Southern Penghu Four Islands- Ocean Seed Teacher Training Camp

In aim to development the Southern Penghu Four Islands into an environmental education platform for basalt formation, ocean ecology, and tribal culture, the Marine National Park Headquarters (MNPH) organized two Ocean Seed Teacher Training Camps. The two camps were held from August 9^th to 12^th and 16^th to 19^th 2013 respectively, and a total of 67 elementary and junior high school teachers and park guide volunteers participated in the events. The camps offered lessons on the geology, ecology and culture of the Southern Penghu Four Islands, and the teachers and volunteers are expected to become the seed teachers after the training and pass down their knowledge of ocean protection to the next generation.

In this year’s camps, Professor Chen Wen-Shan and Song Sheng-Jong from National Taiwan University and Professor Chi Shi-Cheng from National Kaohsiung Normal University were invited to lecture on the volcanic geology, topography and resources of the Southern Penghu Four Islands, two local culture and history researchers, Mr. Hong Kuo-Hsiong and Principal Yan Shen-Kao shared their knowledge on the natural resources of Southern Penghu Four Islands and the culture of Wangan Township Huazhai (Flower Mansions) Tribe in the lectures. The brainstorming session at the end of each camp led the participating teachers and volunteers to create teaching plans and learning units. These innovative teaching aids will become valuable materials for teaching of ocean geology.

MNPH has been dedicated to promoting ocean environment education and constructing a friendly ocean environment education platform. This platform is expected to bring the public to know, experience, and love the rich and diverse natural resources on the land and in the ocean.