Educators’ Retreat Gives Teachers Exclusive Oil & Natural Gas Tours
Seventy-nine teachers from across the state attended an immersive three-day summer retreat sponsored by the people of Oklahoma Oil and Natural Gas.
The goal of the Oklahoma Energy Resources Board (OERB) Educators’ Retreat, which took place in Edmond from July 6 – 8, is to provide teachers the opportunity to expand their knowledge about the state’s largest industry so they can provide context and Oklahoma-applications for lessons they already teach in their classroom. The all-expenses paid event offered hands-on industry experience and exclusive tours, including Schlumberger’s Oklahoma City facility, Enbridge’s facilities in Cushing, and a drilling rig tour hosted by Unit Drilling Company, Coterra Energy and Ulterra Drilling technologies. The retreat also included a safety briefing before each tour, a presentation from Engaged Learning and a Women in STEM panel discussion.
“This experience was awesome. I have never felt so appreciated as I did during this retreat,” said Amanda Lein, 5th grade teacher at Will Rogers Elementary in Vinita.
“The retreat was absolutely fabulous. I had no idea what to expect, but it certainly exceeded anything I could have imagined. I learned a ton and got some fantastic ideas for my students beyond what we typically think of as the oil and natural gas industry,” said Holly Johnson, 8th and 11th grade teacher at Sparks Academy.
Through voluntary funding from oil and natural gas producers and royalty owners, the OERB offers free K-12 energy curricula, classroom resources, and more. To learn more about the OERB and its education programs, visit www.OERBHomeRoom.com. To learn about other OERB programs, visit www.OERB.com or follow the OERB on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.