Nell arrives to Toolik! See her first journal entry from the field here:
Science teacher Nell Kemp prepares for research expedition to the Arctic

We're excited to welcome Nell Kemp to Team Spider! Nell was chosen to participate in the PolarTREC Program and will be joining our research group at the Toolik Field Station during the month of July.
Nell has been a science teacher since 2001, when she joined the staff of Kenwood Academy in Chicago's historic Hyde Park neighborhood. She has a bachelor's degree in behavioral neuroscience from Lehigh University and a master's degree in education from DePaul University. Nell started out at Kenwood's high school teaching biology and genetics, but she moved over to Kenwood's 7th-8th grade Gifted & Talented program four years ago, where she currently teaches environmental science.
Nell anticipates that her experience with PolarTREC on Team Spider will show her students that "real" scientists complete their work in much the same way as they do, collecting evidence to support their initial research questions and hypotheses. In addition to exposing her students to accredited scientific research and researchers, Ms. Kemp also hopes that her students will see that there is more to the Polar Regions than reindeer and polar bears…and Santa Claus.
Nell has been a science teacher since 2001, when she joined the staff of Kenwood Academy in Chicago's historic Hyde Park neighborhood. She has a bachelor's degree in behavioral neuroscience from Lehigh University and a master's degree in education from DePaul University. Nell started out at Kenwood's high school teaching biology and genetics, but she moved over to Kenwood's 7th-8th grade Gifted & Talented program four years ago, where she currently teaches environmental science.
Nell anticipates that her experience with PolarTREC on Team Spider will show her students that "real" scientists complete their work in much the same way as they do, collecting evidence to support their initial research questions and hypotheses. In addition to exposing her students to accredited scientific research and researchers, Ms. Kemp also hopes that her students will see that there is more to the Polar Regions than reindeer and polar bears…and Santa Claus.
Nick LaFave joins Team Spider in Alaska FOR summer field season

Nick, Amanda, and Kiki cross the Arctic Circle
High school Environmental Science teacher Nick LaFave (Clover High School, SC) spent six weeks at Toolik Field Station through the PolarTREC Program in 2012. You can read the journal entries about his experience living at an arctic field station and doing research with Team Spider here.
During Nick's expedition, we hosted two educational webinars from the field. The events are available through the PolarConnect archives.
PolarTREC (Teachers and Researchers Exploring and Collaborating) is a program in which K-12 teachers participate in hands-on field research experiences in the polar regions. The goal of PolarTREC is to invigorate polar science education and understanding by bringing K-12 educators and polar researchers together.
During Nick's expedition, we hosted two educational webinars from the field. The events are available through the PolarConnect archives.
PolarTREC (Teachers and Researchers Exploring and Collaborating) is a program in which K-12 teachers participate in hands-on field research experiences in the polar regions. The goal of PolarTREC is to invigorate polar science education and understanding by bringing K-12 educators and polar researchers together.