Outreach
Some of our classes and animals can come to you! We provide outreach classes in schools, youth centers and outdoor festival settings. Click here for a listing of available classes.
Cost: 1 hour = $60; Each additional hour = $40
Fees noted above support travel, animal transport and instruction within 20 miles of Great Lakes Aquarium. Outreach beyond 20 miles will incur an additional mileage fee of $0.55/mile.
Partners in Education (PIE) – Grades 3-5
Cost: Free
This partnership between Great Lakes Aquarium, Minnesota Sea Grant Program and the University of Minnesota Duluth trains volunteer educators to provide free outreach programs to Twin Ports schools. The topics covered such as weather, watersheds, properties of water and geology, change each semester and are all relevant to the Great Lakes. Contact the PIE coordinator at pie.gla@gmail.com for current offerings or to schedule a visit from PIE staff.
Fall 2011 - “A Superior Connection”
Your students will turn into copepods and lake trout as they dive into Lake Superior science and unravel its mysteries. By investigating food chains and fish movement in Lake Superior, students will understand how these organisms are connected. We’ll wrap things up by using the scientific method to learn how scientists ask questions and discover exciting new science hidden beneath the depths of the greatest of the Great Lakes.
“A Superior Connection” has been developed for 3rd – 5th grade students and can easily be adapted for K-2 classrooms. “A Superior Connection” was written to fit both Wisconsin and Minnesota Academic Standards and the Minnesota Scope and Sequence Environmental Literacy Benchmarks.
Contact Jessamy Schwartz at pie.gla@gmail.com to schedule a visit from a PIE educator.
Underwater Science – Grades 6-9
Cost: Free instruction and equipment; participating school/group is responsible for pool rental.
Local SCUBA instructor and Dive Master Elmer Engman offers a unique way for your student to “dive” into science. Mr. Engman will visit with your students in the classroom introducing basic science principles such as buoyancy, drag, and water’s effect on sound as they apply to SCUBA diving. A second session gets everyone in the water practicing their new SCUBA skills and conducting experiments underwater. Dive gear, dive instruction and pre/post lesson materials provided. Access to school or community pool is the responsibility of school staff. Program length is dependent on group size. Call us today at 218-740-2007 to learn more or schedule a visit!
MinnAqua Program Fishing: Get in the Habitat!
Cost: Varies with program; some free options available.
The MinnAqua Program is the DNR’s state-wide fishing and aquatic resource outreach program. The Northern Minnesota MinnAqua Specialist is housed at the Great Lakes Aquarium. During the months of May – August the MinnAqua Intern is available to present MinnAqua fishing programs. MinnAqua offers fishing and aquatic resource stewardship programming and resources for all seasons. Fishing activities include ice fishing, fly fishing and shore fishing with a resource management and environmental stewardship focus. Click on the MinnAqua icon to access their website and curriculum materials.