Jessica Mumm

Jessica Mumm is a Science teacher at Crook County High School in Prineville, Oregon, where she runs a science club that takes students on educational trips. Each trip focuses on a new aspect: marine biology, ecology, conservation and environmental. She strives to introduce students to new science career options each trip.

Why are you passionate about student travel?

I really enjoy providing an option for students to get to experience more than our small town in Central Oregon. Many of my students have never been out of the region, let alone the state so offering chances for them to see the world is huge. I also love being able to allow them a way to see real world examples of what they learn in class.

What is a major highlight from any of your student travel experiences?

Taking my students to the Galapagos last summer, seeing them get to experience the actual aspects of evolution that we discussed in class and be able to snorkel allowing them to experience marine biology in real life. Many of my students ended up taking more advanced science classes when we came home.

What is the greatest lesson you or your students have learned from your trips?

Many of my students had the chances to experience different career fields that some of them were thinking about pursuing, and the variety of trips that we have taken have allowed them to realize that the considered career is not what they thought it was. I am so glad they got to know that prior to spending 4 years studying that field only to learn they didn’t want to be in that field.

How do you try to tie your travel experiences back into the classroom?

I take a ton of pictures so that the students have actual pictures from someone they know to help relate the concepts in my lessons to them more. When I use pictures as examples from our trips the students love it, and always ask when the next trip is.

From the nominator:

What qualities make this nominee, both as an educator and travel leader, deserving of this award?

She puts her all into planning these trips and involving a large variety of students who would never get the chance to travel otherwise. She has opened doors for so many students both in her classroom and on these trips she leads. Jess has also brought in two new college level courses to her high school and taken students all over on trips.

Photo courtesy of Jessica Mumm.