Introductions: Kathy Knoeppel

Mayville, Wisconsin’s motto is “Gateway to the Horicon Marsh”. The Horicon National Wildlife Refuge is an extraordinary asset and is designated as a Wetland of International Importance and a Globally Important Bird Area. Through real-life experience gained from learning about the NWHI; I want to draw connections throughout my science curriculum with Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument and its environmental and cultural designations.

Being a science teacher puts me in a unique situation to build community involvement starting first within the classroom with students and then networking with local organizations to effect changes on a small scale. I am especially interested in creating hands-on learning experiences for my students and incorporating technology into lessons. One thing that I especially want to do is set up an on-line group activity for my students to work with students in another area of the country.

Due to the close proximity to Horicon Marsh, I would like to make learning connections with other schools near other refuges/stop-overs for endangered birds along the migration route for science projects. I am hoping to network with contacts I have made in the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and at the Horicon National Wildlife Refuge and make contact with the National Crane Foundation in Baraboo, WI to create an on-line community of schools along the flyway.

I think it would heighten student interest even more to make connections to the plight of birds in Hawaii, especially the birds living in the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument and its environmental and cultural designations. I would love to work with a school in Hawaii to have an internet exchange between our students. I would like to start off small partnering with another interested school or two and then see what the project evolves into.

The larger goal of the project would be to work with the students on developing a more global view of the importance in changing their own and hopefully family values and behaviors to maintain or restore other environment resources especially coral reefs and related marine environments.