Elementary through high school teachers from across Maine are invited to participate in “Climate Change Education: A Watershed Approach,” a three-day climate change-focused workshop sponsored by a grant from the Maine Department of Education from Wednesday, May 28 through Friday, May 30. Through hands-on science activities, guest presenters, and land and water exploration at Midcoast Conservancy’s Hidden Valley Nature Center in Jefferson and surrounding preserves, participants will gain hard skills and knowledge to take back to the classroom. With an emphasis on how to incorporate NGSS compliant Watershed Science activities into classroom curriculum, this workshop will give teachers the tools they need to develop lesson plans and activities around climate change.  

With the local lands and waters changing in new ways due to the warming climate, knowing how and what to teach in order to connect students with these issues is vitally important. This workshop is being offered free of charge, with grant money available to cover the cost of substitute teachers while participants are away from their classrooms. Participants will receive a certificate of completion for 21 contact hours as well as the opportunity to receive a $500 stipend for developing and implementing curriculum based around what they learn in the workshop.  

This program is a partnership of the Maine Department of Education, Sheepscot Valley RSU 12, and Midcoast Conservancy. To learn more and to register, go to https://www.midcoastconservancy.org/events-list/climate-change.