Community+Resources

=This page contains information about Science Education Community Resources=

Life Science and Biology
Academy of Natural Science ( Reviewed by Ryan Kelleher) [] I will probably be teaching in the Philadelphia area. I would use the Academy of Natural Science when I start teaching as a community resource this is because it is a good resource as a museum and also as a hands on experience to allow students the opportunity to come face to face with animals at the outside in portion of the museum, which I was a volunteer at when I was in seventh grade. The prices for 35 minuet opportunities are $40 for 10-30 students or $75 for 31-60 students. The museums also have opportunities scientific field like paleontological digs. With the hands on experiences of the big dig 30 for 10-30 students or $55 for 31-60 students. The academy also offers classroom experiences that would help as example of animals of lesson on functions of life. They also allow for opportunities for lunch which is included. The last portion that would be the opportunity to learn about the new research that is being pursued, students could learn about what it means to be a scientist.

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (Reviewed by Josh Egner) The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area located right here in the Poconos is a great community resource for the classroom. I have been there before with my ESU ecology class and it was very informational. The scenery is amazing and students can study many areas of science here from rock sediments to observing many species. The website [] includes field trip times that are given by park rangers. There is a section just for teachers to find these times and plan a trip with your classroom. I would use this resource to teach my students about the environment that they live in when we are studying biospheres and habitats. I highly recommend Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area for any biology or science teacher to incorporate field trips into their classroom.

Hickory Run State Park is pretty useful especially in a biology classroom, however, it could be useful for an earth and space science classroom as well. The state park has one of the only natural boulder fields in North America. The community also has tons of hiking trails as well as natural bodies of water. At the park there are certain programs offered there at the state park. This includes, a watershed education program (where students can test the quality of water) and many programs for environmental education. The park also offers workshops for teachers where they help guide them to develop environmental curriculum. I feel this park has a variety of wildlife, bodies of water, and hiking trails that allow for a great variety of education.
 * Hickory Run State Park** (reviewed by Heather Malin)

I live near this site and am familiar with many of the activities and opportunities available here. Merril Creek is a back-up resevoir created to provide water to Delaware River power plants in case the river levels get too low. Activities include hiking, boating, fishing and hunting. Their Visitor Center, open to the public has wildlife displays and hosts 5,000 students yearly in different environmental education programs. Workshops on hawk identification and Monarch larva monitoring are also available. A hawkcount is conducted daily (the public is more than welcome to visit and participate and ask questions of the official counters) between September 1 till the end of November with reports going to the data base called Hawkcount. A Bald Eagle nested here and many days is visible to visitors from different vantage points. I participated in the a yearly banding of the eaglet chicks which was conducted by NJDEP wildlife personnel. When I am teaching science/Biology, I plan on utilizing this great outdoor space with my students! **Tannersville Cranberry Bog** (reviewed by Emily Detter) I did a review on the Tannersville Cranberry Bog that is located in Tannersville PA. The bog consists of 775 acres that once was occupied by a glacier. This bog was one of the first sanctuaries for the Nature Conservancy. The Nature Conservancy joins with volunteers and members of the Monroe County Environmental Education Center to manage the preserve. Walks through the bog are offered, but the bog can only be toured during certain hours due to its fragile state. Walks are given throughout the year on scheduled dates. The dates of the public walks can be viewed by navigating to the following site, []. The cost for these public walks is $5 for non-members or $3 for EEC members, children 12 and under, or for Nature Conservancy members. For more information, you can call (570) 629-3061. I think that the Cranberry Bog is a very unique experience and high students would be interested in the tour of the Bog. Personally, I have visited the bog twice. The walk takes you through a wooded area and then you proceed to tour the bog which consists of “floating boardwalks”. The experience is very unique and is something that most people have not experience before. The tour guides are full of a lot of information and are willing to answer any questions. I would highly recommend this community resource.
 * Merril Creek Resevoir, Warren County, NJ** (reviewed by Bob Verdon)

**The National Aquarium in Baltimore**, Maryland (reviewed by Joe Pereira) I decided to review the aquarium because I think that the students would really be excited about experiencing marine animals up close. For $24.95 the students would get admission to the aquarium, a 4D Immersion show and a dolphin show. The price is the group rate for over 15 people and to get arrangements you can call central reservations at 410-576-3833 between 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday thru Friday. They have a many teacher resources in which you can do some research and give your students the best possible experience. You can take your students behind the scenes and show them how the animals are taken care of, feed and how to the workers take care of the facility. They also have labs that your students can be working on during the trip so students aren't just walking around and might not be paying attention to what is going on. The aquarium isn't just a learning experience but its a fun, interactive place where students can be part of biological work not just sitting in a classroom. The website you can visit is http://www.aqua.org/index.html.

