Every year we offer Illinois and Indiana K-12 formal and non-formal educator professional learning opportunities as well as stipend support for stewardship projects that extend Great Lakes learning and stewardship to students through place-based learning experiences. Stay tuned for upcoming opportunities.

Project Wet Workshop

When: August 10th 8:30 am to 3:30pm CT.
Where:  Ford Calumet Environmental Center, at Big Marsh Park, Chicago IL
Cost: Free (Parking is $1 an hour)
Registration Deadline: July 27, 2024
Open to all K-12 grade formal and non-formal educators. 

REGISTER TODAY!

About: Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant and The National Great Rivers Research & Education Center have teamed up to offer a day-long, water-themed workshop designed for educators. Earn five professional development hours during this hands-on and interactive workshop. All of the activities are tied to Common Core and the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Project WET, an award-winning, multidisciplinary program teaches about water resources, and the role water plays in various ecosystems and human life through hands-on, investigative activities that encourage teamwork, problem-solving, and critical thinking. Participants should dress to be outdoors for a portion of the day, bring water and a sack lunch. After completing the workshop, participants will receive Project WET Foundations of Water Education Guide. This is the newest published guide and includes 12 updated activities from the Project WET 2.0 guide. 

Workshop Objectives:

• Educators will gain knowledge about the importance and role of water resources in ecosystems and human life. 
• By the end of the workshop, participants will have reviewed and practiced at least six hands-on activities focused on water resources from the Project WET Foundations of Water Education Guide.
• Educators will learn how the activities are aligned with Common Core and NGSS and will be able to identify at least three connections between workshop activities and standards relevant to their learning environment. 

The people of Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant value diversity, equity, and inclusion in both our organization and the communities we serve. Therefore, we strive to make our programs and materials accessible to everyone, regardless of race, color, religion, place of origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, socio-economic status, disability, or veteran status. We will make every effort to accommodate the needs of any participants

 

Water Quality Workshop for Educators

When: July 24 from 9 am to 4 pm and July 25 from 9am to 12pm CT.
Where:  Wild Mile, Chicago
Cost: Free
Registration Deadline: July 14

Open to all 5th-12th grade educators and non-formal educators teaching in a Great Lakes state!

Join the Waitlist

About: Dive into hands-on learning with our free water quality workshop! Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant and Urban Rivers have teamed up to offer a two-day training designed for 5th-12th grade educators. We will learn about the fascinating history, innovative design, and ecological significance of the Wild Mile along the Chicago River. We will explore the Wild Mile along its floating boardwalks and from inside a kayak to discover how to integrate water quality investigations into classroom curriculum. Participants should dress to be outdoors, bring water, a sack lunch, or money to purchase a lunch at a local eatery. After completing the workshop, participants will have access to water quality monitoring equipment through the Limno Loan program and be able to schedule a Wild Mile field trip.  Plus, earn up to 10 professional development hours!

Workshop Objectives:

• learn about history, design, and ecology of the Wild Mile and the many ways that the Chicago River can add value to human lives,
• understand water quality parameters and communicate these concepts to students,
• identify the ways that the Wild Mile’s floating gardens fit into the Chicago River ecosystem and how they can improve water quality,
• perform water quality monitoring techniques, including how to use an all-in-one data collection device,
• collect and analyze water quality data to develop conclusions about the health of water bodies,
• evaluate the ways various waterbody investigations can be applied to meet their students’ learning objectives, and
• identify stewardship ideas to implement with students.

Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant is committed to providing equal opportunity for participation in all programs, services, and activities. Accommodations for persons with disabilities can be requested by contacting Janice Milanovich up to two weeks prior to the start of the event. Requests received after this date will be honored where possible.

 

Shipboard Science Workshop

Applications are now closed for the 2024 summer workshop on Lake Erie. Information and how to apply for the 2025 summer workshop on Lake Michigan will be available late 2024/early 2025 at cgll.org.

Through a partnership with the EPA Great Lakes National Program Office, educators spend a full week alongside researchers aboard the EPA R/V Lake Guardian. Facilitated by Great Lakes Sea Grant Network educators, the Shipboard Science Workshop, one per year, rotates among the five Great Lakes and is designed to promote Great Lakes sciences while forging relationships between Great Lakes researchers and educators.

Learn more: Educators Onboard for Learning