The Wild Side of Education is a K-12 teacher workshop offered by the University of Alaska Summer Sessions and instructed by National Park Service staff in Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve in July 2018. This is a great opportunity for teachers to earn three currency credits while learning about natural and cultural resources of Interior Alaska from National Park Service scientists and historians. While immersed in the natural splendor and rich history of the preserve, participants will learn about boreal forest and aquatic ecology, gold rush era history, and more through field trips, discussions, presentations, and participation in scientific field studies. To successfully complete the course, participants apply new content, skills, and experiences to developing a place-based, standards-aligned, inquiry learning lesson plan.

The field-based portion of the course takes place July 19-23 at historic Coal Creek Camp in Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve, and participants are also required to attend four evening classroom sessions in Fairbanks on July 12, 16, and 30. Participants from outside of the local commuting area may attend the classroom sessions remotely via webinar. The course fee is $850 and includes tuition, transportation between Fairbanks, Alaska and Yukon-Charley, food, and rustic lodging. Participants must be able to walk up to six miles per day over moderate terrain.

To register, visit the UAF Summer Sessions web site at www.uaf.edu/summer/registration/ or call 907-474-7021.  If you have questions about the course content and/or would like to receive a course syllabus, please contact National Park Service education specialist and course instructor Maria Berger by e-mailing maria_berger@nps.gov or calling 907-459-3731.