June 1, 2010

Yukon Dan is great. He is extremely professional and works very well with all of the students. After one class I knew that I wanted him back the next year; his interactive presentation holds the interest of every student in the class- I even have kids wandering in from the hallways trying to take part!

I've had students tell me that Yukon Dan was the best presentation that they have seen at school and others who want to switch into my class so that they can go gold panning. He will most certainly be coming back to spread "Gold Fever" next year.

Meagan Roberge
Argyle Secondary
604 903 3300

May 27, 2010

I have the pleasure of giving this testimonial for Yukon Dan... Dan Moore. His workshop was AMAZING!!!! The two classes at De Beck Elementary in Richmond, B.C. that participated in his workshop are still talking about it. As a teacher I was so excited to see that Yukon Dan's workshop brought my Gold Rush unit alive and I could later spring board off many of the concepts introduced after his workshop ended. Yukon Dan packs so much information into his ninety minute presentation and he provides useful information that the students retain and enjoy!! The students were particularly thrilled to look at rocks and minerals through lit magnifying lenses and be taught HOW TO pan for gold!! I will definitely be calling on Yukon Dan in the future.

Andrea Barclay
DeBeck Elementary School
Richmond, B.C.

February 18, 2007

To Whom It May Concern:

I am pleased to write this reference letter in regards to "Yukon" Dan Moore and his gold and mineral presentations. I have had the pleasure of knowing Dan over the last 10 years, and have found his presentations to be engaging, hands on and extremely worthwhile for students.

As a teacher of Social Studies 10, I have found Dan's presentation extremely beneficial and useful when covering the settlement of British Columbia and Cariboo Gold Rush portions of our curriculum. Much of the presentation links directly to the Integrated Resource Package and Prescribed Learning Outcomes as directed by the Ministry of Education.

Simply put, Dan's presentations are effective because they are visual and experiential in nature. Current research shows that experiential education leads to better retention of information and skills. With his hands on lectures and information sessions, he is able to teach students about mining gold, platinum and other minerals, all while discussing their role in the history of British Columbia. By allowing the students to each pan for gold with a pan of their own, he engages the students and demonstrates not only the proper techniques of panning, but how gold panners lived and worked during BC's Gold Rush period.

To take a group of students to a site such as Barkerville would be ideal. Today's economic realities, however, make this impossible for any teacher. An affordable alternative is "Yukon" Dan's presentations, and I would argue they are equally effective. Dan is a dedicated educator who is extremely passionate about what he does, and extremely professional. He establishes immediate and lasting rapport with students. I still have students that remember little about Social Studies 10, save for "that awesome day with Yukon Dan".

Today's climate in B.C.'s education system is changing, and the recent court ruling regarding school fees has made it difficult for schools to bring Dan's presentations in, as they cannot charge for any field trip in Social Studies. Sadly, schools don't have the budget allowances to cover Dan's costs either. We as an educational community MUST find a way to continue to get Dan's presentations to students so that we do not lose this extremely valuable asset in enhancing our Social Studies Curriculum. Yukon Dan's presentations are valuable, effective and memorable. Just ask my students.

Please contact me if you have any questions.

Marc England
Teacher and Social Studies Department Head
Clayton Heights Secondary
604-576-4138 (phone)
england_m@sd36.bc.ca (email)

February 16, 2007

To Whom It May Concern:

It is with great pleasure that I write this letter of reference for Dan Moore.

Dan Moore has been leading my students in his workshop "Gold Panning in the Classroom" for at least 5 years now. My students always love his presentation and many walk away with gold fever – a testament to his ability to interest the kids. I am always amazed at how well he keeps them on task throughout the entire 75 minutes. He is so organized! Dan starts the class with a show-and-tell of his many gold artifacts while he teaches the kids about the gold rush, etc. He then divides the class into three groups and has them rotate between stations where they use a magnet to move magnetite and find precious minerals, do a word search (which is later used in a draw for some free gold) and learn to gold pan right in the room. At the end he demonstrates his amazing ability to clear a pan of dirt and find the gold in record time. His entire workshop is amazing from all perspectives, mine and the students'.

I bring Dan in for my grade 11 Earth Science group usually but a couple years ago I hired him for my daughter's 7th birthday party as well. We had about 20 seven-year-olds, a recipe for bedlam, but Dan managed, and kept interested, these young children with equal skill. My daughter's friends were still talking about the fun party for months afterwards too! Dan is a wonderful educator!

Dan brings something extremely special and important to the classroom and I would be very sorry to see that end due to financial pressures. Please consider supporting him financially, at this trying time, as the province works through the new restrictions on field trips and guest speakers imposed by the court decision last fall.

Thank you very much for your time. Call me at school if you have further questions: (604) 941-5401.

Sincerely,

Teena Della
Earth Science, Physics and Astronomy teacher
Terry Fox Secondary School

February 15, 2007

To whom it may concern,

I am writing to you to provide a reference of support for Dan Moore and his purposeful and enjoyable gold panning workshop. I have known "Yukon Dan" for nearly 7 years through my work with the Mineral Resources Education Program of BC. Over all this time we have eagerly promoted his workshop to teachers through our newsletter and in our own workshops because Dan plays such an important and supportive role in outreach education for classes that are learning about rocks and minerals and mining in school.

Dan is a great showman and a wonderful teacher. His exuberant personality makes it easy for him to capture everyone's attention. His ability to explain panning technique allows every single novice to successfully recover gold. His love for gold panning is contagious. I have seen him work with little children and with 3rd and 4th year mining engineering students, and young and old alike love the activity and really enjoy Dan. He is the highlight for so many of our student and teacher guests at Roundup each year. Furthermore, the feedback we receive from classroom teachers who invite him to their schools is invariably positive.

Dan dresses like an old time prospector when he does his workshop, but he does not only represent the past. He presents lessons in both history and science to his workshop, and perhaps more importantly he brings enthusiasm for learning and he builds excitement for the search for gold, the same excitement that has driven human kind to explore the ends of the Earth.

Dan Moore is a big-hearted gentleman who makes a very valuable contribution to minerals education in school. Support for his important work could benefit thousands of students each year.

Sincerely,

Sheila R. Stenzel, PhD
Director
Mineral Resources Education Program of British Columbia