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项目，培训导师和讲解员，并为天文学本科生提供体验式学习机会。AMC经营步道、外展中心和高山小屋，并提供自然和环境的体验。通过这个项目，我们将把天文学添加到AMC节目中，为公众提供一个整体的、综合的宇宙图景。作为AMC正在进行的、成功的、受欢迎的节目的一部分，在地质学、气象学、生物学和环境科学相结合的背景下，吸引大量不同的天文观众，将大大提高对所呈现的科学的理解，并使人与宇宙之间存在着密切的联系。这个项目是独一无二的，因为它将由专业的天文学家进行，将吸引大量的观众，并将吸引本科生作为教育者和导师。这个项目将影响大量的目标受众，更好地培养一批未来的科学家。AMC每年接待超过50万名游客，其中一半以上是中低收入人群，约20%是非白人。AMC电视台每年为4万多名观众举办面向青少年的特别节目。拟议的项目将显著影响迦太基物理和天文学学生的沟通和拓展能力，这些学生大约60%是女性，并且一直被安排在研究生课程或技术岗位上。

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.