Congratulations to Ephrata Middle School science teachers Jennifer Trout & Josh Haupt on receiving 2024 Lancaster County Conservation Educator Awards.
"Jennifer Trout and Joshua Haupt were recognized for their dedication to personal and professional development about environmental literacy and their creative connections to engage students in local real world water quality topics about storm water and watersheds. They are outstanding role models to the students they work with building better citizens and caretakers of our environmental resources," said Sallie Gregory, Lancaster County Conservation District Education and Operations Coordinator.
Ms. Trout and Mr. Haupt are part of the summer Lancaster Outdoor Learning Network Initiative (OLNI) and serve on the countywide leadership team to help to train area educators on outdoor learning experiences and the Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience (MWEE).
The Lancaster OLNI takes place in different locations each year, including Middle Creek, Stroud Water Research Center, Longwood Gardens, Poole Forge, Susquehannock State Park, and the Columbia Crossing River Trains Center. Currently, Ms. Trout and Mr. Haupt are planning for this summer's three-day Lancaster OLNI experience, which has become such a valued learning experience registration reached its capacity in just a few hours.
At EASD, Mr. Haupt specifically implements OLNI and MWEE activities during the annual 7th grade water study, while Ms. Trout's 8th grade students complete a schoolyard assessment using the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Schoolyard Report Card, the Model My Watershed interactive, and resources adapted from Stroud Water Research Center.
These efforts have also helped guide plans with Ephrata Intermediate School students to redesign the courtyard between the EIMS cafeteria and the media center.