A Trail To Every Classroom

2012 Alumni Workshops!!!

2012-02-06T06:09:00.000-08:00

APPLY TODAY for three great workshops we're offering to Trail to Every Classroom alumni in 2012!

Alumni workshops will provide an immersive experience where placed-based service learning content and pedagogy are explored in more depth, continuing to build upon the skills you learned in the original three workshops. These new professional development sessions are being offered this year to serve as a space to revisit key curricular topics and further develop the capacity of teachers to provide quality instruction to students along the Appalachian Trail.
The workshops are not cumulative and alumni are welcome to apply for one, two or all three in any region. As always, all workshops are offered free of charge and lodging, meals, camping equipment and materials will be provided.

Workshops for 2012:
Spring Workshop: Questing & Natural History in Virginia - May 4-6
Summer Workshop: Wilderness First Aid & Hike Leadership in New Hampshire - July 15-20
Fall Workshop: Trail Construction & Design in New York - October 5-7

Alumni are encouraged to attend the SUMMER workshop with a club member from their local A.T. maintaining club. If you're a club member who is interested in attending the Summer Workshop, team up with an alumni and sign up or pass this along to someone in your club who may be interested! Club members are welcome to join the spring and fall workshops as well.

APPLICATION DEADLINE IS MARCH 15, 2012

Learn more about these workshops and APPLY here.

We look forward to reconnecting with you 2012!

Maroons on the Trail!

2012-02-01T13:33:00.000-08:00

The Maroons on the Trail, a newly formed outdoor club at Scott Memorial Middle School, headed out for their first adventure this week! The club contains 28 members and 9 of them attended the first outting and completed a training in Leave No Trace. They also spent time studying the different types of plants that survive through winter, and discussed why that may be. Ages ranged from 8-13. Several parents attended to help TTEC Alumni, Jon Kidd and his co-teacher have a successful event. They're already planning their next outing to Dismal Falls at the end of February or beginning of March!

Happy Trails Maroons!

Report:Benefits of Place-Based Education

2012-01-31T06:42:00.000-08:00

A report from the Place-Based Education Evaluation Collaborative (PEEC), partners who evaluate TTEC programs:

http://www.nhcf.org/document.doc?id=576

2012-01-27T11:30:00.000-08:00

EVERY CHILD NEEDS NATURE: 12 Questions About Equity & Capacity : The New Nature Movement

http://www.childrenandnature.org/blog/20...EVERY CHILD NEEDS NATURE: 12 Questions About Equity & Capacity : The New Nature Movement http://www.childrenandnature.org/blog/20... Field Notes from the Future: Tracking the Movement to Connect People and Nature

Field Notes from the Future: Tracking the Movement to Connect People and Nature

Kate Fisher's Appalachian Trail Poem

2011-12-06T07:23:00.001-08:00

Our mountains are high.

Our mountains are low.

The ridge is a trail.

A hiking we’ll go!

Begin in the South.

And head to the North.

Gather your gear.

And let us go forth.

Which states will we see?

Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee.

Begin in the morn’

And walk til’ the night.

Waterfalls, wildflowers…

Oh, what a sight!

A shelter we’ll find

To get a night’s sleep.

Then up with the sun

And birdy’s sweet peep.

Which states are around the bend?

Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland.

Eager for news

And supplies in the mail

We’ll find a post office

Not far from the trail.

Then back to the woods

Where the trillium grow

And folks walking with us

Our trail name know.

Which states will we see?

Pennsylvania, New Jersey!

Our boots are worn out

Rain now falling.

Yet clearly the goal

of Katahdin keeps calling.

Weeks and months gone

We check off the dates.

Then onward we go

Through six more states.

New York, Connecticut,Massachusetts

Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine,that’s it!

*Kate (seen on right) is the School Library Media Specialist at Upward Elementary in Flat Rock, NC

She went through the TTEC program in 2008

Invasive Exotic Plants resource

2011-12-05T11:23:00.001-08:00

Hot Springs School removes invasive exotic, Japanese knotweed, along the A.T.

Great youth activity book on invasive exotic plants:
http://www.invasiveplantcouncilbc.ca/resources/kids-corner

Free Webinar

2011-11-09T06:25:00.001-08:00

Dr. Brad Daniel of Montreat College will help participants become better outdoor educators by presenting a variety of mistakes made by those who teach in the outdoors. After a short video illustrating many of these mistakes, a comprehensive list will be compiled and solutions to each one will be presented and discussed.

Green Teacher 2011 Webinar Series

greenteacher.com

Want a certificate of participation for any of our webinars? Please send us an email indicating which webinars or archives you have participated in/viewed. Due to high demand, Green Teacher magazine subscribers will have priority in receiving certificates.

Healthy Kids Outdoors Act!

2011-11-04T06:01:00.000-07:00

Moments ago Congressman Ron Kind (WI) and Senator Mark Udall (CO) introduced the Healthy Kids Outdoors Act in Congress! This is a huge milestone for all of us working to reconnect children, youth and families with nature.

