Eleven adventurous teachers from Rhode Island are gearing up or just returning from expeditions. Their mission -- to capture cougars and armadillos, track dolphins and manatees, tag sea turtles, or converse with famous chimps. Teachers will "virtually" take their students with them posting journals, photos, assignments, while their students ask questions online, follow daily events from classroom computers.

While teachers have participated in Earthwatch's summer professional development opportunities for decades, the concept of teachers undertaking these explorations during the school year is a new model being developed collaboratively by Earthwatch Institute, an international non profit supporting scientific research worldwide; the Rhode Island Foundation, the state's largest charitable trust; and the teachers and their school systems.

The Rhode Island teachers are:
• Denise Frederick, Wickford and Davisville Middle Schools, North Kingstown
• Elizabeth Gibbs, Thompson Middle School, Lenthal Annex, Newport
• Helen Johnson, Quidnessett Elementary School, North Kingstown
• Claire McCorry, North Smithfield Elementary School, North Smithfield
• Bethany Marchetti, Anna McCabe Elementary School, Smithfield
• Stella Neri, John F. Deering School, West Warwick
• Audra Plante, John F. Deering School, West Warwick
• Cindy Ripley, Gallagher Middle School, Smithfield
• Robert Stringer, Kickemuit Middle School, Bristol/Warren
• Jenna Stevenson, Kickemuit Middle School, Bristol/Warren
• Anthony Burnett-Testa, Cole Junior High School, East Greenwich

"Teachers are very important to Earthwatch's mission of conserving the world's natural and cultural resources" said Susan Rauchwerk, Earthwatch's Director of Education. "When a teacher has this type of experience doing guided research with Earthwatch scientists" the effect is multiplied hundred times in the classroom. The impact is even more powerful when students can see their own teacher modeling "live" science, and also be able to ask questions in real time while the field research is going on."

"We're particularly excited to offer this opportunity during the school year, said Ronald V. Gallo, president of The Rhode Island Foundation, which is paying for all the actual costs of the 11 teachers including substitutes in the classroom during their absences. "This is a natural extension of our Teachers and Technology Initiative, in which we wanted teachers and students to explore new learning tools, If it works to engage students in a whole new way, school systems may choose to include such programs in the future."

Teachers and collaborating colleagues start preparing students for their expeditions weeks in advance with lessons that integrate subject areas with technology use, and meet national and state standards in science and geography. During the expedition, students are able to follow assignments and daily reports, and ask questions online. After the expeditions, students work on projects that range from individual to group research of environmental issues in their own communities, sharing presentations through a variety of venues.

This semester's destinations range from Idaho and Washington to Florida and Costa Rica. The field research studies include:

Wild Dolphin Societies, Sarasota Florida
-- Helen Johnson and Claire McCorry. January 10-23
-- Bethany Marchetti. March 10-23

Mountain Lions, Malta, Idaho
-- Cindy Ripley and Anthony Burnett-Testa, January 19-27th

Costa Rican Sea Turtles, Guanacaste National Park, Costa Rica
-- Jenna Stevenson, February 3-12

Caring for Chimpanzees, Chimpanzee Human Communication Institute, Washington
-- Elizabeth Gibbs and Stella Neri. March 3-16

Florida Manatees, Sarasota, Florida
-- Denise Frederick and Audra Plante, April 29- May 11

Florida Armadillos, Tall Timbers Research Station, Florida
-- Robert Stringer, May 15-22

Participating teachers are thrilled with the connections that they will be able to make with their students through the "live" field research, and the potential it has for collaborative teaching and motivating students.

"Many students have a "gloom and doom" approach to environmental issues that clouds their enthusiasm" said Cindy Ripley, 7th grade Science teacher at Gallagher Middle School, Smithfield. "This age group is ripe for getting involved and they are learning far more than the "curriculum." It is the closest we can possibly come to bringing them the world "up close" without leaving the classroom."

School administrators see benefits to using the technology. "It is this connection" said Louise M. Denette, Principal of Quidnessett Elementary School, North Kingstown, "that will enrich the project, provide new dimensions to our science program, and excite our students to new levels of involvement. The possibilities for this project through the use of technology are endless."

The Rhode Island teacher award recipients were selected through a competitive application process publicized in collaboration with the Rhode Island Teachers and Technology Initiative (RITTI), the Rhode Island Geography Education Alliance, the Roger Williams Zoo, and the URI Alton Jones Environmental Education Center.

Earthwatch Institute (www.earthwatch.org) is an international nonprofit organization supporting scientific research worldwide by mobilizing 4,000 volunteers each year to help university scientists with fieldwork on expeditions in 19 states and 49 countries. Earthwatch Institute's mission is to promote sustainable conservation of natural resources and cultural heritage by creating partnerships between scientists, educators, and the general public. Approximately 1/4 of volunteers are educators, many from England, Japan, and Australia where Earthwatch has affiliate offices.
Each year Earthwatch Institute awards over 350 fellowships to teachers and students across the United States.

The Rhode Island Foundation is a philanthropic organization founded in 1916 to serve as the steward for Rhode Islander's charitable activities. It currently manages more than 650 separate endowments benefitting everything from historic preservation to zoos, including special initiatives.

Earthwatch Institute is an international nonprofit organization which supports scientific field research worldwide by offering members of the public unique opportunities to work alongside leading field scientists and researchers. The Institute's mission is to engage people worldwide in scientific field research and education to promote the understanding and action necessary for a sustainable environment.