WCO News
We appreciate all of the feed back, lesson plan ideas, examples of student work, and ideas that students and teachers have shared with us over the years. Many of improvements and features found in our online expeditions come from teachers like you!
Please take a couple of minutes to answer our 10 question survey by following the link below.
Last Updated: May 30, 2008
Team member needed for the final stage of the Trans-Amazon Expedition.
For the third stage of the Trans-Amazon Expedition, The Wilderness Classroom has an empty seat in a canoe. We will be traveling from Manaus, Brazil to the Atlantic Ocean from early October until the end of November 2008.
We're looking for team members who work well in a group and have the skills necessary to conduct not only a wilderness expedition, but can contribute to the Wilderness Classroom's educational programming.
Team members will be expected to cover travel expenses, which will be approximately $2,000. You have your choice of raising the money for the Wilderness Classroom or pay out of pocket.
Please fill out the application. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Dave at 312-505-9973 or Eric at 218-370-1362 after May 18, 2008. You can also email us directly at info@wildernessclassroom.comDownload the team member application!
Last Updated: April 5, 2008
New Sponsors and Media Exposure spell a great start for 2008!
We are excited to announce two new sponsors who will be helping to keep our team well fed and happy during the Trans-Amazon Expedition. Pack Lite Foods donated a ton of delicious food for the Superior Waters Project in 2006, and we can't wait to eat more of their wonderful food while we are in the Amazon. Their foods are nutrious, tasty, and packaged with minimal packaging.
Plus. LaraBar is donating a bunch of their great bars, which come in a variety to flavors and will help us keep our energy up while we paddle. We are very excited to welcome them into our family of partners who help make our online expeditions possible.
The Wilderness Classroom has also received some exciting media exposure over the last two months. We were featured in Via INMARSAT Magazine, which is dedicated to the use of Satellite Communication Technology, Paddler Magazine, the official Magazine of the America Canoe Association. Plus, Learning Magazine highlighted our program as a great resource for educators!
Last Updated: January 20, 2008
Trans-Amazon Expedition Teacher WorkshopYour classroom’s journey through
the Amazon Rainforest begins here!
When: March 12th 4:30 to 6:30
Where: Shedd Education Center
This free, two hour workshop is designed to give educators working with 3rd to 8th grade students an introduction to the Amazon Rainforest and the basic skills needed to engage students in the Trans-Amazon Expedition (TAE).
Workshops include a tour of the Shedd's Amazon Rising Exhibit as well as live animal encounters facilitated by Shedd staff members. This is a unique opportunity to get a personalized tour of the Amazon Rising Exhibit and meet with some of the Shedd’s expert staff.
Each teacher will receive 2 CPDUs for attending the workshop. To learn more, or to register call Dave Freeman
(312-505-9973) or
register online.
Last Updated: January 17, 2008
Google Adwords GrantWe are proud to announce Google as our newest partner! The Wilderness Classroom received a grant from Google in July, which will allow us to use up to $10,000 worth of Google Adwords advertising per month at no cost. We see this as a wonderful way to help spread the word about our programming and reach an even larger audience. When you are searching the web keep an eye out for our ads on the side of the page when you are using the google search engine!
Keep Exploring!
Dave
Last Updated: August 14, 2007
Vote Dave into the Energizer Hall of Fame!|
Dave Freeman is being recognized for his work with Wilderness Classroom
and we need your help! Visit www.energizer.com/halloffame
to vote for him. If he wins Energizer will donate $5,000 to the Wilderness
Classroom! Last year's inductees were baseball great Carl Ripken, Jr., and John
O'Leary of St. Louis, Mo. |
 |
If Dave is added to the Keep Going Hall of Fame he has decided to use some of the money that he would be personally awarded to bring live rainforest animals to schools during next year’s Trans-Amazon Expedition school assemblies.
What animals will Dave bring to your school? We will leave that up to you as well. If Dave gets the most votes and is added to the Keep Going Hall of Fame students will be able to vote next fall on our website, www.WildernessClassroom.com, to decide which rainforest animals Dave will bring with him during school visits.
People voting online will decide which of 10 finalists will be inducted into the Energizer Keep Going Hall of Fame. You have had plenty of voting practice through our Daily Dilemmas and Cast YOUR Votes! We hope that you can continue to shape the Wilderness Classroom's future by voting Dave into the Energizer Hall of Fame, which will raise $5,000 for the Wilderness Classroom!
To vote log onto www.energizer.com/halloffame daily between June 14 and August 1. The winner will be announced in September to be inducted into the hall of fame in St. Louis, Mo., on Sept. 6. The winner will receive $10,000, and an additional $5,000 will be donated to the winner's favorite charity, which in Dave's case is The Wilderness Classroom. Each person can vote once a day, please vote for Dave on a daily basis! Plus, every time you vote $1 will be donated to the Cal Ripkin Sr. Foundation.
So tell your friends, students, and co-workers to visit www.energizer.com/halloffame to vote for Dave!
Last Updated: June 10, 2007
Tell us what you think! Please take a few minutes to fill out our online evaluation form and help us improve our programming and gain funding for future projects. There are two forms, one for educators and one for members of the general public.TRANS-AMAZON EXPEDITION EVALUATION FOR EDUCATORS
TRANS-AMAZON EXPEDITION EVALUATION FOR NON-EDUCATORS
Last Updated: June 3, 2007
Mark your calendars and get ready for TAE 2008! PRE-ADVENTURE SCHOOL VISITS:Monday, March 10th through Thursday March 27th
LIVE UPDATES FROM THE AMAZON:
Monday, March 31st through Friday, May 16th (7 weeks)
POST-ADVENTURE SCHOOL VISITS:
Monday, May 19th through June 6th
Cost: $750 (2 school visits, printed teachers guides, in school teacher training, and access to all aspects of the online programming)
SHEDD AQUARIUM TEACHER WORKSHOPS
We will be offering teacher training workshops at the Shedd Aquarium again next year and encourage teachers to join us. This is one of the best ways for new teachers to learn how to successfully use the Trans-Amazon Expedition with your students. All attending teachers will receive 2 CPDUs! Registration will begin in the fall, but go ahead and mark your calendars and start telling your fellow teachers!
