Pittsburgh Voyager, a river-based non-profit environmental education center in downtown Pittsburgh will be holding three teacher training workshops in February and March.

The workshops are sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other non-profit agencies.

February 25 and March 4: Voyager will present “Tale of Two Rivers,” a 2-day workshop in conjunction with Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium. The workshop compares the Allegheny and Amazon Rivers.

Participants explore living and non-living features of through tours, presentations, discussions, and a field study. Participate in inquiry-based classroom activities that will make these vital ecosystems come alive for students. Investigate conservation issues facing endangered wildlife. A course project completed by participants will help to convey the biodiviersity and ecological importance of these two river systems.

This workshop is worth 22.5 hours of Act 48 teacher continuing education.

March 11: Voyager teams up with Creek Connections of Allegheny College to present “Rivers of Time,” a 1-day workshop. Participants will think like geologists for this daylong voyage into the river valleys of Pittsburgh, while delineating watersheds, interpreting topographic maps, and investigating the secrets held by sediments.

This workshop is worth 7.5 hours of Act 48 teacher continuing education.

March 18 and 25: Voyager joins with the Carnegie Science Center to present “Project WET: Healthy Waters, Healthy Life,” a 2-day workshop. Examine the physical properties and environmental issues of water through field studies onboard Pittsburgh Voyager and on shore at Carnegie Science Center.

Utilizing Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) curriculum guide, participants will gain firsthand experience with water sampling techniques while studying the health of local rivers and the life in them. Through tours, speakers, and activities, explore the water treatment process and local water issues.

A course project completed by participants will include an outlined "skeleton" unit plan that connects content with hands-on Project WET activities to help address Environment and Ecology standards. This workshop includes a Project WET manual, and is worth 22.5 hours of Act 48 teacher continuing education.

The workshops are most applicable to teachers of grades 4-9, but are open to any teacher interested. For more information, visit the Pittsburgh Voyager workshops webpage or call 412-231-2712.

1/20/2006