From June 18 to 26, Museum educators will lead a select group of teachers through Yellowstone — America’s first national park — as they study wildlife ranging from gray wolves to grizzly bears. These teachers also will study the park’s unique geology, learn about the role of fire in natural ecosystems, and discuss conservation and environmental issues similar to those faced in North Carolina.
It is the Museum’s goal that each participating educator returns to their classroom renewed in their passion for teaching, full of new information to enliven the curriculum, excited to share their Yellowstone experience with their students, and eager to highlight all the connections to our wonderful state of North Carolina. You can follow their travel blog at educatorsofexcellence.org/category/yellowstone
Yellowstone Institute Participants:
- Ashley Huygens, Bitz Intermediate School, Onslow County
- Richard Kowaleski, Oberlin Magnet Middle School, Wake County
- Misty Morgan, Catawba Elementary School, Catawba County
- Fred Pfeiffer, Lakewood Montessori Middle School, Durham County
- Wendi Pillars, Silk Hope School, Chatham County
- Jen Redfearn, NC Center for the Advancement of Teaching, Jackson County
- Diana Johana Romero Silva, North Harnett Primary School, Harnett County
- Leskisha Sandidge, Harnett Central Middle School, Harnett County
- Megan Sherrell Turk, Central Park School for Children, Durham County
- Paige Stanley, Chicod School, Pitt County
- Heather Watson, North Dublin High School, Duplin County
- Michelle Wojcuich, Rose Hill-Magnolia Elementary School, Dublin County
The Yellowstone trip is one of the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences’ Educators of Excellence Institutes — along with Mexico and South Africa — which aim to inform and empower educators to teach students about North Carolina’s ecological connections to the rest of the world. More than 900 outstanding North Carolina science educators have participated in these Institutes since 1987.
About the NC Museum of Natural Sciences
The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in downtown Raleigh (11 and 121 W. Jones St.) is an active research institution that engages visitors of every age and stage of learning in the wonders of science and the natural world. In addition to two downtown buildings showcasing seven floors of world-class exhibits, the Museum runs Prairie Ridge Ecostation, a 45-acre outdoor education and research facility in west Raleigh, as well as satellite facilities in Whiteville, Greenville and Grifton (Contentnea Creek). Our mission is to illuminate the natural world and inspire its conservation. Downtown Raleigh Hours: Tuesday–Sunday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. General admission is free. For more information, visit www.naturalsciences.org.
About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.