Dear Educators and Cooper Supporters,
We have some big plans and a few changes for the 2013-14 school year, and we can’t wait to share our programs and the wonders of the Sonoran Desert with you and your students!
· The Staff – After ten years at the Cooper Center, Colin Waite has been promoted to Director. This position has been vacant for the past 2 years, so in many respects he has already been responsible for the job. Beginning this past January, Colin was asked to become more involved in fundraising and administrative efforts on behalf of Cooper. While this means that he will be spending less time in the desert and less time teaching, his new responsibilities are critical to the future sustainability of the center. You can expect to find Mo McMahon (a.k.a Cactus Wren) in charge of your field experience with the help of our amazing educational interns, including Lauren (a.k.a. Bobcat), returning for her third year, and some new faces as well!
· Water Bottles – Bookman’s has come through in a HUGE way in our continuing efforts to reduce our waste stream through the use of reusable water bottles. This year, with their support, every single child who participates in a Cooper program will receive a Bookman’s reusable water bottle of their very own! Amazing!
· “The Friends of Cooper” – People recognize and remember Camp Cooper wherever we go in Tucson, so we’re forming a Cooper alumni group to keep people involved and informed! We’re planning special events at the center, a newsletter, and more for anyone who’s ever been involved with Cooper over the years. Send us your contact information if you’d like to be involved.
· Like us on Facebook - Cooper Center for Environmental Learning (Camp Cooper); tell a friend!
· TUSD Food Services is now offering to provide meals for any overnight experience, and these meals are not your standard cafeteria fare. Cooper staff is working closely with the chefs to provide food that is healthy, fulfilling, and in line with Cooper’s ideals and values.
Educationally, we now offer a different learning experience for students at each grade level. The Sunship III program for middle school students continues to expand and improve, and Earthkeepers continues to attract schools from as far away as Prescott, Phoenix, and Nogales. A new program, Sunship Earth, which follows Earthkeepers and is aimed at 5th 6th graders, is also on the horizon.
Thanks to everyone for your patience and understanding of the Cooper Center’s program fees. This continues to be a difficult transition and we appreciate all your help in supporting the Cooper Center and its efforts. Although the UA and TUSD continue to support the center, recent reductions in budgets have made it important that all the partners, including field trip groups, help to support Cooper’s educational offerings and leadership. That being said, we never want money to be a reason for not attending Cooper, so we will work with schools as needed to help with these fees and with transportation costs as well.
Thanks again for all your support and we look forward to sharing the wonders of the Sonoran Desert with you and your students during the 2012-2013 school year.
Colin “Jackrabbit” Waite Mo “Cactus Wren” McMahon Lauren “Bobcat” Malanga
Director Instructional Specialist Educational Intern
Cooper Center for Environmental Learning
Program Descriptions & Registration 2013-2014
Sunship III (grades 7/8): This 2-night, 3-day earth education program, specifically designed for middle school students, celebrates their transition into adolescence, focuses on increasing their knowledge of four ecological concepts and helps them examine their perceptions and choices regarding the earth and its life. The first part of the program takes place at school and helps prepare them for their experiences. At the Cooper Center, they participate in activities to learn more about the key ecological concepts and make choices in their use of energy and materials as they manage a limited supply of “solarians,” units of sunlight energy. Back at home and school they participate in a “Quest” that includes visiting new natural areas, interviewing community members modeling positive environmental lifestyles, developing their own lifestyle plan, and working with others on a community project. The students return to Cooper in May to celebrate their accomplishments and share what they have learned.
· Program Dates: November/December
· Group Size: Maximum 40 students/session; Minimum 20 students/session
· Fee: $50/student (NOTE: Meals are provided by the Cooper Center)
· Orientation (Friday, August 30th – 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.): This session is required for teachers who are new to Sunship III & recommended for all teachers. It will include a program overview, teacher roles, leading Sharing Circles, and managing the Quest. Professional Development credit for 5 hours will be awarded through the University of Arizona. Snacks and beverages provided.