You can read more here and see Congressman Kind’s blog on the bill here.

We believe that the policies proposed by the Healthy Kids Outdoors Act will advance our collective efforts to reconnect children, youth and families with the natural world, while improving our children's health, supporting economic growth and strengthening the future of conservation in America. The legislation will achieve these goals by:

Directing the President to develop an inter-agency federal strategy and action plan to connect children, youth and families with the natural world;
Encouraging states to develop similar state-based strategies that incorporate public health, parks and recreation, transportation and other initiatives at the local level; and
Supporting research documenting the health, conservation and other benefits of active time spent outdoors in the natural world.

The legislation encourages solutions that include connecting communities with green spaces, providing opportunities for outdoor recreation, engaging the health community to educate parents and caregivers and much more. We believe that the Healthy Kids Outdoors Act’s focus on health and recreation solutions will be an excellent complement to the No Child Left Inside (NCLI) Act's systemic approach of getting environmental education back into our nation's schools.
We will be in touch in the coming weeks about opportunities to urge Congress to take action on this important legislation. If you have any questions, please let me know.

All my best,

Patrick Fitzgerald

Patrick Fitzgerald
Director of Education Advocacy

National Wildlife Federation

National Advocacy Center

901 E St, NW, Suite 400

Washington, DC 20004

www.nwf.org

Central Academy Middle School's day on the A.T.

2011-10-24T10:52:00.000-07:00

Check out the Animoto video created by Central Academy Middle School from their day on the Appalachian Trail: http://animoto.com/play/bNWkoH3HmhA1WMN5Vha4ng?utm_content=main_link

On Friday, September 30, almost 200 Central Academy Middle School sixth grade students, teachers and community members went into the woods to experience a day of outdoor learning and discovery. They hiked, visited creeks and conducted experiments at various sites in the Jefferson National Forest near Arcadia. At Jennings Creek, students smashed rocks (intentionally), studying Geology with Claire Stull; they played in the creek while looking for aquatic macroinvertebrates with the Mountain Castles Soil and Water Conservation District’s outreach educator Erica Moore; they participated in authentic box turtle data collection for the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries with Wendy Grimshaw, conducted water quality testing for World Water Monitoring Day with Tim Miller, and interviewed two “real” AT section hikers who just happened along. At the Forest Service shelter near Middle Creek, students listened to amazing stories native to our mountain region from “Tales in Tandem” Appalachian storytellers Joan and Mack Swift. Eighth grade Journey students, along with their teacher Ashley Theimer, provided interesting “hip pocket” trail activities for the sixth graders after the stories. At Little Cove Mountain Trail, students practiced Leave No Trace outdoor principles with Angie Sheldon from the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, and learned from Appalachian Trail thru-hikers Homer and Therese Witcher just how important it is in life (as in hiking) to just keep moving forward, even in the face of adversity. None of this could have happened inside the walls of a school.

Educators Wendy Grimshaw, Tim Miller and Lisa Moyer planned these learning experiences after participating in the Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s “Trail to Every Classroom” (TTEC) training over the summer. The activities would not have been possible without the enthusiasm and support of the volunteers as well as educators Vicky Campbell, Christy Clonch, Leslie Dunbar, Tony Lewis, Rhyanna Moran, Myra Petty, Andrea Rahall, Laura Trumbo, Connie Woodson and Missy Young. The CAMS PTA generously provided for the Appalachian storytellers, and Principal Tim McClung offered ongoing support for the endeavor. Students were enthusiastically immersed in learning, and when asked about their day, students commented, “We learn better because we’re having fun, so we listen more,” and “We got hands-on experience that you can’t get in the classroom.” Students, teachers and volunteers are looking forward to another trip to the woods in the spring.

–Lisa Moyer, Gifted Resource Teacher @ Central Academy MS

Youth Service America Grants Available

2011-10-19T08:32:00.000-07:00

UnitedHealth HEROES Grants

Deadline Extended: October 23

The UnitedHealth HEROES program is a service-learning, health literacy initiative that awards grants to help youth, ages 5-25, create and implement local, hands-on programs to fight childhood obesity. The grants encourage semester-long projects that launch on MLK Day of Service and culminate on Global Youth Service Day. Schools, service-learning coordinators, non-profits, and students in the health professions located in all 50 states and theDistrict of Columbia are eligible to apply for the $500 - $1,000 grants. Learn more at www.YSA.org/HEROES

State Farm Good Neighbor Service-Learning Grants

Deadline: November 9

State Farm™ is proud to team up with YSA to offer grants of up to $1,000 for service-learning projects in K-12 public schools in all fifty US states and the District of Columbia, and in the Canadian provinces of Alberta, Ontario and New Brunswick. The State Farm Good Neighbor Service-Learning Grants encourage semester-long projects (a Semester of Service) that launch on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service (January 16, 2012) and culminate on Global Youth Service Day (April 20-22, 2012). Up to 125 grants will be awarded; at least 10-15 grants will support projects addressing teen driver safety issues. Learn more at www.YSA.org/goodneighbor

