“Still Developing the Toolbox: Making EE Relevant for Culturally Diverse Groups,” by Joanne M. Lozar Glenn addresses this question and profiles five organizations working to connect their programming to the communities they serve. From creating learning groups to reaching urban, immigrant, and native audiences, these organizations address what it means to work with diverse audiences, and how connecting with these communities changes what they’re doing and how that work gets done.

The article includes 10 “learnings” that have emerged from environmental educators who are on the ground and at the forefront of efforts to make EE more inclusive. The article also provides a list of resources (books, articles, websites, programs, and organizations and individuals) designed to inspire readers who want to learn more about this topic and to get ideas they can apply to their own work.

To read and download the article click here.

Note: If the above link does not work copy and paste the following address into your browser:
http://eetap.org/media/pdf/StillDevelopingToolbox.pdf

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Link to Directions

Description: 2012 Annual Service Learning Symposium FEBRUARY 24TH, 2012, FRIDAY, 8:00am - 4:00pm JSCEE (John Stanford Center for Education Excellence) 3rd Avenue South and South Lander Street Seattle, Washington  98134

KEYNOTE SPEAKER & WORKSHOP PRESENTERS:

CATHY BERGER KAYE
(You know Cathy as the author of The Complete Guide to Service Learning & the new Project Blue: Saving Our Ocean, Lakes, Rivers, & Wetlands with Phillipe Cousteau)

 DR. SHELLEY BILLIG
RMC Research
Leading researcher in the implementation and impact of the service learning pedagogy. 
Evaluator partner in the Seattle Youth Engagement Zone Project.

 Workshops on School-Community Partnerships; Service Learning 101; Alignment of Multiple Standards of Practice & Curriculum:  5th Grade Project; and much, much more!

 Great Reflection and Networking Time Led by Cathy Berger-Kaye to wrap-up our day!

 Attendees from King County Housing AmeriCorps Team, EarthCorps, Nature Consortium, Triangle Associates, Lawton Elem., Aki Kurose MS, the S.T.E.M. Program at Cleveland High School, WA State Commission for National & Community Service, Seattle Public Schools, Friends of Issaquah Salmon Hatchery, Service Learning Seattle, and More!

 TO REGISTER by February 15th to insure meal selection: www.brownpapertickets.com/event/211562

Compete for $100,000+ in cash prizes:  Students and their schools vie for 66 cash awards. Many honor first-time participating schools.

 Show students new possibilities: Imagine Tomorrow inspires students to see the value of research and the power of their own ideas.

 Fuel interest in all subjects:  The competition engages students in the arts, engineering, social sciences, and sciences.

 Do it for free:  Registration costs nothing. Housing and dining on campus are free, too. There's even some financial support for project development.

 Registration opens March 1 and closes April 2.  The competition is held at May 18-20, at Washington State University in Pullman.

 For more information, go to our website:  http://imagine.wsu.edu/

Webinar topic:  “Deep Climate Change Education: Learning and Teaching for Personal and Social Transformation”

Presenters:  David Selby and Fumiyo Kagawa

Building on their Fall 2011 article in Green Teacher, Fumiyo Kagawa and David Selby will critique mainstream manifestations of climate change education as a shallow and insufficient response to the global and human condition. They will offer an elaboration of a 'deep climate change education' that examines values issues, explores the dynamics of climate change avoidance and denial, investigates the complicity of economic growth in fomenting climate change while cultivating intimacy with nature, an ethic of denizenship, and commitment to global climate justice. The links between climate change education, sustainability education and disaster risk reduction education will be explored, the whole being exemplified through practical activities.

Suitability:  All formal and non-formal youth educators

________________________________________

Tuesday, March 27, 2012, 7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. EST

Webinar topic:  “Schoolyards Re-Imagined: School Ground Innovation in the San Francisco Bay Area and Beyond”

Presenter:  Sharon Danks

Schools around the world are using their grounds to enhance hands-on teaching and learning, enrich outdoor play, and improve the ecology of their neighborhoods.  Sharon Danks will present a vibrant slideshow that takes us on a journey to explore the growing movement toward "green" school grounds.  Along the way, we will “visit” some of the world's most innovative green schoolyards including schools with: edible gardens with fruit trees, vegetables, chickens, honeybees, and outdoor cooking facilities; wildlife habitats with ponds or forest ecosystems; schoolyard watershed models, rainwater catchment systems, and waste-water treatment wetlands; renewable energy systems that power landscape features or the whole school; waste-as-a-resource projects that give new life to old materials in beautiful ways; curriculum connections for a wide range of disciplines from science and math to art and social studies; and creative play opportunities that diversify school ground recreational options and encourage children to explore the natural world while they run, hop, skip, jump, balance, slide, and twirl. The talk will also ground these examples in a practical framework that schools can use to make their schoolyards more comfortable, enjoyable, and sustainable, and describe a participatory design process to engage school communities as stewards of their own public spaces.

