Learning
Center
Program
An
Environmental
Education
Teaching Approach
for
Grades K-8
| ABOUT
US
The Brandywine Valley Association (BVA), the oldest small watershed association in the United States, and its sister organization Red Clay Valley Association (RCVA) are known for their pioneering efforts in the environmental education field. The BVA and RCVA headquarters is located at the 314-acre Myrick Conservation Center on Route 842 in West Chester, PA. BVA/RCVA staff is recognized for their success using a hands-on, field experience approach to teaching environmental concepts. In anticipation of recently-adopted environmental education standards for public schools in both Delaware and Pennsylvania, BVA has developed a Watershed Learning Center (WLC) Program, which is available to schools throughout the Brandywine and Red Clay Watersheds. The BVA/RCVA approach is an outcomes-based, hands-on, experiential
curriculum that enables teachers to meet the new standards either by
learning the approach with other teachers and/or by experiencing
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ABOUT THE WATERSHED The WLC Program uses sites either on school property or within walking distance of the school (e.g. public or residential properties, etc.). These outdoor classroom opportunities reinforce classroom lessons through relevant hands-on exercises and field experiences and, when applicable, teach the environmental education concepts required by state standards. The WLC curriculum, which ranges from K through Grade Eight, consists of grade-appropriate lesson plans geared to specific environmental concepts. BVA/RCVA environmental instructors are available to train teachers how to use the WLC Program in an inservice workshop or along with their students. In addition to lesson plans, the WLC Program offers accompanying activity sheets and assessment forms. Each lesson with its accompanying activity sheets and assessment forms is tailored to each participating school’s needs as well as to the ecology of each school’s site. |
A
WATERSHED LEARNING CENTER CAN OFFER YOUR SCHOOL: •Professionally-trained
environmental • Teachers receive "on-the-job’ training as they observe WLC instructors conducting student lessons • WLC instructors provide the lesson plans, activities, and materials/supplies • WLC lessons are geared to each classroom or science teacher’s objectives, as well as experience and comfort level with outdoor or ‘in the field’ teaching • Customized workshops available for after-school or on inservice days • WLC instructors and resource materials are available on a fee-for-service basis after WLC training is completed • WLC lessons are geared to complement the National Science Resources Center and several other well-known classroom curricula. • WLC instructors are well versed in the new DE and PA Department of Education standards regarding environmental education curricula • WLC Program fees are based on each school’s specific needs • WLC manual and lesson plans available for purchase
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| WHAT
PARTICIPANTS SAY ABOUT THE WLC EXPERIENCE “WLC was the most successful program
conducted by an agency outside the school that Warner has had.” “Got
to see what a wetland really looked like.”
Downingtown Middle School sixth grader “They
[students] are more aware of things that are destroying our environment or
that ‘don’t belong’.”
Hillsdale
E.S. teacher “I
learned that if you find a bug you should put it back where you found it.” “Our team really worked well! It helped our
learning experience, because we discussed everything and encouraged each
other.” “I discovered the classroom behind our school.”
Beaver Creek E.S. Kindergarten teacher “Studying
science outdoors is more fun than in the classroom.” “This program was perfect! The kids loved it and
it reiterated several important concepts from our pond unit in science
class.” “Students more sensitive to environment...”
Connie Bompadre, Principal, Hillsdale E.S. |
Mission Statement The mission of the Brandywine Valley Association is "to promote the restoration, conservation, and enjoyment of the natural resources of the Brandywine Valley watershed through education programs, environmental studies and projects, and technological advocacy."
Brandywine Valley Association 1760 Unionville-Wawaset Road 610/793-1090 (telephone) 610/793-2813 (fax) E-Mail: [email protected] Website: www.bva-rcva.org |
