GRCS Staff

Please select a Gold Rush Charter School staff member from the list to read a little about them, get their contact information and the subject(s) they teach. For student grades and assignments visit www.mygradebook.com. Contact the student's teacher to obtain the user name and password to access this site.

DAN WYRICK

Phone (209) 533-8644 ext. 206
Fax (209) 532-9234
Email dwyrick@goldrushcs.com
Website: www.naturebydesignlearning.com/goldrush.htm

Instructor:
Science, Biology

About Me

I am married to the love of my life, Chris, we have two grown daughters. My oldest daughter Aimee is Biology Professor, while my youngest daughter, Emilie, is an enologist and wine educator.

I have 30+ years’ science teaching experience in Northern California. From 1989 to 1995 I served as Co-Editor of the Life Science/Health Series published by Pacific Press for the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists. From 1999 to 2005 I served as director of Nature by Design, the outdoor education program of the Northern California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. With the encouragement and support of my family and friends, in January 2006 I took Nature By Design out on my own and became self-employed as a science education specialist. While continuing to lead students on many exciting outdoor education and expeditionary learning programs, I additionally teach science lab courses to home school and charter school students, as well as Early Childhood Education classes for Pacific Union College’s degree completion program.

I have an intense interest in the natural world and nature education and have presented many science education workshops and summer school classes for educators. I believe that science and nature education is the most effective way to teach children an understanding of and appreciation for their world. I also believe strongly that teaching students how to do science is far more important than teaching them about science.

I am an avid fisherman and particularly enjoy trout fishing in the Sierra Nevada and steelhead fishing on the upper Rogue River in southern Oregon. My other hobbies include gardening, photography, conducting nature outings for families and development of hands on science curriculum for teachers and students.

I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology and a Master’s Degree in Teaching Biology from Pacific Union College. I hold a State of California Clear Multiple Subject Teaching Credential and a Clear Single Subject Teaching Credential: Life Science. I am an active member in the National Science Teacher Association and the California Science Teachers Association.