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Teacher Training

Into the Field: Tracking Urban Biodiversity


June 17-21, 2013

In this FREE, 5 day workshop, K-12 teachers will work with TNSC educators and scientists to:

  • Learn basic field methods for collecting biological data;
  • Gain hands-on experience conducting biological field work; and
  • Investigate inquiry based, TEKS aligned activities that can be easily implemented in the classroom/schoolyard.

Workshop dates: Monday, June 17-Friday, June 21, 2013, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Note: You must be able to participate in all 5 training days.

Workshop schedule

  • Monday, June 17: Explore how to incorporate insects into your classroom and begin your own insect collection under the guidance of Ian Wright, graduate student in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior.
  • Tuesday, June 18: Discover how diatoms indicate ecosystem conditions of Waller Creek with Dr. Ed Theriot, Texas Natural Science Center Director and Professor of Integrative Biology.
  • Wednesday, June 19: Go on a snake hunt with Dr. Travis LaDuc, Assistant Curator of Herpetology, as we track water snakes in Waller Creek.
  • Thursday, June 20: Investigate the world of fish as we trap eels in Onion Creek with Dr. Dean Hendrickson, Curator of Ichthyology.
  • Friday, June 21: Search for evidence of mammals at Brackenridge Field Lab with Dr. Pamela R. Owen, Senior Paleontology Educator.

Each teacher will receive:

  • Curriculum and activity guides aligned with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS);
  • access to check out loaner kits of specimens and materials used in the training;
  • behind the scenes tours of the Center's natural history collections;
  • 35 hours of continuing professional education (CPE) credit;
  • lunch;
  • and more!

Please note that this is an intensive week-long training in which you will learn what it's like to be a field scientist. Participants should be prepared to get their hands dirty! You will get wet. It will be hot and we may be sunburned, but you will have fun and learn a lot!

Workshop Location: Lake Austin Center (LAC), 3001 Lake Austin Blvd, Austin, TX 78703

Cost: FREE! (A $100 deposit, refunded upon completion of the workshop, will be required to complete registration. Deposit MUST be received within two weeks of filling out the online registration form.)

Priority acceptance will be given to K-12 teachers teaching in the 2013-2014 school year. All others will be put on a waitlist and notified if space is available.

Registration is closed.

Deposits should be made out to The University of Texas at Austin and mailed to:

Laura Naski Keffer
Texas Memorial Museum
2400 Trinity St Stop D1500
Austin, Texas 78712-1621


Please email Laura Naski Keffer for more information regarding this training series.