Workshop: Moran as Outdoor Classroom

Sunday, May 13, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Moran State Park

from Fiona Norris

San Juan Nature Institute and Kwiaht with the collaboration of Friends of Moran State Park will hold a one day workshop in Moran State Park on Sunday May 13 from 10 a.m.to 5 p.m. The workshop is designed to introduce teachers, home school teachers and leaders of scouting groups to the opportunities to use the State Park as an outdoor classroom to enhance the teaching of plant sciences. Funding from Orcas Island Community Foundation makes it possible to offer this workshop at a minimal cost of $10 for printing of reference material. Teachers can use the workshop to claim clock hours. Registration can be made via www.sjnature.org or by calling 378 3646. Please register by May 7 to enable us to make final arrangements.

After a brief introduction and sack lunch at the Environmental Learning Center, the participants will carpool for a field trip to significant plant communities in the park. We will discuss community structure and relationships between plants and their pollinators and dispersal agents. Delegates will receive a compendium of information: an introduction to botany, plant lists including rare and unusual plants in the park and collection of ideas for reinforcing lessons with eco-games and for incorporating plant science across the curriculum in art, writing and music.

The tutors, Madrona Murphy, Russel Barsh and Fiona Norris, are members of the local branch of Washington Native Plant Society and have considerable experience in informal science education. The workshop is open to anyone interested in using the park as an outdoor classroom. Please wear clothes suitable for a day out of doors and bring your own sack lunch and water for the field trip. Coffee and tea will be available in the Environmental Learning Center.

To learn more about the organizations involved please visit www.sjnature.org and www.kwiaht.org.