Science-based education programs rooted in bear research and ecology
Bear Trust develops lessons that link to, and build upon, scientific information stemming from research on wild bears.
Our goal is to help youth develop conservation awareness through scientific inquiry.
By design, our education programs are free to all educators…..everywhere.
Why Free? Bear Trust believes that high quality education is critical to sustainable conservation, and sustainable communities. We don’t charge educators a fee for our innovative programs because a lot of school districts and conservation organizations are unable to afford high quality programs. In this sobering scenario, the students pay the ultimate price. Instead, we believe in leveling the playing field and making certain all students have access to high quality, science-based education that ignites and nurtures their innate curiosity.
All lessons are project-based so that teachers can pick and choose which lessons that fit into their existing lesson plans.
Upcoming lessons will be web-based, to make access even easier for educators and young learners.
Bear Trust’s Science-Based Education Programs
1) The Curriculum Guide to The Bear Book
Grades 9-12
8 science-based lessons that link to narratives in The Bear Book about field experiences with wild bears
To learn more, please click on the link above
We are currently conductiong a PILOT STUDY to test The Curriculum Guide to The Bear Book.
To participate in this pilot study, and receive FREE copies of this education program for you and your students, please contact Dr. Melissa Reynolds-Hogland melissa@beartrust.org (406) 523-7779
2) The Bear Essentials
Grades K-8
9 science-based lessons that stem from studies on wild bears
Available NOW! To receive your FREE copy, please contact Dr. Melissa Reynolds-Hogland. melissa@beartrust.org (406) 523-7779
To learn more, please click on the link above.
3) The Bear Book Volume II and Curriculum Guide
Grades 9-12
Currently in development. This program will included 12 science-based, web-based, project-based lessons that link to narratives on wild bear research in The Bear Book Volume II.
Lessons will include REAL DATA from scientific studies on bears worldwide!
To learn more, please click on the link above
4. Linking Bear Demography and Behavior
Grades 9-12
Currently in development. We are developing science-based lessons that stem from our scientific study of wild bears in New Jersey. The New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife has a 30-year data set that includes both capture-recapture information and movement information (from GPS locations of wild bears). Bear Trust is using these data to link estimates of bear demography (population survival, population growth rate) with estimates of bear behavior (movements, habitat selection, resource selection) to better understand bear ecology. Stay tuned: more to follow!
5. Conservation and Environmental Education Resource Network
Bear Trust is a proud partner of this highly collaborative Network. What started a few years ago as a concept for a single “portal” for conservation and environmental education resources has grown into a way to connect resources and use them in innovative ways for meeting standards, evaluation and new yet-to-be imagined connections.
Just like open APIs offered through Flickr, Facebook and Twitter, Resource Commons will offer ways to interact with and share data across the internet – and mash it up with other content and display it in new ways. Soon, you will be able to publish education on your own site and broadcast it throughout hundreds of other education, environmental and conservation organization sites and mobile devices.
To learn more, please visit: http://resourcecommons.org/