Potowmack Chapter 2019 Annual Meeting & Program

Date/Time
Sunday, November 17, 2019
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Location
Green Spring Gardens

Categories

• Potowmack
• Meetings
• Programs

The VNPS Potowmack Chapter 2019 Annual Meeting & Program will be held at 1 p.m., Sunday, November 17, at Green Springs Gardens at 4603 Green Spring Road in Alexandria.

Annual Meeting

Per the Potowmack Chapter Bylaws, this meeting is held to elect officers and at-large members of the Board, to approve the budget for the following year, and to conduct such other business as may be appropriate.

Please see the Early Fall 2019 Potowmack News for information about the proposed Slate of Officers and the proposed FY2020 Budget.

Program

Using Service Learning and Citizen Science as a Meaningful Context to Teach Plant Science

Dr. Peter Mecca will describe some of the science-learning opportunities available to students at George Mason High School in Falls Church, Virginia. For example, every fall and spring, Mason students assist National Park Service Staff at Shenandoah National Park to remove invasive plants along the Appalachian Trail. In addition, Mason students are leaders in urban agriculture through traditional gardening (raised beds) and alternative gardening (hydroponics, FarmBot) methods. Dr. Mecca will also share information about a potential new learning opportunity for students – a citizen-science experience in Puerto Rico.

If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement, and mystery of the world we live in. – Rachel Carson

Photo: LinkedIn

Peter Mecca has a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction and Ecology from Pennsylvania State University, an M.A. degree in Environmental Biology from Hood College, and a B.S. degree in Secondary Education – Biology from Penn State. He has served as a public school teacher, science education consultant, administrator, and a university faculty member. Prior to his current position, Dr. Mecca was the Instructional Systems Specialist for Science with the U.S. Department of Defense Schools. He is a member of the National Association of Biology Teachers, the Virginia Association of Science Teachers, the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, and the Council of State Science Supervisors and was awarded the Conservation Education Teacher of the Year by the Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts.

Refreshments will be served.