Join us from March 30th to April 17th as we explore Hudson Bay, one of Canada's wildest landscapes by dogsled to study of Polar Bears, Cree and Inuit culture, climate change, and a variety of other topics.

Through out the adventure we will post daily updates via satellite and communicate with classrooms through email, online polls, and live chats. Mystery photos, video clips, Daily Data, Notes from the Trail, Daily Dilemmas, Podcasts and other content will be posted daily between March 30th and April 17th in a format similar to the Trans-Amazon Expedition.

We will dogsled through the sparse subarctic forest transition zone between forest and tundra to the community of Churchill, Manitoba on the coast of Hudson Bay. This area is home to animals of the boreal forest (moose, black bear, martens & fishers) but arctic foxes and caribou are equally comfortable here. Plus, its one of the world's largest polar bear nurseries.  Pregnant females occupy earthen caves dug deep into the frozen peat bog while birthing and nursing their cubs during the winter months. Then in late March they head out to sea to introduce their young to a life of seal hunting.
   
To avoid disturbing the bear migration, we've timed our travels for early April.  As we dogsled through the 'nursery," we're sure to see plenty of mom & cub tracks and abandoned denning sites, and when we reach the coast, we hope to encounter bears on their way out to sea.

Our route packs in lots of variety. After disembarking from the train onto the tundra, we'll sled to Wat'chee Lodge, a native-owned facility where we'll be introduced to the area's Cree cultural traditions as well as its wildlife and ecology.  Then we sled northwards camping in sheltered tree pockets on the tundra along the edge of Wapusk (Polar Bear) National Park before reaching Hudson Bay. We'll spend time studying the coast as we sled westwards along the shore towards the town of Churchill.  Enroute we'll visit the Northern Studies Center to learn about arctic research, especially the threat that climate change represents to the area's bear population.
   
When we return from Hudson Bay in Mid-April we will be visiting schools would love to bring the sights and sounds of the Arctic into your school through an interactive assembly.

Please let me know if you have any questions or would like to book an assembly.

Keep Exploring!

Dave Freeman
Executive Director
The Wilderness Classrooms
dave@wildernessclassroom.com
(312)-505-9973

Information collected by The Wilderness Classroom Organization

The Wilderness Classroom Organization does not ask for any personal information from students. Personal information is stored in a secure manor. The Wilderness Organization will not sell, or distribute any information that is collected from any individual. The Wilderness Classroom Organization only uses information directly related to delivering Wilderness Classroom Organization products or services, such as placing a teacher or parent's name and address on the envelope being used to deliver teacher's packets which require handling by the postal service. The Wilderness Classroom will also divulge information under court order.

The Wilderness Classroom Organization collects only the following information from its visitors:

* Internet domain name
* web site visited before linking to The Wilderness Classroom website
* date, time, and length of visit
* pages visited
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The following information is collected from subscribers for the purpose of facilitating the delivery and use of the Wilderness Classroom for themselves and their students.

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Student names and personal information are not required nor collected.

Links to information outside of The Wilderness Classroom Organizations web site

Our goal is to help students explore and learn in the interactive and fluid environment that the World Wide Web creates. The information and sites which The Wilderness Classroom Organization has created links to have been visited and approved by our staff. However, sites on the World Wide Web are ever changing and we are not responsible for the content of other Internet sites. We encourage parents and teachers to use the Internet with their students and contact us if you find content that we link to inappropriate.

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The Wilderness Classroom Organization
4605 Grand Ave
Western Springs, Il 60558

Dave Freeman has spent the last 8 years exploring the world's rainforests. Numerous expeditions to the Amazon help him to bring the rainforest to life in a meaningful way that will leave your students anxious to learn more. During the 2008/2009 school year Dave conducted over 50 school visits, bringing the wonders of exploration and the Amazon to over 10,000 students. Dave and his team members use interactive activities as well as photos, videos, sounds, stories, and artifacts collected during expeditions to help students understand how plants, animals, and people live in rainforest.

