Campbellsville University

CU’s Outdoor Classroom Institute Helps Teachers Make the Science Connection

CU’s Outdoor Classroom Institute Helps Teachers Make the Science Connection

By Linda Waggener | 09/03/2008

CU's Outdoor Classroom Institute Helps Teachers Make the Science Connection

Campbellsville University’s annual outdoor classroom event at Clay Hill Memorial Forest is designed to provide environmental inquiry and exploration for teachers. This year teachers attended from schools in Marion, Nelson, Mercer and Taylor counties. The group includes (not in order): Bill Mason and Brian Rowland from Mercer High School; Chad Wilson, CU student; Dr. Tersa Spurling; Rebecca Wood, Lebanon Middle School; Joan Leachman, Marion County school; Mary Jane Weddle, Campbellsville pre-school and Dr. Gordon Weddle, professor of biology and director of CHMF; Dr. Glenn McQuaide, associate professor of biology; Dr. Richard Kessler, program coordinator and associate professor of biology/environmental studies; Brenda Tungate, assisant professor of biology; and E. Kay Sutton, assistant professor of chemistry. (CU Photo by Linda Waggener)

By Linda Waggener, marketing and media relations coordinator

CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. - Campbellsville University's seventh annual Science Connection Institute (SCI) in Forest Ecology was held this summer at the Clay Hill Memorial Forest (CHMF) and Joan White Howell Environmental Education Center.

The annual outdoor classroom event is designed to provide environmental inquiry and exploration for teachers. This year teachers attended from schools in Marion, Nelson, Mercer and Taylor counties. E.ON US sponsored the program this year.

The “Getting to Know Clay Hill Memorial Forest” Forest Walk began the program of study led by Dr. Gordon Weddle, professor of biology and director of CHMF; Dr. Glenn McQuaide, associate professor of biology; and E. Kay Sutton, assistant professor of chemistry.

Featured speakers were Dr. Jean Oostens, adjunct professor; and Belinda Smith from the Division of Forestry.

Workshop topics included: biodiversity with Weddle;

“Aphrodite to Zeus: The Botanical Buzz” with Brenda Tungate, assisant professor of biology; “Tiptoe Through the Toxins” with Sutton; and “Project Learning Tree” by Jennifer Turner.

“Some Pitfalls of Entomology” was presented by McQuaide; and “The Bird Lab” was conducted by Dr. Richard Kessler, program coordinator and associate professor of biology/environmental studies.

CHMF is a 158-acre educational and research woodland located eight miles from campus, being developed by the CU College of Arts and Sciences as a regional center for environmental education and research.

Dr. Teresa Spurling, CU assistant professor of education and director of SCI, said, “Teachers tell us that the training helps them greatly in their quest to be more effective science educators.”

Weddle said, “Clay Hill Memorial Forest is committed to environmental education at all levels. The relationships forged during summer workshops will pay educational dividends by enhancing environmental education across Kentucky.”

“The SCI sponsor, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky, has taken an impressive stand for our environment,” said Emma Revis, CU director of foundation relations, “and they back that up with action.”

For more information visit www.clayhillforest.org or phone 270-465-9570.

Campbellsville University is a private, comprehensive institution located in South Central Kentucky. Founded in 1906, Campbellsville University is affiliated with the Kentucky Baptist Convention and has an enrollment of 2,405 students who represent 98 Kentucky counties, 25 states and 36 foreign nations. Listed in U.S.News & World Report's 2009 “America's Best Colleges,” CU is ranked 22nd in “Best Baccalaureate Colleges” in the South for the second consecutive year. CU has been ranked 16 consecutive years with U.S.News & World Report. The university has also been named to America's Best Christian Colleges®. Campbellsville University is located 82 miles southwest of Lexington, Ky., and 80 miles southeast of Louisville, Ky. Dr. Michael V. Carter is in his tenth year as president.