Sampson Middle School science teacher Brooke Pritchett will have an opportunity of a lifetime this summer, as she travels thousands of miles to Central America to spend a week learning about the environment and concepts of the Belizean classroom.

Pritchett has been selected to be one of 12 participants in the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences Tropical Ecology Institute, to be held in Belize July 24-Aug. 1.

“This Educators of Excellence Tropical Institute will provide more real world experience that I can relay in the science classroom to help students make the contention between what they learn in class and how it can be applied in the real world,” Pritchett said.

While in Belize, Pritchett will have the opportunity to explore a tropical rain forest, visit Mayan ruins, canoe a tropical river and visit a Belizean classroom, where teachers will join the American educators to form an international team that shares teaching techniques.

“Comparing the Belize classrooms to the classrooms at Sampson Middle School will inspire new teaching foundations in my own classroom,” Pritchett explained. “It has always been a dream of mine to experience the rain forest and coral reefs which will enhance my ecological knowledge.”

Pritchett, along with other participants, will have the opportunity to experience several tropical habitats including coral reefs, mangrove swamps, and rain forests. The daily program will include practical field experiences, basic local natural history, and easily duplicated techniques for teaching natural sciences.

During the trip, the participants are required to provide daily updates to students in North Carolina via a blog. This program is designed to give educators a direct experience with environments and concepts that are part of the classroom curriculum. The 12 participants will spend time at a Belizean school interacting with teachers and students.

Pritchett is in her third year of teaching at Sampson Middle School, where she teaches seventh grade science. Prior to teaching, she was a technologist and department trainer for a DNA lab.

Following the trip, Pritchett is required to develop an educational project incorporating her experience from the Institute. Projects will be presented at the post-trip meeting in the fall.

During the post-trip evaluation, Pritchett will present a project based on her Tropical Ecology Institute experience and meet educator participants from other Institute programs.

While finds are available from the museum to cover substitute teachers if needed, there is a minimal cost to cover supplies, round-trip airfare, ground transportation, instruction, lodging and meals.

The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences created the Educators of Excellence Institutes to enable exemplary educators to experience the natural world in selected outstanding environments; increase the use of reflection and direct environmental experience in teaching; become inspired and recommitted to the teaching profession; and become a part of a statewide network of exceptional educators for continued support and learning.

Since 1987, educators from across the state have been inspired by their own experiences in areas such as Belize, Ecuador and Yellowstone National Park.

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By Kristy D. Carter

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Reach Kristy D. Carter at 910-592-8137, ext. 2588. Follow us on Twitter at @SampsonInd. Like us on Facebook.