MLK Day Lead Organizer Grants

Deadline: November 18

YSA and CNCS are proud to support up to 16 MLK Day Lead Organizers with $4,000 planning grants to coordinate Martin Luther King Day of Service (January 16, 2012) activities. This grant program is open to nonprofit organizations, K-12 schools, and colleges & universities in all 50 states and DC. Grantees will be required to engage at least 3,000 volunteers in community service or service-learning projects on MLK Day, build or strengthen partnerships with at least 5 partner organizations, and address one or more strategic issue areas. Learn more:www.YSA.org/grants/MLKDay

Best,

Michael Minks

Director of Outreach & Innovation

YSA (Youth Service America)
mminks@ysa.org

Michael Minks
Director of Outreach and Innovation
YSA (Youth Service America)
1101 15th Street, NW, Suite 200 | Washington, DC 20005
P: 202-296-2992 ext. 125 | F: 202-296-4030mminks@ysa.org

Virginia Fall Workshop

2011-10-17T08:35:00.000-07:00

The Virginia Fall Workshop was a great success and a lot of fun! We were fortunate to spend a beautiful weekend at Wilderness Adventures, October 14-15. The colorful leaves were at a peak and we had two warm, sunny days. Friday morning started off with sharing curriculum and meeting with a panel of partners from several Virginia trail maintaining clubs, the US Forest Service and Mountain Lake Conservancy. It was inspiring to hear the projects and activities some of the teachers had already done with their students and so exciting to hear everyone's plans for the future. A lot of great connections were made between the teachers and partners and they look forward to collaborating on their projects.
We moved the classroom outside and learned some new, fun Hip Pocket activities that are a great way to engage students in the natural world and don't require too much planning or supplies. Several of the teachers were having so much fun, they said it felt like they were playing hookie from school! We continued the afternoon with an informative presentation on Communications & Media lead by Matt and Courtney from Virginia Tech. They shared tips for getting our TTEC stories into the local media's hands and what makes it stand out. Pat Woods joined us to talk about turning in curriculum and answered questions about graduate credit. The rest of the evening was spent on working on curriculum and of course heading out to the zipline!

Saturday morning we were joined by Dustin Eshelman who lead us on a beautiful hike and introduced some really important Hike Leadership techniques and practices. Chip Donahue (TTEC Alum and Advisory Council member) joined us as well and shared some of his vast knowledge on hiking with youth. We learned some more activities as well as important safety precautions and planning tips that will be really useful when taking students out on the A.T.

We headed inside to grab lunch and talk about the what to look for during the TTEC Alumni Year in 2012. Everyone took their time in filling out the evaluations forms that will help us to continue to make this program the best it can be, which was much appreciated. We had a final silent hike out to the gazebo on the pond, looking up at the beautiful ridgeline where we had our closing ceremony and handed out certificates. We all lingered for awhile out on the pond, wishing we could stay longer! Thanks again to all of the teachers who have put so much time and energy into the Trail to Every Classroom program this year and to all of our wonderful partners who make this program possible. I look forward to seeing you all in 2012!

Check out more photos from our weekend here.

2011-10-12T05:51:00.000-07:00

Check out this great interview with TTEC alumni, Jennifer Moulton, who was the 2011 Teacher-Ranger-Teacher on the White Mountain National Forest!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXKnWdWiMMc

Lost Ladybug Project

2011-09-28T11:19:00.000-07:00

A fun idea to try out with your students on the Appalachian Trail!

Over the past twenty years, several native ladybugs that were once very common have become extremely rare. Scientists need to have detailed information on which species are still out there and how many individuals are around. Entomologists at Cornell can identify the different species but they need you to be their legs, hands and eyes.

The Lost Ladybug Project asks you to help find out wehre all the ladybugs have gone so we can try to prevent more native species from becoming so rare. This is the ultimate summer science project for kids and adults! You can learn, have fun and help save these important species. Here's how to participate in the research.

1. Collect: Go collect ladybugs! There are many different colors and shapes.
2. Take Note: Time, location, and habitat (for example, wetlands, meadow, garden).
3. Take Their Picture: Take pictures of all you find but please do not kill the insects.
4. Send the Info & Photos: Send this information and the digital images via www.lostladybug.org (click the "Upload Images" tab).
5. Set Them Free: Please release the ladybugs safely where you foud them.

For excellent ladybug identification guides and information, visit: www.lostladybug.org

Enjoy!

