2004 Chesapeake Bay Academy

The Virginia Resource-Use Education Council (VRUEC), in cooperation with several state, federal, and private agencies, will conduct the Chesapeake Bay Academy June 21 - 25, 2004. The VRUEC has been awarded a federal grant to support the participation of 50 science teachers in this years academy. This five-day summer learning experience for middle and high school science teachers is designed to closely support the implementation of the Science Standards of Learning and provide detailed training, field experiences, print materials, and hands-on resources supporting the science standards content and skills. The academy will be conducted at St. Margaret's School in Tappahannock and at Port Isobel Island in the Chesapeake Bay. Both sites have a rich natural learning environment with comfortable meeting and lodging facilities.

The full tuition of $1,000 for the institute is being offered for teachers who serve in leadership roles in their schools and who are willing to share information, teaching materials, and educational resources with other teachers. Special emphasis is being given to provide instructional resources that will support the new state science standards pertaining to watersheds and the Chesapeake Bay (Sixth Grade Science, Life Science, Earth Science, and Biology).

Scholarships have been allocated for each of Virginias eight regions to promote broad statewide representation in the academy. Decision for awarding the scholarships will be based on when the application is received and the geographic distribution of applicants. The applications are due on May 1, 2004, and applicants will be notified on or around May 14, 2004. School divisions are encouraged to provide participants with stipends and travel reimbursements; however, this is not a requirement of the program.

For a copy of the application and a preliminary agenda, go to the Virginia Naturally website at http://www.vanaturally.org/bayacademy.html. If you need additional information about the 2004 Chesapeake Bay Academy, please contact Paula Klonowski (pklonows@mail.vak12ed.edu), science specialist, office of middle instruction, at (804) 371-0249; or Eric Rhoades (erhoads@mail.vak12ed.edu), science specialist, office of secondary instruction, at (804) 225-2676.

JLD/ER