Professional Development
Opportunities for Environmental Educators
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources offers a wide variety of accredited continuing education opportunities for teachers and other educators.
Upcoming Events & Workshops
DNR-Sponsored Workshops | Other Professional Development Resources
DNR Sponsored Workshops
Aquatic Resources Education
Contact: Cindy Etgen
Phone: 410-260-8716
Email: cetgen@dnr.state.md.us
Description:
The goal of Maryland’s Aquatic Resource Education (ARE) Program is to instill a respect for Maryland's aquatic resources through professional development opportunities for educators, curriculum that meets state science, math, geography, and reading standards, hands-on aquatic experiences for students, and classroom funding opportunites.
Where Do We Grow From Here?
Contact: Sandra Olek
Phone: 410-260-8979
Email: solek@dnr.state.md.us
Description: The Resource Guide includes 15 lesson plans that address environmental science, government, geography, writing, math and reading outcomes. The CD includes tools and information for students such as census data, land use/land cover maps, slide shows, and lots of great documents and web sites.
School Forests
Contact your local Forestry Board:
http://www.marylandforestryboards.org
Description: In cooperation with the County and Baltimore City Forestry Boards. Aid schools in designing, planting and maintaining a non-landscaping forest on school property and encourages teachers to use that forest for study.
Project LEARNING TREE (PLT)
Contact: Dave Reinecke
Phone: 410-822-4903
Email:
dreinecke@pickeringcreek.org
or
Dr. Sarah Haines, Maryland PLT Co-coordinator
Phone: 410-704-2926
Email: shaines@towson.edu
Description: Six hour training for K-12 educators. Adult leaders are trained to use an activity guide and learning materials which use trees to teach young people about diversity, interrelationships, system, structure and scale and patterns of change.
Project WET (Water Education for Teachers)
Contact: Cindy Etgen
Phone: 410-260-8716
Email: cetgen@dnr.state.md.us
Description: Project WET is a collection of innovative, water related activities that are hands-on, easy to use and fun! Project WET activities incorporate a variety of formats, such as large and small group learning, whole body activities, discussion of local and global topics, and involvement in community service projects. Six hour workshops provide teachers with the activity guide, information on how to use the guide, and resources to assist teachers in incorporating Project WET into their curriculum.
ProjectWILD
Contact: Kerry Wixted
Phone:
410-260-8566
Email:
kwixted@dnr.state.md.us
Description: Project WILD is an interdisciplinary conservation and environmental education program emphasizing awareness, appreciation and understanding of wildlife and natural resources. The program is designed for educators of all types who work with children from kindergarten through 12th grade. Project WILD activities can be used to teach basic skills in science, social studies, language arts, math, art, music and physical education. The activities are designed to be hands-on and are focused on teaching students how to think and not what to think. Upon completion of the workshop, participants will receive both Project WILD guides filled with over 100 activities. Workshops are a minimum of 6 hours long and are suitable for any educator who works with K-12 students.
Growing Up WILD
Contact: Kerry Wixted
Phone: 410-260-8566
Email: kwixted@dnr.state.md.us
Description: 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. Workshops are typically 3-4 hours long and are suited for any educator who works with students aged 3-7 (PreK-G2).
Other Professional Development Resources
The Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education
(MAEOE) is a nonprofit association that encourages, trains, and supports Maryland educators to build a citizenry that understands and is responsibly engaged in promoting sustainability, addressing human needs and conserving the Earth's natural resources.
www.maeoe.org
National Wildlife Federation Educator Workshops
National Wildlife Federation is a national nonprofit organization that educates the public about national environmental issues. The education department offers k-12 school programs, educator workshops and college programs.
http://www.nwf.org/education/
- 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.