Southern Workshop Reflections

2011-09-28T11:18:00.000-07:00

The TTEC Fall Southern Region Workshop was held September 23-24, 2011, at the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont. Since no nature lover would miss an opportunity to spend time in our beautiful Smokies, attendance was maximized with all 8 teacher/educators, 3 TTEC alumni, 1 club representative, and, of course, SORO AT rep and coordinator, Julie Judkins. The two days sped by as we learned, hiked, presented, shared, connected, ate and slept.
We met early Friday morning and after stashing our gear at Walker Grove Tent Village, we reconvened in the outdoor Friendship Circle for curriculum sharing. We had an activity with a Park Ranger that involved leaf litter and critters. After lunch we were welcomed by Tiffany Beachy, a Tremont educator, and given a geology overview before we hiked to Spruce Flats Falls. On the hike we did some tree identification which culminated in our watching a black snake climb from a fallen tree trunk to and through smaller trees. It was more exciting than prime time. The falls were great, but we were all wondering if we would see the snake on our return hike and would it fall on our heads!?
After dinner we met again at the Friendship Circle for a night hike. No light sources were permitted. This allowed us to view glow worms and to further test our senses. After going slowly up one trail, feeling our way with our feet and holding hands and/or shoulders, consensus was that we did NOT like night hiking! We also learned we could not identify colors at night and that Wintergreen Life Savers spark when bitten!
After breakfast on our second day, Javier Folgar, AT’s Marketing and Communication Manager, gave us an informative presentation about working with the media. He was able to answer our questions and concerns and had good examples to share. Next, we Skyped with Pat Woods about grad credit projects. We enjoyed a presentation from our 2008 TTEC alumni about their TTEC project. Talk about partnering…they made it real. After lunch we met with folks from the Rocky Top maintaining crew. It was interesting to learn the tools they use and the scope of their work.
Unbeknown to us, while we listened to the Rocky Top crew leaders, our 2008 TTEC alumni—Kate Fisher, Becky LedBetter, and Jan Onan—were preparing the closing ceremony. As we entered the Friendship Circle, we chose a rock to build a cairn because we all build on the work of others. Then we were given a candle to light our candle and pass on to another, sharing the light. Julie Judkins presented the new TTEC graduate their certificates. Everyone shared some closing comments. And, so it was with warmth and friendship we ended our workshop in the Smokies.
Hope to see everyone next July in the Whites! Because what nature lover would miss that?!?

Respectfully Submitted,
Sharon Van Horn

Reflection on Institute 2011

2011-08-10T07:25:00.000-07:00

I thought it worth sharing Tom's email after the recent TTEC institute:

You all have been on my mind and heart since our week together… I wanted to say thanks to all of you for sharing your passion and ideas for wanting to get your students & fellow teachers outside and connected to Nature. As I “reflect” on the week – all of it was special but your presentations were “wicked good” and our closing circle was very meaningful for me. Your energy has given me hope, inspiration and validation in what we all do…to engage our students and other teachers to be aware, appreciate and put into action the importance of our natural resources – especially the Appalachian Trail! This experience at our summer institute has helped me focus on my own Naturalist training this week with my staff – I have used some techniques and reflection exercises with them…thanks.

Here is a link to some research that might help you encourage why we need to do this important work with many areas of concerns you all shared during the week…from other teachers, administrators, & all grants you guys will get…

Just let me know what I can do for you in the future…I will pass on some more resources to help you in the future.

Enjoyed meeting and being with you all (southerners) or you guys (northerners…)

Wicked good time!

Tom

Tom Howick, C.I.G.
Director of Education
Master Naturalist Coordinator
Chattahoochee Nature Center

Newest TTEC Newsletter!

2011-04-01T11:10:00.000-07:00

Don't miss the info on all the upcoming opportunities. TTEC Trail Crew, Let's Move! Along the Appalachian Trail, and ATC's upcoming Virginia Journey's Conference - NOT TO MISS! Check it out: http://www.appalachiantrail.org/atf/cf/%7Bb8a229e6-1cdc-41b7-a615-2d5911950e45%7D/TTEC%202011SPRING.PDF

Green Teacher Webinars

2011-03-31T15:39:00.000-07:00

Upcoming Webinars…

We’re pleased to announce 3 new one-hour webinars this Spring for formal and non-formal youth educators. For details of these and the four previously-announced webinars, see below or visit http://greenteacher.com/webinars. A reminder: these webinars are free of charge. We hope you’ll take advantage of the opportunity to explore these current popular topics in environmental and outdoor learning with us.

We’ll be announcing more webinars soon, so please check our website frequently – OR visit http://list.web.net/lists/listinfo/gt-news and join our listserv to receive email notices of upcoming webinars.

Tuesday March 22, 2011, 7:30 - 8:30 p.m. EST
Webinar topic: "School Grounds for Healthy Play and Learning – Research and Case Studies of Good Design and Teaching Excellence on School Grounds"
Presenter: Cam Collyer

How might school grounds now have a greater importance in a child’s development than 20 years ago? How far has the school ground movement in North America come in the past 20 years? Cam will share some excellent examples of school ground design from North America and Europe and contrast them. He’ll also share some approaches to teaching on the school ground that are working well and describe the momentum that, in some areas has school districts working in support of schools improving their grounds.