Suitability:  All formal and non-formal youth educators, school administrators, parents, environmentalists, and design professionals

You can sign up for these sessions, and find more information on the presenters, at www.greenteacher.com/webinars.html.

Can’t attend a webinar?  Don’t worry!  Archived recordings of all of our webinars are also available on our website.  (Archives are available free of charge to anyone for one month following each webinar, and are thereafter available to Green Teacher subscribers.) 

-Christine Benita, Science Specialist, Jana Addams K-8 School

-Dave Ketter, Science Teacher, Sequim High School

- Gilda Wheeler, Sustainability and Science Program Supervisor, OSPI

Light snacks will be provided, 3 FREE clock hours!

Click to register by March 15

Questions?  Please contact Gilda Wheeler 360-725-4976 or gilda.wheeler@k12.wa.us

March 26, 2012
3:30pm-6:30pm
ESD 123, 3918 W. Court St
Pasco, WA  99301
Blue Mountain Room

Join us for this FREE interactive workshop facilitated by members of the OSPI Environmental and Sustainability Education Professional Development Cadre and Washington Green Schools:

-Peter Hubbard, Elementary Teacher & Green Team Leader, Seattle Public Schools
-Meredith Lohr, Executive Director, Washington Green Schools
-Judy Morrison, Professor, Science Education, Washington State University, Tri-Cities
-Gilda Wheeler, Sustainability and Science Program Supervisor, OSPI

Light snacks will be provided, 3 FREE clock hours!

Click to register by March 15

Questions?  Please contact Gilda Wheeler 360-725-4976 or gilda.wheeler@k12.wa.us

 Consumption Junction: How do you Function?
The 2012 YESC Symposium
Friday, March 23rd, 9am-2pm

Breakfast and Lunch will be provided

 Through workshops and treks to local environmental sites, the symposium will present you with an opportunity to learn how the choices you make affect the planet.  Hear from some of the most innovative and knowledgeable environmental folks from around Seattle on topics including:

 Urban Foraging

Sustainable Gardening in City Limits

Environmental Toxins

Car Care

Backyard Bees

Environmental Activism through Art and Photography

 So join us for our flagship event - the event that started it all for YMCA Earth Service Corps - on Friday, March 23rd at the University of Washington's Mary Gates Hall.  And wait!  There's more!  The first 50 people to RSVP will get a YESC T Shirt at the door!

RSVP by e-mailing YESC@seattleymca.org

Link to Directions

Description:
Sea stars, nudibranchs (sea slugs), sea palm kelp, octopus, and whales - there is no shortage of amazing things that live in the tidepools and ocean.  Bring your family out to the Olympic Peninsula to explore tidepools and beaches of the wild Olympic coast.  Learn all about the unique creatures that live in our local salty seas and about some of the things that are impacting our local oceans. You can also canoe, do yoga, indulge in your creative side, enjoy a campfire, and, of course, relax on the shores of Lake Crescent.

 Tuition includes meals, lodging, and all educational experiences. Your family will enjoy healthy and hearty meals with vegetarian options served in historic Rosemary Inn. You will stay in a room with your family in our cabins with shared bathrooms. Upgrades to our historic and lakeside cabins are available.

 Register online at https://www.naturebridge.org/family-learning-adventures-olympic

Set sail and enroll now – limited spaces!

Targeting home school students and science-focused youth, Salish Sea Expeditions offers expeditions where students sail aboard the 61' Carlyn Research Vessel and conduct original marine science research under the careful guidance of the Salish crew. All scientific research equipment, camping gear (except sleeping bags), food, raingear, and instruction provided.  

 Salish Sea Expeditions is currently accepting open enrollment registration for middle and high school students.
Date: Thursday March 29 – Saturday March 31, 2012
Date: Sunday April 1 – Tuesday April 3, 2012
Location: Elliott Bay Marina, Seattle, WA

For more information on registration and pricing please visit our website at http://salish.org/openenrollment or contact Director of Program Outreach, Jennifer Pritchard, at jennifer@salish.org or (206) 780-7848 (Salish office) with questions.

Applications for CCC are due March 30th.

