Eco-Academy

ECO-ACADEMY 2010 - 2011
The ECO-ACADEMY provides a hands-on curriculum to community youth and the general public in the fields of environmental sciences, biology, marine biology, zoology, ecology and endangered species and conservation. Our team is a highly trained group of individuals that is dedicated to preserve and interpret the invaluable resources found at Deering Estate at Cutler and Miami Metrozoo. Our Eco-brigade is prepared to interact in a fun and educational way with every group regardless of age, special interests or grade level. They will encourage student and parent educator participation during educational programs. They are trained in South Florida and the world’s ecosystems. With some of the highest quality and most diverse natural resources remaining in Miami-Dade County, our ECO-ACADEMY also educates our community about preserving our biodiversity through environmental stewardship, environmental sustainability, and overall resource management.

Each session of the ECO-ACADEMY engages participants in an interactive, positive and balanced activity to help them understand and appreciate, as well as think critically about, the world around them. The Deering Estate and Miami Metrozoo staff provides participants with fossils, artifacts and tools, living exhibits, preserved specimens, photographs and simple laboratory experiments to help illustrate the key points of a specific topic. The program will accommodate up to 30 people and will be offered once a week for 30 week during the academic year for 2 hours each session. The fee is $35 per module (5 weeks). The cost of material is included in the fee. The ECO-ACADEMY will provide 3 Modules of 15 sessions at the Deering Estate at Cutler and 3 Modules of 15 sessions at Miami Metrozoo.

Classes start the week of August 30, 2010. Registration is due a week prior the class. Registrations for participants starting at Deering Estate can contact our Ticket Office Staff at 305-235-1668 ext. 233 or 271 open daily between 10:00am to 4:00 pm or you can contact Yoelly Burgos at 305-235-1668 ext. 222 or via email at yburgos@miamidade.gov.

Registrations for participants starting at the Metrozoo contact Valery Neal at the Sales Department at 305-251-0400 ext 84942 or via email at neal2@miamidade.gov.

DAYS AND TIME
Starting at Deering
Mondays 10:00 am - 12 pm
Mondays 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Tuesdays 10:00 am -12 pm
Tuesdays 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Starting at the Zoo
Wednesdays 10:00 am – 12 pm
Wednesdays 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Thursdays 10:00 am - 12 pm
Thursdays 2:30pm -4:30 pm

MODULES

Group DZ (Deering - Zoo):

Natural Sciences: 5 weeks
August 30th – September 30th

South Florida Ecosystems: 5 weeks
October 4th – November 4th

Marine Biology: 5 weeks
November 8th – December 16th

Zoology: 5 weeks
January 10th – February 10th

Ecology: 5 weeks
February 14th – March 24th

Endangered Species and Conservation: 5 weeks
March 28th – April 28th

Group ZD (Zoo - Deering):

Zoology: 5 weeks
August 30th – September 30th

Ecology: 5 weeks
October 4th – November 4th

Endangered Species and Conservation: 5 weeks
November 8th – December 16th

Natural Sciences: 5 weeks
January 10th – February 10th

South Florida Ecosystems: 5 weeks
February 14th – March 24th

Marine Biology: 5 weeks
March 28th – April 28th

Proposed: Graduation Ceremony May 6, 2011
Proposed: INFO SESSIONS May 10, 2011 from 10:00 am - 12 pm & May 17, 2011 from 2:30-4:30 pm

SCHOOL YARD SCIENCE PROGRAM ECO-ACADEMY
The Deering Estate at Cutler is an assured destination for a wealth of experiential and recreation-based educational programs that are aligned with local and state standards of learning. The Living Classroom at the Deering Estate at Cutler serves as an environmental education center for all of Miami-Dade County, providing a hands-on curriculum to community youth and the general public in the field of ecology, geology, marine biology, environmental sciences, nature photography and archaeology. All programs are correlated to the Sunshine State Standards and are FCAT compatible.

SYS Eco-Academy (30 week program)
Our 30-week SYS Eco-Academy provides a hands-on interdisciplinary curriculum to community youth. The goal of this program is to complement formal education within an after-school program setting. Each curriculum unit is covered during a 5-week session. During this program, participants are engaged in interactive activities during a two-hour class offered once a week that help them understand the world around them, all while developing critical thinking skills.

This program will accommodate up to 30 students per instructor. Classes are offered once a week for 2-hours each session. Participants will come every Wednesday from 3:00-5:00pm for 30 weeks. The curriculum is offered for K-8th.

