News release Public Information Office   SLU 10880   Hammond, LA 70402   phone: 985-549-2341   fax: 985-549-2061 publicinfo@selu.edu     www.selu.edu/news Contact: Christina Chapple Date: 8/6/03 TEACHER WORKSHOPS OFFERED AT SOUTHEASTERN’S  TURTLE COVE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH STATION       HAMMOND -- Southeastern Louisiana University’s Turtle Cove Environmental Research Station will again offer special workshops for teachers this fall.       Turtle Cove staff biologist Michael Greene said weekend-long introductory and advanced workshops will be held at the university’s teaching and research facility in the Manchac wetlands.       “Because of its location, the active research being conducted there, and the opportunities for hands-on teaching and learning, Turtle Cove is an ideal location for learning about the monumental environmental problems facing Louisiana’s coastal zone,” Greene said.       Greene said the free workshops, which include food and lodging, will begin on Friday evening and end midday on Sunday. Because enrollment is limited to10 participants, a $20 deposit is required for reservation. The deposit will be refunded at the beginning of the workshop.        “Introduction to the Lake Pontchartrain Estuary” is scheduled for September 20-22 and September 26-28. Attending the basic workshop qualifies participants to enroll for advanced topic workshops: “Aquatic Field Collection Techniques,” November 14-16, and “Wildlife Photography,” November 21-23.       Greene said the September workshop will introduce teachers to wetland ecosystems with an emphasis on the Lake Pontchartrain system and its current and historical, ecological and environmental problems.        “We will make a detailed investigation of wetland function and value with an emphasis on appreciation of the physical environment, including flora and fauna,” Greene said. “Teachers will be introduced to many ideas and concepts that they can take back to their classrooms and easily incorporate into a multitude of lesson plans.” He said participants will engage in classroom  and microscope work, dip-netting, photography, canoeing and other wetlands exploration.       The first advanced workshop builds upon basic session and introduces educators to ecological aquatic sampling techniques, their function and process, and ways to incorporate some of these techniques into the K-12 classroom.        “‘Make-and-take’ projects will include the construction and use of such items as settling plates -- ‘critter condos’ -- and Secchi disks, both useful items for incorporating analytical thinking skills and hands-on fun into your classroom,” Greene said. He said participants will also learn general water quality monitoring and techniques for using dip nets, seines, and trawls.       The photography workshop is “an exciting opportunity to see the Louisiana wetlands in a way that you may never have before,” Greene said. He said the workshop will show teachers how to use the physical environment of the south Louisiana wetlands to combine lessons in art, language, and science.       Guided by instructors,  participants will use digital photography to document their weekend wetland adventures and create a multimedia presentation for use in their classrooms.        “Pairs of participants will share a digital camera for the weekend, capture images based upon their chosen theme, and transfer the images to a CD-ROM to take home with them,” Greene said. “Printed images will also be created and framed for the classroom.”           For more information on Turtle Cove Teacher Workshops, contact Greene at mgreene@selu.edu or 985-549-3600.  Return to News Releases