This conference is a MUST for:

z Formal and non-formal educators of any subject or grade level (K–16)

z School administrators who want to establish a curriculum and related instructional practices that focus on place, inspire students to learn, and forge strong partnerships with the community

z Foundations, organizations, or community leaders interested in K–12 education, environmental stewardship, and youth or community development

z Others who want to learn more about place-based education, environmental stewardship, and the Great Lakes region

KICKOFF FIELD TRIPS/WORKSHOPS (Thursday, November 6)

• Geology of the Great Lakes: An exclu-sive, all-access tour of the Grand Rapids Gypsum Mines exploring the ways that stewardship education works into an earth science curriculum. ($70)

• Project WET and Project Learning Tree Training: A double feature of two organizations complete with training and curriculum materials for classroom use to take back to your school. ($70)

CONFERENCE SESSIONS (Friday–Saturday, November 7–8)

We’re back with our successful two-day format featuring keynote speakers, more than seventy concurrent presentations, and networking. ($150 for both days; $100 for one day)

Keynote SpeakersDavid Sobel is the director of the Center for Place-based Education at Antioch University New England in Keene, New Hampshire. He has written numerous books, including: Children’s Special Places; Beyond Ecophobia: Reclaiming the Heart in Nature Education; Mapmaking with Children: Sense of Place Education for the Elementary Years; and Place-based Educa-tion: Connecting Classrooms and Communities. Much of his work focuses on the relationship between child development, authentic curriculum, and environmental education.

Teresa Weatherall Neal has worked for the Grand Rapids Public Schools for 35 years, taking the reins as superintendent in 2012. She is especially committed to helping children in need. Ms. Weatherall Neal holds a BS in Public Administration from Grand Valley State University and an MA in Educational Leadership from Western Michigan University. She is a graduate of the Michigan Leadership Institute’s Superintendent Leadership Academy.

• Using Design Thinking in Stewardship Education: Learn from Grand Valley State University College of Education and Kend-all College of Art and Design faculty mem-bers about how design thinking integrates with place-based stewardship education. Discover how you can use design thinking to improve your community projects and increase your students’ engagement in those projects. ($70)

• Mapmaking with Children (K–8) Work-shop with David Sobel: This workshop combines theory with practice by exploring integrated curricula and engaging par-ticipants in mapmaking, problem solving, and hands-on education. ($89 includes a book)

Join us for a grand gathering in Grand Rapids, Michigan! The 4th annual Great Lakes Place-based Education Conference (November 6–8) features opportunities to learn about place-based education, environmental stewardship, and the natural resources of the Great Lakes region. Students involved in place-based education better understand complex subjects like math and science, and help make their communities and the environment a better place in which to learn, live, work, and play.

This year’s conference is co-hosted by the Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative and Groundswell, a regional GLSI hub at Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

ucatiogreatlakesplace-based ed nconference2014

online at www.glstewardship.org

Earn SCECHs!SCECHs (formerly SB-CEUs) offered by Kent

County ISD. (Additional fee may apply.)