Age appropriateness: K-12

Wednesday March 30, 2011, 7:30 - 8:30 p.m. EST
Webinar topic: "Plugged In; But Tuned Out: The Need to Reconnect with Nature"
Presenter: Herb Broda

In this age of alluring techno-gadgetry we need to be very cautious about maintaining a balance between indoor and outdoor activity. At a time when children's natural curiosity about the outdoors is eclipsed by the demands of busy schedules and the ever-present glow of video screens, schools and outdoor centers may be the only places where kids are encouraged to interact with nature. Kids need to go outside for both learning and play—indeed there is a need for old-fashioned unstructured play in nature – the kind of invented play that “older” folks fondly recall.

Age appropriateness: K-12

Thursday April 7, 2011, 7:30 - 8:30 p.m. EST
Webinar topic: "Shades of Green: Developing Artistic Approaches to Environmental Education"
Presenter: Hilary Inwood

This webinar explores the emerging field of eco-art education, an integration of art education and environmental education, as a means of helping to develop environmental literacy in students and teachers. Hilary will introduce artwork and artists focusing on environmental issues in Canada and beyond, as well as some of the eco-art work that has been created in Toronto schools in recent years. Participants will be invited to share their own ideas and projects for creative approaches to EE.

Age appropriateness: K-12

Tuesday April 12, 2011, 7:30 - 8:30 p.m. EST
Webinar topic: “Innovative Curriculum Design for Sustainability”
Presenter: Jaimie Cloud

Useful to both Pre K-12Educators and non-formal educators of adults and young people, the main idea of the first part is that thinking drives behavior and behavior causes results. Identifying and naming the changes in thinking required to make the shift toward sustainability is critical to the design of transformative education for sustainability (EfS) experiences. Jaimie will present the “big ideas” that frame EfS, and will then walk participants through the EfS curriculum design and innovation process.

Age appropriateness: K-12 (for formal and non-formal educators)

Monday May 2, 2011, 7:30 - 8:30 p.m. EST
Webinar topic: “Using the Environment as a Context for Learning in Standards-Based Education Systems”
Presenter: Gerry Lieberman

The webinar will discuss the instructional components of the Environment as an Integrating Context (EIC) Model™ that was first developed by the State Education and Environment Roundtable (SEER) in 1998. Describing how these practices can help schools meet the academic needs of their students, it will summarize some of the evidence about the educational efficacy of the EIC Model™. Finally, it will provide an overview of SEER’s recent work in helping schools implement the EIC Model™ and briefly discuss how environmental educators can support schools restructure their programs in order to implement an environment-based education program.

Age appropriateness: K-12

Tuesday May 10, 2011, 7:30 - 8:30 p.m. EST
Webinar topic: “FROG SONGS: Poetry and Essays, Field Ecology and Entomology”
Presenter: Brian Fox Ellis

A poet’s eye and gift for language is very similar to the detailed observation and ability to communicate complex ideas required of scientists. Learn to use haiku to teach entomology. Learn to use poetry to help students write clearer more exciting essays. This simple set of lesson plans can be used by classroom teachers or informal educators to get students outdoors on a warm spring day to explore the relationships between insects and biodiversity. Come to celebrate the voices of nature and find your voice as a poet.

Age appropriateness: K-12 (for formal and non-formal educators)

Wednesday May 25, 2011, 7:30 - 8:30 p.m. EST
Webinar topic: “Green Craft-Making”
Presenter: Zabe MacEachren

The why and how of focusing one’s eco-art activities on using natural materials easily found in the outdoors.

Age appropriateness: K-12 (for formal and non-formal educators)

We hope to see you at one of our webinars in the near future!

Sincerely,

Tim Grant, Editor

Winter Newsletter

2011-01-31T07:25:00.000-08:00

Check out the new 2011 Winter TTEC Newsletter!

Meeting with Mt Rogers Trail Club

2010-09-26T11:31:00.000-07:00

Please visit my site at http://www.graysongchs.blogspot.com/ to keep up with the progress we are making as TTEC teachers in Grayson County.

Ashley Academy's Invasive Plant Removal trip near Erwin, TN

2010-08-23T13:58:00.000-07:00

2010-08-14T08:44:00.000-07:00

IN THE HEAT OF THE SUMMER, MEMORIES ARE FORGED

2010-08-13T09:18:00.000-07:00

THE JULY 2010 TRAIL TO EVERY CLASSROOM BACKPACKING TRIP
Written by Kimberly Williams, Landscape Protection Coordinator at the Appalachian Trail Conservancy

Threat of severe thunderstorms, humidity so thick you could part it, and a 500’ foot rise in a mile did not deter ten teachers representing multiple schools, communities, and states along the Appalachian National Scenic Trail. These teachers are part of Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s and the National Park Service’s coordinated Trail to Every Classroom (TTEC) Program. Trail to Every Classroom is a professional development program for K-12 teachers. The program promotes conservation, civic participation, and healthy lifestyles by using the Appalachian Trail as an educational resource. TTEC promotes multi-disciplinary / whole school approaches to curriculum development and provides toolkits on everything from grant writing, experiential education, to hike leadership.

