Great Smoky Mountains National Park announces:
Fire Ecology in the Classroom
A Teacher’s Workshop for
Upper Elementary, Middle, and High
School Teachers
Where: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, near
Gatlinburg, Tennessee
When: Saturday, May 6th, 2017
Time: 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
FREE lunch, prizes and educational materials.
A $25.00 stipend will be provided for transportation.
Want to learn more about wildland fire and how to create fire science lessons for your classroom?
Come gain a better understanding of wildland fire and fire ecology in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Learn about what
research is being conducted on the role of fire in ecosystems today and how nature and humans impact fire behavior on the
landscape. Discuss ways to get students involved in contributing valuable scientific data through hands-on science education
lessons. Participants will be provided with tools and instruction to enhance STEM curriculum-based lessons.
Presenters
Rob Klein is the Fire Ecologist for Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the
Southeastern Regional Appalachian Piedmont Zone, a grouping of 19 national park units
in Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. Rob has an undergraduate
degree in Biology from Eastern Kentucky University and a graduate degree in Plant
Pathology from the University of Tennessee. Rob has worked in fire ecology in Great
Smoky Mountains National park for 15 years. The focus of his work has been monitoring
the effects of prescribed burning and wildfire on vegetation, fuels, and wildlife throughout
the southeastern United States.
Katie Corrigan is a Park Ranger at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. She has an
undergraduate degree in biology and ecology and has conducted fire ecology research in
national parks and in the Dominican Republic. Katie has worked with fire management,
interpretation, and environmental education in the National Park Service for 13 years.
She has graduate coursework in Secondary Science Education and has spent time
teaching in both formal and informal settings. She has a passion for science and
education and a keen interest in connecting students with the outdoors.
Space is limited. To register, please call Katherine Corrigan at 865-436-1257 or
email [email protected].
Funding for the workshop is made possible through a generous
grant from the Alcoa Foundation and Friends of the Smokies.