North Cascades Wild features 8- and 12-day summer wilderness expeditions in North Cascades National Park and Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. Students canoe camp, backpack and complete conservation service projects while developing leadership skills and learning about the local natural and cultural history of the North Cascades region. The program includes spring and fall monthly field trips for students from Skagit and Whatcom County, WA, a fall reunion and a Youth Leadership Conference at the North Cascades Environmental Learning Center. Students currently in any grade in high school from WA and OR are eligible to apply.

Applications for Skagit/Whatcom students are due February 16th while students from the rest of WA and OR are due March 30th.

Applications are found on our website along with quotes, photos, blogs and video!! http://ncascades.org/signup/youth/north-cascades-wild http://ncascades.org/signup/youth/ccc http://ncascades.org/signup/youth/youth-leadership-conference Teachers- stay tuned for news of a climate change teacher training opportunity this August with North Cascades Institute!

 If you have any questions please contact Amy Brown, North Cascades Wild Program Coordinator, regarding North Cascades Wild (email: abrown@ncascades.org; 360-854-2582). Thank you.

If you have any questions about the Climate Challenge, pleast contact Aneka Singlaub, M.Ed. Climate Challenge Program Coordinator North Cascades Institute 810 State Route 20; Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284 Phone: (360) 854-2595 Fax: (360) 856-1934 aneka_singlaub@ncascades.org www.ncascades.org Connecting people, nature and community through education since 1986.

Theme: Making connections for Puget Sound: Bringing teachers and nonformal educators together

 Registration is open: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/225627

For teachers: Clock hours and substitute reimbursement

Registration fee is $35, which includes lunch, coffee/tea and snacks. (Note: If this fee is an obstacle to attend, please inquire about scholarships, see contact below.)

Here is the link to the conference website: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/puget_sound/stormthesound2012central.html

 Date: Friday, March 30, 2012
Time: 9:30 to 4:00 PM
Location: IslandWood, Bainbridge Island

 Storming the Sound is a one-day conference for environmental and sustainability educators in the Central Puget Sound region. This is a great opportunity for teachers, non-formal educators, environmental organizations with education programs, and students with an interest in a career in environmental education to:

• Learn about other Puget Sound environmental education programs.
• Bring home practical strategies and tactics you can use.
• Gain skills and insights with experts and capable peers.
• Share insights and network with other educators.
• Engage and grow in sessions where everyone is a participant.
• Exchange ideas and experiences to help you develop new perspectives and approaches.

 Call for Presentations: Conference planning committee invites submissions of abstracts for presentations.  Deadline: February 10, 2012

Click on the link below to see topic ideas and to submit your proposal online. You will hear back from us end of February.

 http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2012StormingtheCentralSoundConferenceCallforPresentationsXZGNKN2

 For questions please contact:
Ann Butler at People For Puget Sound, abutler@pugetsound.org, or (360) 754-9177 or Justine Asohmbom at Dept of Ecology, juas461@ecy.wa.gov or (425) 649-7108.

 Storming the Sound conference planning committee:  Justine Asohmbom, WA Dept of Ecology; Amy Sprenger, NW Aquatic and Marine Educators;  Kari Golden, Stillwaters Environmental Center; Ann Butler People For Puget Sound; Casey Plank, King County DNRP

April 11, 2012
3:30pm-6:30pm
North Central ESD 171, 430 Olds Station Road
Wenatchee, WA 

Join us for the FREE interactive workshop facilitated by members of the OSPI Environmental and Sustainability Education Professional Development Cadre and Washington Green Schools:

-Steve Coleman, Science Teacher, High Tech High
-Meredith Lohr, Executive Director, Washington Green Schools
-Gilda Wheeler, Sustainability and Science Program Supervisor, OSPI

Light snacks will be provided, 3 FREE clock hours! 

Click to register by March 30

Questions?  Please contact Gilda Wheeler 360-725-4976 or gilda.wheeler@k12.wa.us

Description: Northwest Carnivores
Most appropriate for teachers of grades 5-12

Cost: $60 Woodland Park Zoo course fee. Fees cover zoo admission, materials, snacks and clock hours.

Clock hours 6 clock hours will be available

Registration: Online registration opens Monday, December 5, 2011
Registration due date: Monday, March 26, 2012

 This course will explore the biology and behavior of large carnivores of the Pacific Northwest (black bears, grizzly bears, cougars, coyotes and wolves). We will discover the fascinating carnivores of Washington's diverse habitats-including sagebrush steppe, mountains, temperate forest and urban areas-and the roles they play in the various ecosystems they inhabit. Participants will also learn about the dynamics of human-carnivore relationships from past to present and current conservation efforts aimed at ensuring the survival of carnivores in the wild. Through activities and observations of animals on zoo grounds, we will discover local carnivore conservation issues and opportunities for involving students in promoting carnivore-friendly communities.

