EDUCATION PROGRAMS

Teacher Professional Development
All middle school science teachers in Inyo County have participated in a variety of ESWP professional development activities, including 3-5 day summer institutes and ongoing monthly follow-up meetings. Through their training, teachers have learned to implement classroom curriculum related to the project, have learned strategies for engaging all students in science education, and have been integral partners in developing both field and classroom curriculum. During ongoing after school meetings, teachers continue to collaborate to improve their instructions through reflection on classroom practice and the sharing of ideas and resources.

Docent Program
The program has also given everyday citizens a role to play as docents who are trained in science activities, then lead small groups of students in e field through a series of field exercises. Volunteering as a docent provides a great service to the youth of Inyo County and exposure to research and monitoring methods used by scientists

Traditional Uses of the River
Eastern Sierra Watershed Project gives our American Indian students the chance to learn about and document the traditional ecological activities of the native people using video, photography, and interviews with elders.

ESWP School Programs

The Eastern Sierra Watershed Project (ESWP) takes science in the outdoors to a whole new level - one that gives Owens Valley young people a chance to see the place they live as a science lab and scientists as people they have met working on real world projects that connect to the students everyday lives. ESWP curriculum includes hands-on, inquiry based classroom activities to integrate the student field experiences into the classroom. Science kits are provided by ESWP for the classroom activities. Local scientists are invited into the classrooms to speak with the students, allowing the students to meet members of the community working in science and to introduce them to science as a career.