Where in the World Is Miss Klipfel?

My bags were packed, outfits selected, and reading supplies ready but those were not the only tasks to complete before I headed out for Washington, D.C., the glorious task of leaving sub plans lay ahead. 

It has become somewhat of a running joke in my classroom this year that I always say, "I have exciting news". Everything from announcing we are going on a field trip to taking a test begins with "I have exciting news." While working on their winter portfolios for student-led conferences multiple students even wrote they had a smile on their face when I said, "I have exciting news".

As I headed off to the National Geographic Headquarters, I left behind a little mystery for my 4th grade students because little did they know I had EXCITING news. At this point, I was still not allowed to share my Grosvenor Fellowship with my students (a task that was getting harder by the day) but I knew when I returned the news would be public. So the Where in the World is Miss Klipfel mystery began. 

Assignment posted in Google Classroom

I began by giving my students the coordinates for the National Geographic headquarters: 38.9051° N, 77.0381°. Given it was April of the school year, my students had spent the year building their map skills and geographic awareness to know exactly what to do with this information using Google Earth as a tool to help. Once students correctly used the coordinates to find my whereabouts in Washington, D.C., I provided them with the following emojis:📍🗺🇨🇱🇦🇷🏔🐧  along with the link to the National Geographic website. 

From here students wrote about where and what they thought I was doing. Answers ranged from working on Humboldt penguin conservation, visiting South America, trying out a new program National Geographic is offering to even bringing a penguin back for our classroom. I couldn't wait to return and share the official news of my upcoming Patagonia expedition. 

 

Base Camp

The 2023 Grosvenor Teacher Fellowship kicked off at the National Geographic Headquarters (aka Base Camp) in Washington, DC from April 13th-16th. The 2023 cohort which consisted of myself and 49 other educators from 24 United States, 5 Canadian provinces, and even the first fellow from Puerto Rico were able to meet for a fun-filled jammed-packed four days. 

2023 Grosvenor Teacher Fellows on the National Geographic Society Steps
📸Alexandra Daly-Clark

I'm not sure I can truly capture this experience with a few words and pictures. I can't capture the moment of walking into Headquarters and the feeling of immense privilege at being at the National Geographic Headquarters in recognition of what I do every day to empower my students. I can't adequately capture the enthusiasm and passion of all the educators in the room. I can't truly capture the knowledge and expertise that was shared with us by the National Geographic and Lindblad Expeditions staff. I can't capture the awe I experienced at each and every turn but I'm going to try and give you a glimpse.

The workshop commenced with a welcome reception. Upon walking in we were given swag bags (if you know a teacher you know we LOVE free things) and nametags with our expedition location. The room was a buzz as we were all so excited to finally meet our expedition partners and each other. Every fellow was enthusiastic and passionate about education which gave all of us endless things to discuss.

That's me (4th from the left) in the National Geographic logo with my expedition partner, Shannon, during the opening reception
📸Alexandra Daly-Clark

The next few days were filled with sessions to expand our teaching practice, prepare for our expeditions and continue to empower our students as planetary stewards. A major highlight for me was attending a breakout session with two members of the National Geographic Storytelling Team. They taught us about AR and VR technology and how to utilize it for an immersive experience. We were able to explore their 360 camera along with VR headsets where I was transported to the Okavango Delta which is home to half of the remaining savanna elephants. Given my expedition will be heading to some of the most remote locations in Patagonia, my wheels began turning thinking about how I could give my students and school community the immersive experience of Patagonia. Hopefully, more to come on that.

Immersive technology session with Veda Shastri and Ruben Rodriguez Perez, Immersive Producers at National Geographic. 

