Workshop Opportunities for Educators

WILD Aquatic
WILD Aquatic is a K-12 interdisciplinary curriculum supplement designed to increase knowledge and awareness of our marine, coastal and inland aquatic environments as well as human domestic, recreational and industrial water use.

Both Project WILD and WILD Aquatic, along with related programs - Project Learning Tree, Project WET, WOW: The Wonders of Wetlands, and Bridges to the Natural World - are ideal for integration into the teaching of science, social studies, language arts, math, art, physical education, health, music, and other curriculum areas. By participating in one of our workshops you'll find a source of innovative techniques for teaching basic skills and effective methods for teaching problem solving and decision making.

• WILD Aquatic is correlated to the NJ Core Curriculum Content Standards. Workshops providers are registered with the NJ Dept. of Education as certified providers.
• Free or low cost 6-hour workshops are scheduled, both weekdays and weekends.
• Free in-service workshops are available for schools or districts.
• For schedule and other information call 609-748-4347, or view the Project WILD Workshop List.

• Project WILD 908-637-4125 or e-mail Coordinator Liz Jackson, Liz.Jackson@dep.state.nj.us.
• Project Learning Tree - Contact the Forest Resource Education Center - NJ Forest Service: 732-833-9816
• Other DEP education programs - Contact Tanya Oznowich 609-984-9802 or e-mail Tanya.Oznowich@dep.state.nj.us
  
• Project WET &/or WOW! The Wonders of Wetlands - Contact Amy Messeroll, Coordinator, NJ Project WET at 609-897-9400 ext. 103 or njwet@dep.state.nj.us
• Bridges to the Natural World - Contact Dale Rosselet 609-861-0700 or e-mail: dale.rosselet@njaudubon.org.

Sedge Island Natural Resource Education Center Workshops for Teachers
Overnight workshops for educators emphasizing both the natural and the cultural history of the area at our Sedge Island site in Barnegat Bay are conducted May to October. Access is by Division-owned pontoon boat. A low-cost opportunity for teachers and students to investigate the marine environment with hands-on activities that provide insight to the wise use of New Jersey's natural resources including marsh walks, kayak tours, and conventional fish, crabbing, and clamming techniques. The workshop fulfills core curriculum standards in both science (5.12) and social studies (6.9). Call 609-748-4347.

Green Eggs & Sand: The Horseshoe Crab and Shorebird Education Project
Looking to infuse a global biodiversity and current real-life resource management challenge into your classroom?

Participants at the Green Eggs and Sand workshops experience and investigate the Delaware Bay's horseshoe crab/shorebird phenomena firsthand-learning from experts, working with experts and becoming experts on its many related scientific and resource management issues. Teachers also receive a curriculum focused on middle and secondary students that is supported with the materials and resources to make these issues come alive for students. Pre-registration is required for the workshops hosted each spring at the rustic Mallard Lodge on Delaware Bay near Smyrna, Delaware. To be included on the mailing list, please contact Karen Leskie at 609-748-4347 or via e-mail at Karen.Leskie@dep.state.nj.us.

Other Resources for NJ Educators:

NJ Marine Education Resource Guide
Formerly called "The Packet", the newly updated 90-page guide lists more than 350 items from 200 sources for K-12 teachers who wish to include topics on marine, coastal and wetlands environments in the classroom. Call 609-748-2031 for "The Guide".

Curriculum Supplements

Beneath the Shell - a 126-page teachers guide to nonpoint source pollution, which relates it to our coastal shellfish populations; from NJ DEP Division of Watershed Management; gr. 1-8. Call 609-292-2113.
Wading into Wetlands from National Wildlife Federation, 24 pages of background information, activities for K-8, poster, etc.

For more details on any of the above resources contact:
NJ Div. of Fish and Wildlife
P.O. Box 418
Port Republic, NJ 08241
609-748-4347

Please be sure to provide name and mailing address and mention which of the above you are requesting.

Teachers - Are you a member of ANJEE yet? The Alliance for New Jersey for Environmental Education (ANJEE) was established in 1985 to provide a networking forum for New Jersey's environmental educators. Visit their website for more information and membership benefits: www.anjee.net.

SEEDS - the State Environmental Education Directory

Other opportunities/field trips/teacher workshop providers:

• Bayshore Discovery Project (A.J. Meerwald Schooner) - 856-785-2060, e-mail: ajmeerwald@snip.net
• Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve - Tuckerton - 609-812-0649
• Brookdale Community College Ocean Institute, Sandy Hook - 732-224-2435
• NJ Marine Sciences Consortium, Sandy Hook - 732-872-1300
• DEP Division of Watershed Management - Including the Watershed Ambassadors Program - Watershed Ambassadors are available to make presentations to community organizations and schools. These interactive presentations provide information about water and watershed issues in New Jersey.
• Alliance for a Living Ocean, No. Beach Haven - 609-492-0222
• Educational programs are also available through the Ocean County Cooperative Extension Service - Sea Grant at 732-349-1152
• Tuckerton Seaport
• NJ Academy of Aquatic Sciences

Coastal/Aquatic educational programs - especially for youngsters

Aquariums: