Fostering a Sense of Place through Outdoor Investigations: Northern Virginia
Open to all Northern Virginia teachers.

How do our actions in Northern Virginia impact the Potomac River and the Chesapeake Bay? Educators throughout NOVA are invited to participate in this field based outdoor investigations of water quality and ecology to answer this question and more. We will spend the first two days of the course exploring our local neighborhoods and waterways. Then we will travel to Smith Island for three days and two nights to investigate connections to this Chesapeake Bay island community and ecology. Participants will develop the skills and confidence to lead students in Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences while learning outside with peers and colleagues.

Length & Location: Five consecutive days of field-based, whole-group, outdoor investigations: Monday and Tuesday in the Northern Virginia Area, Wednesday through Friday at our Smith Island Education Center as a 3-day, 2-night dormitory-style experience.
Cost: $300
Credit: Successful completion of the course and final project will qualify Virginia teachers to receive documentation of 45 contact hours. This course is eligible for graduate credit from Mary Baldwin University. For more information visit the Professional Learning Credits page.
Orientation Date: Virtual orientation meetings are at 7:00 p.m. on May 25th, June 22nd, or July 13th. Choose one of the virtual meetings prior to your course.

COVID Policy: All participants of multi-day experiences are required to be fully up to date on COVID vaccinations or have a negative PCR test within 72 hours of in person programing start. All vaccinated participants are required to take a rapid covid test 48 Hours prior to the start of in person programing. Attend only if negative.
Registration deadline: July 11, 2022
Return to the Chesapeake Classrooms web page.