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Earth Science Teacher & Nature Guide
High School Earth Science Teacher & Nature Educator Paul has spent over 15 years working in environmental and earth science education: teaching at public and private schools, leading outdoor summer science programs, and producing environmental documentary films. His career in science has taken him around the world - to countries such as Australia, Malaysia, Ecuador, and Costa Rica - to study, teach and document solutions to issues in environmental science and human rights. Paul's teaching philosophy is founded on the principles of discovery, innovation and agency. "As a global society, we face challenges that can only be met with innovative solutions and collaborative efforts. In my teaching, I challenge students to create solutions to real-world issues, while utilizing compassionate and effective communication." Paul creates a learning environment where students develop their own agency through scientific investigations based on their questions and hypotheses.
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I can tell you that from the student's perspective, Paul is an inspiration. |
Next Camp Sessions: Summer 2025: July & August! Sign your child up for Nature Adventure Camp! Ages 6-11. Each day the adventure team travels to a new location to discover local wildlife and explore the shore through activities such as stand-up paddle boarding, kayaking, snorkeling, and more! Run by Paul Stoutenburgh: high school earth science teacher with 15 years of experience leading outdoor explorations for children.
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Sample Science Lessons
Earth Science: Environmental Justice
Students designing their own cities based on renewable energy systems
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These are two educational films I produced in collaboration with The Borneo Project and UC Berkeley's RAEL Laboratory. The films offer alternate energy solutions to mega-hydro dams in Malaysian Borneo. I use the films I've created in my science curriculum.
Damming Our Future from The Borneo Project on Vimeo. The film series aired in Malaysian Borneo, and ultimately played a role in stopping the construction of a mega-dam which would have displaced tens of thousands of people from their homes on the river. All of the Borneo Project films can be seen here.
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Student-made Environmental Films
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In the summer of 2012, I led environmental filmmaking workshops with the North Fork Audubon Society.
"A group of teenage students from the North Fork spent this past summer on a quest to create documentaries showcasing the area’s natural places and the threats they face." Click here to read full article.
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The Plastic Baginators from Paul Stoutenburgh on Vimeo. |
Physical Science: Forces & MotionThe central focus of this learning segment is: the process of testing the most promising design, and then modifying that design on the basis of the test results, which leads to greater refinement and ultimately to an optimal design. (Adapted from NGSS ETS1.C Optimizing the Design Solution) What are the main components of a water bottle rocket? How can we test them to optimize the rocket’s flight time?
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Diagram of Engineering Design Process from the Next Generation Science Standards
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Paul's Journey as an Environmental Science Filmmaker
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I worked as an environmental science and human rights filmmaker for several years, these experiences have expanded my perspective as a classroom teacher.
Through documentaries, commercials, music videos, and public services announcements, I produced content for organizations including The Nature Conservancy, Green Peace, Cornell University, the Earth Island Institute, Audobon, Barron’s, and Laserfiche. My films have been acknowledged at over a dozen international film festivals, receive hundreds of thousands of views and, most importantly, have inspired political change. |
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