Earthwatch Educator Expeditions
Join a fully funded expedition, sailing the waters of the Hebrides to survey Britain’s whale and dolphin populations! Have the experience of a life time and bring new ideas, knowledge and resources back home to inspire your students!
Are you an educator, actively engaged in communicating environmental issues to your students?
Are you looking to gain specific environmental knowledge, particularly about British marine and costal life?
Are you passionate about empowering your pupils to become the environmentally conscious citizens of tomorrow?
Would you like to experience life on a conservation research project and develop personally and professionally?
If this is you, then why not seize this fantastic opportunity and apply to be part of this Earthwatch Educator Expedition?
Your Expedition
Whales and Dolphins of the Hebrides
Dates: 10 April – 17 April 2010
This expedition is a unique professional development opportunity on a facilitated, all-educator team of Whales and Dolphins of the Hebrides. It is designed to provide:
- An all-teacher/educator experience – like-minded professionals in a unique situation
- Experience of cutting-edge conservation science in action
- The chance to work alongside leading scientists, to develop field research skills, and to gather data that will be used to help protect threatened species and habitats
- A forum to exchange ideas with educator team-mates from around the UK and to take part in facilitated group discussion sessions, linking the project experience to the classroom
- Inspiration, ideas, and knowledge, and the opportunity to create teaching resources to help you take the experience back to your students
- A grant to initiate an environmental project and to help your school, college, or community become more sustainable
‘It was an excellent opportunity for learning, not only through the field work, but also from the other teachers. I gained confidence and motivation to take on projects at school that I don't think I would have otherwise. My fellow group members were all lovely, as were the Earthwatch Staff.’
Emily Willatt – Educator participant 2009
You could join this Earthwatch Educator Expedition and survey one of Europe’s most important whale, dolphin, and porpoise habitats. To find out more about the research area, the research activities, and the project conditions please follow this link to our expedition pages:
http://www.earthwatch.org/europe/exped/stevick.html
Your Educator Team
As part of the expedition you and your educator team-mates will take part in facilitated discussion sessions, providing an opportunity to explore the links between the project research and activities or topics you teach your students. These sessions will look at how the environmental issues introduced on the expedition can be taken back to the classroom to inspire and inform young people to think differently about or with a fresh perspective on the environment. As part of the expedition, you will be expected to design a teaching resource that will help you to better communicate all of this back in the classroom.
On this expedition, you and your peers will also discuss how you can take action within your school, college, or community to promote sustainable thinking, and to raise awareness of the need to conserve our natural environment.
As part of your fellowship you will be eligible to receive a grant that will help you to carry out your ideas.
‘An amazing week with a group of like-minded people! Lots of fun had, but also thought provoking discussions and experiences. A definite inspiration to both my teaching and life out of school!’
Leanne Blair – Educator participant 2009
Am I eligible?
Eligible participants must be non-retired, UK based, secondary level teachers or educators, who are in a position to communicate to students about environmental topics. Teachers of science, geography, or citizenship are most suited to daily participation in research gathering activities and some research analysis, but applications from teachers or educators of other subjects are welcome, allowing that applicants can clearly demonstrate how the experience can be of benefit to them and their students.
If you have previously been a participant of an Earthwatch Educator Expedition then you are not eligible to apply for this opportunity, but please help us by promoting this opportunity to other educators you might know. Previous participants are however encouraged to apply for the team facilitator position. The team facilitator will take part in all the research activities and will also facilitate team discussion sessions . For more information please email education@earthwatch.org.uk.
Previous participants of an Earthwatch Educator Expedition are eligible to apply for our summer expedition Belarus Wetlands.
Funding
The project is jointly funded by ICAP and the Garfield Western Foundation. If you are selected, you will receive a fully funded place on the Whales and Dolphins of the Hebrides project. This includes all food, accommodation, and insurance during the expedition.
You will also receive up to £200 to fund your return travel to the project.
When you return from your project you will be eligible for a grant to help you initiate an environmental initiative within your school, collage or community.
How do I apply?
The application deadline is Monday 15th February 2010.
Complete an application form now to tell us how you would use this unique opportunity for the better of your teaching, your career and your environment. Please email your application to education@earthwatch.org.uk.
Summer Team
There is another fully funded Educator Expedition taking place during the summer holidays to Belarus Wetlands. Previous participants of an Earthwatch Educator Expedition are eligible to apply for our summer expedition.