Classes will start on Wednesday, September 1, 2010. Registration is due a week prior class’s start. Please contact our Ticket Staff at 305-235-1668 ext. 233 or 271 or Yoelly Burgos at 305-235-1668 ext 222 or via email at yburgos@miamidade.gov.

MODULES

Natural Sciences:
- The Scientific Method
- Making Three Dimensional Plant and Animal Cells
- Mystery Murder
- Weather Animal Tracks

South Florida Ecosystems:
- Tropical Hardwood Hammocks
- Pine Rockland Salt marshes
- Sea grasses Everglades

Marine Biology:
- Algae Plankton
- Sea Urchins
- Crustaceans
- Basic Seining and Snorkeling

Geology:
- Geologic Time
- Fossils
- Weathering and Erosion
- Volcanoes
- Earthquakes

Archaeology:
- Introduction to Florida Archaeology
- By our houses you will know us
- Scientific Inquiry
- Rock Archaeology
- Cookie Excavation

Ecology:
- Biomes and Biogeography
- Population Ecology: Distribution and Abundance
- Population Ecology: Growth and Extinction
- Symbiosis
- Conservation Biology

MARINE SCIENCE CONSERVATION & POLICIES PROGRAM
Early in 2010, the Deering Estate at Cutler received a grant from the R. J. Dunlap Marine Conservation Program to design a curriculum and lesson plans for the Marine Conservation Science & Policy Service Learning Program so that teachers, students, and staff learn collaboratively in a hands-on environment that is convenient for all. Each of five, five week lesson plans, includes in depth study in Coastal and Ocean Habitats; Sharks and Rays; Ocean Connections; Marine Issues; and Management, Conservation, Research, and Action. In partnership with the Deering Estate at Cutler (an historic flanking protected resources of the Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve and listed on the National Register of Historic Places), the R.J. The MCS&P Service Learning Program partnership provides a practical, hands-on marine science education and self-initiated research project opportunities for high school, undergraduate and graduate students in the marine science field. Fostering excitement, scientific understanding and stewardship of our native habitats, coastlines and bay resources, the proposed MCS&P Service Learning Program educates our community (particularly youth) about preserving our biodiversity through environmental stewardship, environmental sustainability, and overall resource management.

This program will be taught at Deering Estate at Cutler for 30 weeks during 2 hours sessions once a week. This program is designed for youth 13 yrs old and older. Parents are not required to participate but are welcome to do it as well. The cost of the program is $35 per module plus $12 annual registration fee. A minimum of 25 participants is required.

Classes will start on Thursday, September 2, 2010. Registration is due a week prior class’s start. Please contact our Ticket Staff at 305-235-1668 ext. 233 or 271 or Yoelly Burgos at 305-235-1668 ext. 222 or via email at yburgos@miamidade.gov. 

MODULES

Coastal and Ocean Habitats - Within the oceans, there exists many different types of habitats. These habitats all come with their unique challenges and are inhabited by a wide variety of organisms. In this module, students will learn about:
- Ocean Zones
- Mangroves
- Seagrass
- Coral Reefs
- The Everglades, Florida Bay, & Biscayne Bay

Sharks and Rays – Sharks are intriguing organisms that are often considered to be dangerous, despite the important role they play in maintaining ecological balance in the marine environment. This module will focus on:
- Myths
- Classification (using dichotomous keys)
- Basic anatomy and adaptations
- Physiology (behavior, respiration, and reproduction)

Ocean Connections – Interactions in the ocean allow us to observe a specific population of organisms, identifying their behaviors and relationships, or investigate entire marine habitats to see how different living and nonliving factors contribute to the overall ecosystem. This module will focus on:
- Food Chain/Webs and Apex Predators
- Population Sampling
- Our watershed and the aquatic ecosystems
- Connectivity and Migrations
- Ocean Resources

Marine Issues - The health of the ocean and marine life is often taken for granted, because for much of history, we have considered the resources of the ocean to be inexhaustible. However, it is as vulnerable to harm by human activities as any other environmental realm. In this module, students will study:
- Fishing and Bycatch
- Coastal Development Pollution, Water Quality and Bioaccumulation
- Climate Change
- Invasive Species

Management, Conservation, Research, and Action - Careful conservation protection and management of our natural resources will help sustain our environment for future generations. This module will focus on:
- Fisheries and management strategies
- Principles of Conservation
- Practicing Environmental Stewardship
- Designing Field Studies and Research Projects