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Unconventional PD (Guest Blog)

7/25/2022

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(Thanks to Kristen Albright (Acadia STEAM in the PARK) for these heartfelt words.)
The briny smell of the ocean, the sound of waves crashing against the rocks, a night of a million stars in the Milky Way, laughter and song around the campfire with my firefly friends, and miles of hikes through the spruce-scented forest—these are the moments that I treasure from my time in STEAM in the Park.  This was the most unconventional professional development I have ever attended in my 26+ years of teaching, and it truly changed my life for the better. 
When I heard from a dear friend and colleague about the first STEAM in the Park that took place last year in Acadia, I knew that I had to apply this year.  I was thrilled to learn that I had been accepted after waiting to hear for weeks.  The Zoom calls with fellow attendees in the months leading up to STEAM in the Park Acadia allowed me to have a glimpse of what was to come, making friendships and connections with teachers across the country. I was so impressed with Dacia’s organization and communication leading up to the event. 

In Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park, we had several days packed with learning and networking.  The park rangers provided sessions on mapping, dichotomous keys to identify species, water quality and pH, and the methods biologists use to monitor the invasive green crab. Our STEAM in the Park ambassadors presented on literacy connections, poetry, and even a fun yoga session! Each of us had an opportunity to hone our artistic skills by painting a picture of monarch butterflies or scenery around Acadia.  Our final night was a ranger-led session on constellations under the most beautiful, star-filled sky. In between sessions, we dined together, went to town for ice cream, hiked the beautiful vistas, and took time to enjoy beautiful Acadia National Park.
After taking a few days to reflect on my time in Acadia with STEAM in the Park, I have two main takeaways that I will always cherish. First, I know now that I can do things outside of my comfort zone.  Walking over rocks and digging through seaweed to find the elusive yet invasive green crab is not something I have ever done before, but accomplishing this feat in a completely supportive environment allowed me to try something new!  Secondly, I have been reminded that teachers do make a difference. Following a few difficult years of the pandemic and beyond, my zest for teaching was somewhat diminished.  STEAM in the Park rejuvenated me by showing me how teachers can use UN Global goals to do real, important work with our students that can change the world.  We did research that scientists in the field will use and wrote lesson plans that will be used by teachers worldwide. 

The “firefly” friendships and connections that I made with fellow campers will give me the energy and support I need to make this school year a success!  I feel truly lucky to have had this opportunity and I can’t wait to apply to another park next year!

