Volunteer Instructor Training Program

INLAND SEAS EDUCATION ASSOCIATION'S VOLUNTEER INSTRUCTOR TRAINING 2013 SCHEDULE This year our Schoolship Instructor Training will have sessions on both Saturday mornings (9am-12pm) and Wednesday evenings (5:30pm-8:30pm). These sessions will cover the same material, and can be attended interchangeably. Each session will have a hands-on component that will provide the opportunity to experience the station! Training will take place at NMC's Water Studies Institute, located at 715 East Front Street) in Room GL 112. Saturday January 5th and Wednesday January 9th Introduction to ISEA's Program: Safety and the Basics Come learn about the responsibilities of volunteer instructors, and get an introduction to our various education programs. You will also explore topics including the formation of the Great Lakes, physical and chemical characteristics of the lakes, current threats to the Great Lakes ecosystem, and challenges facing the world Saturday January 12th & Wednesday January 16th Weather and Large Group Sampling What is a Van Dorn bottle? In this session you will learn how students collect samples of fish, water, plankton, and benthos aboard the Schoolship. You will also learn how to collect weather data by measuring wind speed and direction, visibility, cloud types, air and water temperature, and water clarity. Saturday January 19th & Wednesday January 23rd Benthos and Fish What actually lives at the bottom of the bay? Why are fish an important part of the ecology and economy of the Great Lakes? In this session you will learn how to identify sediment types based on color and texture. You will also learn how to identify bottom-dwelling (benthic) organisms and how these organisms play an important role as nutrient recyclers in the lake. You will also learn how to identify fish and will be introduced to the life history, ecology, and economic importance of fish in this region. Saturday January 26th & Wednesday January 30th Plankton and Water Chemistry What are plankton and where are they found? How are organisms affected by water quality? In this session you will learn how to identify live zooplankton using our micro-video system and discuss the vital role plankton play in the aquatic food web. You will also learn how to measure pH and dissolved oxygen and discover what levels are considered healthy for aquatic organisms. We will also discuss the thermal structure of the lake and how this structure adapts to each season. Sat February 2nd & Wed February 6th, 2013 Seamanship and Stewardship How does a boat float and what makes it move? What is stewardship and what does it mean to me? In this session you will learn about buoyancy, mechanical advantage, the simple physics of sailing and about schooners and their importance in the maritime history of Grand Traverse Bay. You will also learn how it is possible to become stewards of the Great Lakes in your everyday lives. We will discuss stewardship ideas and how to encourage students to practice stewardship at their home and in their school.