 For more information, call 206.548.2424 or visit the zoo's website at www.zoo.org/education/teacher-development

Link to Directions

Description:
It's spring break time! What better way to enjoy it than spending time on the Olympic Peninsula learning about survival skills.  Learn how to start a fire without matches!  You and your family will also have a chance to construct shelters, try cedar tea, and learn about using compasses to get around.  Amidst learning all sorts of survival skills, you can also canoe, do yoga, indulge in your creative side, enjoy a campfire, and, of course, relax on the shores of Lake Crescent.

 Tuition includes meals, lodging, and all educational experiences. Your family will enjoy healthy and hearty meals with vegetarian options served in historic Rosemary Inn. You will stay in a room with your family in our cabins with shared bathrooms. Upgrades to our historic and lakeside cabins are available.

 Register online at https://www.naturebridge.org/family-learning-adventures-olympic

Link to Directions: http://www.museumofflight.org/directions

Description:
What is climate change? Explore the science of climate change through activities and presentations for the entire family. Learn how satellites have helped scientists study climate change, and what that data means to Earth and us. Measure your carbon footprint, learn about the difference between climate and weather, what "fossil fuel" means, and what we can do about climate change.

 Free to the public during the Museum of Flight's Wells Fargo First Free Thursday, 5-9pm.

Other Links: http://www.museumofflight.org/

April 26, 2012
3:30pm-6:30pm
Olympic ESD 114, 105 National Ave N.
Bremerton, WA  98312

Join us for this FREE interactive workshop facilitated by members of the OSPI Environmental and Sustainability Education Professional Development Cadre:

-Dave Ketter, Science Teacher, Sequim High School
-Susan Milan, Elementary Teacher, South Whidbey Elementary School
-Gilda Wheeler, Sustainability and Science Program Supervisor, OSPI

Light snacks will be provided, 3 FREE clock hours!

Click to register by April 15

Questions?  Please contact Gilda Wheeler 360-725-4976 or gilda.wheeler@k12.wa.us

Join your fellow interpreters in sharing the Best Practices in Interpretation this coming April 18^th, 2012!  Region 10 of the National Association of Interpretation will hold its annual spring workshop in three locations – Portage, Alaska; Tacoma, WA & Portland, Oregon.  All workshop sites will link together through Windows Live Meeting for a virtual Keynote presentation from Dr. Craig Rademacher, Ph.D., Assistant Professor at Northern Michigan University.  Dr. Rademacher will be presenting, “Best Practices: The Case For The Digital Brochure”  The sites will then participate in a group regional business meeting before parting ways for individual on-site workshop sessions.  We are currently taking applications for presentations.  If you are interested in presenting a session, please visit the R10 website for the presenters application.  Workshop registration will be open soon at the NAI webstore. 

Visit http://nairegions.org/10/ for more details or to download the call for presenters form. 

We in thePacific Northwestare fortunate to live not only in a place where nature abounds but also to live in place where place-based writers abound. Their writing brings in not only plants and animals, but also the human inhabitants, past and present, who dwell on the land. Whether it is exploring the wonderful world of feathers, considering the myriad ways of plants and animals of the thePacific Northwest, or pondering the life of salmon in Seattle, these authors provoke us to reflect upon our own relationship to the natural world around us. Ultimately, they are forging a new way to look at nature and to develop deeper connections to place.

For the fourth year in a row, theBurkeMuseumbrings together a trio of outstanding writers to present a one-day workshop on writing about the environment. Award-winning authors William Dietrich, Thor Hanson, and Judith Roche will lead classroom and field-based sessions, all taking place at theBurkeMuseum. They bring years of experience as writers, journalists, bloggers, and teachers. Each is an attentive observer who weaves together history, science, and field time into well-crafted, thought-provoking writing about the natural and cultural world.

Judith Roche is the author of three poetry collections, most recently, Wisdom of the Body, an American Book Award winner, which was also nominated for a Pushcart. She has written extensively about our native salmon and edited First Fish, First People, Salmon Tales of the North Pacific and has salmon poems installed at the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks inSeattle. She has been Distinguished Northwest Writer-in-Residence atSeattleUniversity, has taught atCornishCollege of the Arts, and currently teaches at Richard Hugo House.

Thor Hanson is a conservation biologist, Switzer Environmental Fellow, and member of the Human Ecosystems Study Group. His most recent book is Feathers: The Evolution of a Natural Miracle. His first book, The Impenetrable Forest: My Gorilla Years in Uganda, won the 2008 USA Book News Award for nature writing. Hanson lives with his wife and son on an island off the coast ofWashington State. 

