These interdisciplinary workshops combine instruction, activities, field sessions, curriculum development workshops, and curriculum review focus groups. Washington State clock hours are usually available. Unless otherwise noted, register for all workshops using the Workshop Registration Form (Word Doc, 107KB). Fax the completed form to (360) 569-2187 or "cut and paste" the text from the completed form into this email. For more information contact the Education Program Manager, Anne Doherty-Stephan, at (360) 569-6039 or by email.

Unless otherwise noted, workshops will occur at the park’s new Education Center. We must have at least 15 registered teachers to hold a workshop; curriculum review workshops will be held with a minimum of 10 registered teachers. Registration deadline for summer workshops is June 1st,, unless otherwise noted. All workshops are free and include free Washington State Clock Hours. An academic credit option is also available for some workshops at an additional cost of $40/credit through The Heritage Institute; all credits are based on quarter system.

2009-2010 Workshop Schedule and Descriptions
October 1, 2009, 5:30-8 pm	Education Night at the Museum (formerly Back to School Night) at the Museum of Glass in Tacoma  www.museumofglass.org/education/educator-night
October 9-10, 2009	Sister Mountains Project Curriculum Review Workshop (#5) 12 CHs Workshop will start on Friday morning and run through Saturday afternoon. (NOTE: Friday is a statewide in-service day, so be sure to check with your building administrator.) Come pilot test and give us your feedback on the draft interdisciplinary middle school level curriculum materials developed to date by Teacher-Ranger-Teachers and Park Education Staff. Participating teachers will receive copies of the draft curriculum materials to pilot test with their students. This workshop requires a minimum enrollment of 10 teachers. Registration deadline is October 1. Free tent camping is available in the meadow behind the Education Center. Lodging may also be available in park housing at a cost of $20 per person per night; teachers need to provide their own linens.
October 18, 2009	Geological Society of America (GSA) conference presentations -- Portland, Oregon Park Education Program Manager Anne Doherty-Stephan and Teacher-Ranger- Teachers Nicole Snyder and Denise Thompson will be presenting four sessions at the Geological Society of America (GSA) conference in Portland, Oregon. They will share information about the park’s volcano education materials, teacher workshops, field trip opportunities, the Teacher-Ranger-Teacher Program, and the Mount Rainier-Mount Fuji Sister Mountains Project from the perspectives of Park Education Rangers and classroom teachers. For more information and to register for this conference, please visit the GSA website at http://www.geosociety.org/meetings/2009/
July 19 - 23, 2010	Living with a Volcano in Your Backyard -- Mount Rainier Come spend a lovely few summer days at the Park with US Geological Survey scientists and Park educators. The workshop will be a mix of content, curriculum activities, and field experiences. This workshop is designed for middle school teachers who teach about volcanoes, volcanic processes, products, and hazards. The interdisciplinary curriculum focuses on the science of Cascade Volcanoes in general and the specifics of Mount Rainier volcano and the hazards associated with living in its shadow. Participating teachers will receive curriculum materials and additional resources to use with their students. Free tent camping is available in the meadow behind the Education Center.
August 1-6, 2010	Summer 2009 Workshop for Middle School Teachers of Earth Science (5-9th grade) Teachers on the Leading Edge (TOTLE) is a professional development program for K-12 teachers of Earth Science in the Pacific Northwest. Through a grant from EarthScope, TOTLE will offer a five-day workshop for middle school teachers of Earth Science during summer 2009 at the Pacific Lutheran University. More information

 

Teacher-Ranger-Teacher Positions and
 The Mount Rainier-Mount Fuji Sister Mountain Curriculum Project
& Teacher Exchange Workshop Program

The park Education Program and partner The Mountain Institute are excited to announce that they have received a grant from the US-Japan Foundation to initiate the first year of a three-year project, The Mount Rainier-Mount Fuji Sister Mountain Curriculum Project & Teacher Exchange Program.

What is the project? The overall project objectives are:

• To develop interdisciplinary curriculum using these two iconic mountains as the focus or lenses through which to facilitate cross-cultural studies between American and Japanese students; the curriculum will focus on such topics as mountain cultures, geology, ecology, geography, art, literature, science, environmental issues, and more
• To build on the Sister Mountain relationship between Mount Rainier and

Mount Fuji

• To build on a joint pilot Mountain Geography and Cultures teacher workshop offered in 2005, funded by a National Parks As Classrooms grant
• To develop and host two initial Teacher Exchange Workshops for American and Japanese teachers, one at Mount Rainier National Park and one in the Mount Fuji region
• To develop partnerships that will enable the Teacher Exchange Workshop Program to become sustainable prior to exhausting the initial grant funding

Target grade levels?  Based on Washington State standards (EALRs and GLEs), this curriculum will target middle to high school grade levels.

