Educator Workshop: Growing Up WILD

NOTE: This Educator Workshop is intended specifically for educators — not the general public.

Growing Up WILD is an early childhood program that builds on children’s sense of wonder about nature and invites them to explore wildlife and their habitats, with an emphasis on promoting aquatic resource appreciation and stewardship. Through a wide range of activities and experiences, Growing Up WILD provides an early foundation for developing positive impressions about nature and lifelong social and academic skills. This workshop is oriented towards formal and nonformal educators who work with children ages 3-7. Participants trained in Growing Up WILD will receive a free Growing Up WILD activity guide and qualify for CEU credits, training hours, or NC Environmental Education Certification credits.

Instructors: Tanya Poole (N.C. Wildlife Resource Commission Outreach Education Specialist) and Michelle Malalang (GMSF Education Specialist)

Registration
This workshop is free to attend, although advance registration is required. Limited to 25 participants. Registration below on June 3 at 10 a.m.. Attendees are also asked to bring their own lunch, although there is a restaurant on site.

What to Bring?
Your time will be spent indoors and outdoors and all programs are held rain, snow or shine. You should be prepared for a variety of mountain weather conditions and temperatures. Appropriate clothing, equipment, and footwear are very important. Please bring a daypack with enough room to carry extra clothing (i.e., extra layers, rain gear), water, lunch, notepad/paper, pen/pencil, etc. Mildred’s Grill will be open and participants may purchase food from the restaurant for lunch if they prefer to do so.

Additional information
Educational Experience Forms will be available for certification hours and Continuing Education Credit for the instructor to sign off on. Grandfather Mountain may also serve as Criteria III – Site visit hours, but these hours must be gained outside of the time that the workshop takes place (i.e., prior to or after the workshop). Staff will be available to sign off on these site visit forms.

Cancelations
If you cannot attend the educator workshop that you are registered for, please let us know five days in advance of the workshop if at all possible: call 828-733-2013 Monday-Friday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

About Grandfather Mountain Educator Workshops
Grandfather Mountain’s Educator Workshop series invites educators to take advantage of the mountain’s classroom in the clouds. This is an opportunity to learn and have fun, while earning certification as an environmental educator in North Carolina. These programs offer credits with Criteria I, II and III programs. All workshops take place at Grandfather Mountain and may include some walking, so participants are encouraged to bring appropriate footwear and be prepared for inclement weather. Learn more.