This is a “hands-on” center which allows students to get a first hand look at science. They have centers for every aspect of science! The topics are always changing and is a great way to tie in lectures with a field trip. It does not cost much to go, and they have great group rates. They offer memberships and summer camps. It is a great way to find information and fun activities to use in and out of the classroom. The reviews posted by students support the fun activities the center offers and has many activities to chose from! The center is located in Allentown and would be a great day trip for any class! http://www.davinci-center.org/mission.html
 * The DaVinci Science Center** - Allentown, Pa (reviewed by Shannon Jones)
 * This resource is valid for ANY science class!!!**

The Carbon County Environmental Education Center (CCEEC) is located in Summit Hill, Pa, about 6 miles west of Jim Thorpe, and is located on the Mauch Chunk Lake. The center itself is open to the public weekdays from 8-4:30 and has many exhibits of Pennsylvania wildlife. CCEEC also has an on-site animal rehabilitation center that houses injured mammals and birds of prey that are used for their education progrmas. CCEEC offers many programs throughout the year for kids, adults, schools, teachers, and the public. Some of the programs that are offered educate about bats, birds of prey, local flora and fauna, and water pollution, just to name a few. CCEEC also offers school fieldtrip programs that are in conjunction with other local nature centers and preserves, such as Hickory Run State Park and Hawk Mountain Santuary. For example, a naturalist from CCEEC will guide students on a hike to the various raptor viewing lookouts at the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary during the migration season of birds of prey. This is an autumn activity. The CCEEC also has weekend programs that usually cost a $5 donation. The schedule for weekend programs can be found on their website. For a complete description, contact information, and a complete list of programs offered by CCEEC, check out their website at []. Feel free to contact the staff with any questions and/or concerns about the activities and opportunities they offer. For they are very friendly and eager to help. You can also check out the websites for Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, [], and Hickory Run State Park, [], which are in conjuction with the CCEEC and some of their programs.
 * Carbon County Envirmonmental Education Center** - Summit Hill, Pa (reviewed by: Jamie Huber)

The Pocono avian research center, located in Cresco, Pa, offers an excellent educational opportunity in the classroom and in the field. The founders Darryl and Jackie Spiker and their research assistants are capable and knowledgeable speakers who can address a variety of topics. Some samples include eastern blue bird conservation, guided hikes, or lectures and powerpoints on a variety of environmental topics. They also offer field experience in bird banding, owl banding, and the community nest box projects. These people work hard to help maintain our natural resources in the Poconos and do a wonderful job with their community outreach and programs. Appropriate topics that they would be excellent at covering include Habitat selectivity and niche partishioning, migration, real scientific research topics and any other avian ecology or biology topics as well as conservation topics like what it takes to create a park and what you can do as an involved citizen. Their websit can be found at http://poconoavianresearch.org/default.aspx CONTACT US AT: Pocono Avian Research Center Phone: 570-595-8620 Po Box 4 Cresco, PA 18326 email: poconoavian@hotmail.com Directions: From Stroudsburg and south : North on rte 447/191. At the split, remain on rte 191 north. Continue north as rte191 joins rte 390 at Carazzas restaurant. Turn right onto Grace Avenue in Cresco (Look for Oaks Senior Housing sign). As the paved road ends at the Oaks community, take the left onto the dirt lane. The research center will be on the right at the end of the lane. From Mt Pocono and north : Follow rte 940east into Paradise. Turn North on Rte 390. Turn left at Carazzas restaurant. Turn right onto Grace Avenue in Cresco (Look for Oaks Senior Housing sign). As the paved road ends at the Oaks community, take the left onto the dirt lane. The research center will be on the right at the end of the lane.
 * Pocono Avian Research Center** (reviewed by Don Detwiler)

