NSS 2008 Convention - Project Underground and Education Day 2008

Education Day 2008

Are you looking to learn more about caves
and bring the subject to life for others? If so, please read on.

Throughout the years, cave and karst education has gained in popularity. More and more are seeking to learn about our underground resources. In order to meet demand, we held a pilot event, Education Day 2007, during last year's convention in southern Indiana - we're happy to report the event was a big success! As a result, the decision has been made to hold an encore in 2008; we are now planning to make it a yearly occurrence, strengthening education and outreach efforts as a whole.

Note: In addition to training individuals for their own endeavors, we are looking for educators to join us as we progress with national undertakings above and beyond Education Day. There are a variety of roles to fill. If you are interested in being a team player in this effort, please let us know.

This inspiring opportunity is brought to you by the NSS Education Division and Project Underground, a national cave and karst education program.

The day includes not only learning cave education skills that can be used anywhere within the country (or world, for that matter!) - in classrooms, land-use meetings, birthday parties, and more, just let your imagination run wild - but also introduces a bit of local flavor based upon the particular state that is hosting the convention. The basic layout remains the same and local "twists" are added to provide the attendee with an overview of different types of cave-related landforms. something for everyone!

Download the Project Underground Poster

In more detail, it offers formal and informal educators a chance to network by attending a Project Underground workshop (see description, below), national meetings to brainstorm and learn more about coordinated efforts, and a local presentation. Educational demonstrations and tips are given throughout.

Project Underground Workshop

Project Underground workshop has been moved to Columbia High School.
Please see daily convention newspaper and/or contact Kriste Lindberg at
(812) 327-1642 for more information.

The purpose of Project Underground, Inc. is to build awareness of and responsible attitudes towards cave and karst resources and their management needs among the general public through educational and interpretive programs.

The program is similar in format to other "Project" workshops such as Project WET, Project Wild, Project Learning Tree, and so on and consists of activities you will be able to do in the classroom or just about anywhere else. You may even wish to expand upon the individual activities and/or combine them with others to represent specific subjects.

For example, we have created a 1.5 hour mini-workshop, Cave Critter Creations, based upon Project Underground's activity, Cave Creations. It involves guiding young people in the creation of imaginary cave critters based upon real life cave adaptations. Along the way, participants view clips from the award-winning "Caves: Life Beneath the Forest" cave life video where they gain a clearer vision of how cave animals are suited to their native settings. Afterwards, they are treated to an exploration of Project Underground's Barefoot Cave, an inflatable "cave", where they take their new-to-science critters and tell us a bit about why they designed them the way they did and discuss their habits and habitats. It creates ownership - through the use of multi-dimensional media - that we hope will lead to better stewardship of cave areas. The kids just love it!

See a few sample Project Underground photos, below.

A proud young man with the new-to-science "Manderfish",
a cave salamander and cave fish hybrid,
he created during a Project Underground activity, Cave Creations.

Sinkhole formation simulated in the Project Underground activity,
Sinkholes in a Cup

A karst/groundwater model being demonstrated.

Soon-to-be cavers pose outside an inflatable cave created in
the Project Underground activity, Barefoot Cave, just before "going in".
(If you can't take them to a cave, take a cave to them!)

The Project Underground Natural Resource Education Guide

Credits

We are working to acquire certification renewal units for teachers in the State of Florida that attend Project Underground workshops; additionally, graduate students can receive up to three credit hours, thanks to Indiana University, if they attend the entire convention and meet certain requirements.

Agenda

Project Underground Workshop - 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Moved to Columbia High School.
Please see daily convention newspaper and/or call
Kriste Lindberg at (812) 327-1642 for more information.

Project Underground Luncheon - 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
(Med Tech 103 facility, Room 125)

NSS Education Division Annual Meeting - Canceled

Local presentation, to be announced - Canceled

Education posters will be on display throughout the convention.

"Caves: Life Beneath the Forest" documentary poster

Websites and more

NSS Education Division and Project Underground: Overviews, contacts, links, and more. www.caves.org/committee/education (Note: This website is in the process of being updated.) and NSS News, April 2008, Pgs. 29-30

"Caves: Life Beneath the Forest" cave life documentary, a great resource for cave life information: www.cavebiota.com and NSS News, April 2008, Pg. 29

The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation's
Project Underground website

Indiana Karst Conservancy Education and Outreach Committee Highlights 2007, a good place to get some ideas for use back home,
NSS News, April 2008, Pgs. 28-29

Questions? Sign me up!

