ncpars news

[bmkindig]

hey all

it seems everyone is quite busy these days and there's a lack of new posts,so i will say there is alot of behind the scenes work being done the last few weeks.
the bod is working on getting the next few monthes organized between the trips we have discussed taking and the upcoming swap. i'm personally working with a school project to get some form of educational systems setup with in the club,which will be a good place to get some kids involved in the hobby.

if anyone has some extra time please feel free lend a hand i'm sure we can form some committees to do some of the tasks we need to get done.

 

[rickyfins]

BOY do we need to get some committees going. Brad, elections are coming up and we need to start an election committee.

I think we should start there.

 

[Murph72]

Hi guys.

As far as schools go, my high school (where I teach) is currently looking into the possibility of setting up a reef tank. They're not really looking for someone to just hand them everything as they do have some budget for the project. Though, the more money they can save the more likely this project will get off the ground.

However, what they really need is some help. I'd love to be able to find someone to work with the kids on rock making, for example, as a means of saving the oceans. I think they would do great with hands on projects as they are some really great kids. They're looking for possibly a 120 gallon tank and all that is necessary to go with it. They have to start, obviously, with equipment and its potential costs.

Anyone offering insights on what to buy, pricing, or how to go about this project would be appreciated. They will probably be looking for something easy to take care of as there will be limited contact in the summer with the tank (training office staff to do feedings and having the biology teacher visit once a week is the plan right now.)

Thanks
Dyan

 

[bmkindig]

hey dyan,
this is great to here,what grade level are we talking about?have you given them any info about the club?
i beleive there's 2 official things we would need from the school to help get them started,1 would bee a signed letter stating that we have the school is aware that the club will help get the project going but that someone at the school needs to be trained on maintaince.and the 2nd would be a proposed budget, wheather they make it up or someone involved does.
once that is done that it has to be sent to the ncpars bod for final approval.
thanks for the input.

 

[Murph72]

Brad,
This is mainly going to be a project that is started in the 9th grade Biology classes. However, there are also Bio II classes that are taken in 10th or 11th grades and an AP Bio class that can be taken in 11th or 12th grades. So, basically, it could really encompass all of the high school grades. In addition, I think this would be a good project for the Ecology classes as well. If we could do a unit on Ocean Conservation and discuss the effort to raise fish, propagate coral, and make your own rocks to save the oceans, it could be very powerful. I just think it's a great opportunity for learning in a hands on fashion. I can almost see the rock making class now

I spoke with the Biology teacher who had approached me because he knew I had reef tanks. It seems that our principal had approached him and said we should have a tank in the school. I told him about the work of Reefnest in the Williamsport area schools. I told him about the donations that NCPARS has made at different swaps in the form of frags, books, etc, to these projects. I did not, however, offer him that we were going to help because this would certainly be a decision of the BOD (which I am not a member of.) I just thought the next step would be to notify the BOD of the potential for a project and see if NCPARS would be interested in helping out and what kind of help they were willing to give. I figured if the BOD didn't see it as a good project to help with that I would just ask individuals within the organization if they would help in some form or another. I think we really have some generous members who have been great with projects such as Mo's.

What kind of help do you propose is offered for a project such as this? Is this anything that we've done yet as a group? I know that Reefnest has, but I wouldn't want to get as knee deep as they do. Since I'm in the building on a daily basis, I can certainly help with the day to day maintenance training of the teacher and students. I do expect, however, that they will not expect any of us to take care of it for them. I certainly wasn't going to offer that

Dyan

 

[bmkindig]

basiclly ncpars can help with reducing the costs of the setup and teaching people how to maintain the tank.but some of our members would have to be highly active at that stage and that after the school can maintain the tank on a short term basis then ncpars will just be there to offer advice as the tank grows up.so this is a commitment basicly made bye the member/members local to the school and the funding from the club to help setup a tank.

this is also just a guide line that we our working out.

i'm working with my daughters teacher (5th grade)on setup of a tank. we our talking a 55 gal in there class room.

 

[Murph72]

Brad,
We were thinking of a 120 because of the stability of a larger tank. The only concern I have is on summer maintenance. I need to talk to our maintenance department and have them assure me that the air conditioning will not be turned off in that room in order to save money when school is not in session.

I will work this week on getting the documentation from my school that you requested previously. I'll also try to work on a list of equipment that they will need and try to get some prices. Hopefully I can try to find some price breaks so that we can save some money and have more money to put into the inhabitants. I might just start another thread on equipment and have members give their opinions on what we should purchase....do you think that would be advisable?

Thanks for your help. I know this project would really be a big hit in the school. Heck, when I just had pics of my reef in my room kids that I didn't even have in class would come in to see them.
Dyan

 

[Barney121]

We put together a proposal for one of the State College Schools for a 90G, the estimated cost of the tank with all new equipment was around $3000 I think. If you like I can send you that spreadsheet and you can tinker / add / delete or whatever. We asked our LFS what he could do, and he was going to donate the main tank, and also was going to match any internet prices we found (he's normally a good bit higher). Our school district has a policy that you could post a plaque, letter, or other small acknowledgement for donors like the LFS, so as you ask for equipment, you can use that as an incentive for local merchants.

NCPARS has a statment/policy on what we can do on this, it was on the ncpars.org website but I don't see it now. I can send that also if you like. Basically, we want the school to be in charge, but NCPARS can help by contributing a small amount of $, and presumably expertise in helping train the relevant teachers. Certainly there needs to be a local volunteer (like you) who can help with the local leg work. But with an approved organized project, lots of members would like to donate, I'm sure.

Scott

 

[Murph72]

Scott,
Thanks. Any information you could pass along would be appreciated. I know I'm going to have to start making some phone calls soon and a starting point would be appreciated.
Dyan