**Wagner Free Institute of Science** (reviewed by Bob Podlinski) The Wagner Free Institute of Science is a historic museum located in North Philadelphia minutes from Temple University, on 17th and Montgomery Avenues. This historic landmark, founded my William Wagner, is the collection site for all of his expeditions across America and beyond. He led and sponsored many naturalist tours, which built an impressive taxonomic catalog of organisms, and also an expansive rock and mineral collection. The museum, whose goal was to provide a free science education to the people of Philadelphia, still offers lectures in the lecture hall on a regular basis. As the name suggests, everything is free. In addition to the collections and lectures, the museum offers free tours to schools, and there are lessons in place to choose from. To schedule a tour, or a class trip, call 215-763-6529 and ask for Lauren.

**Chris Torres: Museum of Natural History (for all the sciences)** I chose to do the Museum of Natural History in New York. I chose this destination because I used to live less than an hour from there and it was always one of my favorite places to go when I was growing up. I looked online for some information on actually planning a trip there as a school group. I was very impressed with the options they have. Tickets were slightly more if they were purchased online (they were four dollars), but I think buying the tickets at the museum itself could be a little too hectic. As a teacher I wouldn’t require the students to visit any exhibits that require additional fees, but I would recommend some that possibly apply to something we have been looking at in class. Another thing I really liked about this museum is the section for teachers that are planning a trip to the museum. There was even a section online to help teachers tie standards to their visit to the museum. The only real issue with this museum could be its location in relation to the school in question, but I do think that this is a valuable resource for most teachers in our area.

I reviewed the Academy of Natual Sciences located on 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia, PA. This museum is in collaboration with Drexel Univeristy. Firstly, I have been to this museum on numerous occasion with my mother as a child and have been captivated by it ever since. Its primary focus is on enviornmental and organismal sciences along with natural history; they provide exhibits on everything from paleontological findings to marine ecology, walk-through rooms full of butterflies and the facts that correspond, group studies on diatoms and their variations, as well as a live-animal showroom full of exotic birds and other intriguing, living aninmals. There are plenty activities for students to partake in which also vary and occur daily. For instance, Monday, October 15, 2012, they are hosting a naturalist show where they use live animals and other museum specimens to explore natural history. Viewers have a fantastic opportunity to interact with the animals and teachers during the presentation. The most important attribute that this museum possesses is that educators can visit the museum for free with a free addmission pass For a biology field trip, this museum would be the best to attend. I plan to teach in Philadelphia so its location is perfect for travel; however, I am sure traveling from a sururban school (such as any in Monroe County) would not be an issue.
 * The Academy of Natural Sciences (in Philadephia, Pennsylvania) review by: Amber Anderson**
 * Website:** [|www.ansp.org]

There are many local reources in the community, that though they may not be specifically designed as educational institutions, have resources to offer to sceince teachers and students. One of these resources is Pocono Medical Center. Though PMC is not a teaching hospital, it does offer educational programs both for healthcare providers and community members. Two of the newest features of the hospital are the Trauma Services division- which has allowed PMC to treat serious trauma patients coming in through the emergency department, and the Heart Center- where cardiac procedures such as catherterization and bypass surgeries are performed. My personal experience with these services (through my professional capacity as a paramedic) has been that the medical personnell is very easy to communicate with and willing to provide thier expertise for educational purposes. Though a field trip to the heart unit or emergency room is obviously out of the question for an entire class, medical professionals could be brought into the classroom to speak with students about anatomy and medicine. Another local resource, Sanofi Pasteur, a manufacturing and development facility for vaccines, is also a valuable source of biology professionals that may be available for the classroom. Sanofi, as an extremely large corporation, also has abundant handouts, videos, and other resources avaiable to educators for use in thier classrooms. Students, particularly older students, would likely benefit from interacting with science professionals who can provide real information about career options and real world applications of the sceince content that they are learning in the classrrom.
 * Pocono Medical Center (East Stroudsburg, PA); Sanofi Pasteur (Swiftwater, PA) reviewed by: Brooke E Lininger**

Physical Science, Chemistry and Physics
Museum of Science (Kassi Brady) For my community resource I choose the Museum of Science in Boston because I plan on teaching in the Boston/Cambridge area. The museum is a great resource because it it deals with all sciences not just one. So if just incase you get a student who is not interested in your field than they can at least find something else to enjoy. The museum offers all types of field trips including an overnight stay in the museum along with many other resources.Admission to the museum will be cheap because I plan becoming a member so in comes to be 10$ a student. I feel like this is a doable field trip in which the kids can enjoy.

