Amphibian Naturalist Workshop

Course Overview

Naturalist workshops are hands-on professional development opportunities to provide educators with the scientific background of environmental phenomena followed by resources to effectively teach meaningful and impactful place-based education to a variety of age groups. Each workshop is first led by a local expert in their respective field to discuss ecology, conservation, and ecosystems which will then be followed by an environmental education component to receive related lessons and activities.

In this workshop, learn about the native amphibians of New Jersey, the importance of vernal pools, habitat requirements of amphibians, and the role of amphibians in the ecosystem. Then learn useful teaching techniques and participate in engaging environmental education activities such as the Frog Call Mating Match, Amphibian Migration Survival Challenge, metamorphosis role playing, and more. Lesson plans, teaching materials, tips for management and adjusting to different age groups, and a list of the best amphibian-related childrens’ books will also be included!

This workshop is intended for PreK-8 educators but can be presented to educators of any age or grade level.

Featured Topics

• Native NJ frogs, toads, and salamanders
• Amphibian ecology and biology
• Amphibian environmental education techniques and resources

About the Instructors

Jenny Gaus-Myers has been a science educator for 30 years, working in both formal and non-formal, as well as collegiate, environments and is currently the Manager of Environmental Education for the Morris County Park Commission.

Christine Healy has been a Wildlife Biologist with Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey (CWF) since 2020. Though her education was focused on moose, her work with CWF has led her to develop a strong passion for New Jersey’s native amphibians, particularly mole salamanders and pine barrens treefrogs. She received certification as a Master Herpetologist through the Amphibian Foundation in 2021.

Program Guidelines

Please stay home if you are sick. Pre-registration is required, walk-ins will not be accepted. No refunds and no exchanging or transferring tickets. Please note that each participant must be registered. Unless otherwise noted, ALL programs at Duke Farms are RAIN or SHINE. Registration to a Saturday program comes with an entry pass. You DO NOT need to register separately for a Saturday Entry Pass.

Please contact registrations@dukefarms.org with any questions.