Earthkeepers (4th and 5th Graders Only): This 2-night, 3-day earth education program’s goal is to increase student knowledge of four key ecological concepts (energy flow, cycling of matter, interrelationships of living things, and change over time) and to deepen their feelings for the earth through observation, discovery, solitude, and immersion activities. The program begins two weeks before the visit when a map and letter arrive inviting the class to become Earthkeepers. At the Earthkeepers Training Center (Cooper) they participate in a series of staff-led activities and students earn two of four keys that unlock boxes that reveal the secrets to becoming an Earthkeeper. Back at home and school the students earn the last two keys of the program by pledging to use less energy, fewer materials, visiting new natural areas, and sharing their knowledge and experiences with others.
(Special Note: The Dark Skies Rangers program is offered on the second evening by National Optical Astronomy Observatories/Kitt Peak.)
· Program Dates: January, February, March
· Group Size: Maximum 60 students; Minimum 20 students. Single class groups may be combined with other schools for maximum scheduling.
· Fee: TUSD Schools - $20/student; Other Schools - $30/student
· Orientation Session (Tuesday, October 22nd: 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.): This session is required of all first time Earthkeeper teachers and professional development credit will be earned through the University of Arizona. Snacks and beverages provided.
Traditional Overnight Experiences (K-8): Students spend the night at the Cooper Center with classroom teachers and parent volunteers. The group arrives at approximately 10:00 a.m. and departs the following morning between 9:00 and 10:00 a.m. There are Cooper staff-led activities on ecological concepts and sensory observation skills for grades 3-8, and a desert exploration and desert animal presentation for grades K-2. Teacher/volunteer-led learning center experiences take place during the remainder of the day (see center choices on website). The Dark Skies Rangers program, provided by National Optical Astronomy Observatory, is available for grades 3 and up (Please be sure to mark this option on Page 2 of the trip request form) or the classroom teacher may select other activities (please ask our staff for suggestions if needed).
· Program dates: September, October, April, May
· Group Size: Maximum 2 classes
· Fee: $5/student
· Orientation: Wednesday, September 11th or Tuesday, January 28th (Spring Groups) 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.: This orientation is required of all first time teachers to the Cooper Center and recommended for teachers who haven’t been to Cooper in more than 5 years. Professional Development credit from the University of Arizona earned.
Traditional Full-day Experiences (K-8): Students spend the day at the Cooper Center with classroom teachers and parent volunteers. The group arrives at approximately 10:00 a.m. and departs in the afternoon between 4:30 and 5:00 p.m unless other arrangements are made. There are staff-led activities on ecological concepts and sensory observation skills for grades 3-8, and a desert exploration and animal presentation for grades K-2. Teacher/volunteer-led learning center experiences take place during the remainder of the day (see center choices on website).
· Program dates: September, October, April, May
· Group Size: Maximum 2 classes
· Fee: $3/Student
· Orientation: Wednesday, September 11th 4pm – 7pm, Saturday, September 14th, 9am – Noon, or Tuesday, January 28th (Spring Groups), 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. This orientation is required of all first time teachers to the Cooper Center. Professional Development credit will be awarded.
Traditional Half-day Experiences (TUSD Grades K–2 Only): A limited number of these experiences are available – most half day requests are placed on the waiting list. Students participate in a discovery-oriented hike through the desert, enjoy a picnic lunch, and meet a Sonoran Desert animal. This experience runs from approximately 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
· Program dates: September, October, April, May
· Group Size: Maximum 2 classes
· Fee: $2/student
· Orientation: Saturday, September 14th, 9 a.m. – Noon or Tuesday, January 28th (Spring Groups), 4 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. This orientation is required of all first time teachers to the Cooper Center. Professional Development credit will be awarded.
Cooper Center for Environmental Learning
Trip Request Form
Program requests for Fall 2013 and Spring 2014 should be received by Friday, September 7th, 2012.
Program requests after September 7th will be honored if dates are available or placed on a waiting list.
Trip confirmations will be mailed starting the week of September 16th.