Crime lab demo (Brittany Baccaro) I researched the internet for some field trip ideas and came across one that I felt was very interesting. My community resource would be to take the students to the local police station to tour the crime lab. I think it will keep the students interested as well as show them how chemistry can be used everyday. I think the students will like it because I know a lot of people who enjoy watching tv shows like csi. If the local police department is not willing to let the students in the lab they may be willing to come in and do some demonstrations for the class. Either way I think it is a fun and safe way for students to learn chemistry and also see it used in their very own community. It is also an easy resource because every town has a local police department and I'm sure they would be very helpful and interested in getting involved with the students in their community.

Science in Motion (SIM) is a program given through Wilkes University which outsources labs to secondary schools. This is a great idea because many high schools do not have the instruments and proper equipment to perform the labs which would best reflect their curriculum. SIM costs nothing to school districts and teachers because it is state funded. Although this program is administered through the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Wilkes carries out all interactions. A "mobile educator" brings and picks up the labs and equipment as needed. There are over 50 chemistry labs which teachers can choose from, or if they would like to perform their own labs and merely need the equipment SIM can provide just what they need. Biology labs and equipment are also available. For teachers, SIM offers workshops on how to use complicated equipment, as well as a week long workshop in June in which teachers can be compensated for attending and also receive Act 48 credit. There are also funds available for faculty development such as meetings and seminars for science teachers. Wilkes services the counties surrounding Northeastern Pa, however there are other colleges which also do similar programs. One such college is Juniata. To make arrangements teachers should contact Rhyle Stull (Program Coordinator) at rhyle.stull@wilkes.edu or by phone at (570)408-4620. Info on SIM is found at http://course.wilkes.edu/SIM/ and Juniata at http://services.juniata.edu/ScienceInMotion/.
 * "Science In Motion", Wilkes University** (Trina Carito)

Today's armed service branches not only compete with one another for recruits but also with private sector employers. Consequently, training programs for professional opportunities have increased and have become varied. The Navy recruiter has visited my class on several occasions to discuss training and vocational opportunities in the areas of nuclear science and laboratory work. The recruiter will arrange to bring guest speakers who are experts in a particular area and offer information and handouts on the talk. Also, the recruiter will provide your class with glossy periodic tables or tables of physical constants printed on heavy card-stock paper. Wall sized periodic tables are also offered. Recruiters operate regionally and can be located through the U.S. Navy website. []
 * United States Navy Recruiter**, Towanda, Pa. (Thomas Kotch)

(Whitney Twining) The Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour is a tour of an old mine originally opened in 1860. It is a great tour with great information of what the mine was like back then. The tour starts with a video on the history of the mine and then you take a mine car down into the mine. You explore the earth 300 feet beneath the surface and travel through the anthracite coal mine. The methods used to mine are explained as well as many other aspects of mining. Steam engines are talked about which has a great deal to do with Chemistry. The tour is great for all ages, as I have experienced it twice. The Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour is open from April 1 through November 30 and is closed on Easter Sunday and Thanksgiving Day. The box office opens at 10:00 AM and tours are scheduled on demand, usually 28 to a car. While waiting for your tour you can watch our introductory video about mining in our theater that is located in the interpretive center where the tickets for the tour are sold. Phone numbers: 1-800-238-7245 and 1-570-963-6463 Email: coalmine@lackawannacounty.org CURRENT PRICES:
 * Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour**
 * ADULT || (13-64) || $10.00 ||
 * SENIOR || (65+) || $9.50 ||
 * MILITARY || | $9.00 ||
 * CHILDREN || (3-12) || $7.50 ||
 * || UNDER 3 || FREE ||

Group Rates are available for schools, motor coaches and civic groups of 20 or more (based on advance reservations).

