Indiana Tree Farm
Outdoor Classroom Committee
Tom Thake
USDA Forest Service
Hoosier National Forest
248 15th Street
Tell City, IN 47586
Phone 812-547-9248 tthake@fs.fed.us
FOR: Outdoor Classrooms in Indiana
The Indiana State Tree Farm Committee strongly encourages the development of quality outdoor education classrooms. Without a doubt, classes taught outdoors are experiences likely to remain in the minds of students for many years. We are pleased to sponsor a contest to recognize the Outstanding Outdoor School Classroom each year. This is the 29th year of running this prestigious award. Many of the State award winners went on to further awards.
Application for the Outdoor classroom can be found at http://www.inwoodlands.org
District winners receive a $50.00 check and certificate.
State winner received a $500.00 check and solid walnut plaque for the school
solid walnut plaque for an individual and a letter of appreciation from Senator Richard Lugar. Winners also have the opportunity to make a presentation at the Hoosier Association of Science Teachers (HASTI) conference.
What does the Tree Farm Committee look for in its selection? Although "tree" is in our name and we do look for forest use and management in the curriculum, an existing woods is not needed to qualify for the award. We are more interested in how you are developing a curriculum around the natural resources you have. A major consideration will be that there is a curricular emphasis on use and management of natural resources. We believe it is essential that students learn how our natural resources are used to provide us with all of the products we use every day. We can't have houses, furniture or paper without cutting trees; we can't feed an expanding population without modern agricultural practices; we can't build and drive automobiles without mining the earth's minerals. But we can't expect all of these resources to sustain us indefinitely without proper management. Human impact on the earth is too intense to simply let nature take its course in replenishing resources without active human management. This is a message our young people must be taught if they are to carry on as responsible stewards of the land.
We like to see a well balanced program that goes beyond simple awareness and identification. It should include consideration of soils, water, wildlife, energy and, of course, forestry, and how these resources can be managed for production, recreation, aesthetics and other benefits. We also like to see a program used in many different subject areas and at many different grade levels. It may seem that we are expecting a great deal, and we are--we are looking for the most outstanding outdoor lab program in the state.
Initial judging will be made at the District Tree Farm Committee level, and district finalists will have an on-site evaluation conducted by the selection committee. Completed applications should be mailed to the Chairperson of the Tree Farm Outdoor Classroom Committee, Tom Thake – USDA Forest Service Hoosier National Forest, 248 15th Street, Tell City, IN 47586. Applications should submitted by June 15th. A winner will be selected at the Tree Farm District level and an on-site evaluation of District winners will occur in late September – early October. A fifty dollar check along with a district winner certificate will be presented to each district winner. From the district winners the State Outdoor Classroom will be selected.
The school judged to be the most outstanding classroom will be awarded two solid walnut plaques (one for school and one for individual) along with a five hundred dollar check from Indiana Hardwood Lumberman’s Association (IHLA) along with a letter of appreciation from Senator Richard Lugar as the Outstanding Outdoor Classroom in Indiana. The first plaque will be engraved with the name of the school and the second plaque is reserved for the person who has been most responsible for guiding the outdoor lab's development. The State award will be presented at the annual meeting of the Hoosier Association of Science Teachers, Inc. in February. We also will arrange for the winning school to make a presentation at the HASTI convention in which the winning school can highlight their schools achievement.
If you are aware of an outdoor lab that stresses multiple use resource management, your efforts in nominating the school for this award will be greatly appreciated. If you need additional copies of the application, please visit the web site at www.inwoodlands.org
Should you have any questions, please contact your local representative of the State Tree Farm System or any member of the Indiana State Tree Farm Outdoor Classroom Committee.
Outdoor Classroom Committee Members:
Tom Thake - 812-547-9248 tthake@fs.fed.us
Donna Rogler - 317-549-0354 plt@dnr.state.in.us
Susan Schultz - 317-326-2952 sms@hrtc.net
Pat Cooper - 317-542-0899 PCooper@dnr.IN.gov
We look forward to the opportunity to coming and visiting your school.
