Professional Development Opportunities in 2010 Date: June 28 - July 1, 2010 Location: Audubon Society of Rhode Island, Environmental Education Center, Bristol, RI To register: Space is limited and participation is by application. Application may be downloaded at http://www.nbnerr.org/tote.htm Deadline: April 30th, 2010 More Information http://www.nbnerr.org/tote.htm Date: July 12 - 15, 2010 Location: Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Falmouth, MA To register: Space is limited and participation is by application. Application may be downloaded at www.waquoitbayreserve.org Date: July 26 - 29, 2010 Location: Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve, Wells, ME  Deadline: April 30th, 2010 To register: Space is limited and participation is by application.  Application may be downloaded at http://www.laudholm.org /x/file_download/43  Questions about trainings? Waquoit Bay NERR, MA Pat Harcourt, Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve pat.harcourt@state.ma.us (508) 457-0495 x 106 Joan Muller, Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve joan.muller@state.ma.us (508) 457-0495 x 107 Narragansett Bay NERR, RI Kristin "Kit" Van Wagner, Narragansett Bay Research Reserve kristin@nbnerr.org (401) 683-1478 Wells NERR, ME Suzanne Kahn Eder suzanne@wellsnerr.org  (207) 646-1555 x 116

Course Description:

The course will introduce teachers to information, research, and classroom activities about watersheds, estuaries, and coastal systems. The course incorporates investigations in the field and using on-line data. Course content and activities will be aligned with Massachusetts state science and math frameworks.

Grade Levels: The course is designed for science and math teachers in grades 9 through 12. Others are welcome to apply.

Cost: Thanks to support from a NOAA Bay Watershed Education and Training grant, the course is offered without charge.

Course Objectives (participants will be able to):

• Access and use the on-line Estuaries 101 curriculum and other NERRS/NOAA educational products with students.
• Describe major physical, biological, chemical and geochemical estuarine processes as well as impacts of human activities on coastal systems.
• Locate, download, and use data relevant to lessons about estuaries.
• Teach basic estuarine concepts by guiding students in using field and laboratory research techniques analogous to those used at Research Reserves.
• Explain the six Estuarine Principles and Concepts listed below.
• Lead students in learning activities that improve the students’ abilities to become stewards of the environment.

TOTE Workshop Links
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Estuarine Principles and Concepts  

• Principle 1. Estuaries are interconnected with the world ocean and with major systems and cycles on Earth.
• Principle 2. Estuaries are dynamic ecosystems with tremendous variability within and between them in physical, chemical, and biological components.
• Principle 3. Estuaries support an abundance of life, and a diversity of habitat types.
• Principle 4. Ongoing research and monitoring is needed to increase our understanding of estuaries and to improve our ability to protect and sustain them.
• Principle 5. Humans, even those living far from the coast, rely on goods and services supplied by estuaries
• Principle 6. Human activities can impact estuaries by degrading water quality or altering habitats; therefore, we are responsible for making decisions to protect and maintain the health of estuaries.