UTOTES is looking for Applicants for the 2009-10 school year

Just outside the walls of your classroom is an incredible resource for educators. Living things have the power to motivate students and allow them to truly experience learning.  Through UTOTES, teachers gain confidence and knowledge about their local environment and experience hands-on educational strategies to use with their students. Involving a group of 16 to 24 staff at participating schools, UTOTES helps to open eyes to the hidden magic on their school grounds.

Using The Outdoors to Teach Experiential Science (UTOTES) is an exciting teacher education project designed to help elementary schools enhance their grounds as wildlife habitats and hands-on learning environments.  Please check our website for more information, a brochure, a tentative workshop schedule, and the three-page application.

Cost of the UTOTES program
A fee of $1200 is payable to the Museum upon acceptance into UTOTES. This covers costs of materials given at each of the six sessions and materials for creation of a selected habitat.  Each school chooses the type of habitat best suited to their school grounds from a menu (butterfly garden, bird observation area, water garden); the museum instructor helps install the habitat feature with school staff and students.

How to Apply
Complete the three application forms no later than April 20, 2009.  Schools will be notified of the selections prior to the end of this school year.

Please mail hard copy applications to:

Mike Dunn
Coordinator of Teacher Education
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
11 West Jones Street
Raleigh, NC 27601

Inquiries about the UTOTES program should be directed to Mike Dunn at 919-733-7450, extension 620; or Melissa Dowland at extension 613.