Location: Koinonia Conference Center, Corralitos, CA

Sponsored By: Santa Cruz County Office of Education and Outdoor Science School

RSVP: By contacting Heather Molloy, Outdoor Science School, Santa Cruz COE at hmacdougall@santacruz.k12.ca.us or 831-466-5715.

Description: For teachers NEW to planning the Outdoor Science School trip, this in-service will provide you with an opportunity to familiarize yourself with the site and the Outdoor Science School leadership staff.  It will focus on preparing your class for Outdoor Science School and what to expect during your week with us (curriculum, schedule, procedures, responsibilities, etc.) The revised Teacher Curriculum Guide, Teacher Handbook: Logistics and Parent Information Packets will be available. Teachers will learn about classroom activities to help prepare their students for the Outdoor Science School.

Teachers who have attended the Outdoor Science School before will be experiencing our ‘Water is Life!’ workshop to learn about water and the 5th grade CCSS and NGSS standards. Teach your students the essential knowledge of where their water comes from, how to protect their sources of fresh water, and what happens to it after it goes down the drain. 

Teachers will experience activities and explore an educational booklet called “Our Works in Santa Cruz County and Monterey County, A discovery guide about our local water resources” that teaches essential fifth grade topics including: the water cycle, what a watershed is and how to protect our local water.  Teachers will learn several activities from Project WET that they can use to meet many of the CCSS and NGSS. 

Teachers will take home Our Water Works in Santa Cruz County and Monterey County and other water conservation goodies. (Note: although Our Water Works in Santa Cruz County and Monterey County has some content specific to these Counties, most of it is general information that would apply to any school in California.) 

Morning coffee and pastries, a ‘much-better-than-camp food’ lunch and a free Santa Cruz County Outdoor Science School T-shirt for all teachers who attend!