Katrina Alegado, an eighth grade science teacher at Twin Falls Middle School, has been accepted into Ecology Project International’s Marine Education Fellowship in Costa Rica, April 18 to 25.

She will travel to Costa Rica to focus on inquiry-based instructional methods through hands-on learning initiatives and field research. With 13 other teachers, Alegado will participate in leatherback sea turtle census research, and explore the tropical rainforest while learning about Costa Rica’s incredible biodiversity.

Alegado has been chosen for the past four consecutive years as a top 10 national workshop participant for the EARTH (Education and Research: Testing Hypotheses) Workshop through MBARI the (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) focusing on real-time data and current ocean research.

“I am super excited for this opportunity because it will bring real-life field experiences into my classroom and school to enrich instruction,” said Alegado.

The teacher is also organizing a nine-day trip for students to Yellowstone National Park this summer with Ecology Project International. The trip, August 8 to 16, is for students in grades 8 to 10 who want to participate in ongoing wildlife conservation research projects. EPI’s programs use science education in an experiential setting to engage youth in field research and empower them to take an active role in conservation.

“I am looking forward to an amazing week-long Yellowstone adventure for interested local students in August through EPI. This trip will inspire students to learn about the natural world and focus on conservation efforts,” added Alegado.

Registration deadline is Feb. 15. For more information, contact Alegado at alegadok@svsd410.org or visit the Ecology Project International website at www.ecologyproject.org.