Earth and Space Science
Bear Mountain state park is located in Rockland County, NY. This park provides many opportunities for teachers in all subject area, as this region of New York has been the location for many events in history. One of the more interesting features of this region, geology related, is the Palisades sill. This geologic feature is extremely interesting in that it formed as a direct result of the rifting of the supercontinent Pangea. There are many different types of environments that students will be able to study within Bear Mountain state park. Students will be able to see valleys that have been carved out by glaciers, a lake environment and the unique environment provided by the Hudson River which runs directly through the park. There are also two different museums and a zoo located within the park. The cost to use any of the attractions is free, however a small donation is recommended. To enter the park a bus permit is required which costs $60 for non-profit organizations. For individual cars a fee of 8$ provides the user with a day pass. The park is opened year round from 8 am till sunset. Chris O'Sullivan (845) 786-2701 ext. 293
 * Bear Mountain State Park** ([]); reviewed by Bryan Freeman
 * Contact Information**
 * Phone**

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Hayden Planetarium reviewed by (Joseph Konopinski) This planetarium is located in NYC. It is 22$ a person or 35$ for the whole experience including IMAX film and the planetarium show. The exhibits being presently shown are IMAX penguins, space show journey to the stars, natural history, Theodore Roosevelt memorial, whales of the giant deep and more. For the teachers they had common core workshops, educator professional development, course professional development, and graduate level courses. They also offer internships and a variety of seminars are conference talks throughout the year.


 * Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC)** ([|http://www.peec.org]); reviewed by Jim Bratcher

One of the oldest and most respected environmental education facilities in the northeast, the PEEC is associated with the National Park Service and is located within the boundaries of Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area at Dingmans Ferry, Pennsylvania. The Center offers educational programs for 4th to 12th grades on a wide variety of Earth Science/Environmental Science topics and can be designed for anything from a half-day field trip to a week-long residential excursion. The organization’s website includes everything you could possibly need in order to plan a trip including: program offerings and prices, planning checklists, linkages to state standards for the various programs, maps and diagrams of the facilities, policies regarding school groups, sample menus for overnight trips, and even planning forms to determine group and cabin assignments. As one of the oldest organizations in their field, these people have clearly thought out all of the details necessary to put together a great experience. The contact person for planning a trip is Heidi Norman, who is the Associate Director of Education. She can be reached via email at hnormand@peec.org or by telephone at (570) 828-2310 x227. Ms. Norman is in charge of weekend operations and planning. For more specific information on the types of programs available for school groups of various grade levels, contact Allison Owczarczak via email at alozark@peed.org or by phone at (570) 828-2310 x223. The office hours for PEEC are Monday through Friday 9:00am to 5:00pm and on Saturdays from 10:00am to 2:00pm.

The Science Education Resource I researched was PEEC. PEEC has environmental programs covering all grades and can be one day programs to overnight opportunities. They incorporate P.A. Education Standards into their programs and will work with you to develop a program to fit your academic needs. PEEC Programs provide: Combine educational, recreational & social living skills: opportunities providing a complete, well-rounded experience for all participants. Can be day-long or resident. Feature a 200,000 acre classroom. Are designed to meet individual needs and interests of each school. Align with learning standards for PA, NY and NJ. Are led by a professional, educated and well trained staff. Are complimented by modern, yet rustic facilities for sleeping and dining (for groups of 10 – 300). Are available any time … easy to arrange…easy to afford. To view the educational standards incorporated into the programs at PEEC go to this link: http://www.peec.org/pdfs/peec%20%20standards.pdf To view the complete planning guide: http://www.peec.org/pdfs/PPP_2010.pdf You can arrange your school/group’s program by simply calling (570)-828-2319 with your questions and to confirm availability. After selecting your date, you will be sent a contract to be signed and returned with a deposit to secure your date and number of participants. PEEC Program Planners will assist you and plan your entire program with you. PEEC staff works closely with all individuals, schools, and groups to insure a shared and successful program. PEEC guarantees to lead and / or instruct 75% of your program. The individuals, schools and groups who participate in our programs are responsible for supervising their constituents during their time at PEEC. Arrangements can be made for a PEEC staff member to personally visit with you and your colleagues to orient you, your support staff and your participants. These arrangements can be made during the initial planning process. The contact person for planning a trip is Heidi Norman: hnormand@peec.org or by telephone at (570) 828-2310 x227. The office hours for PEEC are Monday through Friday 9:00am to 5:00pm and on Saturdays from 10:00am to 2:00pm.
 * PEEC** http://www.peec.org (reviewed by Rachael Shearouse)

