Educators are invited to attend the Sharing Stories of the Saranac River workshop designed to provide an interdisciplinary approach for incorporating river systems into classroom curricula. On Friday, October 23, 2105, the Champlain Basin Education Initiative will offer four strands focusing on geography, history, aquatic macro-invertebrates, and terrestrial habitat for teachers to learn about river systems and a sense of place.
“Teachers will spend much of the day learning in small groups led by an expert and then consider ways to design exemplary place-based learning opportunities for their students,” said Colleen Hickey, Education and Outreach Coordinator for the Lake Champlain Basin Program. Amy Demarest, an author and curriculum coach who specializes in Place Based Education will help educators frame their classroom examples. Doug Selwyn, SUNY Plattsburgh Education Department will also participate with pre-service teachers, many of whom might eventually teach in the Saranac watershed.
Presenters will address the following question as they relate to the Saranac River system:
What are the stories of the past from a human history perspective?
John Krueger, Ph. D., Historian, City of Plattsburgh
FOCUS: Consider the stories of the Battle of Valcour Island and the Battle of Plattsburgh Bay, two events that shaped Plattsburgh’s history and were oriented by Lake Champlain and the Saranac River.
Is the River healthy?
Dr. Tim Mihuc, Director Lake Champlain Institute at SUNY Plattsburgh
FOCUS: Survey the aquatic macro-invertebrate population of the Saranac River to understand how the number of species present or absent, as well as their about the Saranac River.
Who lives here?
Elizabeth Lee, Ecology Programs Director, Lake Champlain Maritime Museum
FOCUS: Investigate animal signs and evaluate how shorelines look from the perspective of living creatures. These signs of wildlife tell the story of how the Saranac River serves as a corridor for wild animals and people.
Where are we?
Ryan Mitchell, Publications and Communications Coordinator, Lake Champlain Basin Program FOCUS: How can web maps be used to tell the story of changes in land use on the Saranac River shoreline?
The workshop fee is $20 which includes lunch. A limited number of scholarships are available. For further information or to register, contact the Lake Champlain Basin Program at (802) 372-3213.