Make A Difference Teach A Child! Volunteer Opportunities at Michigan Tech The Western Upper Peninsula Center for Science, Mathematics and Environmental Education is a partnership between the Copper Country and Gogebic-Ontonagon intermediate school districts and Michigan Tech University. The Western UP Center serves 21 K-12 school districts and communities in the five western counties of the UP: Houghton, Baraga, Keweenaw, Ontonagon and Gogebic. The Center provides lots of opportunities for MTU students to work in area schools to gain valuable presentation and teaching skills.

Family science nights (6:30-8:00 PM) are conducted at 20 elementary schools each year for K-6 students and their families. Elementary students participate in a variety of hands-on activities led by MTU student presenters to enhance parents’ and children’s knowledge and interest in science and math. MTU students can volunteer to be presentation assistants, or they can become presenters by enrolling ED 3510 Communicating Science, offered each semester for 2 credits.

Forest & Pond Field Trip Assistants

The Center provides field trips each fall, winter and
spring for grades 1-8. Consider sharing your
knowledge and presenting on any topic from wildlife tracking and nature journaling, to tree identification and biodiversity sampling!

Community members and MTU students are welcome to apply.

If you’re interested in assisting, contact the Center and we’ll send you an application.

To learn more about our field trips, go to Forest Field Trips.

Camp Nesbit Volunteer Presenters Needed - Many area 6th grade classes attend Camp Nesbit (75 miles south of Houghton) each spring and fall. They are always in
need of presenters. Consider sharing your
knowledge and presenting on any topic from biology
and nature journaling, to astronomy and tree
measurements.

After-School Science Classes for Grades 1-6 students
MTU students, in science and engineering majors, are hired each semester to teach After-School science classes to students in grades 1-3 and 4-6 at schools in the five-county area.

Science, Mathematics and Environmental Education Workshops for Educators
Look for flyers or announcements about teacher workshops hosted by the Center, or check the Center’s calendar of events posted on the web: www.wupcenter.mtu.edu

Science/Environmental Education Resource Library & Materials

Need a lesson plan? Come to the Center in 105 Dillman Hall on MTU’s campus and peruse a wide variety of curriculums, activity guides, videos, teaching models, and more for teaching K-12 science and math- with an emphasis on applied sciences, biology, ecology, and natural sciences. Materials may be checked out at no cost.
 

To Become a Volunteer, Contact:
Joan Schumaker-Chadde
Education Program Coordinator
Western Upper Peninsula Center for Science, Mathematics, and Environmental Education
Michigan Technological University
105 Dillman Hall
Houghton, MI 49931

Telephone: 906/487-3341
e-mail: jchadde@mtu.edu
Website: www.wupcenter.mtu.edu

Last Update: 09 March 2006
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