The mission of the Upper Housatonic Valley Experience is to expose our youth to the rich heritage of our region. Once they learn about and understand the history that makes us what we are today, they’ll be better qualified to contribute to the future prosperity and continued economic success of our region. We hope to foster a passion for continuing our region’s unique legacy.

Again this year the "Upper Housatonic Valley Experience" educational course will take place. This effort is sponsored by UHVNHA in conjunction with the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce, MCLA, BCC and local business.

Teachers from the region will spend one week early in the summer under the guidance of MCLA. During this week they will develop a curriculum for their students to educate them on the rich heritage of our region. They will visit local heritage sites, experience the river itself, and tour local industries that are important to our economic success. These teachers will then bring their curriculum to into their class room and enhance the students educational experience by touring local businesses and heritage sites to as they learn about our heritage.

Last year 11 teachers, representing 8 different schools from grades 6-12, participated in the course. This year we hope to have between 15 and 18 teachers involved. Since the course was completed last summer, local businesses and heritage sites have hosted tours of the students on a continuous basis. It is our hope that every student that goes through our local schools becomes aware of the rich heritage of their region and ultimately decides to become part of its future.

The Upper Housatonic Valley Experience: Summer 2007
An Overview of the Historical, Industrial, Cultural & Environmental Influences of the Region

Sponsored by the Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area, Inc. in cooperation with the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce, Berkshire Community College, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, the Berkshire County Regional Employment Board and the Berkshire STEM Pipeline.

This is a three (3) Credit Graduate Course offered through Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
(Course number: ENVE 601 OR HIS 650)

DATE: July 9 – 13, 2007, TIME: 8AM – 5PM (M-F) LOCATION: sites around the heritage area

INTENDED FOR: Middle/high school teachers of history, social studies, English, science, business and industrial technology. Berkshire County and Northwestern Connecticut teachers are welcome – the course content can be applied to any river watershed area.

DESCRIPTION: Introduces and integrates various aspects of the heritage of the Upper Housatonic River Valley – the social, cultural, economic and industrial history of the valley, the ecology of the river throughout that history, and the symbiotic relationship between that history and ecology. Course instructors will assist students in designing projects that will infuse this information into their classrooms while meeting the appropriate standards. Field trips to local cultural, environmental, and business sites and presentations by guest lecturers will be a major portion of the course.

Participants will review their current curricula and develop standards-based lessons related to the Upper Housatonic River Valley content that integrate contextual applications and motivational strategies including those that address gender differences and learning styles. School-based and/or content-based teams will develop written lesson plans suitable for dissemination. Each team is expected to present their projects to the class and a wider audience during the Fall 2007 semester – the date to be determined by the class.

• Register in person at MCLA or print out the registration form and mail it in, with payment:
• http://www.mcla.edu/About_MCLA/Services/Registrar/Summer07/webreg.pdf
• Three (3) graduate credits will be awarded through MCLA
• Choose course number ENVE 601 or HIS 650 that best fits your content/recertification needs
• Stipends will be provided to cover the course tuition, which includes full graduate credit, course delivery, necessary supplies and materials and a curriculum resource guide that is developed as a result of the experience.
• Enrollment is capped at 16 participants.
• Deadline to register is June 9th
• For more information, please contact Lisa Provencher at 413.662.5525 or lisa.provencher@mcla.edu