• About E.E. Just Institute
• Student Institutes
• Educator Institute
• Scholarships
• Apply Online
• About the Staff
• Advisory Board
• Partners
• Events Calendar
• Contact EEJ
• Kimball Union Academy
• EEJ Home Page

GIS and GPS for Community Mapping: Making Community Connections

Instructor: Christine Fournier

For middle and high school teachers, and members or staff of community organizations

Session I July 9-14, 2006
NOW FULL: Session II July 16-21, 2006

Institute Description

This workshop will introduce the use of spatial tools for community mapping. The week will combine introductory work with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software and data, together with field work using Global Positioning Systems (GPS) in the context of a field-based place-based investigation. The lab work will include a variety of methods including demonstrations, tutorials, small group work, and independent project work.

Lab work will center on developing familiarity with the ESRI desktop software ArcGIS 9.1. We will become familiar with a range of available data including historic and topographic maps, aerial (ortho) photos, and Geographic Information System (GIS) data.

The VINS Community Mapping Program supports students, educators and community groups in a process of local inquiry. Middle and high school students work with their community partners, conduct fieldwork, and use tools including GIS and GPS to explore their communities and address specific local needs. Linking student learning needs, community resources, shared experiences, and spatial tools, these community mapping projects contribute to the goals of sustainable economic and social well being, and ecological integrity.

Community organization partners include watershed groups, historical societies, farmers' markets, town commissions, and other civic associations. Mapping projects address partner mission and goals creating needed products such as interpretive guides, wall maps, databases, surveys, and web pages. The projects help educators meet curricular standards, acquire new tools, engage with local resource issues, and strengthen supportive relationships within the community.

For program resources visit www.vinsweb.org Visit the gallery to see examples of past projects. http://gallery.iftd.org/ For program evaluation reports on the Community Mapping Program and related projects, visit the Place-based Education Evaluation Collaborative: www.peecworks.org

Participants will receive:

Mapping Our World: GIS Lessons for Educators and a cd with local data

Workshop Activities:

Community, Parish and Bioregional Mapping
Planning for community sustainability
Introduction to ArcGIS 9.1
Data, metadata and file management
Map interpretation and navigation
Field work with Global Positioning Systems (GPS)
Integrating GPS and GIS
Creating a new shapefile
Environmental history and sustainable systems
Chloropleths and symbology
Editing shapefiles and attributes
Map datums and projections
Geoprocessing
Cartographic design, layouts and printing
Community mapping research design and methods
Project evaluation and standards
GIS data access and downloading
Community mapping project planning

Instructional Goals and Outcomes

Participants will be able to:
* initiate and plan a community mapping project;
* identify and acquire a range of GIS and other spatial data;
* collect spatially referenced field-based data using a Global Positioning System receiver;
* create, modify and print a map using data on hand;
* develop a research design and select field methods for a community mapping project;
* design and print a map to articulate new knowledge and connections.

About the Presenter

Christine Fournier is the Community Mapping Program educator at the Vermont Institute of Natural Science. Prior to joining VINS in 2005 Christine taught environmental history and current environmental affairs in Maryland and Spanish in Western Maine. She earned her undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies and Latin American Studies from Tulane University and is a candidate for a masters degree in Conservation Biology and Sustainable Development from the University of Maryland.

Apply now and receive "early admission discounts!"

Students to tackle Global Warming in 2007! Students applying to our 2007 Environmental Leadership programs will explore the effects of global warming on local industries - agriculture, tourism, manufacturing, fishing, and more - through field trips, work with local experts and hands-on research! More 2007 Student Institute information.

ALL EDUCATORS attending any E.E. Just Institute are eligible to receive graduate credit!

KUA is a 2006 recipient for the National Association of Independent School's “Leading Edge Award” for Environmental Sustainability! Read more!

Read today's top environmental stories!