Post by barbara on Feb 20, 2009 8:54:35 GMT -5
I wanted to get some attention to this program. I've received permission to post this here, from administration here, and Claudia Dickinson. This will explain the Aqua Havens project better than I ever could.
In 2002, through the establishment of a partnership with the American Cichlid Association and Aqua Havens, we had the good fortune of meeting Bob Keddell, instructor at the time of Wilde Lake Middle School, and now Lime Kiln Middle School, as well as founder of Aqua Havens. Bob is one of those rare individuals whose enthusiasm and innovation have turned the entire school into one of productive energy.
A highly informative article on Aqua Havens, authored by Bob, appears on page 118 of the August 2005 issue of Tropical Fish Hobbyist magazine. It is here that Bob's philosophy, "if you can capture their hearts, you can capture their minds," is exemplified through his Aqua Havens teachings.
The students and faculty at Lime Kiln Middle School took on an impressive role in aquatic conservation as their innovative Aqua Havens Program, under Bob's exceptional guidance, was asked in 2006 to flagship C.A.R.E.S. for Education, Aqua Havens CARES. Fish at risk, donated through the generosity of renowned collectors and hobbyists across the country, many of them from you and your fellow members of the ACA, and others from organizations such as the American Livebearers Association (ALA), arrive at the school to be met by the eagerness and meticulously planned aquariums of the students of Aqua Havens CARES. These species at risk, some already possessing the unfortunate distinction of being extinct in the wild, could not be in more exceptional hands.
Aqua Havens CARES, now running close to 3,000 gallons of aquariums, with the goal of a tank in every classroom (and a great deal spilling out into the halls!), and a special research center, the CARES A.R.C., has received wide recognition from, among others, the World Wildlife Preservation, the Baltimore Aquarium, and the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D. C., where students have been invited to set up tanks and hold summer school courses. It is with great pride that we move forward with Aqua Havens CARES for Education as a part of the C.A.R.E.S. Preservation Program, and we look forward to a future that is brighter for at risk species as a result of the altruistic efforts by all.
Many exciting projects are currently underway as we work with Dr. William Ojwang of the Lake Victoria CARES Conservation Through Education Project in networking the Kenyan students with the students at Aqua Havens CARES. Bob is superb in this effort with his skills, knowledge, experience, and equipment. The Hill Country Cichlid Club has been working with instructor Terry Maxwell here in the United States, and we have several other schools onboard as well. Our next step will be to connect Terry's school with the Aqua Havens CARES students, followed by a tri-connection between Aqua Havens CARES, Kenya, and Terry's students.
As a professional curriculum writer, Bob has been working with an Aqua Havens CARES Team of teachers, and the input of knowledgeable scientists and hobbyists, to put together a formal curriculum. This has been an ongoing effort spanning the past two years. Bob and I are both great believers in slowly but surely to produce a final well laid plan of longterm success. Funding for the endeavor has been a bit of a challenge for which we look forward to helping to resolve through good news from grant applications!
We have many interested schools coming on board and, with the help of Bob and the members of the Hill Country Cichlid Club, such as Greg Steeves, Dave Hansen, Dave Schumacher, and Barbara Wooton, who have place great dedication into this effort, look forward to a solid strategy of networking schools across the country with a final unified curriculum in place by 2010.
If you and your school (or classroom) are interested in being a part of this effort, please e-mail me at Claudia@CARESPreservation.com.
Also, for those of you in ACA CARES with extra fry that you may wish to donate to our flagship Aqua Havens CARES, please note that you will receive your ACA CARES Red Seal of Achievement Award for each species donated. Thank you so much for your great generosity in considering this!
All CARES outreach schools receive offspring from the base stock maintained and bred at our flagship Aqua Havens CARES.
A smile still crosses my face as I recall one e-mail that Bob wrote to me, "…just finished with the State of Maryland Science Department touring and interviewing kids…the really fun part is that one month ago they did not know where Madagascar was, let alone what the country was like…today they introduced Madagascar to the State Department of Education…." A proven leader in education and conservation efforts, Aqua Havens CARES serves as an exemplary model in championing this effort in guiding others.
