Great Lakes Shipboard Science Workshop
Overview
Formal and non-formal educators of learners in grades 5-12, from all disciplines (e.g., science, math, language arts, social studies, art, music, etc.) living in a Great Lakes state are eligible to apply for the annual Great Lakes Shipboard Science Workshop, aboard the US EPA’s research vessel (R/V) Lake Guardian, to explore the Great Lakes and immerse themselves in science and research. The week-long journey offers educators the opportunity to live and work alongside Great Lakes scientists to conduct critical research. The annual trip rotates between the Great Lakes, giving educators the opportunity to explore new and exciting locations and research topics. Participants also receive a stipend to support integration of Great Lakes literacy through experiential learning and stewardship with their learners.
Three Educators From Pennsylvania Embark on the Journey of a Lifetime Through the Great Lakes Shipboard Science Workshop 2024
Read the press release!
WHEN & WHERE:
The week-long scientific exploration of Lake Erie will take place July 7-13, 2024, beginning and ending in Cleveland, OH, and with port stops in Erie, PA and Put-In-Bay, OH.
WHAT:
Educators will explore Lake Erie while living and working alongside Great Lakes scientists aboard the US EPA Research Vessel (R/V) Lake Guardian. Participants in the Great Lakes Shipboard Science Workshop will conduct critical research into microplastics, phytoplankton, benthic organisms, and sediment. Through hands-on investigations, port stops for landside experiences, lab work, and interacting with scientists, educators will obtain new knowledge, skills and teaching methods that can be adapted to work with students, as well as learn about careers that further the protection of the Great Lakes.
WHO:
Casey Keating is an interpretive naturalist at Asbury Woods in Erie, Pennsylvania. Casey plans and leads field trips for students in grades K-8 and teaches public programs for toddlers to adults. She says, “This experience will be particularly relevant to my work because many of the field trips and programs we offer are related to water, and Asbury Woods is in the Lake Erie watershed, so we often teach about where our water goes and how our actions affect our natural environment. I plan on using the experience to develop new programs that will focus on how water travels, how it shapes the watersheds and world around us, and how it supports such diverse life.”
Brienne May is a 5th grade math and science teacher at Franklin Regional Intermediate School in Murrysville, Pennsylvania. Brienne says, “If we want our students to think and act like scientists, teachers need to have these experiences to think and act like scientists first. As an ambassador of scientific literacy within my district, I will share my experiences not only with my own students, but with science teachers of all levels. We will all use what I learn during the Lake Guardian shipboard workshop to expand aquatic science education, district sustainability efforts, and Great Lakes literacy for all students in grades kindergarten through twelfth grade.”
Sarah Sato is an Environmental Education Specialist for the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, in Landenberg, Pennsylvania. Sarah develops, coordinates, and presents environmental education and interpretive programs. She says, “I am always looking to learn more about topics that relate to watersheds, so that I can better educate the community through my work. I believe that one of the best ways you can learn is by observing, listening to, and working with others as well as through hands-on experience. I believe this experience could be such a tremendous way of learning and connecting with other educators from all different areas each with a different expertise.”
PARTICIPANTS WILL:
- gain a sense of environmental stewardship by better understanding how past human activities have impacted the Great Lakes watershed,
- be better positioned to guide learners’ interest in environmental and science careers,
- enhance individual teaching skills by sharing ideas and innovative approaches to curriculum development and delivery,
- receive a stipend to support integration of Great Lakes literacy through experiential learning and stewardship projects with their learners.
WHY:
The goal of the Shipboard Science Workshop is to enhance the ability of educators of grades 5-12 to teach about the Great Lakes, and to integrate Great Lakes literacy principles into classrooms and other learning environments.
HOW:
The annual R/V Lake Guardian shipboard science workshop rotates amongst the five Great Lakes and is organized to provide educators the unique opportunity to live and work alongside Great Lakes scientists on a vessel conducting critical research while forging lasting relationships with Great Lakes researchers and other educators.
The opportunity is made possible through a partnership with the EPA, NOAA, and with funding from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. Hosts for the Lake Erie workshop are CGLL partners Pennsylvania Sea Grant and Ohio Sea Grant.
The week-long shipboard experience is organized by the Center for Great Lakes Literacy (CGLL), which is a collaborative effort led by Sea Grant educators throughout the U.S. Great Lakes watershed. CGLL fosters informed and responsible decisions that advance basin-wide stewardship by providing hands-on experiences, educational resources, and networking opportunities promoting Great Lakes literacy among an engaged community of educators, scientists, and youth. For more information on the 2024 Shipboard Science Workshop and application materials visit the Center for Great Lakes Literacy website.
