Public Engagement in Astronomy and the Outdoors

迦太基学院和阿巴拉契亚山俱乐部（AMC）合作向公众提供实践天文学课程，培训导师和讲师，并为本科天文学学生提供体验式学习机会。AMC经营小径，外展中心和高山小屋，并提供自然和环境体验。通过这个项目，我们将增加天文学AMC节目，提供一个整体的，综合的宇宙图片给公众。在地质学，气象学，生物学和环境科学相结合的背景下，吸引大量不同的观众，作为AMC正在进行的，成功的，以及参加人数众多的计划的一部分，将显着提高对所呈现的科学的理解，并推动人们与宇宙之间存在的密切联系。该计划是独一无二的，因为它将由专业天文学家进行，将达到大量的观众，并将从事本科生作为教育工作者和导师。该计划将影响大量的目标受众，并更好地为未来的科学家做好准备。AMC每年接待超过50万游客，其中一半以上是中低收入阶层，约20%是非白人。特别面向青年的AMC节目每年为超过40，000名观众进行。拟议的项目将显着影响迦太基物理和天文学学生的沟通和推广能力，他们大约有60%是女性，并且一直被安排在研究生课程或技术职位。

Carthage College and the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) have partnered to deliver hands-on astronomy programs to the public, train mentors and docents, and provide experiential learning opportunities for undergraduate astronomy students. The AMC operates trails, outreach centers, and high-mountain huts and delivers experiences in nature and the environment. Through this project we will add astronomy to AMC programming to provide a holistic, integrative picture of the universe to the lay public. Engaging a large, diverse audience with astronomy in a context combining geology, meteorology, biology, and environmental science as part of AMC's ongoing, successful, and well-attended programs, will significantly improve understanding of the science being presented and drive home the close connections that exist between people and the universe. This program is unique because it will be conducted by professional astronomers, will reach large audiences, and will engage undergraduate students as educators and mentors. This program will impact a large target audience and better prepare a significant body of future scientists. The AMC hosts over 500,000 visitors annually, over half of whom are lower-to-middle-class in income, and approximately 20% are non-white. Special youth-oriented AMC programs are conducted for an annual audience of more than 40,000. The proposed projects will significantly impact the communications and outreach abilities of Carthage physics and astronomy students, who are approximately 60% female and are consistently placed in graduate programs or into technical positions.