Wednesday, October 10th 4:30-6:30pm
Wednesday, January 23rd 4:30-6:30pm
Wednesday, March 12th 4:30-6:30pm
Last Updated: June 3, 2007
Trans-Amazon Teacher Workshop Your classroom’s journey through the Amazon Rainforest begins here!When: March 12th 4:30 to 6:30
Where: Shedd Education Center
This free, two hour workshop is designed to give educators working with 3rd to 8th grade students an introduction to the Amazon Rainforest and the basic skills needed to engage students in the Trans-Amazon Expedition (TAE).
Wilderness Classroom founder and rainforest explorer, Dave Freeman, will share his knowledge of the Amazon and show you exciting ways to improve students’ basic academic skills while introducing them to one of the world’s most precious resources.
Workshops include a tour of the Shedd's Amazon Rising Exhibit as well as live animal encounters facilitated by Shedd staff members. This is a unique opportunity to get a personalized tour of the Amazon Rising Exhibit and meet with some of the Shedd’s expert staff.
Each teacher will receive 2 CPDUs for attending the workshop. To learn more, or to register call Dave Freeman (312-505-9973) or register online.
Last Updated: January 17, 2008
Chicago Tribune Article about the Wilderness ClassroomThis is an article about the Wilderness Classroom in the December 28th edition of the Chicago Tribune. I have not seen a paper copy of the article yet, but I have been told that the story is featured on the front page of the metro section.
The link below will take you an online version of the article.
Program takes kids on virtual learning trips
There was also an article about the Wilderness Classroom in the Western Springs addition of The Doings newspaper on November 23rd.
Web wilderness Students follow and decide exploits for online adventurer
Keep Exploring!
Dave
Last Updated: March 1, 2007
Support from the Brinson Foundation funds our work with CPSFor the second year in a row the Brinson Foundation has made a grant to the Wilderness Classroom organization, which will help us continue to engage Chicago Public Schools in our online learning adventures at no cost to the schools. A few weeks ago the Brinson Foundation granted WCO $10,000 to support our work with CPS, and we are currently accepting applications from Chicago Public Schools who are interested in Participating in the Trans-Amazon Expedition.
Applications are due by January 15th, 2007. Please contact Dave at 312-505-9973 or dave@wildernessclassroom.com with questions about the application process.
Interested CPS teachers can fill out our online application, or download a printable version of the application.
Last Updated: December 11, 2006
Slideshow in St. Paul, MN Amy and I will be showing slides and sharing stories from our recent 1,100 mile kayak journey around Lake Superior on Wednesday November 29th at the Grand Ole Creamery in Saint Paul, MN. If you are in the area we hope you will come out for some great ice cream and a whole lot of fun. The link below will take you to our online invitation. Please give Amy a call (773-314-3104) if you have any questions.http://www.evite.com/app/publicUrl/a_voytilla@yahoo.com/wildernessclassroom
Dave
Last Updated: November 22, 2006
Student Questions about Pink River DolphinsWe received these questions about Pink Dolphins from a classroom earlier this week, and I thought other people might have the same questions, so I decided to post my answers for everyone to read.
1. Why are pink dolphins pink?
I have been told that the dolphins are pink because they have very thin
skin, which allows you to see their blood vessels through their skin. This causes
them to look pink. As they get older they get pinker and pinker.
2. How was the experience with the pink dolphins?
Seeing and swimming with pink dolphins in the wild is an amazing experience.
They are one of my favorite Rainforest animals.
3. Why are they endangered?
They are endangered because the rainforests where they live are being cut down
and destroyed. More people are moving into the forest and building homes, roads,
farms, and other things that make it hard for the dolphins to survive.
4. Are their ways we can help them?
The best way to help save the dolphins is to help save the Amazon Rainforest
as a whole.
Check out seven
ways you can help save the rainforest!
5. Do you know any other information you can let us know about them?
Pink Dolphins are extremely smart, and some experts say that they have a
40% larger brain capacity than the average human! You can learn more about Pink
River Dolphins in our rainforest
library!
Do you have a question for us? Email the team today!
Keep Exploring!
Dave
Last Updated: November 16, 2006
Successful teacher workshop at the Shedd Aquarium
Nine Chicago Public School teachers joined us at the Shedd Aquarium last Thursday for our first Trans-Amazon Expedition teacher workshop. We toured the Amazon Rising Exhibit, had an up close animal encounter with three rainforest critters, a tortoise, millipede, and a tarantula, and were instructed on WCO curriculum and programming.
We are offering these free workshops on the Tuesday the 14th and the Thursday the 16th from 4:30 to 6:30. I would like to encourage all teachers who are new to the Wilderness Classroom to join us in the Shedd's Education Center. Give me a call at 312-505-9973, or email dave@wildernessclassroom.com if you plan to join us.
Learn More about the Workshops.
Dave
Last Updated: November 13, 2006
North House Pizza Bake and slideshow!
We would like to thank all of the folks that came out and packed the house for any evening of tasty pizzas baked in North House's wood-fired oven and stories and images from the Superior Waters Project. We would also like to thank Craig and Diane Peterson for donating a desktop computer to the Wilderness Classroom after the event. The computer is a great addition to our office!
Last Updated: November 12, 2006
