| Focus on: | |
| - | Staff |
| - | News |
| - | Curriculum |
| - | Future |
| - | Resources |
| - | Fun |
| - | You |
| Related Information | ||
| - | Environmental Ed Home | |
| - | State Symbols Program | |
| - | Buy a Fishing License | |
| ||
Dear Educator,
These are exciting times at the Arizona Game and Fish Department! The 2005-2006 school year marks the beginning of some rather dramatic changes here. I would like to take a few moments to orient you to two of these changes in particular.
First, there is the addition of our new employee...me. I am the Environmental Education Coordinator, responsible for developing much of the curriculum and activities that are available to you. Prior to this position, I was a middle school science teacher at the Kyrene and Littleton school districts. For those of you that have been around a while, I have replaced Sandy Reith, who is now the Department's Volunteer Coordinator. But not to worry, Karen Schedler and Sharon Voiland are still around to keep me going in the right direction.
Second, we have had some significant programming changes. As many of you are aware, we have replaced Project WILD with Focus: WILD Arizona. With a strong emphasis on technology, our entire curriculum is now available for free on the Internet. Students can even complete most of the classroom activities on the web - so you don't need to download those bulky lesson plans! The majority of our lessons have also been correlated to the Arizona Department of Education standards for not only science, but also language, social studies, math, and even art and technology (where appropriate).
We are starting the school year with some new activities for you to try and there's more on the way. So take a few minutes to check out what we have at azgfd.gov - click on education, then environmental education and see what we have awaiting you.
I look forward to working with each and every one of you during this school year. If I can ever be of assistance to you, please feel free to contact me. I am happy to answer questions or receive feedback.
Good luck as you begin the school year!
Sincerely,
Eric Proctor
Environmental Education
Coordinator
Karen Schedler, Environmental Education Program Manager, (602)
789-3238, kschedler@azgfd.gov
Eric Proctor,
Environmental Education Coordinator, (623) 236-7245, eproctor@azgfd.gov
Sam Huselton,
Wildlife Building, (602) 258-3562, shuselton@azgfd.gov
Sandy Cate,
Wildlife Center, (623) 582-9806, scate@azgfd.gov
Sharon Voiland,
Information, (623) 236-7220, svoiland@azgfd.gov
The Environmental Education Offices are located at the Arizona Game and Fish Department's main office at 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85023
Check out these recent wildlife related news stories:
We are proud to announce the official release of our new environmental education program, Focus: WILD Arizona with many new curriculum materials now available for you to download.
It has been a long time coming but our fourth grade Arizona State Symbols program is finally here. Teach your students about Arizona by focusing on the living symbols that represent the state. Use the state flower, the state mammal, and others to cover concepts in a unique manner that integrates science, social studies, and art.
For those of you that enjoyed the "Exploring Arizona's Natural Resources" CD-ROM that was published a few years ago, there is reason to celebrate. It is now available as a website. This valuable resource introduces your students to the biotic communities of Arizona. Watch in the next few months as we post activities designed to integrate this website.
Back by Popular Demand: Natural History
Workshops
Often viewed as vacations for teachers, these
excellent professional development opportunities allow you to interact
with real biologists and other teachers while you experience a variety of
topics on site. Although our "Elk Ecology and Conservation" workshop
scheduled for September 30 - October 2, co-sponsored by the Rocky Mountain
Elk Foundation is full, we have a waiting list. If you are
interested in signing up, contact Sharon Voiland.
Riparian Area in Phoenix
If you haven't heard yet,
the brand new Rio Salado Park will bring wetlands to Phoenix. On
November 5, this extensive riparian area will host a special inaugural
festival as well as some unique educational opportunities. Check our
website in the next few weeks to see what exciting events in which
your classes can participate.
For all of you reptile lovers out there, the Arizona Game and
Fish Department has published a new book. A Field Guide to
Amphibians and Reptiles of Maricopa County brings these creatures to
life with full color photographs and comprehensive information on habitat,
behavior, diet, and key identifiable characteristics. Containing
only 68 pages, it is the perfect size to take along on hikes but
surprising packed with great facts. At only $5, this is a steal that
you cannot afford to pass up, even if you live outside of Maricopa
County. Stop by our office or mail in the order form to
get your own copy.We want to hear from you. Have you used some of our materials? Tell us about it. We strive to develop quality materials for teachers but always appreciate your feedback. Do you have a resource need? Let us know. We will do our best to get it into your hands. If not, then we will put you in touch with someone who can.
So share your stories, share your success.
Contact Eric Proctor with your stories and responses.