A Summer Workshop - August 6 - 8, 2007
Integrated Outdoor Environmental Science for West Virginia Teachers
living in the Potomac and Chesapeake Bay Watershed

A project of The Mountain Institute and the 8 counties in the Potomac and Chesapeake Bay Watershed. In cooperation with Berkeley, Hampshire, Hardy, Jefferson, Grant, Mineral, Morgan and Pendleton Counties. Summer workshop held at Spruce Knob Mountain Center, Pendleton County, West Virginia. Funding provided by The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

"Working to promote awareness of the connections between West Virginia's uplands and downstream environments and our responsibilities as stewards of our watersheds."

The Program
The primary goal of Potomac Stream Samplers is to provide students and teachers living in the Potomac and Chesapeake Bay watersheds of West Virginia with an opportunity to engage in inquiry-based outdoor science as part of a program aligned with the West Virginia Standards and Objectives. Along with the teachers and students, this project involves community watershed organizations and The Mountain Institute.

Initially, teachers will meet for a 3-day fall workshop to learn stream and watershed assessment skills. Following an in-school session with The Mountain Institute staff, each middle school class will travel to the Potomac headwaters on Spruce Knob for a 2-day immersion in outdoor watershed study. TMI staff will then assist students back in their own school environs, as they work in teams to carry out an investigation of their local watershed including threats analysis (based on local land uses) and water quality sampling.   Data will be shared with other schools via a website that gives students a broader context for their local measurements.

The three day professional development workshop will include:

• Training in WV Save our Streams sampling protocol with Tim Craddock of WV-DEP
• Watershed and land use assessment techniques
• Data analysis
• Overview of data sharing website

Workshop participants should plan to arrive at the Spruce Knob Mountain Center on Monday by 11 am and will leave on Wednesday by 5 pm.

The Spruce Knob Mountain Center
The Mountain Institute's "living laboratory" is located on the western slopes of Spruce Knob WV's highest peak at 4,863 feet and regularly offers a variety of mountain learning programs and summer workshops. The facility is bordered by the Monongahela National Forest and is noted for its diverse mountain habitats, wildlife and proximity to other protected and wilderness areas. Since 1972, the 400-acre campus has hosted over 25,000 visitors to The Mountain Institute's Appalachian and international programs.

The campus facilities incorporate unique and innovative building designs, with housing and dining facilities, conference rooms, a library, office, and ecological monitoring installations. Housing is in two "bunk houses" with electricity that accommodate four people per room in bunk beds. Camping space is available for those who would like more privacy. A nearby bathhouse includes hot showers and flush toilets with separate facilities for men and women. Limited computer connections are available.

What Teachers Will Receive?

• Instruction, mentoring, and hands-on research at the Spruce Knob Mountain Center
• Lodging and all meals at the Spruce Knob Mountain Center
• Graduate credit from West Virginia University
• Teaching resource materials and sampling equipment for your classroom
• Personal travel stipend of $75
• Stipend of $350 to schools for student field trip travel to Spruce Knob Mountain Center

What are the costs to teachers?
All costs are covered by The Mountain Institute and The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Click here to Download an Application.

For more information, please contact:

Elizabeth Altemus
Phone: 304-567-2632
Email: ealtemus@mountain.org
Web: http://www.mountain.org

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