Bill Dietrich is a Washington state career journalist-turned novelist, who has covered the environment and science for the Seattle Times and other newspapers. He shared a Pulitzer for coverage of the Exxon Valdez oil spill and won a Pacific Northwest Booksellers Award for his book on the Northwest timber crisis, The Final Forest. His 10 novels have been translated into nearly 30 languages. He taught environmental journalism atHuxleyCollege of the Environment at Western. nominated for

Cost is $100, which includes lunch. Scholarships are available for students. 
For more information, please email burked@uw.edu or call (206) 543-5591.

Additional info at: www.burkemuseum.org/events/browse/environmental_writers_workshop

Link to Directions

Description:
There are some pretty amazing creatures crawling, flying, and sliding around out here in Olympic National Park. Join our experienced educators in looking for animal signs and learning about the wildlife on the peninsula. You will have the chance to use track boxes and do some habitat mapping. Your family can also canoe, do yoga, indulge in your creative side, enjoy a campfire, and, of course, relax on the shores of Lake Crescent.

 Tuition includes meals, lodging, and all educational experiences. Your family will enjoy healthy and hearty meals with vegetarian options served in historic Rosemary Inn. You will stay in a room with your family in our cabins with shared bathrooms. Upgrades to our historic and lakeside cabins are available.

 Register online at https://www.naturebridge.org/family-learning-adventures-olympic

Description:
PERSPECTIVES IN ENVIRONMENT & CULTURE: Sustaining Biodiversity
Saturday, April 28, 2012 (8:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. at Woodland Park Zoo) and Monday, April 30, 2012 (7:00 - 9:30 p.m. for the National Geographic Live presentation "The Big Picture: Celebrating our Planet, Envisioning Our Future" with Mattias Klum and Johan Rockström at Benaroya Hall, Seattle (www.nglive.org/seattle)

Credit: 1 graduate semester credit

Cost: $100 Woodland Park Zoo course fee + $185 Miami University course fee covers the cost of credit and course administration for 1 graduate semester credit. Zoo fees cover zoo admission, materials, snacks and clock hours.

Clock hours: 9.5 clock hours will be available Registration: Online registration opens Monday, December 5, 2011 Registration due dates: Friday, December 30, 2011 (for those taking the course for credit). , Monday, April 16, 2012 (for all others)  

Biodiversity-the variety of all living things, from the diversity of genes within a species, to the diversity of species around the world, to the earth's diverse ecosystems-refers to the interconnected, living diversity that supports our planet. This course explores how scientists define and measure biodiversity, the importance of biodiversity, and human attitudes towards biodiversity. Course activities and discussions engage participants in analyzing and reflecting on past, present and future human interactions with biodiversity and pathways for responsible stewardship of biodiversity. 

 For more information, call 206.548.2424 or visit the zoo's website at www.zoo.org/education/teacher-development

Description:
The Imagine Tomorrow engages students in grades 9 - 12 in forging creative, carefully researched solutions to the world's energy challenges.

Working in teams, students learn the power of collaboration.  They see the real-world impact of solutions they create.  For the first time, they realize the answer to the question: "Why do I have to learn this?"  Students emerge with a new understanding of the importance of research-and the power they possess to tackle real-world problems.  Imagine Tomorrow marks some students' first visit to a university campus and motivates many to attend college.

Awards
Over $100,000 in cash awards will be awarded to student competitors and their schools. In all, more than 65 cash awards will be presented to student teams and their schools.

Challenges
Biofuels, Behavior, Design, and Technology-students consider energy problems from the perspective of different disciplines.

Registration

Registration will open March 1 and close April 2.  Only 175 teams may compete, so the time for students to begin working on their projects is now.  There is no entry fee and housing and dining expenses on campus are covered for all participants.

Other Links: http://imagine.wsu.edu/

Description: GLOBAL BIOMES:  Tropical Asia
Saturday, May 19, 2012 (8:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. at Woodland Park Zoo)

Credit: 1 graduate semester credit

Cost: $100 Woodland Park Zoo course fee + $185 Miami University course fee covers the cost of credit and course administration for 1 graduate semester credit. Zoo fees cover zoo admission, materials, snacks and clock hours.

