuss issues particular to OE/EE (ie: lack of substitutes, staff training, hiring & keeping quality employees, staff recognition/incentive, and more). Bring your ideas, concerns, successes and questions:)

Afternoon Recreation Block:

Pine Needle Basket- Lisa Sherman and Zander Lowry, Green Meadows- Come join us for a fun-filled and hands-on pine needle basket class. You will discover how to create a coiled/bundle basket that is easy enough to do with children. We will provide all the materials to create your own basket and show you how to prep materials to lead a workshop of your own. This method will be easy enough for even the most hidden artist within all of us. (Maximum 20 participants)

Bird Walk-Karyn O’Hearn, National Park Service-Come on a Naturalist excursion to look for Yosemite’s fall birds.

Evening Activities:

Star Watch- Lindsay Fromme, Sierra Outdoor School- Come and experience the night sky!  A guided midnight tour of the constellations sharing skills for locating constellations, galaxies, nebulae and plants.  A fun interactive experience with telescopes provided as well as storytelling of Indian Folklore and Greek Myths about the constellation’s origins.

More Coming Soon!!

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