By Sarah Plummer
Register-Herald Reporter
FAYETTEVILLE —
Independence Middle School art teacher Carolyn Buzbee is the one sharing what she did on her summer vacation with her students, the opposite of the traditional back-to-school theme.
Buzbee participated in a national program that creates summer positions for teachers in the park system, allowing them to bring that knowledge back into the classroom the following fall. Buzbee served as a teacher-ranger-teacher for the New River Gorge National River. Bringing her background in art to the park through Art in the Park, she now looks forward to bringing her experience as a park ranger into the classroom during the upcoming National Arts Education Week.
Dave Bieri, South District supervisor for the Division of Interpretation, explained that this was the second year that New River participated in this program.
“The idea behind this is to get teachers to return to the classroom with knowledge of what park rangers do,” he said.
While employed as a park ranger, Buzbee assisted in creating a new junior ranger program, went on river patrols with river rangers, assisted Boy Scout groups with river cleanups, did park surveys with a park archeologist, bird banding, learned about what law enforcement rangers do and headed Art in the Park.
Held in July, Art in the Park allowed 69 participants to learn about the aquatic resources in the park and make their own art project. Buzbee helped students make their own T-shirts using a Japanese style of fish printing called Gyotaku.
Bieri pointed out that “this was a fantastic opportunity for us to utilize Carolyn’s talents while making a great partnership with a new school in the local area.”
Buzbee noted the event was well attended and was a lot of fun.
“The park offers several events throughout the summer. Art in the Park was one way to get people out to the park.”
She added, “By using art, you can catch the attention of kids that may not be interested in learning about fish habitats and the New River’s ecosystem. It is a nice way to talk about art and environmental education.”
Eager to continue her partnership with the park, Buzbee, now back in the art classroom, will have a New River Gorge National River ranger visit her classes during the week of Sept. 13, National Arts Education Week.
The Independence Middle School students will experience the same lesson and art project that Buzbee taught during Art in the Park.
Regarding the NPS’ educational outreach, Bieri pointed out that “our environmental education program currently reaches 19 local schools. Our curriculum program usually covers kindergarten through fifth grade. Independence Middle was not a school that we have worked with at all in the past, so this presented an exciting opportunity to expand our school programing.
“We are trying to make ourselves relevant to students. Environmental education is important in preserving our national parks.”
Buzbee concluded, “Art and the beauty of nature and natural sciences go hand-in-hand.”
— E-mail: splummer@register-herald.com
