Summary for the 2010 NASBR Teacher Workshop, Denver Colorado,
by Patricia Morton, NASBR Teacher Workshop Coordinator:
The 2010 NASBR meeting in Denver hosted the largest and longest teacher workshop to date. Registrations filled to a maximum enrollment of 50 educators and the programming ran a full day. The new milestones were met thanks to much support from the Project Wild program at the Colorado Division of Wildlife (CWD). Working with Rick Adams (NASBR meeting chair) and the Colorado Bat Working Group, the state Project Wild staff had already developed a very successful "Bats for Educators Workshop" and companion resource and activity guide that formed the foundation of this year's event.
Of course NASBR couldn't do the teacher workshop without the expert presenters. This year's faculty included (in order of presentation):
Rick Adams (University of Northern Colorado),
Rob Mies (Organization for Bat Conservation),
Lea Bonewell & Mark Hayes (U.S. Geological Survey),
Stuart Perlmeter (Oregon Public Schools),
Dennis Krusac (U.S. Forest Service),
Tabbi Kinion (Colorado Division of Wildlife),
Steve Burnett (Clayton State University),
Allyson Walsh (Lubee Bat Conservancy), and
Liz Wickard (City of Aurora).
NASBR especially appreciates the folks who took time away from the scientific meeting to help with the workshop. The two individuals who were most instrumental in helping to recruit educators and run the workshop were Tabbi Kinion (Colorado Division of Wildlife) and Liz Wickard (City of Aurora Parks and Open Space). The CDW also donated posters, booklets and other educational materials. CDW also made a donation to NASBR for use at future workshops.
Workshop donations were also received from our much appreciated annual sponsors:
Bat Conservation International,
Lubee Bat Conservancy,
North American Society for Bat Research,
Organization for Bat Conservation,
Speleobooks, and,
The Nature Conservancy.,
Additional support this year was received by on-line donations made during the NASBR meeting registration - thanks very much to all NASBR registrants who helped support the workshop with their dollars.
Post-workshop evaluations were all very complimentary and included the following comments:
"Great speakers from around the country,"
"All of the speakers were extremely knowledgeable, interesting, funny and full of fabulous ideas,"
"Excellent workshop, one of the best I've attended,"
"The experts were outstanding in their teaching abilities," and
"What an incredible exposure to bats for us as educators."
Finally NASBR wants to express its appreciation to Barbara Ogaard for being the annual "volunteer extraordinaire." She is always the cheerful greeter at the registration table and one of the last to leave following workshop clean-up! Following this report is a series of photos taken in Denver and provided by Mike Warner (Speleobooks) who always "leaves the store" to take workshop photos for the website.
Barb Ogaard (left) checks in workshop participants. (click for larger)
A door prize winner checks out the selection of items donated by Speleobooks and Colorado Division of Wildlife. (click for larger)
Workshop presenter, Rob Mies, displays the wing anatomy of a bat. (click for larger)
Participants meet a live bat up close. (click for larger)
Rob introduces one of his African Flying Fox bats. (click for larger)
Presenter Tabbi Kinion (pink shirt) demonstrates how to make a bat costume. (click for larger)
