Let Us Spring Forward Together
While many things are still unknown – one thing is certain, we are here for you! We have re-designed our programs to meet the needs of you and your students for Spring 2021.
We launched a virtual lineup of programs back in September and plan to continue that through the Spring. Please see our list of Spring 2021 programs below and let us know if you feel like something is missing.
For quick access to all of our Watershed Alliance Spring 2021 programs and their descriptions head to our Virtual Learning page on our website.
The Watershed Alliance Education Team,
Ashley, Caroline and Nate
Spring 2021 Programs Overview
- Watershed Explorers Challenge & Classroom Session – a self-guided watershed booklet with 11 activities (that can be completed offline), rooted in NGSS practices, to engage students in watershed science. More information can be found in the below section.
- Virtual Adobe Spark Programs and Live Sessions including:
- Stream Monitoring – a guided virtual stream assessment that focuses on biologic indicators and ecosystem health
- Lake Champlain Live – a guided virtual trip aboard the R/V Melosira that dives into lake ecology and current water quality issues
- Keeping the Balance – a guided virtual fish dissection, featuring fisheries sampling techniques, and a series of short videos: “fish files” to highlight a few fish species found in Lake Champlain
- Each of these Adobe Spark pages can be followed up with a Live Session in which Watershed Alliance staff can “zoom” into your classrooms to lead an interactive overview and a Kahoot trivia session
- Zoom a Scientist – a continuation of our Spring & Fall 2020 series that allows students and the public to meet local scientists and hear about the research happening in the Basin (sessions will be less than 1 hour)
- Borrow Water Quality Monitoring Equipment – borrow equipment for free to conduct a field investigation with your students
Watershed Explorers Challenge
This is a free resource for youth and teachers. This is a learning experience for students and their families or classrooms to engage in at their own pace. Students that complete all the activities in the booklet will be awarded the title of Watershed Explorer and receive a certificate. The challenge has been designed for middle school aged youth, but can also be appropriate for younger and older students. Send us an email to request booklets for your class. Additionally, we are happy to “zoom” into your classroom to help facilitate any lessons within the booklet.
Click here to watch a training video or go to the Watershed Explorers Challenge website for an overview of the booklet. This web page includes a list of additional resources that can be used. If you are interested in using this booklet in the classroom, but would like more information about how to incorporate it, then feel free to reach out.
Meet our Spring 2021 Interns
Teachers
Giant Lake Champlain Map
Meet the newest, biggest, coolest new tool for your school: the Giant Lake Champlain Map! An accurate and detailed 35′ x 25′ vinyl map of our watershed. The giant map is designed to be a spatial and geographical learning tool for teachers and students. Lessons on the map can truly explore any aspect of the Lake Champlain Basin: history, water quality, geography, science, music, math, literature, and more.
Interested? Contact Elizabeth Lee at the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum or submit a request here.
Vermont Education & Environment Network Membership
The Vermont Education & Environment Network is seeking new members. It is a coalition of dozens of organizations and individuals promoting environmental education in Vermont. Their mission is to foster a network of individuals and organizations working together to promote high quality outdoor, environmental and educational experiences. For more information about the organization click here.
World Water Day
Join the Champlain Basin Education Initiative and the Vermont Education & Environment Network to celebrate World Water Day on March 23rd, 2021! This month’s webinar is a special collaboration at a new special time to encourage educators to participate with their students!
The virtual gathering will feature local Indigenous leaders, community partners, educators, and students in Vermont, New York, and Quebec joining together to celebrate World Water Day. Students have skillfully combined their social, cultural, artistic, and scientific lenses to create works in a variety of media based on this year’s World Water Day theme: The Value of Water. Along with a virtual gallery viewing of the artworks and awards for entries; we will also hear from community partners and Indigenous educators on traditional ecological knowledge and ways of knowing focused on our shared watershed. Click here to register. See flyer below for more information.
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Our mailing address is:
UVM Watershed Alliance – Lake Champlain Sea Grant
3 College Street
Burlington, Vt 05405