At the weeklong summer institute in West Virginia, teachers choose from multiple workshops, and ten signed up for an overnight hike on the Appalachian Trail. For many, this was their first over-night camping trip, their first lugging of a 30 lb. pack all day, and their first jaunt out on the Trail. For all it was a first-hand experience to learn about the culture of the Trail, Leave No Trace Ethics in practice, and a miniature experience of the day in the life of a thru-hiker.

With determination the group prevailed, making it three miles to the top and to Ed Garvey shelter, the first shelter North of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. As temperatures soared into the 90’s in Mid-July, these teachers bonded as they ascended with laughter, conversations, and inquisitiveness about the Trail and the surrounding environment.

Teachers were broken out into groups, each with an assignment and discoveries to make: preparing meals on gas-powered stoves, hanging bear ropes, the wonders of composting privies, siting and setting up tents, and a half-mile several hundred foot descent to filter water for the entire group. Ridgerunner Faren MacDonald joined the group at the shelter, and answered questions and discussed her experience on the Trail.

One of the teacher’s greatest discoveries was to find a teenage group (led by young adults) on an overnight trip. Being the same age group as their students, the teachers conversed and built a friendship with the younger camping companions. Later into the night it was a picturesque moment as the young teens peeped, listening through the rungs of the loft of the shelter as the teachers told ghost stories; one in particular telling the travails of her hobby as a ghost hunter.

The next day all remarked that the three-mile hike out seemed to be done in no time. There is something about an overnight backpacking trip that can bond a group together. It’s a magical mixture of communally forged memory, of shared sweat and laughter, of sharing tent space, and hearing the wild noises in the dark of night. Whatever the mixture was, it put a smile on this group of ten as they rode back together in the Appalachian Trail Conservancy van. The experience surely imparted a sense of love, respect, and curiosity about the Trail into these teachers and will be passed on to their students.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/atconservancy/sets/72157624463657657/

Post from Tom Howick

2010-06-28T09:20:00.001-07:00

Dear all,

Greetings! I hope you are relaxing and enjoying the summer – been hot here in the Atlanta area but I have been on the Chattahoochee River paddling at night after work…

I found a real cool article to add to your resources…see attached…(Taken from Teaching Green - The High School Years - Hands-on Learning in Grades 9-12 from Green Teacher) (www.greenteacher.com) ...enjoy.

Have you been nature journaling? I would love to see what you have been doing – bring it with you and share it next month in W.Va….

Look forward to seeing you all,

Tom

Tom Howick

TTEC Teacher Resource

2010-06-28T09:17:00.000-07:00

The National Education Association is offering Green Across America grants of up to $1,000 each to help K-12 teachers across the United States implement their innovative education program, activity, lesson, or event to increase environmental awareness, create positive learning programs, and excite students about ways to create a better planet.

New England (Maine) Service Learning Video

2010-06-25T05:40:00.000-07:00

Hey All --

Wanted to share the project I did with my students this Spring -- on the AT in Western Maine (Rangeley -- Height of the Land -- to be exact).

This link: http://vimeo.com/12712968 will get you to Vimeo and my video.

Let me know if you have any questions, thoughts or comments. Hope everyone is well -- summer is here!! Wahoo!

K

2010-05-12T14:32:00.000-07:00

That Rita is remarkable! How can she be at Mountain Lake in Virginia with the central and Southwest Virginia teachers and at Camp Mohican in Blairstown NJ with 14 energetic, enthusiastic and fun educators and instructors from the mid-atlantic region?

Great Beginnings!!

2010-05-05T14:20:00.000-07:00

I really enjoyed our spring workshop. What a wonderful program. I look forward to this summer. Tuesday I took my 20 third graders on a fabulous 5-6 mile hike. the views, wildflowers, and nature journaling was awesome!
Marsha

2010 Southern Spring Workshop

2010-05-03T11:51:00.001-07:00

We had a great first Spring Workshop to kick of the 2010 TTEC program April 29 - May 1st in Erwin, TN!

2010-03-25T11:15:00.000-07:00

Winter 2010 Newsletter

2010-03-11T10:40:00.000-08:00

Check out all the TTEC happenings here!

Babes in the Woods blog link

2009-09-28T06:36:00.001-07:00

http://ttecwncbabes.blogspot.com/

Pictures from our fantastic Southern TTEC workshop!

