Agricultural Science and Environmental Education
The Agricultural Science and Environmental Science Programs listed below are sponsored by the National Park Service and Advancing Science, the Science Outreach Program at Gettysburg College. Each session offers students grades 5 through 12 the opportunity to learn about the environment through real science in the field. Sessions range in length from 11/2 to 3 hours. The topics covered are included in the annual Envirothon Competition. .
Soil - Introduction to local geology, soil formation, use or abuse of farmland, testing soil quality for chemical makeup, physical structure and biological components, erosion activity. *Advancing Science lab on soil ph or groundwater/enviroscape models
Water - Introduction to the water cycle and watersheds with an Enviroscape model, stream study for water quality through water testing and macro-invertebrate survey. *Advancing Science lab on water quality testing and on ground water pollution with groundwater model.
Wildlife - Habitat, niche, adaptations, the food web, endangered species, wildlife management, biological diversity, wildlife habitat assessment.
Forestry - Trees as renewable resources, natural cycles, succession, limiting factors, dendrology, evaluation of riparian forest buffer, *Advancing Science lab - Measuring oxygen from a leaf.
Programs are available at no charge to educators of 5th through 12th grade students and may be scheduled in combination. *The optional Advancing Science labs are only available to schools from Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Perry, and York Counties.
We suggest attending the teacher workshop prior to visiting the site for a field trip. This workshop is required for teachers wishing to schedule the Advancing Science laboratory activities as part of the field trip. Teachers attending will receive Act 48 hours from Advancing Science. For information on the workshop and/or to register for the site visit, please call 717-338-9114.
Or you can register for the programs on-line, including the Advancing Science labs at: Student Education Program Reservations