Although the immersive technology session was a highlight there were SO many highlights from my days at Base Camp. I attended two sessions on biomimicry, one with the head of the National Geographic Science and Innovation Team and one with past Grosvenor Teacher Fellow Daniel Kinzer (who began his session with a traditional Hawaiian chant). We took a Storytelling with Photograph session with National Geographic photographer, Alex Daly-Clark. She walked us through the process of taking photos to tell a story and shared with us (all through photos of course) the inspirational story of how all the food aboard the National Geographic Lindblad Expeditions in Galapagos is locally sourced. We became well-versed in the National Geographic Explorer Mindset Framework. We spent time with a Lindblad naturalist from the region we would be exploring, were able to Zoom with Sven Lindblad (one of the founders of the fellowship), learned from past fellows about their student action plans, and even had media training. 

From left to right. 1. Picture of nametag with welcome sign. 2. 📸 credit Daniel Kinzer of fellows outside Base Camp practicing after our photography session 3. Hawaiian chant: Purple Mai'a Oli. 4. Biomiarcy book iSites 

During our days at Base Camp, we were even able to tour the historic part of the National Geographic Headquarters. We sat at the table where the first ever National Geographic magazine was made meaning we were literally "in the room where it happens". We walked across the National Geographic bronze seal where countless explorers have walked before us. We saw the maps that donned the walls, floors, and even ceilings. I couldn't help but do a double take at the 1927 Map of Discovery by N.C. Wyeth on the wall while walking the stairs of the historic part of Base Camp. It was like being able to walk into a National Geographic magazine (talk about an immersive experience!).

From left to right. 1 📸 credit Susan Tate of fellows around National Geographic seal. 2. Fellows sitting at the table where the first National Geographic magazine was made 3. Map of Discovery in the historic part of Base Camp 

When I said I couldn't adequately capture the experience and knowledge I came home with I meant it. I left my four days at Base Camp connected to a new network of inspirational educators, filled with a plethora of new knowledge and a myriad of new ideas I'm inspired to implement with my students. This is truly just the tip of the iceberg.  

Dream Big

"Dream big" is a commonly heard phrase in my 4th grade classroom. When I applied for the Grosvenor Teacher Fellowship it truly was a "dream big" moment. I knew the application pool would be competitive, I knew exemplary educators from around the world would be applying, and I knew there were hundreds (sometimes even thousands) of educators who apply but I decided to dream BIG. 

After hours of perfectly crafting essay answers, a video submission with a myriad of retakes, an updated resume, and application question answers that cramped as much as possible into the allotted characters as possible my application was ready for submission. Then I waited and waited and waited.  And sure enough, waited some more. I had waited so long at this point that I actually started recrafting my essay answers in my head to make my application stronger for next time. Then it happened...THE CALL

It was the last day of February vacation and I was in the middle of making appetizers when my phone rang. Usually, my phone is on silent but I had just turned the sound on in anticipation of guests. I leaned over and saw an unknown number from Minnesota. With food covered hands I let it go to voicemail.

Sure enough, my phone rings again showing an unknown Minnesota number. You guessed it, I still didn't answer the call but this time I had a new voicemail. At this point, I finally washed my hands to figure out who was calling. "Hi, I'm calling from National Geographics-." That's it, that's all of the voicemail I listened to. I threw the heat off my stove and immediately called back. Could this seriously be happening?  

This is where it gets a little blurry as I was freaking out so much, I'm not entirely sure of the exact details of the conversation. All I wrote down on the back of a T.J. Maxx receipt was, "Washington, DC April 13th to 16th" and "Patagonia". I even needed to ask her to please repeat the information as my hand was shaking too much to write it down clearly. I was also informed I was allowed to tell close family/friends and my principal but please don't share the news beyond that yet. Wait, what? I had just been informed I was selected as a Grosvenor Teacher Fellow which is better than getting the Willy Wonka golden ticket and knock on the door from Publishers Clearing House all wrapped in one as this was something I applied and was selected for but I can't tell anyone yet. 

Sunday rolls around and I'm still literally on cloud nine to the point I actually start questioning if this is real.  Did that phone call really happen? Did I dream this up? Do I really get to explore Patagonia? I actually checked my phone to confirm I did in fact have a voicemail and did in fact have a phone call Friday afternoon. This was a dream big moment but it was luckily NOT a dream.