TTEC South finishes up workshops with lifted hearts

2009-09-27T15:02:00.000-07:00

Another fine finish of TTEC at Hot Springs fall workshop. Participants included educators from this year's TTEC team and alumni from the south region of the AT. Rain did not dampen our spirits and eagerness to learn, share and inspire each other. Many thanks to our awesome leaders, Rita and Julie!

2009 TTEC Cohort

2009-05-27T12:19:00.000-07:00

The 2009 Cohort has begun its journey! The first regional workshops have come to an end, and teachers are looking forward to the summer institute in West Virginia this August. Are you excited?! Share your pictures with us from the regional workshops!

TTEC in the News!

2009-05-27T12:02:00.000-07:00

Check out these articles highlighting all the great things teachers are doing:

http://www.blueridgenow.com/article/20090504/NEWS/905039962?Title=Students-study-invasive-weeds

http://americanhiking.chattablogs.com/archives/AT.pdf

http://74.125.113.132/search?q=cache:Hkc8mpzPLEMJ:www.henderson.k12.nc.us/spdownloads/April2009update2.pdf+Trail+To+Every+Classroom+Walkin+Jim&cd=7&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

Walkin' Jim Stoltz sings for TTEC

2009-05-27T11:54:00.000-07:00

"Every day there is something that I experience that brings me joy, pauses me in wonder, amazes me in gratitude, thrills me in appreciation, and wraps me in beauty." Jim Stoltz

Walkin' Jim Stoltz is a long-distance hiker, artist, poet and musician and brought his beautiful songs and celebration of hiking to TTEC schools this past winter. His multi-media assemblies include sing-a-longs, stories and beautiful slides that are educational and entertaining, and left teachers and students with a greater appreciation of the environment and the Appalachian Trail.

2008-10-08T20:18:00.000-07:00

Kate Fisher and Julie Judkins, Resource Program Manager for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy Asheville office, work together to control Japanese Knotweed along the AT on National Public Lands Day

WNC Woman Hikes AT in 57 days, 8 hours, 35 min

2008-08-22T17:53:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! Thought you would be interested in this article on a new AT record for an assisted hike on the AT. Becky and I hope to have Jennifer Pharr Davis come speak at our schools about her amazing hike. She beat the woman's record by 30 days and hiked 64.8 miles on her second to the last day!! Read about it at http://www.blueridgenow.com/article/20080819/NEWS/125254

Kate

2008 TTEC Participants!

2008-08-13T05:47:00.001-07:00

2008 TTEC Grant Opportunity

2008-08-13T05:40:00.000-07:00

Grants of $500 - $1000 available to TTEC alumni and current participants.
Application due September 5.
Let me know if you need a copy of the announcement and application.
rita_hennessy@nps.gov

New Grant Opportunities

2008-08-13T05:28:00.000-07:00

Kids In Need Foundation Accepting Applications for Teacher Grants
Grants - $500
Deadline: September 30, 2008
The School, Home, & Office Products Association Kids In Need
Foundation see www.kidsinneed.net

Students Invited to Submit Entries for 2009 SeaWorld/Busch
Gardens Environmental Excellence Awards
Grants - $10,000
Deadline: November 28, 2008
A program of the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund
see www.swbg-conservationfund.org

WV photos

2008-08-05T20:49:00.000-07:00

Greetings from the Babes in the Woods in Western North Carolina. I hope you are enjoying the last few days of summer vacation. Here is a link to more photos from our fabulous week in WV. http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/565048881tfnUbg and http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/564147682VtqUlr

I'd love to hear from those of you who took the podcast workshop. Our team members were busy with the mega-transect and backpacking. Now I'm thinking how nice it would be to create a report from our trip on a podcast so that it could be uploaded to the web to share with our partners. I finally bought an iPod and am ready to try it out. Any recommendations for info. on the web? I guess we could try PhotoStory again. For those of you interested in that program (which we used for our three minute presentation), it is a free download from Microsoft. http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/digitalphotography/photostory/default.mspx

longview/ kate e-mail: firepink17@gmail.com

HIking on the AT as part of our TTEC experience

2008-07-23T18:29:00.000-07:00

We chose from 3 different workshops opportunities: Podcasting, Megastransect, or backpacking.. .10 of us had the opportunity to go backpacking on the AT courtesy of one of our partners, REI Outdoor School and Staff. We were treated to the use of all equipment and were served delicious food compliments of our chef Ashby. All we had to do was show up with our personal effects. We hiked a bit over 3 miles in, set up camp at this shelter (complete with privy). Water was .4 or .5 miles down the mountain and had to be hauled up in buckets. Not a problem when ripe berries could be tasted along the way. After a beautiful moonlit night, we packed up camp and hiked out about 4 miles to Gathland State Park. We learned valuable leading and managing skills we can use when we take a group of children on the AT! The REI staff was superb. We thank them for this great experience and partnership.

2008 TTEC

2008-07-23T18:07:00.000-07:00

This is learning at its best! Doing and being outdoors with vibrant, energetic, inspirational teachers and leaders.

