June 2007 Lessons for Georgia Teachers: Rivers to Reef The teachers began their trip at Peachtree Creek in Atlanta, down the feeder rivers to the Altamaha River, all the way down to the Atlantic Ocean near Brunswick and Darian. As 3 On Your Side Education Reporter, Randi Hempel, and photojournalist, LeVar James show us, it's a way to help them understand the watershed and how it affects the ocean, especially Gray's Reef. Ever wonder what's in this water? These teachers are about to find out, as they sail the seas testing the quality of water samples taken at different distances and depths while on board the Research Vessel Savannah. "We're processing our dissolved oxygen, it's not ready" says teacher, Barbara Crow. It's a new learning experience which Barbara Crow, a 3rd grade teacher at Isle of Hope Elementary says she could only visualize. "It was like a whole new world when I did that and that's what we hope to do for children we want we want learning to be interesting, we want to keep their attention." Says Barbara Crow. “There's nothing more thrilling for a teacher than to see their students, even if their students happen to be educators themselves have that that miraculous light bulb go off in their heads and make that connection and that's what they're doing." Says Cathy Sakas, the Education Coordinator at NOAA Gray’s Reef. While only a few dozen teachers from across the state are out on Georgia's waterways learning more about how what we do affects the water system, they'll be able to take their new knowledge back to hundreds of students in their classrooms, some who maybe have never seen the ocean. "A lot of the kids that I have taught over the past couple of years really don't get to see a whole lot. I brought crawfish into the classroom, they thought they were lobsters and crabs. They didn't know what they were." Says Troy McGarr, a 7th grade science teacher at Richards Middle School in Columbus. And this week on the water gives these teachers the tools they need to take back to the classroom. “It's invaluable because a lot of the teachers don't have marine biology degrees so it gets us involved in things that we very possibly were not exposed to in school.” Adds McGarr. “I'll be planning how I'm going to use what I learned now to meet the needs of the children in a more creative way.” Says Crow. A more hands on way. Getting into the free Rivers to Reef work shop is pretty tough. Teachers have to submit a resume, curriculum and write about what they'll do with their new knowledge. Out of 132 applicants, only 32 were chosen. 17 went out on the waters this week, the others will go in July. The teachers and our crew, reporter, Randi Hempel, and photojournalist, LeVar James, were trying to get to Gray's Reef yesterday, but the high winds and six foot seas didn't make diving possible. Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary is located 20 miles off of Sapelo Island. The reef is one of the largest near shore live-bottom reefs off the Southeastern United States. The sanctuary takes up about 23 square miles and consists of sandstone outcroppings. The sanctuary is home to reef fish and a calving ground for some whales. If you would like more information on Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary, click here. (Story from Channel 3 Savannah) See original article and watch video of story (see Ms. Searcy) 
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