In the Fall of 2010, a team of seven Teton Science Schools’ graduate students, two instructors and two faculty traveled to Saratoga, Hanna, Casper and Cheyenne, Wyoming to work in schools providing place-based, science learning experiences for students. Over the three weeks, graduate student and instructor team worked with 802 kindergarten through 6th grade students. Programs had the broad theme of connecting science, place-based education and existing curriculum in the schools. Many teachers in the classrooms where we worked have been part of Teton Science Schools’ trainings in place-based education.
In each school the program was 2-days long. Day 1 kept the students at or near the school. On day 2, students traveled by bus to a site in the community to extend their learning in a new place. Some of the locations for field trips included: Lions Park, the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens and Curt Gowdy State Park in Cheyenne; Devil’s Gate, the Audubon Center and Platte River Parkway in Casper; and Saratoga Lake, Veteran’s Island and Treasure Island in Saratoga.
The Teacher Learning Center oversaw these programs as a way to deepen relationships with schools and districts that already partner closely with Teton Science Schools. All of the schools or districts already send school groups to Teton Science Schools’ field education programming and have teachers participate in workshops. Article and pictures in both the Casper Star Tribune and Saratoga Sun highlighted the outreach programming in those communities.
Spring outreach will take Teton Science Schools’ graduate students and faculty to Victor, ID, Lander, Saratoga, Encampment, Hanna and Casper, WY.
