2009 Fire Ecology Institute for Educators

After many summers in the Roaring Fork and Colorado River Valleys of the Glenwood Springs area, the annual FEI (Fire Ecology Institute For Educators), sponsored by the Colorado State Forest Service, is moving its week-long class to Durango and the San Juan Mountains in June, 2009.

4th-12th grade teachers are invited to sign up now for this popular, FREE, week long educational adventure to experience how to use fire and forest ecology as an exciting and relevant theme for interdisciplinary learning. Participants spend the week with natural resource scientists, fire-fighters, foresters, and educators to learn how fire has influenced SW Colorado ecology and culture. Exploring Hot Topics and Burning Issues, educators will receive a cache of materials, lessons, experiments, field experiences (Vallecito, Missionary Ridge, Mesa Verde) in fire, weeds, erosion, insects, hydrology, mapping and more to Spark student interest!

Who: 4th-12th grade educators

What: Week full of inquiry activities, field trips, speakers, experiments, forestry journals, hikes, Fire Wars, Burning Issues, mitigation, weeds, and beautiful scenery

When: June 8-12, 2009

Where: Ft. Lewis College, Durango, CO and surroundings

Cost: $50 (includes all meals, materials, lodging, field trips)

Credit: optional, additional $107

Sponsored by Colorado State Forest Service, Jan Juan Mountains Association, USGS, others

Contact by May 5: Shawna Crocker 303-202-4662 or scrocker@colostate.edu

Reflections from Past Participants:

"We left with a humongous load of stuff to use in a variety of different teaching contexts. "

"During the course of our week, I was able to collect information in a personal setting that I had never experienced before in the course of teacher certification and master's courses. Participants shared one common goal of learning to teach about fire ecology, but everyone brought something different to the table. It was the first time I actually experienced the socioemotional connection with learning that builds into memory. So I was able to experience what I desire to happen in my classroom, and that was powerful. Especially when I was able to work alongside some wonderful teachers at the same curriculum level, and hear stories of what they are doing or plan to do, it provided a very heightened level of motivation. In other words, because we were connected and felt comfortable, I was open and honest to the ideas and suggestions presented. It did not have the "dress to impress" feel of a national conference, instead it felt like people were they because they cared deeply about getting through to students. "

"Field trips and hand-on experiences helped us learn important lessons about the destructiveness of fire as well the interrelationships of fire and ecosystems. The Tour of the Rifle Fire Cache, equipment, and fire fighting strategies showed us how difficult the life of a firefighter can be. The hike up Storm Mountain with the Ranger who experienced the fire and its aftermath was a highlight of our learning journey."

" Many of the land managers and emergency response personnel see teachers as the key to changing how the general public views forest fires. It may be slow in coming, perhaps taking at least a generation, but people need to get over the far-too effective campaign by Smokey Bear. "

"There is so much that this class offered that I am struggling to put together a half way coherent reflection paper. Do I reflect on the various speakers, field trips, or topics of the institute? Do I use this paper for feedback or as a sounding board for possible change? Do I focus on how I will use this class in my personal life? Or do I focus on how I will use this class in my class?"