For the last twenty years, we have coordinated experiential learning programs in the Peruvian Amazon for US educators and students. Over the course of two decades, participants in our Amazon Rainforest Workshops have snapped amazing photos of rainforest biodiversity. Unfortunately, most of these photos have only been seen by a handful of friends and family via laptop computers – or worse they are in print form in a shoebox under the bed!
One has to wonder…what could we learn about rainforest biodiversity if we had access to all the photos taken by our participants over the last two decades? What if we could take all those photos and sort them by location and date and species? Would we be able to see patterns of distribution? Discern subtle changes in populations? Stumble upon something new and undiscovered?
What if we could share these photos with the world and inspire wonder and curiosity and knowledge in the next generation of explorers who sit in our classrooms? Exactly one year ago we stumbled upon Project Noah and we immediately knew we had an answer. Finally the multitudes of photos that are taken each year in the Amazon could have a larger purpose!
Last summer, we worked with Project Noah Chief Leaf, Yasser Ansari, to launch a pilot of Project Noah during our Educator Workshop in the Peruvian Amazon. The images in this post are from that expedition. Our initial goal was to shine a light on Amazon biodiversity and begin to construct a virtual field guide to the region we visit each summer. We created a “mission” on Project Noah and called it Peruvian Amazon: Species Spotlight
Many of our participants uploaded their photos to our mission and created field notes for their observations. Project Noah experts from around the world took notice and helped with some of the species identifications. Even today these photos are viewed and commented on as we continue to fill in the details for each spotting.
For 2013, we are incorporating Project Noah more fully into our Educator Academy in the Amazon. Thirty K-12 educators from across the US will join us in Peru for an exciting cross-curricular professional development adventure. Together we will explore one of the world’s most important natural resources – the Amazon! We will engage in hands-on investigations, citizen science research projects, and inquiry-based learning activities designed to deepen understanding of the rainforest ecosystem and its global importance. In addition, we will explore how rainforest concepts relate to 21st century instructional models such as 5E lesson design, inquiry-based exploration, STEM education using innovative instructional tools such as Project Noah.
This year, in addition to simply capturing images of what we see, we will also use our Project Noah spottings to explore the themes of plant and animal adaptations, biomimicry, moth diversity, and nocturnal wildlife in the Amazon. We will return with photos AND curriculum connections, activities, and lessons that use Project Noah to educate the next generation and build Amazon awareness!
Please join us on Project Noah for Amazon Awareness Week, July 15-19, 2013. To learn how you can get involved in our 2014 Educator Academy, please contact Christa Dillabaugh, Education Director, Amazon Rainforest workshops. christa@amazonworkshops.com