Jacobsburg Environmental Center, located in Northampton County just north of Nazareth Pa, offers a whole host of environmental programs for students ages preschool through college, teachers and schools, at its 1,168 acre state park. For Schools the following programs are available : Student Field Learning Experiences -Using conceptual-based environmental education activity continuum, these activities develop environmental awareness, environmental knowledge and environmental valuing and problem solving skills at the appropriate grade level. Environmental Forum -Selected area high school students tackle local environmental issues by developing projects that take positive environmental action toward the issues in their communities. Environmental Problem Solving -Groups or classes of middle or high school students use environmental problem solving methods to tackle local environmental issues. Watershed Education -Students and teachers monitor local water quality and develop strategies to improve water quality. Special Populations - A variety of environmental education services are available for special needs students. For Teachers the following services and programs are available: In-Service and Pre-Service Workshops –Both credit and non-credit in-services are available through the local intermediate units. Graduate credits in environmental education are offered through Penn State and Slippery Rock universities. Individual workshops designed to give educators the knowledge and skills necessary to implement environmental education are also available to schools. Curriculum Development –Assistance is available to help schools develop environmental education curricula and programs. Site Development – Assistance is available to help schools in planning and implementing environmental education sites and study areas. The information provided in this review was found at the following Jacobsburg Environmental Center website: [] Directions: At the foot of Blue Mountain in Northampton County, Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center is reached from PA 33 at the Belfast Exit, near Nazareth, Pa. [DD: 40.791 N 75.301 W] Contact information: Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center, 835 Jacobsburg Rd., Wind Gap, PA 18091, 610-746-2801 [Manager: Mike Jones] E-mail: jacobsburgsp@state.pa.us
 * Jacobsburg Environmental Center**(reviewed by Randy Hall)

The Monroe County Conservation District (MCCD), which is an enviromental education center. This is a year-round environmental education programs for people of all ages. They provide areas in our County for outdoor laboratories where plants, animals and entire ecosystems can be studied. It has many different programs for students and adult. There are also programs for teacher workshops, which seemed to be very useful. You can ever get interships/volunteer work at MCCD. Register for some of their programs by calling their office at 570-629-3061. Directions: Exit 302 I-80West or 302B I-80 East), Make a left onto Route 611N, Make a left onto Rim Rock Road at second traffic light, Follow for 0.4 mile, bear right onto N. Easton-Belmont Pike, Follow 0.2 mile, then bear right onto Running Valley Road, MCCD/MCEEC will be 0.7 mile on left. Address: Gouldsboro State Park, Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania 18466 Phone: 570-894-8336  Toll Free: 888-727-2757 Reservations: 888-727-2757 Email: tobyhannasp@state.pa.us In Monroe and Wayne counties in northeastern Pennsylvania, contains 2,800 acres of land, including the 250-acre Gouldsboro Lake. Tobyhanna State Park is nearby.The rugged terrain of Tobyhanna and Gouldsboro state parks makes for challenging but rewarding hiking. All trails are blazed. Double blazes indicates a change of direction or a junction of two trails.
 * Monroe County Conservation District** (reviewed by Steven Beautz)

The official site for the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation area can be visited by clicking the following link []/. Because the water gap is a national recreation area is it available for use by anyone within the permitted guidelines. being a frequented visitor of the Delaware Water Gap, I am very familiar with the vast amount of opportunity it has to offer. The website mentioned previously has a section dedicated solely to the parks uses for teachers and their students. This section of the site describes the free organized field trips that the Water Gap and park service has to offer including one on geology in which students explore the available evidences of the parks formation. the organized trip takes students to five different locations throughout the park where they explore curriculum based materials and discover the science in the world around them. Even without the use of this specific lesson/field trip, with a little creativity, the park still offer a multitude of opportunities for educators to take their students on exciting and yet educational adventures. I personally love the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and would highly recommend it as a wonderful community resource.
 * Deleware Water Gap National Recreation Area** (reviewed by Justin Tice)