Plus, students will learn how their lives are connected to the world's rainforest by the foods students eat, products they use, and even the air they breath.

A student demonstrates how to use a traditional hunting tool called a blowgun during an presentation about the Amazon Rainforest.

After a school visit you will be able to:

• Recognize the rainforest's allure and biodiversity.
• Identify foods and materials you use that come from the rainforest.
• Describe a rainforest, including its climate, plants, animals, and people.
• Discuss the relationship between rainforests, global warming, and other world issues.
• Help save the rainforests through personal action.
• Engage in live online expedtions, including the Trans-Amazon Expedition.

Student presentations

Depending on your needs and interests our program can last from 30 minutes to a full day. Generally, 50 to 60 minutes with each group of students is ideal, and we can engage classes individually or give a presentation to your whole school.

Download printable assembly information

Presentations include:

• photos, videos, and other audio visual media
• worksheets, and educational activities
• hands on activities like comparing rain fall in your area to rain fall in the Amazon rainforest, using a traditional blow gun, trying to move as slow as a sloth, and estimating the size of the largest snake in the world will help student learn about and appreciate the worlds rainforest.
• time for students and teachers to ask questions and get to know the Dave Freeman and other members of the expedition team
• basic instruction on how to engage in our learning adventures
  

Cost for school assemblies in the Chicago Area

Students often laugh, scream, and cover their eyes when Dave shows them photos and videos of him eating a Palm Weevil (a two inch long grub) that is considered a delicacy in many parts of the Amazon Basin.

Half day visits in the Chicago area cost $500. Help us arrange a 1/2 day visit at another school in your district on the same day and only pay $400 per school! Many schools in the Chicago area sign up for two visits, one in Fall before the Trans-Amazon Expedition, and one in December after we return from the Amazon. Two visits cost $800 and include two half day visits, printed teachers guides for all participating teachers, and a 30 to 60 minute teacher training workshop, which is usually conducted before or after school on the day of the first assembly.

Cost for school assemblies outside the Chicago Area
We visit schools across the country and usually charge $500, plus travel expenses. We try to schedule several visits in an area to keep the travel costs down. Generally the total cost per school ranges from $500 to $750. Right now we have visits scheduled in Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, New York, and New Jersey. Please contact us for more details about visiting your area.

Download printable assembly information

Teacher Training Student presentations are often combined with teacher training workshops. We tailor our workshops to the needs of each group. After 30 to 60 minutes teachers will be comfortable navigating our website and will understand how they can engage students in our online programming. We can provide teachers with CPDUs for workshops that are an hour or more in length.

Dave Freeman is an author, photographer, educator, and explorer. His captivating stories will keep everyone on the edge of their seats as they learn about the Amazon Rainforest.

For more information or to schedule a school visit contact Dave at 312-505-9973 or dave@wildernessclassroom.com.

What are people Saying about WCO? “I think you have it down! Great information/presentations.” “Contents are very well put together and they definitely meet state standards.” “ was excellent - very organized.”

Students pepper Dave with Questions at the end on a school assembly.

"Dave was excellent and presented all information in a very kid friendly manner. On a scale of 1 to 10, Mr. Freeman's presentation was an 11. The students enjoyed the poison dart blow gun, hammock and clothing.....I would love for him to come back in the very near future."

Colleen Hovanec
Principal
J. E. Fritz Elementary School
Pennsylvania
"Your presentation was excellent! It was very educational, yet fun and captivating. The students were eager to do and research more! This was by far the best assembly we have had. It was the most educational and inspiring for students.
Keep up the great work!"
Dina Mendola
6th grade teacher
General Mitchell School
Cudahy, Wisconsin

"Your assembly was great because it related directly to one of our units of study, held the students' attention throughout, and also gave the students the opportunity to ask questions that they were curious about. We definitely want to bring a Wilderness Classroom assembly back next year when we study the rain forest again."

Beth Lisack
Riley Elementary School
Arlington Heights, Illinois

"Dave did a wonderful job of peaking the interest of a wide range of ages. The students were glued to screen and had tons of questions at the end. This was one of the best programs I have ever seen, and we would love to have another WCO assembly at your school."

