‘Two Rivers: One Future’ At The Kellogg Environmental Center

DANBURY — Educators are invited to spend several fun-filled summer days learning about the local river environment. A hands-on, interdisciplinary workshop called “Two Rivers: One Future” will be held at the DEP’s Kellogg Environmental Center August 21 to 24. Sessions will run Tuesday through Thursday, from 9 am to 3 pm, and then on Friday, from 9 am to noon.

Participants will learn about the major rivers of the valley, the Housatonic and Naugatuck. Explore local history along the rivers, learn about watersheds, discover water-sampling techniques, create an indoor river for the classroom, and more.

Participants will also learn how to utilize the rivers to teach math, science, reading, art, and history by participating in activities from the innovative national environmental curricula Projects Learning Tree, WILD, Aquatic WILD, and WET (Water Education for Teachers).

Guest presentations will be offered by faculty from the Department of Environmental Protection’s Water Division, Housatonic Valley Association, Naugatuck River Steward, as well as the Vermont FoodWorks Indoor River Program. Finally, the group will explore the rivers by canoe and discover activities that can be done from the water or the riverbanks.

Educators will come out of the course with fresh ideas to share with their students on how they can protect the future of their local environment by understanding the ecology, history, and geography of the rivers of the Valley.

Participants will receive copies of The Indoor River Book, Project WET, Project WILD, Aquatic WILD, and Project Learning Tree. CEUs are available.

The fee for the program, which includes workshop materials, is $90. To register, call 203-734-2513 between 9 am and 4:30 pm, Tuesday through Saturday. The Kellogg Environmental Center, operated by DEP’s Office of Communications and Education, is at 500 Hawthorne Avenue (Route 34) in Derby.