Resources for Educators

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is committed to enhancing the natural resources stewardship ethic of all Maryland citizens. That is why we offer a variety of services for K-12 students, teachers, and other Maryland residents.

• Our professional development opportunities for teachers provide them with cutting-edge scientific information and teacher-tested lesson plans.
• Many of the educator materials and services are free or low-cost.
• Educational literature and workshops for adults help all Maryland citizens improve the environment in which they live.
• Our summer camps and special events teach youth about the environment and what they can do to protect it.

Feature Story

New in 2013!

Chesapeake and Coastal Services brings Project WET 2.0 to Maryland educators with a newly revised curriculum guide that contains an Educator’s Portal, with resources, copy pages, websites, and everything you wanted to know about water education.

To obtain the guide and other related resources, educators must attend a six (6) hour educator workshop. Workshops are free, open to all educators, and count as one-third of a MDSE continuing professional development credit for Maryland teachers. After taking a WET workshop, take two more of the following workshop offerings to get one full MDSE continuing professional development credit: Project Learning Tree, Project WILD, WOW!, The Wonders of Wetlands, and Healthy Water Healthy People.

Why get your students engaged in water education?

From the Project WET Foundation page:

Over the past quarter-century, global water problems have continued to escalate. Every day, the quality and quantity of water resources affect the health and well-being of nearly seven billion people on the planet. Yet one in eight do not have access to clean and abundant water. Water education has never been more critical. As schools, homes and businesses “go green,” water education has a major role to play.

Through water education, individuals:

• identify their watershed address
• discover their role in the hydrological cycle
• recognize that water knows no boundaries—flowing through and connecting us all

Our future is tightly bound to water. Global water issues must be addressed through greater public involvement at all socio-economic levels, among all water users, and across all borders. People must be provided a deeper understanding of our complex environmental issues and the skills necessary to undertake the challenges of this century. Sustainable water management is crucial to secure social and economic stability, as well as a healthy environment – achievable only as a result of cooperation and a commitment to education.

March 2nd (Sat) 9am -5pm

Project WILD, Project WET and Project Learning Tree Facilitator Training Robinson Nature Center 6692 Cedar Lane Columbia, MD 21044

This workshop will certify educators to conduct their own Project WILD, Learning Tree and/or WET workshops. Participants must take the educator workshop(s) for curriculums they want to facilitate prior to attending this training. Throughout the day, participants will lead activities and will learn how to host and facilitate their own workshops. Fee: Free! But bring a bagged lunch. Audience: Educators of all sorts! To register: Please download registration form and send to Cindy Etgen. Space is limited – please register early. Bring a bagged lunch or snack. Please advise us of any special needs so that we can accommodate you. Dress for both indoor and outdoors.

To schedule a WET workshop or to get more information, please contact:

Cindy Etgen
cetgen@dnr.state.md.us
(410)260-8716

Upcoming Events

• Growing Up WILD
  To be held on Mon., Jan. 21st (9:30am-2:00pm) at Alice Ferguson Foundation’s Hard Bargain Farm Environmental Center (Wareham Lodge) Accokeek, MD. Growing Up WILD is an early childhood education program that builds on children’s sense of wonder about nature and invites them to explore wildlife and the world around them. Through a wide range of activities and experiences, Growing Up WILD provides an early foundation for developing positive impressions about the natural world and lifelong social and academic skills. Upon completion of the workshop, participants will receive the Growing Up WILD curriculum book. Fee: Free! Audience: Educators who work with children aged 3-7 To register, go to the following link: http://fergusonfoundation.org/events/growing-up-wild-workshop/. Space is limited – please register early. Bring a bagged lunch or snack. Please advise us of any special needs so that we can accommodate you. Dress for both indoor and outdoors.
• Growing Up WILD
  To be held Mon., Feb. 18th (9 am-12 pm) at the Croyden Creek Nature Center, 852 Avery Road (off Baltimore Road) Rockville, MD. Growing Up WILD is an early childhood education program that builds on children’s sense of wonder about nature and invites them to explore wildlife and the world around them. Through a wide range of activities and experiences, Growing Up WILD provides an early foundation for developing positive impressions about the natural world and lifelong social and academic skills. Upon completion of the workshop, participants will receive the Growing Up WILD curriculum book. Fee: $10 residents/$12 non-residents. Audience: Educators who work with children aged 3-7. To register, Click Here. Space is limited – please register early. Dress for both indoors and outdoors. If you have any questions, then contact the Croydon Creek Nature Center 240-314-8770.
• Project WILD
  To be held Sat., Feb. 23rd (9:30am -4pm) at the National Aquarium, 501 E. Pratt St., Baltimore, MD. This workshop will go over various Project WILD activities that can be used to teach basic skills in science, social studies, language arts, math, art, music and physical education. This workshop is geared towards adults who work with K-12 students. Fee: $10. Audience: Educators of all sorts! To register: Please call central reservations staff at 410-576-3833. Space is limited – please register early. Bring a bagged lunch or snack. Please advise us of any special needs so that we can accommodate you. Dress for both indoor and outdoors.
• Project WILD, Project WET and Project Learning Tree Facilitator Training
  To be held Sat., March. 2nd (9am -5pm) at the Robinson Nature Center, 6692 Cedar Lane, Columbia, MD. This workshop will certify educators to conduct their own Project WILD, Learning Tree and/or WET workshops. Participants must take the educator workshop(s) for curriculums they want to facilitate prior to attending this training. Throughout the day, participants will lead activities and will learn how to host and facilitate their own workshops. Fee: Free! But bring a bagged lunch. Audience: Educators of all sorts! To register: Please download registration form and send to Cindy Etgen. Space is limited – please register early. Bring a bagged lunch or snack. Please advise us of any special needs so that we can accommodate you. Dress for both indoor and outdoors.
  

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