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (reviewed by Sal-Lee Patti)

The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation area is a great cheap field trip for students to get hands on experience. By bringing students here, they will get to see real life nature that they are learning about in Earth Science class. There are many trails that you can take students on so they can explore the park and relate it to what they are learning in class. Students can also learn the impact that a water gap has on the river and surrounding areas. The park offers a lot for teachers. Teachers have a special section the the Delaware Water Gaps website (http://www.nps.gov/dewa/index.htm) that has field trip planners and curriculum materials. This is allows teachers to plan ahead of time if they would like so that students get the full experience and learn what you want them too.

General Science
The Franklin Institute is located in Center City Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a short trip from most local area schools. This museum features a variety of exhibits, including "The Giant Heart", "Space Command", "Changing Earth", and "Electricity", that are excellent for all age groups and fields of science. Other special features include an IMAX Theatre, Planetarium, and Demonstration Theatre. If you are unsure if a trip to the Institute would be appropriate for your class, the Field Trip Planner has a "Curriculum Connections" table that allows the teacher to select their type of curriculum and see what exhibits, shows, and demonstrations would best fit the type of field trip they are designing. The FI also does workshops for student groups including a heart/eye dissection and spectroscopy workshop where students can learn in a hands-on way. The website provides all the information needed to a plan a trip. From the home page, click on the purple "educational resources" tab and go to "Field Trip Planner". After you have decided on the package you want, you may contact the Institute by calling 1-800-285-0684 or email **reservations@fi.edu**.
 * The Franklin Institute** ([|www.fi.edu]); reviewed by Tamara McCombs
 * I highly recommend the Franklin Institute! I have a visited it a couple of times and have absolutely loved it! For my Human Anatomy and Physiology class in high school we went to see the Body Worlds exhibit that was on display, as well as do the dissection workshop, and it was one of the most remarkable and unforgettable experiences of my life!**

I chose to review the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, NJ. The Science Center is a great place to bring your class to experience science. The center has awesome exhibits where students can make structures to test in a 20 mph wind tunnel, examine sea creatures up close, create a 10-ft geyser blast. They have discovery challenges described on their website broken down by age group-everything from creating a space time capsule, to diagnosing diseases, to designing a new species. On top of just day visits, there are also camp-in nights, where students can camp at the center overnight. There are theaters to watch videos about science, as well as people who will perform experiments with you. The Liberty Science center offers reduced rates for students and teachers, and teachers can get in for only $5 (usually $15) There is a Field Trip Planner you can call to make planning your trip easy. (201.253.1310) I would highly recommend the Liberty Science Center. It is not a far drive and was one of the most memorable experiences I had as a child. To get more information you can go to their website [|**http://www.lsc.org/**] or call.
 * Liberty Science Center**, Jersey City, NJ (reviewed by Sara Shatt)


 * Liberty Science Center** located in Jersey City, NJ (reviewed by Kristin D'Arienzo)

After looking at the Liberty Science Center official website it became very clear to me that this is not just a facility to take students to on a day long field trip. This facility also serves as a venue for parties and events that either need an interesting location, or could use a little science entertainment to liven things up. Their website is very easy to follow and even includes a live chat icon on the plan a field trip page. This allows you to have an immediate conversation with an employee who can answer all questions you may have about planning an event. I have visited the Liberty Science Center when I was younger more than once and it definitely sparked my interest into science long before I ever thought I would be making a career out of it. The Liberty Science Center has an Imax theater, a digital 3D theater as well as many educational programs that can be utilized. The best part is their exhibits are all aligned directly with New York and New Jersey Curriculum Standards for Science. To plan a field trip you can contact the field trip specialists at 201.253.1310. The Liberty Science Center website is www.lbs.org and you have to scroll down and click on the educational programs link.