With Warm Regards,
Claudia
Claudia Dickinson
CARES Preservation Program Coordinator
ACA CARES
Claudia@CARESPreservation.com
www.CARESPreservation.com
www.cichlid.org
In 2002, through the establishment of a partnership with the American Cichlid Association and Aqua Havens, we had the good fortune of meeting Bob Keddell, instructor at the time of Wilde Lake Middle School, and now Lime Kiln Middle School, as well as founder of Aqua Havens. Bob is one of those rare individuals whose enthusiasm and innovation have turned the entire school into one of productive energy.
A highly informative article on Aqua Havens, authored by Bob, appears on page 118 of the August 2005 issue of Tropical Fish Hobbyist magazine. It is here that Bob's philosophy, "if you can capture their hearts, you can capture their minds," is exemplified through his Aqua Havens teachings.
The students and faculty at Lime Kiln Middle School took on an impressive role in aquatic conservation as their innovative Aqua Havens Program, under Bob's exceptional guidance, was asked in 2006 to flagship C.A.R.E.S. for Education, Aqua Havens CARES. Fish at risk, donated through the generosity of renowned collectors and hobbyists across the country, many of them from you and your fellow members of the ACA, and others from organizations such as the American Livebearers Association (ALA), arrive at the school to be met by the eagerness and meticulously planned aquariums of the students of Aqua Havens CARES. These species at risk, some already possessing the unfortunate distinction of being extinct in the wild, could not be in more exceptional hands.
Aqua Havens CARES, now running close to 3,000 gallons of aquariums, with the goal of a tank in every classroom (and a great deal spilling out into the halls!), and a special research center, the CARES A.R.C., has received wide recognition from, among others, the World Wildlife Preservation, the Baltimore Aquarium, and the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D. C., where students have been invited to set up tanks and hold summer school courses. It is with great pride that we move forward with Aqua Havens CARES for Education as a part of the C.A.R.E.S. Preservation Program, and we look forward to a future that is brighter for at risk species as a result of the altruistic efforts by all.
Many exciting projects are currently underway as we work with Dr. William Ojwang of the Lake Victoria CARES Conservation Through Education Project in networking the Kenyan students with the students at Aqua Havens CARES. Bob is superb in this effort with his skills, knowledge, experience, and equipment. The Hill Country Cichlid Club has been working with instructor Terry Maxwell here in the United States, and we have several other schools onboard as well. Our next step will be to connect Terry's school with the Aqua Havens CARES students, followed by a tri-connection between Aqua Havens CARES, Kenya, and Terry's students.
As a professional curriculum writer, Bob has been working with an Aqua Havens CARES Team of teachers, and the input of knowledgeable scientists and hobbyists, to put together a formal curriculum. This has been an ongoing effort spanning the past two years. Bob and I are both great believers in slowly but surely to produce a final well laid plan of longterm success. Funding for the endeavor has been a bit of a challenge for which we look forward to helping to resolve through good news from grant applications!
We have many interested schools coming on board and, with the help of Bob and the members of the Hill Country Cichlid Club, such as Greg Steeves, Dave Hansen, Dave Schumacher, and Barbara Wooton, who have place great dedication into this effort, look forward to a solid strategy of networking schools across the country with a final unified curriculum in place by 2010.
If you and your school (or classroom) are interested in being a part of this effort, please e-mail me at Claudia@CARESPreservation.com.
Also, for those of you in ACA CARES with extra fry that you may wish to donate to our flagship Aqua Havens CARES, please note that you will receive your ACA CARES Red Seal of Achievement Award for each species donated. Thank you so much for your great generosity in considering this!
All CARES outreach schools receive offspring from the base stock maintained and bred at our flagship Aqua Havens CARES.
A smile still crosses my face as I recall one e-mail that Bob wrote to me, "…just finished with the State of Maryland Science Department touring and interviewing kids…the really fun part is that one month ago they did not know where Madagascar was, let alone what the country was like…today they introduced Madagascar to the State Department of Education…." A proven leader in education and conservation efforts, Aqua Havens CARES serves as an exemplary model in championing this effort in guiding others.
With Warm Regards,
Claudia
Claudia Dickinson
CARES Preservation Program Coordinator
ACA CARES
Claudia@CARESPreservation.com
www.CARESPreservation.com
www.cichlid.org