The KidWind Project is Now Accepting Scholarship Applications for Summer Renewable Energy Training Academy
The REcharge Academy provides educators with the knowledge and resources needed to bring renewable energy concepts to the STEM classroom
(Saint Paul, MN.) February 25, 2019 – The KidWind Project, an international leader in renewable energy education, and WindWinRI are hosting the 12th annual REcharge Academy at the University of Rhode Island’s Coastal Resources Center in Narragansett, RI on July 15-18, 2019. The four-day training, which will focus on wind power and the future of offshore wind, is hosted in partnership with the University of Rhode Island’s Coastal Resources Center and Graduate School of Oceanography, the Guiding Education and Math and Science Network (GEMSnet Program), the North Kingstown Chamber of Commerce, and RealJobsRI.
By providing the context and content needed to teach renewable energy concepts in their classrooms, this intensive training blends lectures on the science behind wind power and the politics, technologies and economics of the offshore wind energy industry with replicable hands-on STEM lessons for K-12 students. As a capstone to the event, the attendees will take a trip to the first offshore wind farm in the United States – the Block Island Wind Farm.
Educators can apply for scholarships generously donated by REcharge Academy sponsors. The Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is sponsoring 12 scholarships for educators in the following 12 states: AK, AZ, CO, ID, IL, KS, MT, NE, NC, PA, SD, and VA. EDP Renewables North America is also sponsoring four scholarships that are available for educators living near one of their U.S. wind farms. Pattern Energy is also sponsoring scholarships. The first- round deadline is March 1, 2019, while the second and third deadlines are April 1, 2019 and May 15, 2019 respectively. To apply, click here.
“Offshore renewable energy is gaining traction in the United States, but there are still many gaps in the general public’s understanding of how this technology works, issues of concern, and the opportunities it provides,” said Michael Arquin, founder of KidWind. “The REcharge Academy is a unique opportunity for educators to explore these concepts in depth, ask hard questions and then share what they have learned with the wider public.”
“As a result of our RealJobsRI Wind Energy grant, the North Kingstown Chamber of Commerce has created a career pathway that includes a certification at the high school level in offshore wind energy,” said Kristin Urbach, executive director of the North Kingstown Chamber of Commerce. “To continue to be on the forefront, we’re delighted to partner with the KidWind Project’s REcharge Academy training for educators nationwide in the state of Rhode Island.”
During the past 11 years, more than 400 educators of all types have attended the REcharge Academies from all over the world that have impacted thousands of students and educators worldwide.
About the KidWind Project
The KidWind Project, an international leader in wind energy education, has been embraced and supported by leading energy industry companies since its beginnings. For information, visit kidwind.org. The REcharge Academy provides educators with the knowledge and resources needed to bring renewable energy concepts to the STEM classroom.