"The combination of school assemblies and the online activities was awesome! My students learned so much....We can't wait for you to come back next year!"

“You have prepared everything very well.”

“Your website is terrific ............. My computer teacher was really impressed with what you all were able to do and with the website in general. You should get in touch with Bill Gates - I hear he has a little money. He'd be impressed with what you do for students.”

“The website was thorough and student friendly in which the students were able to enhance their learning aligned with state goals and standards.”

“Peru also served as a springboard for other projects. We researched rainforest animals from Peru and wrote and presented a paper. We wrote to local businesses to collect money to adopt acres of the rainforest through the Nature Conservancy's Earth Birthday project.”

“I just wanted to say that I think your website is FANTASTIC!! It is very easy to navigate and extremely informative.

You guys are the best!!”

“The Wilderness Classroom site for kids was beautifully done. I learned a lot for my own personal gain, which is why my students and I visited the site every day.”

]]> http://www.wildernessclassroom.com/amazon/2008/11/school_assemblies.html http://www.wildernessclassroom.com/amazon/2008/11/school_assemblies.html About Us Sat, 29 Nov 2008 20:25:44 -0600 The expedition team is glad to be done, but we already miss the rhythm of our paddles, the sounds of the rainforest, and meeting new people. We certainly learned a lot about the animals and plants of the rainforest. We learned about new cultures and lifestyles. And we spent time thinking about ways to make this a better world. We want to find out what you learned from the expedition! What did you learn about the Amazon? Did you learn about a new culture or country? Did we inspire you to get outside and explore new places? What will you take away from The Trans-Amazon Expedition? Is there anything that you will change about your lifestyle or habits to be more environmentally-friendly? What are you doing to make our planet better? Answer to yesterday's dilemma: Wow! You had tons of ideas for things we should bring back. We were not able to get everything you mentioned, but we able to find some pottery, a bow and arrow, coins and money from Brazil, and some clothing from Brazil. We will bring as many things as possible with us when we do school visits. See you then! Dave, Amy, Eric, Anne, Jay, and Tony http://www.wildernessclassroom.com/amazon/2008/11/what_did_you_learn_from_the_tr.html http://www.wildernessclassroom.com/amazon/2008/11/what_did_you_learn_from_the_tr.html Daily Dilemma Fri, 21 Nov 2008 13:17:50 -0600 In order to save water, keep a bottle of drinking water in the refrigerator. This beats the wasteful habit of running tap water to cool it for drinking. Just doing this saves 200 to 300 gallons a month. http://www.wildernessclassroom.com/amazon/2008/11/442007_eco_tip.html http://www.wildernessclassroom.com/amazon/2008/11/442007_eco_tip.html Eco Tips Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:43:18 -0600 Use your mouse to hunt for clues in the space below.]]> http://www.wildernessclassroom.com/amazon/2008/11/mystery_photo_65.html http://www.wildernessclassroom.com/amazon/2008/11/mystery_photo_65.html Mystery Photos Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:20:51 -0600

11/21 Audio Update by Anne DeCock

]]> http://www.wildernessclassroom.com/amazon/2008/11/podcast_by_anne_decock_5.html http://www.wildernessclassroom.com/amazon/2008/11/podcast_by_anne_decock_5.html Daily Podcast Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:04:59 -0600 "Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

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We have seen many interesting things in the markets around Belem, including indigenous beads for dancing ceremonies, pottery, bows and arrows, and baskets. We've also seen a few dried specimens of insects, butterflies, fish, and other animals. We cannot obviously bring live animals home with us, nor would we want to support the illegal pet trade.

What should we bring home, and what other types of things should we look for? Send us your suggestions!

Answer to yesterday's dilemma:

Thank you for your ideas about how we should help people that ask us for food or money. We liked the idea of asking a local church how we could help, and also giving people food rather than money. We will try both of these options tomorrow as we continue to explore Belem.