Teacher on environmental outing

Susan Cullumber, a mathematics, science and fine/performing arts teacher from The Howard S. Gray Education Program at Banner Behavioral Health-Scottsdale is among 30 teachers selected from nearly 1,000 U.S. applicants to participate in an environmental expedition to the Galápagos Islands, a designated World Heritage site off of the coast of Ecuador, as part of the Toyota International Teacher Program. The international study tour, which began Saturday and runs through Dec. 6, is for secondary teachers of all disciplines and focuses on promoting environmental conservation and sustainability, as well as international understanding. Follow Cullumber on her adventure at www.toyota4education.com.

EXPEDITION DETAILS

While in the Galápagos, Cullumber will be joined by Galapagueño teachers on a three-day study cruise to explore the remote islands of Española, Floreana, and Fernandina, and will spend time on the main islands of Santa Cruz and San Cristobal. The group will observe environmental projects, exchange ideas with experts and community leaders and participate in activities that encourage global environmental conservation and protection.

PREPARING FOR EXCURSION

Cullumber created a unit on the Galápagos Islands and presented it to her students earlier this month. The class compared the various islands' geology, flora and fauna. Susan also championed the construction of a desert tortoise habitat outside her classroom so that her students could better understand the environment here in Arizona.

SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP

Howard Gray sent its partnering school eight Kodak EasyShare digital cameras that the students will use to take pictures of the Galápagos environment and send to Howard Gray. In exchange, Howard Gray students will photograph the Sonoran Desert habitat for the Galapagueño students

SHARING HER EXPERIENCE

In order to share her tour experience, Cullumber will set up a photo exhibit and presentation at Banner Behavioral Health-Scottsdale in January. In addition, she plans to showcase the exhibit next spring at the Arizona Museum for Youth in Mesa, featuring an art exchange with the Galápagos school.

- Rebecca Armendariz/News by You