CSTA

Resources - Region 3

Chapters - Region 3

Central California Science Teachers Association - CCSTA
Fresno C.O.E., 1111 Van Ness, Fresno, CA 93721
Stephen Bock
sbock(at)fcoe.k12.ca.us | (209) 265-3057 (w)

Gold Coast Science Network - GCSN
P. O. Box 390, Fillmore, CA 93016
Debbie Bereki
berekid(at)gmail.com | (805) 524-2471 (h) | (805) 524-6139 (w)
goldcoastscience.org


Resources - Region 3

California Science Projects
The California Science Project (CSP) is a university-based professional development network for pre-K-16 teachers of science that utilizes highly skilled teams of educators and scientists drawn from universities and school districts across the state. This statewide network works toward the common goal of improving science education for all California students. The CSP has convenient sites across the state at campuses of the University of California, California State University, and independent colleges/universities. There are six science projects in Region 3:

Central Valley Science Project—CSU Fresno
Central Coast Science Project—Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
South Coast Science Project—UC Santa Barbara
San Fernando Valley Science Project—CSU Northridge
UCLA Science Project
San Gabriel Valley Science Project—Cal Poly Pomona

County Offices of Education

Los Angeles County Office of Education - Science Education & Field Study
The goal of the Science Department is to provide personalized, timely and quality service and resources for teachers/administrators in schools, districts and the county. Services are geared toward optimum science instruction for all students. Through various programs, workshops, symposia and community activities, LACOE's Science Consultants strive to improve academic achievement, scientific literacy, classroom instructional practices and leadership strategies for students, teachers and administrators.


Fresno County Office of Education - STEM
STEM @ FCOE seeks to combine the work of the Common core with the STEM mindset, that is, an interdisciplinary approach to learning where academic concepts are taught through real-world problem-based and perforance-based lessons.


Madera County Office of Education - Science
Assistance is provided for educators in developing and matching curriculum with the State Content Standards, Frameworks, Instructional Materials and professional development in each subject area. Planning and facilitation services are provided at district request. Kathy Condren: kcondren(at)maderacoe.us or 559-662-3852.


Ventura County Office of Education - STEM
Nathan Inouye, Coordinator - 805-437-1342


Merced County Office of Education - Science
Jonathan Rhodea, Math & Science Coordinator, Phone: (209) 381-5908


Santa Barbara County Office of Education
Curriculum & Instruction professional learning opportunities:


San Luis Obispo County Office of Education
Patricia Garrett (805) 782-7271


Tulare County Office of Education - STEM Development & Curriculum Specialists
Michell French: 559-651-3003 and Jared Marr: 559-651-3047.

Kings County Office of Education

Los Angeles Environmental Learning Center at Hyperion
The City of Los Angeles designed the Los Angeles Environmental Learning Center at Hyperion for school and community groups. It is located inside the Learning Center at Hyperion Treatment Plant in Playa Del Rey (near the Los Angeles International Airport), so reservations are required! Geared towards grades 5-12. Discover how to partner with Sanitation to protect Earths resources through sustainable water and solid resources management. We bring textbook and classroom learning to life in our Clean Water and Zero Waste exhibit galleries.

We are located at 12000 Vista Del Mar, Playa Del Rey, 90293, south of LAX, immediately across from Dockweiler Beach. Our facility is just under four miles west of the 405 Freeway and approximately one-half mile south of Imperial Highway. Visitors will check in with the guard at Gate C. To find Gate C, look for the traffic signal at Learning Center at Hyperion Way and Vista Del Mar! Our Environmental Learning Center is just south of the entry gate. Admission is free, and there is parking for buses, vans and cars next to the Center. Contact us soon to schedule your visit! or call (310) 648-5363.


Heal the Bay’s Santa Monica Pier Aquarium
Marine biology and environmental education programs for K-12 students and their teachers. Field trips include informal educator presentations both inside the aquarium and on the beach just outside its doors. Classes are based on the California science standards, are two hours in length, and are offered weekdays at 9:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. The fee is $150 for a maximum of 60 students; teachers are free. For reservations call 310-393-6149, ext. 105.


Nanotechnology “Chip Camps”
Chip Camps are available to small groups of motivated students and their teachers. A chip camp is an intensive hands-on, inquiry-based learning experience in nanotechnology. High school students spend either 1, 3, or 5 days in a teaching clean room facility, learning tricks of light and chemicals to make a tiny microresistor. Longer camps are available, and funding is available to cover expenses to the University of California, Santa Barbara. Contact Angela Berenstein at berenstein(at)ece.uscb.edu or call (805) 893-5999. For more information see.


Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden at UCLA
A living museum comprised of over 5,000 species of plants from all over the world. The garden offers free docent-led school tours for grades 1-12 on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10 am to 2 pm, providing an exciting adjunct to science and social studies curriculum. As part of its written confirmation package, the garden sends teachers free pre-tour guides for grades 2-12 school groups to use in preparing students for their visit to the garden. Follow-up guides are given to the teacher at the conclusion of the tour. Call (310) 825-1260.


UCLA Stunt Ranch Santa Monica Mountains Reserve
The 310-acre UCLA Stunt Ranch Santa Monica Mountains Reserve, an outdoor classroom and living laboratory for environmental education and research, lies in the Cold Creek watershed of the Santa Monica mountains. The reserve has forged a partnership with UCLA and K-12 education in the greater Los Angeles area and offers 3-hour school programs focusing on chaparral and fire ecology, geology, and early local Native American and homestead history. The 1.5 mile hike introduces students to Chumash village life, including acorn grinding, cave wall painting, playing of Chumash games, and demonstrations of tool making. The reserve is accessible by prior permission only. Teachers interested in booking docent-led tours should call the MRT office at (818) 591-1701, ext. 130. Free curriculum guides are available at.


Natural History Museum of LA County
For more information, call 213-763-3534.


San Joaquin Valley Children’s Science Museums
Science exhibits and much more are available for field trips and walk-in visitors at:
Castle Science and Tech Center, Atwater—www.challengersjv.org, (209) 726-0296
ImagineU Interactive Childrens Museum, Visalia—www.imagineumuseum.org
Buena Vista Museum of Natural History, Bakersfield—www.sharktoothhill.org
Childrens Museum of the Sierra, Oakhurst, Madera County—www.childrensmuseumofthesierra.org, (559) 658-5656
Madera County Fossil Discovery Center, Fairmead—www.maderamammoths.org