Clock hours: 7 clock hours will be available

Registration: Online registration opens Monday, December 5, 2011

Registration due dates: Friday, December 30, 2011 (for those taking the course for credit). Monday, May 14, 2012 (for all others)

 The tropical forest biomes of Asia host a great diversity of wildlife, including some of the most charismatic and endangered animals on earth, such as hornbills, orangutans, elephants, sun bears and tigers. This course explores the diversity of tropical Asian forests, with a focus on the roles of these species in their forest ecosystems and current conservation efforts to ensure their continued survival. Participants will explore current conservation in tropical Asia as well as strategies for helping students to consider their consumer choices and how these choices can help ensure the persistence of the diverse wildlife and habitats of tropical Asia. Those participants taking the course for credit will complete web-based coursework from late April through late May.

  For more information, call 206.548.2424 or visit the zoo's website at www.zoo.org/education/teacher-development

Link to Directions

Description:
Discover the beauty and quiet of the old growth temperate rainforest with your family. Spend a weekend at NatureBridge in Olympis National Park learning about the giant trees we have here in Washington and the critters and plants that share their domain.   You and your family will hike on Barnes Point looking for wild edibles, ply the waters of Lake Crescent in our 34-foot canoes, make leaf rubbings, practice yoga and relax by the clear blue waters of Lake Crescent.  If you love learning about your plant and animal neighbors, this is the family weekend for you!

 Tuition includes meals, lodging and all educational experiences. Your family will enjoy healthy and hearty meals with vegetarian options served in historic Rosemary Inn. You will stay in a room with your family in our cabins with shared bathrooms. Upgrades to our historic and lakeside cabins are available.

 Register online at https://www.naturebridge.org/family-learning-adventures-olympic

Description:
The goal of this course and all my courses is to help k-12 educators across a variety of content areas create varied and meaningful outdoor learning experiences for students.

This class has a base camp on Mayne Island in British Columbia. It offers teachers either 50 clock hours or 5 qtr continuing ed credits (grad or undergrad-type credits). The cycling and kayaking are rigorous, but also optional, so the class is fine for people of all ability levels.

 See the above website link for regristration and additional details.

Other Links: Other offerings through The Heritage Institute: www.HOL.edu

For K-12 Education:  Using Systems Thinking and System Dynamics to Address Common Core and STEM Standards

Join us to explore how the critical thinking engendered by Systems Thinking and System Dynamics will help students meet the Common Core Standards and the STEM standards.

Effectively addressing Common Core and STEM Standards requires more than k-12 education as usual.  It requires using techniques and tools that give students deeper understanding through multiple avenues for learning.  System Dynamics and Systems Thinking provide such strategies for exploring complexity, interconnectedness, and change over time.

-Workshops with hands-on learning
-Informative plenary presentations
-Discussion roundtables
-Ample opportunities for less formal networking

Feature Speakers:  Peter Senge, George Richardson, Dennis Meadows, Linda Booth Sweeney and many other educators experienced in Systems Thinking and System Dynamics in K-12 Education.

The conference will run from registration, which starts at 8:30 Saturday morning, June 30, to noon on Monday, July 2.

Scholarship applications for educators are available on the website.

For more information or to register:  http://clexchange.org/news/conference/2012conference.asp

Questions:  Andi Miller, Creative Learning Exchange- 978-635-9797 or milleras@clexchange.org

Link to Directions

Description:
What better way to celebrate the birth of the United States than to help make our national parks better!  Join us in Olympic National Park for a truly American celebration this 4th of July. Your family will have a chance to learn about Olympic National Park as well as do some service projects for the park, remove invasive species, and do monitoring on the Elwha River

 We also have a fabulous 4th of July celebration in store.  Enjoy a homemade picnic dinner and watch the fireworks from the beach in Port Angeles. Your family can also canoe, do yoga, indulge in your creative side, enjoy a campfire, and, of course, relax on the shores of Lake Crescent.

 Tuition includes meals, lodging, and all educational experiences. Your family will enjoy healthy and hearty meals with vegetarian options served in historic Rosemary Inn. You will stay in a room with your family in our cabins with shared bathrooms. Upgrades to our historic and lakeside cabins are available.

 Register online at https://www.naturebridge.org/family-learning-adventures-olympic

Description:
The goal of this course and all my courses is to help k-12 educators across a variety of content areas create varied and meaningful outdoor learning experiences for students.

This class offers teachers 50 clock hours or 5 qtr (continuing ed) credits at the 400 or 500 level. While the cycling can get fairly rigorous, we do have a support vehicle which makes the class accessible to  people with a variety of ability levels. It's a really fun week.

Click on the link for course details and registration information https://sites.google.com/site/naturalhistorywithchris/

Other Links: Other offerings from The Heritage Institute: www.HOL.edu

Link to Directions

Description:
Calling all families who enjoy hiking! Join NatureBridge for a week of exploring the Olympic Mountains by foot. You'll hike in the three major ecosystems in Olympic National Park - forest, subalpine, and marine - and learn about what makes this place so unique. You and your family will also have the opportunity to canoe, do yoga, enjoy a campfire, and, of course, relax on the shores of Lake Crescent.