For additional information on Education Day, including registering for the Project Underground workshop, contact:

Kriste Lindberg
Chairman, Environmental Education Committee/Project Underground

Cell phone: (812) 327-1642

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or the author(s) responsible for any damages, injuries, or death arising from any information on this Web site.
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		Education Day 2008 Are you looking to learn more about caves and bring the subject to life for others? If so, please read on. Throughout the years, cave and karst education has gained in popularity. More and more are seeking to learn about our underground resources. In order to meet demand, we held a pilot event, Education Day 2007, during last year's convention in southern Indiana - we're happy to report the event was a big success! As a result, the decision has been made to hold an encore in 2008; we are now planning to make it a yearly occurrence, strengthening education and outreach efforts as a whole. Note: In addition to training individuals for their own endeavors, we are looking for educators to join us as we progress with national undertakings above and beyond Education Day. There are a variety of roles to fill. If you are interested in being a team player in this effort, please let us know. This inspiring opportunity is brought to you by the NSS Education Division and Project Underground, a national cave and karst education program. The day includes not only learning cave education skills that can be used anywhere within the country (or world, for that matter!) - in classrooms, land-use meetings, birthday parties, and more, just let your imagination run wild - but also introduces a bit of local flavor based upon the particular state that is hosting the convention. The basic layout remains the same and local "twists" are added to provide the attendee with an overview of different types of cave-related landforms. something for everyone! Download the Project Underground Poster In more detail, it offers formal and informal educators a chance to network by attending a Project Underground workshop (see description, below), national meetings to brainstorm and learn more about coordinated efforts, and a local presentation. Educational demonstrations and tips are given throughout. Project Underground Workshop Project Underground workshop has been moved to Columbia High School. Please see daily convention newspaper and/or contact Kriste Lindberg at (812) 327-1642 for more information. The purpose of Project Underground, Inc. is to build awareness of and responsible attitudes towards cave and karst resources and their management needs among the general public through educational and interpretive programs. The program is similar in format to other "Project" workshops such as Project WET, Project Wild, Project Learning Tree, and so on and consists of activities you will be able to do in the classroom or just about anywhere else. You may even wish to expand upon the individual activities and/or combine them with others to represent specific subjects. For example, we have created a 1.5 hour mini-workshop, Cave Critter Creations, based upon Project Underground's activity, Cave Creations. It involves guiding young people in the creation of imaginary cave critters based upon real life cave adaptations. Along the way, participants view clips from the award-winning "Caves: Life Beneath the Forest" cave life video where they gain a clearer vision of how cave animals are suited to their native settings. Afterwards, they are treated to an exploration of Project Underground's Barefoot Cave, an inflatable "cave", where they take their new-to-science critters and tell us a bit about why they designed them the way they did and discuss their habits and habitats. It creates ownership - through the use of multi-dimensional media - that we hope will lead to better stewardship of cave areas. The kids just love it! See a few sample Project Underground photos, below. A proud young man with the new-to-science "Manderfish", a cave salamander and cave fish hybrid, he created during a Project Underground activity, Cave Creations. Sinkhole formation simulated in the Project Underground activity, Sinkholes in a Cup A karst/groundwater model being demonstrated. Soon-to-be cavers pose outside an inflatable cave created in the Project Underground activity, Barefoot Cave, just before "going in". (If you can't take them to a cave, take a cave to them!) The Project Underground Natural Resource Education Guide Credits We are working to acquire certification renewal units for teachers in the State of Florida that attend Project Underground workshops; additionally, graduate students can receive up to three credit hours, thanks to Indiana University, if they attend the entire convention and meet certain requirements. Agenda Project Underground Workshop - 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Moved to Columbia High School. Please see daily convention newspaper and/or call Kriste Lindberg at (812) 327-1642 for more information. Project Underground Luncheon - 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. (Med Tech 103 facility, Room 125) NSS Education Division Annual Meeting - Canceled Local presentation, to be announced - Canceled Education posters will be on display throughout the convention. "Caves: Life Beneath the Forest" documentary poster Websites and more NSS Education Division and Project Underground: Overviews, contacts, links, and more. www.caves.org/committee/education (Note: This website is in the process of being updated.) and NSS News, April 2008, Pgs. 29-30 "Caves: Life Beneath the Forest" cave life documentary, a great resource for cave life information: www.cavebiota.com and NSS News, April 2008, Pg. 29 The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation's Project Underground website Indiana Karst Conservancy Education and Outreach Committee Highlights 2007, a good place to get some ideas for use back home, NSS News, April 2008, Pgs. 28-29 Questions? Sign me up! For additional information on Education Day, including registering for the Project Underground workshop, contact: Kriste Lindberg Chairman, Environmental Education Committee/Project Underground Cell phone: (812) 327-1642