St. Petersburg Audubon offered 2011 Summer Camps for elementary school and middle school teachers in 4 day sessions during June.  Click on the link below to view to experience Dr. Harold Albers Teacher Ecology Camp

St. Petersburg Audubon's  Teacher Ecology Camp--2nd Week [HQ] video

Sensing Nature contracted to teach, organize the camps, and facilitate presenters.  Their collaborative efforts and expertise, as well as the members of the SPAS education committee, producd an excellent curriculum.  

Classroom topics included:

• Introduction to Florida Ecology
• Estuarine, Freshwater and Terrestrial Biodiversity and Adaptations
• Human Impacts and Conservation Efforts. 

Field Trips:

• Canoeing an Estuary
• Shell Key Experience

Teacher response was overwhelming.  In 2009, twenty-eight teachers attended; their experiences and newly-gained knowledge will enrich the lives of over 600 students in just the first year.  We know, without a doubt, the teachers' enthusiasm (reflected on their evaluations) will spark the awareness of our little future environmentalists. 

Responses from the teachers’ evaluations were excellent!  Some stated they wanted to attend an advance camp next year.  The following are excerpts from an email sent by County Science Supervisor Julie Poth to the SPAS Board:  “I have received feedback from several teachers from each of the Audubon camps...each…has been nothing but positive.  The most powerful impact I see from these elementary teachers is their desire to continue their professional growth in environmental education….A great thank you to the Audubon Society of St. Pete in their ability to be insightful and to take this risk in changing what they fund in teacher education in our district.” 

We offer the Ecology Camps at no cost to teachers, funding the program partially through Chapter funds and partially from external grants.

In 2010, we expanded the program to reach even more teachers! And in 2011, we are hoping to extend the program around Florida by offering the Ecology Camps (customized to reflect your local environment) in conjunction with other Audubon chapters.

If you are a Pinellas County teacher interested in attending an Ecology Camp, or your Chapter is interested in starting a local program, contact us for more information 2012.