A hands-on water and watershed program for students and educators in the Champlain Valley, in partnership with NOAA, the NAAEE, Lake Champlain Sea Grant, and local 21st Century Community Learning Centers. This two-year, progressive program combines snorkeling and watershed science to improve student STEM skills, train educators on how to integrate environmental education into the curriculum, and inspire all participants to become lake stewards.
To learn more and register for this program, scroll down to the appropriate section for students or for educators.
Students
Calling all curious, water-loving adventurers in Grades 4 to 7! Join the Underwater Explorers Club, a two-year club all about snorkeling and caring for our lake and watersheds.
Underwater Explorers will meet this summer to dive in (literally!) to pools, rivers, and Lake Champlain. Club members will get fun snorkeling training and go on field trips to local sites. During the school year we come together for after-school explorations and activities about habitats, dams, water chemistry, shipwrecks, water treatment plants, maps, and more.
Students must be able to swim 25 yards independently to join this club, but prior snorkeling experience is not required – we’ll learn together!
This club currently is open to students in Grades 4-7 in Vergennes.See the schedule below and use the link to register for the Summer Session of Underwater Explorers.
| School/District | Vergennes Fusion (ANWSD) |
| Session | Summer 2021 |
| Schedule and Location | Friday, July 16 at 9:30-11:30 AM at the Vergennes Pool Friday, July 23 at 9:30-11:30 AM at the Vergennes Pool Friday, July 30 at 9:30-11:30 AM at the Vergennes Pool Monday, August 2 at 9:30-11:30 AM at field site TBA Tuesday, August 3 at 9:30-11:30 AM at field site TBA Wednesday, August 4 at at 9:30-11:30 AM at field site TBA Thursday, August 5 at 9:30-11:30 AM at field site TBA Friday, August 6 at 9:30-11:30 AM at field site TBA Field sites will be announced in July with drop off/pick up locations. All activities rely on safe weather conditions. Notice will be given as early as possible if weather or water conditions prohibit safe on-water activity. |
After you have completed your registration, please remember to fill out the NOAA release forms below by clicking here.
A note about COVID-19: This program will follow the current state and federal guidelines for safe programming. For youth programs, all program staff are vaccinated and all equipment will be sanitized after each use. Participants will remain 6 feet apart at the pool and field sites where space allows. Due to the inherent protection of snorkeling masks, no other face coverings will be required when in the water.
Educators
Bring hands-on watershed science experiences to your students! 21 CCLC educators in the Addison Northwest School District and Mount Abraham Unified School District are invited to join this two-year program and learn how to integrate snorkeling lessons and watershed science into programs and activities they currently lead.
The team at Lake Champlain Maritime Museum and Lake Champlain Sea Grant will work with all participating educators to ensure you receive all the training and assistance you’ll need. In addition, participating 21 CCLC educators will collaborate together to develop fun ways to integrate snorkeling and watershed science into various subject areas.
Participating 21 CCLC educators will receive:
- Training on how to snorkel
- Basic watershed science training
- Opportunities to snorkel in pools, rivers and lakes
- Opportunities to meet and learn from a national network of educators
- Confidence in integrating environmental education into teaching
- Experience using NOAA resources with students
- Introductions to local partners in water-related careers
- Recognition from your community
- Supplies to teach watershed science in your own classes
- Stipends for your time and reimbursement for your travel!*
Participating 21 CCLC educators agree to commit to:
- Stewardship of the Lake Champlain watershed
- Promoting student leadership for watershed stewardship
- Snorkeling and watershed science trainings
- Meetings with project team leaders and other 21CCLC educators
- Creating lessons that integrate Meaningful Watershed Education Experiences (MWEEs) into your teaching
- Mentoring students to join the Underwater Explorers Club
- Participation in the evaluation and reporting requirements of the grant
* Stipends for this program will depend on the total number of educators who participate. Travel reimbursement will be at current state rates; carpooling is always encouraged!
Release Forms
All participating students and educators are asked to please fill out an Underwater Explorers release form. The release form will confirm the rights to use images/videos taken of students and educators during the NOAA-21st CCLC Watershed STEM Education Partnership Program. This allows the U.S. Department of Education, NOAA, NAAEE, and the Museum to use/share photos and video with the public. Please use the links below to fill out whichever form works best for you.
Online Release
- English: https://fillable.jivrus.com/p/1WoRPBheogRPMh04tULtaupGi9YN3fLxZUgn0sI9Wifw
- Español: https://fillable.jivrus.com/p/1NHlW5igADk-ns9huiaohzQOEORy-0MFzJHjgrNkj_N0
Fillable Word Doc Forms
This form must be downloaded, filled out, and emailed back to the Museum or your school