TTEC Summer 2008, WV

2008-07-21T12:44:00.000-07:00

Photos from TTEC Southeast Spring Workshop

2008-07-15T20:21:00.000-07:00

Our TTEC Southeast team met for the first time at the Len Foote Hike Inn Friday and Saturday, April 25 and 26. After receiving our fabulous Leki hiking poles, and our first Leave No Trace lesson, we headed up the 5 mile trail to the Hike Inn. Check out our photos, taken by Jan aka "On a Roll." http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/563221656TeGXgN

First regional workshop of 2008 in Georgia - a success!

2008-05-01T09:10:00.000-07:00

Check out the pictures here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/appalachiantrailconservancyjj/TTEC42508?authkey=8wfdZd3OZY0

TTEC 2008 and added curricula

2008-02-05T09:38:00.001-08:00

Hello Teachers, Educators and A.T. Friends:
Please check out the recently added curricula created by past TTEC participants (to the left).
We have begun our recruiting season for the 2008 program, and are looking forward to another successful year!
Please keep in touch~
Julie

A QUESTING we will go!

2007-09-18T17:08:00.000-07:00

This picture is from a summer hiking trip on the AT in Baxter State Park near Roaring Brook. My daughter & her boyfriend joined us before heading back to college (my husband took the photo).

I've been working with my classes on their quests. They are loving it! We finished our rough drafts and we're test-hiking them tomorrow and Thursday. We'll then switch quests with the other class to see if they can figure it out. We now have to get our boxes, journals and stamps, but we should have our final quests done in a few weeks. I'm really proud of how well they are doing.

A 7th grade teacher asked me about working on a project in the school forest and she was thinking of some kind of scavenger hunt related to math. I lent her my questing book & now she's excited to give it a try. It's fun to have an idea catch on.

Had our first frost of the season last night. Monarchs are taking flight. Lots of leaves are changing colors & a student said they saw a flock of geese heading south. The seasons are a changing!

A Few Photos from the Summer

2007-09-17T19:59:00.000-07:00

Here are a few random photos from our program this summer. Pam and I are having a good deal of success with our TGIATF program, thanks to Pam's hard work putting it all together. She has really kept the kids busy. The past three Fridays have been spent learning about the trail through various activities, such as videos, excerpts, and a webquest. Last Friday, we had a former thru-hiker come in as a guest speaker (Rita hooked us up. Thanks, Rita.) In two weeks, we are taking our class out on the trail for the first time. The kids really seem to be enjoying the change of pace on Fridays and I truly believe they are making the connection to the curriculum through the Journeys theme we have built the English course and the AT program around. Looking forward to seeing everybody in the fall.

2007-08-29T17:19:00.000-07:00

Hi all,
Pam and I nearly ran into a bit of trouble with our program. Two days before school started, an administrator informed Pam that her schedule was being changed and she would no longer be team teaching with me. We were both really fired up and went straight to the prinicipal, who, initially, was in agreement with the other administrator's decision. Pam and I fought hard, however, and in the end, we were allowed to continue with our plan. So, this Friday is the first of our Thank Goodness (we were careful to avoid the word "God") It's Appalachian Trail Friday (TGIATF). Pam has done a great job getting the stuff lined up and Rita has been a great resource. I'm really looking forward to seeing how our students will respond to our efforts.
Good luck with your school years.
Noah

Greetings from Maine!

2007-08-25T09:52:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,

I hope the new school year is getting off on a good note. We start school on Monday & the kids arrive on Tuesday. I'm excited about working on the QUEST project with the kids.

Elaine & I spent Thursday hiking in Acadia National Park. It was a bit overcast, but a beautiful day to attempt the Beehive, Gorham Mountain and the South Bubble. We saw some leaves starting to change color while on the ride to the park. Fall is on it's way to Maine!

I even did some hiking on the AT in Baxter State Park while my daughter was home visiting from college a few weeks ago. I didn't get to the top to Baxter Peak, but did enjoy the "Owl" and Katahdin Stream.

Best wishes, Anita

AT Hiker. No Limits

2007-08-19T16:55:00.000-07:00

Greetings All,

Spent the last 3 days family camping at Pine Grove Furnace State Park enjoying time with the family in the woods. Hiked up to Pole Steeple even after being pre-warned about a morning sighting of a copperhead.

Had lunch at the general store where hikers pass through for the 1/2 gallon ice cream challenge. A small lady (4'8") and 57 years young was spending the night at the hostal after 3 months on the trail. She needed a ride to the ATM about 10 miles up the road. Had a good chat on the ride. Gave high compliments of trail condidtions and PATC. She went by the name "Baggins".

My 7 year old is ready to hike the trail.

Hope all is well,
Steve Glassmann

TTEC photos

2007-08-04T10:15:00.000-07:00

Julie, Ann, and Olga at Weaverton Cliffs