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 is to invigorate polar science education and understanding by bringing K-12 educators and polar researchers together.
We were fortunate to have PolarTREC teachers Nick LaFave and Nell Kemp join Team Spider at Toolik Field Station in the Alaskan Arctic. See below to read about Nell and Nick's expeditions above the Arctic Circle!
We were fortunate to have PolarTREC teachers Nick LaFave and Nell Kemp join Team Spider at Toolik Field Station in the Alaskan Arctic. See below to read about Nell and Nick's expeditions above the Arctic Circle!
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Nell Kemp
We were delighted to have Nell Kemp join our research group for a month at Toolik Field Station in 2013.
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 and then moved over to Kenwood's 7th-8th grade Gifted & Talented program for several years to teach environmental science. She's currently a High School Science Specialist and an Assessment for Learning Manager with Chicago Public Schools.
Read about Nell's adventures as part of Team Spider in her PolarTREC Expedition Journal
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 and then moved over to Kenwood's 7th-8th grade Gifted & Talented program for several years to teach environmental science. She's currently a High School Science Specialist and an Assessment for Learning Manager with Chicago Public Schools.
Read about Nell's adventures as part of Team Spider in her PolarTREC Expedition Journal
Nick LaFave
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. You can read the journal entries about his experience living at an arctic field station and doing research with Team Spider in his Expedition Journal.
During Nick's expedition, we hosted two educational webinars from the field. These events are available through the PolarConnect archives.
During Nick's expedition, we hosted two educational webinars from the field. These events are available through the PolarConnect archives.
Nick taking soil moisture and soil temperature in our experimental plots.
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Nick takes his first arctic soil sample with a bread knife!
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Nick in the news...
Congratulations to Nick for being named Clover's 2012 Teacher of the Year!!
http://www.gastongazette.com/articles/lafave-71583-teacher-nick.html
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/05/25/3262408/school-news.html
http://www.heraldonline.com/2012/05/24/3998707/ultimate-science-lesson.html
http://www.gastongazette.com/articles/lafave-71583-teacher-nick.html
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/05/25/3262408/school-news.html
http://www.heraldonline.com/2012/05/24/3998707/ultimate-science-lesson.html
Team Spider on a Sunday hike to Atigun Falls.
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Day trip to the Arctic Ocean!
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