Sincerely,
Robert Burke, Chairman
State Tree Farm Committee
PREVIOUS INDIANA OUTDOOR CLASSROOM OF THE YEAR WINNERS
1977 School - Prairie Heights School Corp. - LaGrange County Individual - Ned Stump
1978 School - Hamilton Southeastern Middle School - Hamilton County Individual - Roger Norris
1979 School - Marion Community Schools - Grant County Individual - Jerry Sweeten
1980 School - Bloomington North High School - Monroe County Individual - George Luginbill
1981 School - Warren Central High School - Marion County Individual - Linda Bayne
1982 School - Vigo County School Corporation - Vigo County Individual - Marilyn Blakely & Ron Helms
1983 School - Heth-Washington Elementary School - Harrison County Individual - Travis Bushau
1984 School - Weston Elementary School - Hancock County Individual - Pete Fortune
1985 School - Homestead High School - Allen County Individual - Douglas Waldman
1986 School - Parkside Elementary School - LaGrange County Individual - Joyce Weber & Joan Zimmerman
1987 School - North Harrison Elementary School - Harrison County Individual - Deborah Schroeder
1988 School - Charlestown Middle School - Clark County Individual - Bill King
1989 School - Eden Elementary School - Hancock County Individual - Susan Schultz
1990 School - Custer Baker Middle School - Johnson County Individual - Lynn Wilhelm
1991 School - Brush Creek Elementary - Jennings County Individual - Ron Milligan
1992 School - New Albany - Floyd County Schools - Floyd County Individual - John Riddle
1993 School - Franke Park School - Allen County Individual - Russ Voorhees
1994 School - Spencer Elementary - Owen County Individual - Ginny Coppedge
1995 School - Douglas MacArthur Elementary School - Marion County Individual - Stephen Craig
1996 School - Concord Southside Elementary School - Elkhart County Individual - Judy Wells
1997 School - Chrisney Elementary - Spencer County Individual - Tammy Graham
1998 School - South Ripley Elementary - Ripley County Individual - David Brawner
1999 School- Angola Middle School- Steuben County Individual-Steve Beckwitt
2000 School - Tzouanakis Intermediate School - Putnam County Individual - Daniel TeGrotenhuis.
2001 School - Luce Elementary School - Spencer County Individual - Patricia Keith and Tom Hodges.
2002 School – Lincoln Elementary School – Lake County – Individual - Kathleen Krum
2003 School – Pendleton Elementary - Madison County - Individual – Marilyn Crosley
2004 School – Avon Community School Corporation
2005 School – Northwest Allen County Environmental Center – Individual - Nancy Leininger
2006 School- Logansport Community School Corp.
OUTDOOR LABORATORY OF THE YEAR AWARD
Sponsored by:
THE INDIANA STATE TREE FARM COMMITTEE
(2007 year)
School System ____________________________________________________________
Name of School ____________________________________________________________
Address ____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Phone Number ____________________________________________________________
Superintendent ____________________________________________________________
Principal ____________________________________________________________
Primary Outdoor Lab Contact ____________________________________________________
Contact Phone Number _________________________________________________________
Number of years outdoor lab program has been established ______________________________
Number of teachers using outdoor lab ______________ % of total teachers ________________
Number of students using outdoor lab ______________ % of students using lab _____________
· 8 ˝” x 11” paper only
· Total materials not to exceed 1” three-ring binder
· No video or audio tapes accepted
· Please include directions and map to school site
In each of the following categories check all items that apply to your school’s outdoor lab program. For each item checked please include a narrative and indicate part # and letter (e.g., IIa.). Support material is optional, but if utilized put corresponding support material after each part (I, II, III).
All material becomes property of the Indiana State Tree Farm Committee. If you wish your entry returned please indicate in a cover letter.
Entry is due by June 15th
to: Tom Thake, USDA Forest Service – Hoosier National Forest, 248 15th
Street, Tell City, IN 47586 Phone: 812-547-9248 e-mail:
tthake@fs.fed.us
Part I – The Facility
___ a. Students are involved in the further development and maintenance of the outdoor lab.
___ b. Outdoor lab is used throughout the entire school year.
___ c. Outdoor lab is used to demonstrate use and active management of the resources available.
___ d. Outdoor lab has a written plan for development, operation and maintenance.
___ a. Written conservation education curriculum is developed (attach copy of curriculum and any related evaluation material, not to exceed what will fit in a 13” x 17” envelope).
___ b. Curriculum was designed by a committee of instructors from the school or corporation.
___ c. Program makes use of local natural resource professionals.
___ d. Curriculum includes use of a supplemental program or programs such as Project Learning Tree, Project WILD, Project WET, etc. (please name programs and describe how they are used, but do not sent photocopies of activities from the books).
___ e. List grade levels and subject areas utilized in the outdoor lab.
___ a. An established committee for outdoor lab and curriculum development (list members’ names and positions).
___ b. Number of times committee meets per year and what involvement committee has in the lab.
___ c. A teacher resource library for conservation education materials is established.
___ d. Teachers are made aware of new conservation education materials and in-service training.
___ e. Professional days are provided for teachers to attend in-service training in conservation education.
___ f. Some form of continuing education credit is available to teachers attending in-service training.
___ g. Formal instruction specific to the use of the outdoor lab is provided to teachers.
___ h. One or more people area assigned time specifically for development and/or teaching of conservation education.
___ i. Community members are involved in the outdoor lab/conservation
