2009-2010 Programs:
Whether or not you attend the Watershed Forestry Institute for Teachers, listed below are a number of programs that are available to K-12 educators in the NYC Watershed in the Catskill Mountains and for teachers in the City. By attending the WFIT, participants will get a taste of them and learn how to apply or sign up for these proven programs.

CLICK HERE to see some past attendees had to say about their WFIT experience!

The Catskills: A Sense of Place
This series of curriculum guides on the Catskills helps teachers enliven and enrich their lessons and instill a sense of Catskills pride in their students. CSP is designed to give children a better awareness, understanding, and appreciation of the distinctive features of our area. The goal is to support CSP curriculum by helping teachers incorporate regional studies into their existing curricula. The Catskill Center believes that state requirements can be met through place-based studies, and taking time out for Catskills studies only moves students closer to being able to perform on state exams. The Center has worked with over 75 science, social studies, English, art, music, math, and special education teachers at local districts. The teacher training component of CSP is on-going during an entire school year, typically involving daylong sessions in September and June, and half-day visits between. Participants at the WFIT will receive this curriculum. If your school district is interested in getting its "sense of place", please contact the Director of Education, at 845.586.2611 or abennett@catskillcenter.org for more information.

The Leaf Pack Network®
The East and West-of-Hudson NYC Watershed Leaf Pack Network®, funded by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, involves participants (student and adult groups) creating an artificial leaf pack (dry leaves in a mesh bag) and placing it in a local stream for 3-4 weeks. After this time, the contents of the packs are then examined, and participants discover the different types of aquatic life that are used as indictors of stream health. After conducting the experiment, student and adult groups can share the information on-line with other groups throughout in the Watershed and around the country. This program is FREE to groups that will be conducting the experiment within the West-of-Hudson NYC Watershed, and Catskill Center staff will provide training and assistance. Contact The Center's Education Coordinator, Lisa Jemison, at 845.586.2611 or ljemison@catskillcenter.org for more information.

Trout in the Classroom
Participants raise trout from eggs to fingerlings in a classroom tank. Students monitor fish development and water quality and share data via email with other participating schools. Access to Internet is ideal, and high level of commitment is required throughout the year. Participants then release the trout in a New York City Watershed stream in the spring. Year-long support is available from the Trout in the Classroom Coordinator, Lilli Ayvazian. Call 718.595.6706 or email layvazian@tu.org.

Green Connections
Green Connections is a yearlong extension of the WFIT and is designed to establish a partnership between middle school classes in the West-of-Hudson NYC Watershed and in New York City. This unique program is also funded through the Watershed Forestry Program of the Watershed Agricultural Council. Its purpose is to educate students about the important connection between water quality and healthy forests. Classes "connect" with their partners through letters, e-mails, photos and projects. These projects include fieldtrips to visit each other’s location, parallel study, and service projects. Students explore what water and forests mean to their counterparts. For more information, please contact The Catskill Center's Catskills Educator, Ben Murdock, at 845.586.2611, or bmurdock@catskillcenter.org.

NYC Watershed Bus Tours
The Bus Tour Grant Program, funded through the Watershed Forestry Program of the Watershed Agricultural Council, is designed to connect people in New York City with the Catskill Mountain and the East-of-Hudson region, where their water supply system originates. The grants are available to any group in NYC that has the capacity to organize and coordinate a tour. Tours generally last between one and three days and involve a wide array of activities. Funding is provided for buses to environmental education centers both In the West-of-Hudson NYC Watershed (the Catskill Mountains) and the East-of-Hudson Croton Watershed. These facilities already have suitable programming in place. For more information, please contact Jessica Olenych at Common Ground Educational Consulting at (845) 586-1600, or jolenych@catskill.net.

Catskill Watershed Corporation Education Grants
Schools, libraries, non-profit groups, museums and other qualified educational organizations whose audiences or constituencies are located in the West-of-Hudson watershed or New York City are eligible to apply for funds. Projects must highlight the importance of the city’s water supply system and the role of watershed residents as stewards of that resource; the ecology of the region and the diversity of aquatic and vegetative life; the unique cultural heritage of the area; and/or the development of the city’s water system. Groups can also apply for a list of "Special Options" that includes funding for Trout in the Classroom (see above), "City That Drinks the Mountain Sky", overnight visits to Frost Valley YMCA and The Ashokan Center. Funding is annual (application due in February). For more information, please contact The CWC's Outreach and Education Coordinator, Diane Galusha, at 845.586.1400, or galusha@cwconline.org.

Catskill Stream & Watershed Education Program
CSWEP is funded by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection’s Stream Management Program. This is a 6-day program (3 in the fall and 3 in the spring) that involves two fieldtrips to the local stream and an in-class visit by Stream Management staff and/or staff from the local County Soil and Water Conservation District. Through CSWEP, students determine the health of their local stream, and hear from experts that are conducting work within their watershed. The Catskill Center's Catskills Educator, Ben Murdock, at 845.586.2611 or bmurdock@catskillcenter.org for more information about this FREE program.

Woods Walks & Classroom Forestry
The Catskill Forest Association brings forest education directly to students from 2nd to 12th grade in the Catskill Mountain region. Using Project Learning Tree curriculum as well as their own unique experiences, CFA participates in woods walks, environmental awareness days, and class visits. Within the New York City Watershed, this service is made possible with funds from the Catskill Watershed Corporation in partnership with the New York City Department of Environmental Protection. Contact CFA at 845.586.3054 or visit www.catskillforest.org for more information.

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Email: abennett@catskillcenter.org or call 845.586.2611