Out in the field with PREP
One of the best ways to inspire the next generation and introduce them to conservation topics is by teaching them! Luckily, through a National Estuarine Research Reserve initiative, local teachers are learning the skills and knowledge they need to in order to incorporate estuarine and watershed topics into their classrooms. This program is called Teachers On The Estuary (TOTE).
TOTE is a researcher and field-based teacher training initiative that was born out of a collection of Reserve education coordinators who realized that teaching the teachers affords us a much broader reach than just providing one-off workshops within the schools. Providing one workshop reaches many students, training 500 teachers reaches close to 13,000 Students. This is approximately what happens annually through the system – about 30 TOTE workshops are held throughout the country each summer.
This year’s TOTE workshop welcomed teachers from our watershed and beyond. Participants joined from Durham, Portsmouth, Hooksett, Salem, Derry, Manchester, and Plaistow! Each TOTE is designed to meet the needs of the desired age group – this year, the workshop focused on material for middle and high schoolers. The goal of TOTE is to improve teachers’ and students’ understanding of the environment using local examples and to provide resources and experience to support the incorporation of estuary and watershed topics into the classroom.
The two-day workshop included a wide variety of activities. The teachers had the opportunity to learn from our communities' brightest minds and estuary lovers; Kalle Matso, Anna Mikulis, Dave Burdick, Chris Peter, and Trevor Mattera all gave talks about eelgrass, water quality, and the connection between the two. Once our thinkers laid the mental groundwork, it was time to hit the water! Each day had an excursion that got the teachers either on or in the water. On day one they braved the cold Atlantic waters and joined Trevor out at Newcastle to snorkel and see eelgrass for themselves. On day two, the teachers paddled the Great Bay Estuary and discovered how coastal scientists monitor water quality.
PREP is happy to be involved with such an inspiring and educational workshop! We applaud our educators for integrating local science and watershed-focused topics into their curriculum. If you’re interested in learning more about TOTE or want to get involved, reach out to Kelle Loughlin (GBNERR) at Kelle.Loughlin@wildlife.nh.gov. Additionally, the Great Bay 2030effort includes an education initiative where a clearinghouse of educational offerings is being pulled together – stay tuned for this resource!