 Special note: You do not have to be an expert hiker to participate in this program. However, most days you will be hiking five miles or more over a variety of terrain including pretty steep uphill. This program is not suitable for very small kids.

 Tuition includes meals, lodging, and all educational experiences. Your family will enjoy healthy and hearty meals with vegetarian options served in historic Rosemary Inn. You will stay in a room with your family in our cabins with shared bathrooms. Upgrades to our historic and lakeside cabins are available.

 Register online at https://www.naturebridge.org/family-learning-adventures-olympic

Workshops using techniques in field biology, art, music, photography, theater, journaling, and other disciplines will be presented, as well as a host of classic Audubon Camp field trips. We’ll visit the nearby restored Atlantic Puffin and seabird colony, as well as exploreHogIsland’s magnificent spruce forest and its rich intertidal zones.

There is a $50 Early Bird Discount for those registering by December 15, 2011

 Great networking opportunities, delicious home-cooking, and the experience of living on a 330 acre wildlife sanctuary island will make this a memorable and cherished experience.

 Children’s book author and activist Lynne Cherry will be our special guest.  Instructors include veteran field biologist Ted Gilman, artistSherrie York, world class photographer/instructor Steve Morello, award-winning educator/musicianTrudy Phillips science educator/musician Craig Newberger, “Seabird Sue Schubel”, and Pete Salmansohn.

 Continuing Education Credits are available.  Go to http://hogisland.audubon.org   for full details, pricing schedule, photographs, staff biographies, and information on scholarships

Link to Directions

Description:
Indulge your inner scientist and your sense of adventure!  Come to Olympic National Park to study the Elwha River.  We are documenting and studying the removal of the two Elwha River dams - an historic event!  The Elwha River is the largest river on the peninsula and historically had the largest salmon runs until it was dammed in the early 1900s.  Now, 100 years later, the dams are being removed and the salmon will return to their original habitat. In this family vacation, you will have a chance to see the dams as they are coming down and learn about the dams from a historic, cultural, and scientific perspective.  You and your family will participate in a rafting trip down the Elwha, conduct scientific experiments in the Elwha River ecosystem, tour the lower Elwha River and its dams, as well as spend time relaxing on the beautiful shores of Lake Crescent.  

 Tuition includes meals, river rafting, lodging, and all educational experiences. Your family will enjoy healthy and hearty meals with vegetarian options served in historic Rosemary Inn. You will stay in a room with your family in our cabins with shared bathrooms. Upgrades to our historic and lakeside cabins are available.

 Certified teachers get a 50% discount!

 **Note: Children must be 5 years or older to go on the rafting trip.

 Register online at https://www.naturebridge.org/family-learning-adventures-olympic

Description:
The goal of this course and all my courses is to help k-12 educators across a variety of content areas create varied and meaningful outdoor learning experiences for students.

While this class really is accessible to cyclists of any ability level, it is a class suited for mountain bike enthusiasts, or those willing to give it a try. Transportation costs make the class fees a bit more than my other island classes, but Hornby Island is a real treasure and very worth it.

For further course details and registration information see the course website at:
https://sites.google.com/site/naturalhistorywithchris/

Other Links: Other offerings from The Heritage Institute: www.HOL.edu

Description:
The goal of this course and all my courses is to help k-12 educators across a variety of content areas create varied and meaningful outdoor learning experiences for students. 

This class offers teachers 50 clock hours or 5 qtr (continuing ed) credits at the 400 or 500 level. While the cycling can get fairly rigorous, we do have a support vehicle which makes the class accessible to people with a variety of ability levels. It's a really fun week. See the link below for course details and registration information.

 https://sites.google.com/site/naturalhistorywithchris/

Other Links: Other offerings from The Heritage Institute: www.HOL.edu

Link to Directions

Description:
Does spending the night in a tent, cooking over the fire and on propane stoves, sitting around a campfire, and falling asleep under the stars sound dreamy to you?  Maybe you have never been camping before or it has just been a long time.  Either way, you'll have fun!  The adventure will start and end on the NatureBridge campus on Lake Crescent. We will provide all the gear and share our expertise in the camping world as you spend one overnight at Lake Ozette. As a group, you will learn about setting up tents and outdoor cooking. You will also have the chance to hike out to the Pacific Ocean. No equipment is required - all camping gear will be provided.

