AEOE Conference | Educators Academy | FIT | Kids in... | CSTA Conference
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This is a listing of courses or trainings which do not offer credit (at least they are not designed to offer credit, though credit may be arranged in certain circumstances). Many of these classes are offered only intermittently.
See also Credit Courses
The spring statewide conference offers more than 60 workshops as well as some longer format courses and field trips. The two fall regional conferences offer fewer workshops.
The Educators Academy is an outstanding opportunity to help educators become comfortable in using parks and other outdoor environments as extended classrooms for students. Programs are interdisciplinary, featuring proven discovery techniques, hands-on, minds-on in real world environments. Programs integrate California State Frameworks and are fun. Also available for CSU Hayward credit.
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. The program brings together natural resource specialists and teachers from rural and urban settings for one week, working side by side to gain a deeper understanding of the intricate interrelationship of forest ecosystems and human use of natural resources. The environment becomes the basis for integrating the learning of many subject areas, including environmental science, physical science, social science, biology, forestry, and history. In 2003, FIT offers three institutes in different Northern California locations: Camp Latieze near Lassen Park, Shasta county; Humboldt State University near Eureka, Humboldt county; University of California Forestry Camp near Quincy, Plumas county. Each session can accommodate up to 45 participants. All meals and lodging are included. Teachers are provided with extensive classroom and curriculum materials, and a $100 stipend on completion and implementation of a forest related curriculum unit for use in their classrooms. Also available for credit.
Workshops introduce teachers to the Kids in Creeks and Kids in Marshes curriculum and provide them with background information on wetland ecology, urban runoff pollution, macroinvertebrates and botany. Educators participate in an assessment of environmental and ecological conditions at the workshop site, where they analyze water pollution sources and impacts. The first day of the workshop is held at a nature center where participants monitor water quality, sample for aquatic insects, evaluate plant diversity, and participate in discussions about what the data means. The second day of the workshop (for the Kids in Creeks program only) is held at a school site where educators participate in an animal tracking activity; stencil stormdrains; learn to read maps to find out more about their watersheds and creeks; and conduct an urban stream survey in order to analyze land-use impacts as well as the general health of the stream. Also available for CSU Hayward credit.
The Kids in Gardens program provides 30 educators with a 2 day workshop, curriculum and resource materials, access to lending library materials, and post-workshop assistance with conducting action projects. Also available for CSU Hayward credit.
short courses on a variety of topics as well as workshops