About the Refuge Environmental Education Programs

Each year, over 6,000 students participate in educational activities at the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum. The refuge's environmental education program is designed to provide educators the greatest flexibility to integrate outdoor learning with classroom activities and curriculum.

The refuge's program consists of these inter-related components.

• Professional development and training for educators

• Environmental resource library

• Field trips

• Internships

The John Heinz Refuge is an approved provider of professional development courses under Pennsylvania's Act 48 - "Professional Development". Courses are designed to provide participants with environmental knowledge and resources that meet state standards and develop field study skills, such as bird and plant identification. The listing below includes courses offered by the refuge. Contact Erika_Scarborough@FWS.gov for more information.

"Introduction to Environmental Education"
This course provides educators with an overview of environmental education, the methods used to evaluate environmental education curricula, and the training they need to lead an outdoor field trip. Participants develop wildlife and plant identification skills while experiencing activities that teach students about the environment.

"Project Wet"
Project Wet was developed by the Council for Environmental Education, and is available only through a workshop. Focusing on the properties of water and how it functions in the natural world, WET seminars are six hours in length, or, fifteen hours in combination with "WOW! The Wonder of Wetlands". Project WET is sponsored in Pennsylvania by the Department of Education.

"Project Wild/Project Learning Tree"
Discover lessons on wildlife, forests and habitats through these workshops. The Project WILD and Project Learning Tree activity guides were developed by the Council for Environmental Education. Project WILD is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Project Learning Tree is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

"Pre-Field Trip Orientation"
This orientation is offered one Saturday each month, and provides educators with a guided tour of the Cusano Center and the refuge trails. Staff will provide information on the refuge's field trip policies and assistance in planning a field trip. This seminar is required, if you wish to borrow refuge field trip equipment. Contact Erika_Scarborough@FWS.gov for more information.

"Earth Stewards"
This school based program partners national wildlife refuges with area schools and other conservation organizations to implement an environmental based curriculum and yearly service-learning project. School administrative approval is required.

Cusano Center Environmental Library
The library is located in the Cusano Environmental Education Center, and is open daily. The library serves the refuge visitors as a reference resource for environmental topics. Materials include"

• Environmental education activity guides for pre-k through high school.

• Books on environmental conservationists, local history and environmental issues, as well as field guides, and books on environmental science.

• Videos, interactive CD-ROM's and other multi-media materials on environmental issues and concepts.

Educators, member of the Friends of the Heinz Refuge, and other partner organizations may apply for library loan privileges.

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