This past spring and fall, thanks to our partner, the National Recreation Foundation, ITE has been able to offer two teacher professional development opportunities to educators in Southern Arizona! This two-day program offers educators a glimpse into both wild & urban nature experiences. The first day of the program takes teachers to the Santa Rita Mountains where they get to explore Madera Canyon Creek, and practice their outdoor skills such as tent and fire-building. The second day of the program allows teachers to explore the Chuk-son Trail, which is an interpretive trail that tells the story of Tucson! The trail begins at Tucson’s birthplace at the base of A Mountain, along the Santa Cruz River, and then to a more recent story of the city, the development of the Tucson Convention Center and the subsequent changes to Barrio Viejo. Teachers then get to develop their own lesson plan based on the activities of the program while exploring themes of land, identity, history, and culture!
