UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Educators who teach young people about water resources can gather valuable information for curriculum planning by participating in Penn State Extension’s “Dive Deeper Summit,” a youth water education conference slated for 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 28 at Best Western Premier, the Central Hotel and Conference Center, 800 E. Park Drive, Harrisburg. A pre-conference reception with an educational movie screening and panel discussion will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 27.
The goal of the summit is to offer professional development and networking opportunities to anyone interested in teaching about the environment, particularly water resources. This encompasses educators in both formal classroom settings and informal environments such as nature centers, parks, camps and after-school programs.
Environmental professionals and environmental volunteers also are welcome, organizers noted. In prior years, the program has drawn participants from Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, Florida, Puerto Rico and Canada.
“We all are highly reliant on water, a renewable natural resource, and it is crucial for us to act as responsible stewards of our water,” said Brad Kunsman, water resources extension educator and Master Watershed Steward coordinator in Lehigh and Northampton counties.
Considering the significant amount of water Pennsylvania contributes to the Chesapeake Bay, Kunsman said a key focus of the conference is to encourage teachers in Pennsylvania and surrounding states to enhance their delivery of meaningful watershed education experiences.
“We are water-focused, but we talk a lot about the environment, including restoration projects and engaging young people at an early age,” Kunsman said. “Our aim is to instill the concept of stewardship during their formative years, with the hope that they will carry these ideas throughout their lives.”
This year’s conference will feature sessions on meaningful watershed education experiences, water curriculums from various organizations, watershed restoration projects, and microplastics in local waterways.
The keynote presentation is titled “Place-Based K-12 STEM Education Through University and Community Partnerships in the Cobbs Creek Watershed of West Philly.” Speakers include Anna Balfanz, academically based community service coordinator at the Netter Center for Community Partnerships, and Jazmin Ricks, senior research program coordinator at the Water Center, both affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania.
The speech will focus on connecting students in environmental justice communities to their local green and blue spaces through immersive water-based learning.
In the afternoon, Sherri “Sam” Mason, director of sustainability at Penn State Erie, the Behrend College, will deliver the capnote presentation, titled “The Plastic Paradox.” Plastic’s combination of strength, low mass and moldability allows it to replace natural materials in various applications, yet its durability and versatility also make it a significant environmental concern, as it contributes to pollution in both freshwater and ocean ecosystems. Mason’s presentation will explore this paradox.
New this year, a water resources playground focused on science, technology, engineering, arts and math will be available for participants to trial various interactive curriculums and technological teaching tools.
“Attendees can come to decompress, network, and learn and play along with other water resources educators from across the region,” Kunsman said.
At the pre-conference reception, attendees can watch “A River Reborn,” a short film about the restoration of Johnstown’s Little Conemaugh River after more than a century of pollution from acid mine drainage. A discussion will follow about how to use the film as a teaching tool and how youth can get involved in civic action.
Registration includes a full day of conference sessions, a choice of concurrent presentations, morning refreshments, lunch buffet, exhibits and networking. Attendees also will have the opportunity to have a sample of their home drinking water tested.
An early bird registration fee of $65 is available through July 31. After July 31, the registration fee will be $75. Participants must register by 11:59 p.m. Sept. 15. The pre-conference session carries an additional $25 fee.
Pennsylvania certified teachers will be eligible to receive Act 48 continuing education hours. In addition, full scholarships are available for Pennsylvania certified teachers and administrators in formal K-12 classrooms or school district settings as well as for collegiate-level educators working with students who may become future classroom teachers. Scholarship funding is provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration grant that supports the Pennsylvania Environmental Literacy Taskforce.
The deadline for scholarship applications is Aug. 15.
More information about the conference is available on the Penn State Extension website.