Professional Development

2004 Higgins Lake Environmental School

For students, teachers, 4-H and scout leaders, and all who want to learn
more about environmental education, natural resources and related topics

The Higgins Lake Environmental School was established to promote a better understanding of the complex relationships between humans and our environment. Thousands of people have participated in this valuable program over the years.

The 2004 summer program is sponsored by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, in cooperation with Central Michigan University, Wayne State University and Western Michigan University. Each university brings a special emphasis to the program by providing resource people, materials, lectures, field trips, and discussions to provide participants with an understanding of critical environmental concepts and issues.

The setting for the environmental school is the Ralph A. MacMullan Conference Center, located in Michigan's beautiful north woods on the shore of Higgins Lake. The location is rich in environmental resources and outdoor recreation opportunities. The center's cook has an excellent reputation for preparing ample portions of savory nutritious meals often served beach side. It is a wonderful place to learn and connect with new people.

Session I.
Environmental Education and Outdoor Science: Methods and Concepts ~ July 11-16
Dr. Mark Jenness (Western Michigan University)
"Hands-on" outdoor investigations, field trips to unique northern habitats, a canoe trip, demonstrations, displays, handouts and presentations by natural resource experts will help teachers, non-school educators, and others interested in the environment learn how to use outdoor and indoor science and environmental education activities with young people and adults. The course will combine science content with teaching methods to show how to devise effective multidisciplinary learning experiences. There will be many opportunities to learn environmental, ecological, biological, and other science concepts while enjoying the unique resources and setting of the Higgins Lake area. You will learn how to strengthen your curriculum with activities and materials from national, regional, state and local programs and projects and link them to state and national science and other content standards.

Session II.
Exploring Michigan's Natural Resources ~ July 18-23
Dr. Claudia Douglass (Central Michigan University)
Join with other educators from around the state for a week of action-oriented learning about Michigan's natural resources and environmental education. Learn to integrate outdoor education skills into your classroom curriculum by participating in environmental education programs that result in certification in Project WILD and Project Learning Tree. Supplementing Dr. Douglass' instruction will be guest presenters with natural resources expertise on how to access resources from around the state relating to environmental and outdoor education. Class discussion will also address the process of building partnerships and taking action on environmental issues within schools and communities. Wetland ecology, forest communities, habitats and human environment impact will be issues explored throughout the week. A highlight of this course and a class tradition will be the canoe study trip down the AuSable River which will allow participants first-hand knowledge on integrating the curriculum into an outdoor learning activity.

Session III.
Understanding Our Environment ~ July 25-30
Dr. Maria Ferreira (Wayne State University)
Emphasis will be placed on field studies to observe the interrelationship of living organisms and their environment. "Hands-on" activities will be useful later in elementary, middle and high schools, as well as in other environmental programs. Opportunity will be given to try activities from model environmental programs such as Project WILD. Participants will have the opportunity to discuss environmental issues with a variety of resource persons and to take field trips to diverse habitats, including a canoe trip on the Au Sable River.

Room and Board Costs
Lodging facilities are provided, with two persons per room. Linens and
towels are provided. Meals are served family-style. Students are expected to reside at the Center during the week-long session. The mandatory meal and lodging fee from Sunday evening dinner through lunch on Friday is $325, and participants must send a $100 deposit for each reservation. The deposit is refundable up to 15 days prior to arrival. The remaining $225 is payable when you arrive at the conference center.

Room and Board Scholarships
Scholarships covering all or part of the $225 balance of room and board fee are available from a variety of organizations, including The Federated Garden Clubs of Michigan, and the Woman's National Farm and Garden
Association. Other organizations may be willing to provide a scholarship. If you wish to receive a room and board scholarship, first send your room and board registration form and $100 deposit to the MacMullan Conference Center to make your reservation.

Then contact the organization from which you are requesting the scholarship, indicating the amount you are requesting. Explain how the training will be useful in your work, and provide information about your experience and interest in environmental education. You may request a scholarship from one of these organizations; please do not contact both organizations: The Federated Garden Clubs of Michigan, att. Ms. Bonnie Haller, 2429 Bay Ridge Drive, Au Gres, MI 48703; or the Women's National Farm and Garden Association, att. Marian B Renaud, 1532 Winchell Court, East Lansing, MI 48823 Scholarships do not cover tuition.

University Tuition and Credit
Every participant must pay university tuition or audit fees. Payment of university fees is each participant's responsibility, and these fees are subject to change without notice. One, two, or three semester hours credit may be earned. One semester hour credit is given for the week-long
session, and those wishing to enroll for two or three semester credits will be required to submit an extra paper(s) within two weeks after completion of the week-long session. Undergraduate or Graduate credit can be arranged with universities listed below. If you are already enrolled in a degree or certification program with one of the universities listed and you want to enroll in one of the sessions for credit, you must register and pay tuition to your own university regardless of which university is staffing the session. If you are not enrolled in a degree or certificate program, you may register with any of the universities listed. Credit is transferable to the partnering universities; however, it is your responsibility to make the transfer arrangements. If you choose to audit a session, you must register with and pay the audit fee to the university conducting the session.

Download Flyer and application (MS Word Dcoument):

www.deq.state.mi.us/ documents/deq-exe-outreach-higginslakeinfo04.doc

Teachers will learn how to implement the Michigan Social Studies Standards through activities on land use planning, community design and development and analysis of public opinion surveys. They will practice the application of the six core economic principles to their local communities, examining the human/environment interaction, and mapping. The Institute will model ways to integrate these topics into classrooms and across the curriculum.

Institute teachers will participate in a multi-day session on using Geographic Positioning Units (GPS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to digitize, display, and evaluate information about community characteristics. Participants will also examine the political and legal processes established to make community decisions and encourage practices that can be used to enhance the livability, functionality, and character of a community.

Teachers will plan a teaching unit that includes a service learning component to implement into their classroom during the 2004-2005 school year. For more information, contact: Shawn Oppliger (sopplige@ccisd.k12.mi.us) or 906-482-0331