 * The Academy of Natural Science** (reviewed by Taylor Hartey)

The Academy of Natural Science is located in Philadelphia PA. This museum offers changing exhibits in order to keep up with the nature of science, but also offers permanent exhibits. Permanent exhibits allow teachers to plan trips from year to year. Some of the permanent exhibits are the Live Animal Center- where students can view live animals. Another permanent exhibit is the Outside In, this exhibit provides features hands-on activities and close encounters with live animals. The museum has diverse exhibits located inside the building but also has numerous exhibits available online for teachers in case you cannot travel to Philadelphia. This museum offers a range of educational programs and museum presentations available to teachers. There is a program offered for schools called Discovery Lesson. These lessons range from grade levels K-12 depending on your area of interest. All the lessons offered in this program are developed to meet Pennsylvania and New Jersey Educational Standards. The Academy of Natural Sciences is an approved entity for the School District of Philadelphia. To get more information or plan a trip to The Academy of Natural Science you can visit [].
 * I have been to The Academy of Natural Science and it is an unforgettable experience. It is aimed toward school programs and will help you plan your visit according to your grade level. **


 * Frances Slocum State Park** (reviewed by Matt Sieminski)

The reason i chose this state park is because i know for a fact that they have educational resources readily available to teachers. This state park supplies a certified park ranger free of cost to help you guide your students through this beautiful place. during this month at the park there are activities available such as plant print and the 23rd annual trail run. this might be good for a biology teacher or a general science teacher in a middle school. you can contact Kathy Kelchner for the plant prints and a website was given for the run. http://www.active.com/running/wyoming-pa/23d-annual-fall-trail-run-2010. This park has lots to learn about, from its glacial formation to the story of Frances Slocum the little girl who was kidnapped by Native Americans. If you visit http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us and go through this site you can find any information to all the state parks in Pennsylvania. Being a state run organization there is money that can be used for teachers to take their students there. The only thing that is not included if food so you might have to work something out with the school you are in and see if they do a bagged lunch program. Getting out of the classroom for any reason is always educational. it just depends on how you can relate it to your students. Here are directions from ESU to Wyoming Pa where Frances Slocum State Park is located. Directions: Frances Slocum State Park, 565 Mount Olivet Rd, Wyoming, PA 18644-9333**
 * 1. || Head south on N Kistler St **toward** Analomink St || [[image:http://maps.gstatic.com/intl/en_us/mapfiles/transparent.png]] || 46 ft ||
 * 2. || Turn left at Analomink St || [[image:http://maps.gstatic.com/intl/en_us/mapfiles/transparent.png]] || 351 ft ||
 * 3. || Take the 2nd right onto Prospect St || [[image:http://maps.gstatic.com/intl/en_us/mapfiles/transparent.png]] || 0.7 mi ||
 * 4. || Turn right to merge onto I-80 W || [[image:http://maps.gstatic.com/intl/en_us/mapfiles/transparent.png]] || 24.2 mi ||
 * 5. || Take exit 284 for PA-115 **toward** Blakeslee || [[image:http://maps.gstatic.com/intl/en_us/mapfiles/transparent.png]] || 0.4 mi ||
 * 6. || Turn right at PA-115 N || [[image:http://maps.gstatic.com/intl/en_us/mapfiles/transparent.png]] || 19.8 mi ||
 * 7. || Continue onto N Cross Valley Expy || [[image:http://maps.gstatic.com/intl/en_us/mapfiles/transparent.png]] || 3.9 mi ||
 * 8. || Continue onto PA-309 N/Harris StContinue to follow PA-309 N || [[image:http://maps.gstatic.com/intl/en_us/mapfiles/transparent.png]] || 3.7 mi ||
 * 9. || Turn right at Carverton Rd/State Route 1036**Continue to follow Carverton Rd** || [[image:http://maps.gstatic.com/intl/en_us/mapfiles/transparent.png]] || 1.6 mi ||
 * 10. || Turn left at Manor Dr || [[image:http://maps.gstatic.com/intl/en_us/mapfiles/transparent.png]] || 0.7 mi ||
 * 11. || Turn right at Green Rd || [[image:http://maps.gstatic.com/intl/en_us/mapfiles/transparent.png]] || 1.4 mi ||
 * 12. || Turn right at Mt Olivet Rd/State Route 1044 || [[image:http://maps.gstatic.com/intl/en_us/mapfiles/transparent.png]] || 0.3 mi ||