■ Teachers of all grades in public, private, and charter schools (with emphasis on Waiʻanae and ʻEwa regions) ■ Providers of 'āina and place-based professional development ■ Anyone who feels they could benefit from and add to the network ■ There is no cost to join the Wai Huihia Kumu Network!
What can the Wai Huihia Kumu Network offer to educators?
■ Monthly gatherings after school at different schools or sites implementing ʻāina and place-based education ■ Guest speakers including scientists, researchers, and resource managers from NOAA, Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), and other government agencies as well as non-profit organizations ■ ʻĀina-based education field trips ■ Opportunities to experience exemplary 'āina-based intersession programs for students ■ Calendar of events featuring relevant professional development workshops and courses ■ ʻĀina and place-based lessons and resource materials on a shared website ■ Support to receive an ʻĀina-Based Education Certificate - more info coming soon!
When & where will these monthly meetings be held?
■ Monthly gatherings will be held once a month after school (usually online and sometimes in-person) featuring different schools or sites implementing ʻāina and place-based education ■ Monthly gatherings will be typically held every second Tuesday of the month, from 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. (from October - May)
Why the Wai Huihia Kumu Network?
■ This network provides a space for teachers with varying levels of experience in ʻāina- and place-based education to: –come together to exchange knowledge, ideas, and resources; –learn from each other as well as from other organizations; and –build new skills and strategies to help them feel more confident and supported to implement 'āina-based education.
What does Wai Huihia mean?
Wai Huihia can be translated literally to “mixing waters” in the Hawaiian language, with the deeper meaning of mixing/uniting resources to support each other. Mahalo to Puanani Wilhelm of the Hawaiʻi Department of Education for the kōkua with this special name!