Please complete each all sections below and return to the Cooper Center one of the following ways:
Email: or
Fax: 520-621-7877 TUSD Inter-Office Mail: Cooper Center
Regular Mail: Cooper Center for Environmental Learning, UA-COE P.O. Box 210069, Tucson, AZ 85721
I Wish to Sign Up for a Cooper Class Trip and Understand:
v This experience is an integral part of my classroom curriculum.
v I must arrange for transportation (district-provided or private vehicles) and adult supervision.
v If I have not previously done so, I must attend an orientation session as a prerequisite for bringing my class to the Cooper Center.
v I understand that no more than 2 classes may sign up for one Cooper Center field experience.
v I understand that Overnight trips are given preference over Full Day and Half Day experiences.
Section I: General Information
SCHOOL NAME and DISTRICT:______
SCHOOL ADDRESS:______
1ST TEACHER NAME (first and last) :______GRADE:______
EMAIL ADDRESS:______PHONE #:______#STUDENTS:______
2nd TEACHER NAME (first and last) :______GRADE:______
EMAIL ADDRESS:______PHONE #:______#STUDENTS:______
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Section II: Choose Your Experience
(Visit our website at http://www.CooperCenter.arizona.edu for more details on the experiences)
_____ Sunship III (3 day experience - grades 7/8, during November & December)
(Program Fee: $50.00/student)
_____ Earthkeepers Program (3 day experience - 4th and 5th graders only in January, February, March) (Program Fee: TUSD Schools - $20.00/student; Other Schools - $30/student)
_____ Traditional Overnight Experience _____Traditional Full-day Experience)
(Fee: $5/student; trips in Sept/Oct; Apr/May) (Fee: $3/student; trips in Sept/Oct; Apr/May)
_____ Traditional Half-Day Experience (TUSD Grades K-2 only; Fee: $2/student; trips in Sept/Oct; Apr/May)
First Choice Month: Second Choice Month: Third Choice Month:
______
On the line below indicate any dates during the month(s) you have chosen that you cannot be scheduled. Do not write in school holidays or testing dates since we have already taken them into consideration.
______
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Section III: Evening Events for Overnight Groups and Earthkeepers
_____ Dark Skies Rangers Program presented by the National Optical Astronomy Observatories/Kitt Peak National Observatory for grades 3 and up. This evening program will provide time to look at the night sky with telescopes, discover strategies to keep our Tucson skies dark at night and save energy, and discover opportunities for you and your class to work with others around the world collecting data for GLOBE at Night. See the web site posting for details of this experience. There is no charge for this program.
*You must attend a Dark Skies/GLOBE at Night Orientation Session with NOAO for your group to be eligible for this experience.
_____ I have been involved with Dark Skies/GLOBE at Night before.
_____ I need to attend a Dark Skies/GLOBE at Night Workshop/Orientation with NOAO.
_____ The Cooper staff can also recommend evening resources in astronomy, story telling, night hikes, and other areas of interest you might have for your students. Please let us know how we can assist you.
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Section IV: Financial Assistance
_____ If you anticipate needing help with funding for your trip (program fees, transportation, etc.) please place an “x” on this line. You will be contacted by Cooper Center staff for more info.
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Section V: Program Orientation Sessions
As noted above, all teachers who have not previously done so must attend an Orientation Session, which takes place at the Cooper Center. The sessions are also recommended to teachers who wish to learn more about changes to Cooper’s program offerings. These sessions will be held on the dates and times below. The January session is only available for Spring 2014 Overnight, Full-day, and Half-day trips. If emailing this document please place an “x” by your attending date. If sending through the mail, please circle your choice. All session attendees will receive salary increment/professional development credit through the University of Arizona. Teachers who need to attend a Dark Skies orientation will be contacted with specific information as it becomes available.
_____ Sunship III Orientation Session (Please bring a lunch; fruit and beverages provided.)
Friday, August 31st, 2013: 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
_____ Overnight/Full-day Groups’ Orientation Session
Wednesday, September 11th, 2013: 4:00 – 7:00 p.m.
_____ Full-day and Half-day Groups’ Orientation Session
Saturday, September 14th, 2013: 9:00 a.m. – Noon
_____ Earthkeepers Orientation Session
Tuesday, October 22nd, 2013; 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
_____ Overnight, Full-day, Half-day Orientation Session – SPRING GROUPS ONLY
Tuesday, January 28th, 2014: 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.