ISEA Becomes New Host for the GTSI

3 picsInland Seas Education Association (ISEA) secured a Great Lakes Fisheries Trust grant to host the Grand Traverse Stewardship Initiative which provides leadership and resources to support  place-based education, school-community partnerships, and sustained professional development for teachers. The Grand Traverse Stewardship Initiative (GTSI) is seeking sixteen K-12 teachers and multiple community partners from the Grand Traverse region to participate in place-based stewardship initiatives for the 2016-17 school year. “ISEA is proud to be investing in GTSI to foster a bright future for the initiative and the communities it impacts.” said Fred Sitkins, ISEA Executive Director. “This grant will also allow ISEA to strengthen our relationships with regional teachers and develop new relationships with partner agencies.” Over the two-year grant, GTSI will be looking for funders to keep the collaborative initiatives going.”

A partnership sail is scheduled for Wednesday, October 19 from 2:00-4:30 pm followed by a teacher kick-off meeting from 6:00-8:00 pm in the Inland Seas Education Center building. Regional K-12 teachers and local nonprofits, businesses, and organizations interested in participating in one of these events or in place-based education opportunities should contact Michelle Handke, GTSI Coordinator at  231.271.3077 or mhandke@schoolship.org.

In 2007, the Great Lakes Fishery Trust (GLFT) established and funded a state-wide initiative called the Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative with the mission of providing educators with the training and experience needed to help Michigan’s young people gain knowledge about the Great Lakes watershed, and become future stewards of the environment. In 2009, the GLFT provided funds to establish the Grand Traverse Stewardship Initiative. Since 2010, 89 teachers, 113 community partners, and 5,000 students have collaborated on place-based projects with the Grand Traverse Stewardship Initiative. The GTSI is one of nine Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative hubs located throughout Michigan.

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