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  • Home
    • Our Staff
    • Our Board
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  • 4th Grade (Crossing America)
    • 4th Grade LIVE >
      • Crossing America LIVE- GA
      • Crossing America LIVE- TN
      • Crossing America LIVE- MD
      • Crossing America LIVE- WV
      • Crossing America LIVE-KY
      • Crossing America LIVE- NC
      • Crossing America LIVE- SC
      • Crossing America LIVE- IN
    • 4th Grade SPECIAL EVENTS >
      • Hawai'i Volcanoes LIVE Event
      • Dark Sky Event with Voyageurs Conservancy
      • Holiday in the Parks 3
    • 4th Grade ZOOM >
      • Episodes 1-10 >
        • Episode One: Homestead NHP
        • Episode Two: Holiday in the PARKS
        • Episode Three: Biscayne National Park
        • Episode Four: Everglades National Park
        • Episode Five: Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site
        • Episode Six: Assateague Island National Seashore
        • Episode Seven: George Washington's Birthday 2022
        • Episode Eight: Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
        • Episode Nine: Tumacácori National Historical Park
        • Episode Ten: San Antonio Missions NHP
      • Episodes 11 - 20 >
        • Episode Eleven: MotorCities National Heritage Area
        • Episode Twelve: Death Valley National Park
        • Episode Thirteen: Hot Springs National Park
        • Episode Fourteen: Isle Royale National Park
        • Episode Fifteen: Dry Tortugas National Park
        • Episode Sixteen: Olympic National Park
        • Episode Seventeen: Voyageurs National Park
        • Episode Eighteen: Lewis and Clark
        • Episode Nineteen: Jewel Cave National Monument
        • Episode Twenty: Pipestone National Monument
      • Episodes 21 - 30 >
        • Episode Twenty-One: Alcatraz island
        • Episode Twenty-Two: César E. Chávez National Monument.
        • Episode Twenty-Three: Lava Beds National Monument
        • Episode Twenty-Four: Haleakalā National Park
        • Episode Twenty-Five: Hawai' i Volcanoes
        • Episode Twenty-Six: Pearl Harbor National Memorial
        • Episode Twenty-Seven: Lincoln Boyhood
        • Episode Twenty-Eight: Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument
        • Episode Twenty-Nine: Cumberland Island National Seashore
        • Episode Thirty: Vicksburg National Military Park
  • National Parks Expedition Challenge
    • Acadia to Bryce >
      • Acadia National Park
      • Alcatraz Island
      • Arches National Park
      • Assateague Island National Seashore
      • Badlands National Park
      • Big Bend National Park
      • Big Cypress National Preserve
      • Biscayne National Park
      • Black Canyon of the Gunnison
      • Bryce Canyon National Park
    • Cape to Dry >
      • Cape Cod (ONE) National Seashore
      • Cape Cod (TWO) National Seashore
      • Carlsbad Caverns National Park
      • Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
      • César E. Chávez National Monument
      • Chaco Culture National Historical Park
      • Crater Lake National Park
      • Cumberland Island National Seashore
      • Cuyahoga Valley National Park
      • Dayton Aviation National Heritage Historical Park
      • Death Valley National Park
      • Denali National Park
      • Dry Tortugas National Park
    • Eleanor to Fort >
      • Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site
      • Everglades National Park
      • FDR Memorial
      • First State National Historical Park
      • Flight 93 Memorial Park
      • Ford's Theatre
      • Fort Monroe National Monument
    • Gateway to Hot >
      • Gateway Arch National Park
      • Gettysburg National Military Park
      • Grand Canyon National Park
      • Great Smoky Mountains National Park
      • Guilford Courthouse National Military Park
      • Haleakala National Park
      • Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
      • Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
      • Homestead National Historical Park
      • Home of Franklin Roosevelt National Historic Site
      • Hopewell Culture National Historical Park
      • Hot Springs National Park
    • Indiana to Lincoln >
      • Indiana Dunes National Park
      • Isle Royale National Park
      • Jewel Cave National Monument
      • Jimmy Carter National Historical Park
      • Joshua Tree National Park
      • Kenai Fjords and Alaska Coastal Parks
      • Lava Beds National Monument
      • Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail
      • Lincoln Home National Historic Site
      • Lincoln Memorial
    • Maggie to Pullman >
      • Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site
      • Mammoth Cave National Park
      • Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
      • Mesa Verde National Park
      • New River Gorge and Preserve National Park
      • Niobrara National Scenic River
      • Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum
      • Olympic National Park
      • Palo Alto Battlefield
      • Pearl Harbor National Memorial
      • Petroglyph National Monument
      • Pipestone National Monument
      • Pullman National Monument
    • Redwood to Zion >
      • Redwood National and State Parks
      • Rocky Mountain National Park
      • Saguaro National Park
      • San Antonio Missions NHP
      • Shenadoah National Park
      • Tidal Basin-NAMA
      • Tumacácori National Historical Park
      • Vanderbilt Mansion National Historical Site
      • Vicksburg National Military Park
      • Voyageurs National Park
      • Wright Brothers Memorial
      • Yosemite National Park
      • Zion National Park
    • National Park Careers
    • National Park Perceptions
    • Weekly Dives
    • Park Pioneers
  • STEAM in the Park
    • STEAM in the Park - 2022 >
      • STEAM 2022 Highlights
      • STEAM in the PARK 2022 BLOG
    • STEAM in the Park - 2023 >
      • 2023 BLOG
      • Ambassadors 2023
      • Mammoth Cave National Park 2023
      • Great Smoky Mountains National Park 2023
      • Cumberland Island National Seashore 2023
      • New River Gorge STEAM in the PARK
      • Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
      • Big Cypress National Preserve 2023
      • Redwood National Park 2023
      • Jimmy Carter National Historic Site 2023
      • Acadia National Park 2023
      • Rocky Mountain National Park 2023
      • Olympic National Park 2023
      • Voyageurs National Park 2023
    • "What's In Your Pocket?"
    • Nature Journaling Resources
    • STEM in the Mountains