What opportunities are there for teachers to be involved in this exciting project? There will be a variety of ways teachers can be involved in the project:

• Apply to become a Teacher-Ranger-Teacher (keep reading to learn what that is)
• Attend and participate in future Curriculum Review Workshops
• Apply for the International Teacher Exchange Workshop
• Sign your school or class up to become a pilot school for implementing the new curriculum (draft materials as they become available as well as finalized curriculum in 2010)

What is the Teacher-Ranger-Teacher Program? It is a partnership relationship between you, your school district, and the park that is managed through a formal agreement. Through this partnership program, you:

· Become an Education Park Ranger for the summer

· Work on this project researching and developing curriculum

· Learn first-hand about the National Park Service

· Wear the National Park Service uniform, and

· During the school year, share your experiences and pilot test draft curriculum materials with your students (this may be done throughout the school year, but it is preferred that some activities occur during the following spring’s National Park/Earth Week).

· Based on time and your interests, there may also be an opportunity to shadow other park jobs.

 Benefits of being a Teacher-Ranger-Teacher:

• $300/week (full-time, Monday-Friday)
• Free Washington State Clock Hours for workshop meetings, and summer employment period
• You get to wear a National Park Ranger uniform, including the flat hat
• Opportunity to attend and help present at “Living With A Volcano In Your Backyard – Mount Rainier” Teacher Workshop, July 13-17, 2009
• Shared park housing, if needed, for summer (we will try to house teachers together, but there is no guarantee that you won’t be housed with seasonal park staff from other operations during the summer). There is no family housing available.

Project Timeline: highlights and key dates only

• October 26, 2007 – US-Japan Foundation Board of Trustees selected project for Year One funding
• October 30, 2007 – grant award notification
• November 13-29, 2007 – Education Program Manager, Anne Doherty, in Japan to make presentations about project at Cities on Volcanoes 5 Conference, Mt. Fuji Workshop, and informational meetings for current and potential Japanese partners and interested teachers
• Immediately upon posting to this website – Teacher-Ranger-Teacher application process open.
• December, 2007 or January, 2008 – Information about Teacher-Ranger-Teacher Program positions and application process posted through park’s Educator Database plus other listserves and venues
• January 26, 2008 – Informational meetings for current and potential US partners and interested teachers at Mount Rainier National Park Education Center; applications for Teacher-Ranger-Teachers are accepted in person
• February 20, 2008 – Application deadline for Teacher-Ranger-Teacher Program
• February 21, – mid-March, 2008 – Teacher-Ranger-Teacher applications are reviewed, interviews conducted, and selections made; Agreements with selected teachers’ school districts drafted and signed
• March 28-29, 2008 – Project Scoping Workshop and planning meetings for project held at Park Education Center; participants will include selected Teacher-Ranger-Teachers and project partners
• June-August, 2008 (exact dates TBD by Park Education Program Manager and selected Teacher-Ranger-Teachers) – Teacher-Ranger-Teacher Program
• • Draft Year Two funding proposal to US-Japan Foundation
• August, 2008 (tentatively August 7^th or 8^th) – First Curriculum Review Workshop to pilot test draft curriculum materials developed to date, followed by any necessary revisions
• September, 2008 – Submit Year Two funding proposal to US-Japan Foundation

Year Two Schedule – highlights

• Advertise and recruit for Summer, 2009 Teacher-Ranger-Teacher Program
• Continue curriculum development
• Curriculum Review Workshop(s)
• Summer, 2009 – Teacher-Ranger-Teacher Program
• First Teacher Exchange Program Workshop for American and Japanese teachers at Mount Rainier National Park
• Draft and submit Year Three funding proposal to US-Japan Foundation

Year Three Schedule – highlights

• Advertise and recruit for Summer, 2010 Teacher-Ranger-Teacher Program
• Continue curriculum development
• Curriculum Review Workshop(s)
• Summer, 2010 – Teacher-Ranger-Teacher Program
• Second Teacher Exchange Program Workshop for American and Japanese teachers in Mount Fuji region

Teacher-Ranger-Teacher Interp Application
Teacher-Ranger-Teacher Sister Mountain Application

Submit via email to: e-mail us Feel free to contact Anne with questions either by email or phone at (360) 569-6039.