Registration continues for both sessions of Phase I of The Teachers’ Conservation Institute (TCI), held June 21-26 and again July 12-17, 2015 at Bugscuffle Inn located between Mt. Enterprise and Rusk, Texas on Highway 84.
“Educators wishing to participate in Phase I are urged to secure their reservations quickly” said Misty Bowie, Texas Forestry Association Education Coordinator. “Space is limited and we don’t want anyone to miss this great opportunity to participate in a program that will impact future generations to protect and conserve Texas forests.”
The weeklong course uses the forest to teach environmental education with activities led by foresters, educators, natural resource conservationists and industry professionals.
During the first phase, A Complete Natural Resource Cycle, educators participate in interdisciplinary workshops that focus on the environmental, economic, and social well-being of the state that comes through the scientific stewardship of its natural resources. Sessions take place indoors, in the forest, and on a variety of field trips. Elementary, middle school, and secondary teachers participate in field trips together. Teachers are divided into grade level groups for afternoon curriculum sessions.
Activities for Phase I include Project Learning Tree, Tree and Leaf Identification, Evening Natural History Programs, Morning Nature Walks with field trips to Forest Nursery, Seed Orchard, Logging Operation, Sawmill, Tree Farm, and the Texas Forestry Museum. There will also be training in Project Learning Tree GreenSchools Investigations and in the Texas A&M Forest Service’s Texas Tree Trails app, which allows educators to plot a tree trail and use corresponding materials to build comprehensive lesson plans while using the outdoors.
At the completion of Phase I, participants receive certification in Project Learning Tree, the award-winning environmental education curricula with over 90 interdisciplinary activities, as well as TEKS Correlations, 45 hours of State Board of Educator Certification (SBEC) Continuing Professional Education, 45 hours of Texas Environmental Education Advisory Committee (TEEAC) credit, Professional Development Appraisal System (PDAS) hours, as described in Links I and II, and Gifted/Talented credit through area districts is also available.
Registration for the first session of Phase I per person, including all teaching materials and instruction, food, lodging, and transportation during the workshop is $250. For more information on TCI or to register, please visit texasforestry.org.
PHOTO:
Educators from around the state of Texas pose for a picture with Charlie Gee, far left, of the Texas Logging Council during a tour of a harvesting operation as part of Phase I of the 2014 Teacher’s Conservation Institute.