 You and your family can also canoe, do yoga, indulge in your creative side, enjoy a campfire, and, of course, relax on the shores of Lake Crescent.

 Tuition includes meals, lodging, and all educational experiences. This program is open to all ages and camping experience levels. Your family will enjoy healthy and hearty meals with vegetarian options served in historic Rosemary Inn. While on campus, you will stay in a room with your family in our cabins with shared bathrooms. Upgrades to our historic and lakeside cabins are available.

 Certified teachers get a 50% discount!

 Register online at https://www.naturebridge.org/family-learning-adventures-olympic

Link to Directions

Description:
Indulge your inner scientist and your sense of adventure!  Come to Olympic National Park to study the Elwha River.  We are documenting and studying the removal of the two Elwha River dams - an historic event!  The Elwha River is the largest river on the peninsula and historically had the largest salmon runs until it was dammed in the early 1900s.  Now, 100 years later, the dams are being removed and the salmon will return to their original habitat. In this family vacation, you will have a chance to see the dams as they are coming down and learn about the dams from a historic, cultural, and scientific perspective.  You and your family will participate in a rafting trip down the Elwha, conduct scientific experiments in the Elwha River ecosystem, tour the lower Elwha River and its dams, as well as spend time relaxing on the beautiful shores of Lake Crescent.  

 Tuition includes meals, river rafting, lodging, and all educational experiences. Your family will enjoy healthy and hearty meals with vegetarian options served in historic Rosemary Inn. You will stay in a room with your family in our cabins with shared bathrooms. Upgrades to our historic and lakeside cabins are available.

 Certified teachers get a 50% discount!

 **Note: Children must be 5 years or older to go on the rafting trip.

 Register online at https://www.naturebridge.org/family-learning-adventures-olympic

Link to Directions

Description:
Join us in celebrating the wonders of food!  Good food has caught the attention of Americans. Now more than ever we are taking the time to learn about where our food comes from and how it made its way to our tables. Throughout the weekend you will eat delicous food, spend time in the forest discovering what edible bounty you can find in the wild, as well as spending time on a local organic farm and learning about how farmers produce food.

 You and your family can also canoe, do yoga, indulge in your creative side, enjoy a campfire, and, of course, relax on the shores of Lake Crescent.

 Tuition includes meals, lodging, and all educational experiences. Your family will enjoy healthy and hearty meals with vegetarian options served in historic Rosemary Inn. You will stay in a room with your family in our cabins with shared bathrooms. Upgrades to our historic and lakeside cabins are available.

 Certified teachers get a 50% discount!

 Register online at https://www.naturebridge.org/family-learning-adventures-olympic

 Currently, Leaping Frog Films is showcasing three of their feature films. The first, Buried in Sawdust for 50 Years, tells the story of the local restoration of a Washington State estuary which was filled sixty feet high with mining waste, and how a local nonprofit led the way in its million-dollar restoration effort. The Almost Lost series focuses on the reintroduction of endangered organisms and the ongoing restoration of their habitat; Almost Lost Part I tells the state-of-the-art story of Pinto Abalone efforts throughout Washington State, and Almost Lost Part II details the careful stewarding of the Olympia Oyster, a local oyster variety that has had a rich and intricate interaction with humans for thousands of years.

 Leaping Frog Films also provides fundraising support, and is currently developing a project-based Environmental School Curriculum for the history and the sciences, which will center on themes such as conservation, social engagement, and personal environmental action (current job opening for curriculum writer).

 More on Shelly Solomon and Leaping Frog Films can be found at Leaping Frog’s website, www.leapingfrogfilms.com

“You are such a great spokesperson for applied science learning!  It’s so cool that you always connect the learning targets back to building a sustainable future.”

“I’m always amazed at the things you tackle with large classes and young 6^th graders.  You really are an inspiration to us all!  Thanks for providing a model for what is possible”

E3 Washington extends congratulations to Ms. Levine for this great opportunity and accomplishment!

•  increasing environmental and sustainability literacy,
•  reducing their environmental footprint,
•  improving learning conditions, and
•  creating a  healthy community for students and staff.

Schools are evaluated based on several factors, including their progress towards these concepts, a variety of green benchmarks, and curriculum that ensures all students are environmentally literate and civic minded.  For more information visit the WA Green Ribbon Schools page. 

The deadline to submit an application to OSPI is February 15.

The projects for Washington State are the Pacific Northwest Trail-Olympic Discovery Trail Convergence, a project that proposes to extend the current trail to 120 miles which would allow more residents to have access and more recreational opportunities; and the Lower Columbia Water Trail, a project that proposes designating the Lower Columbia Water Trail as a National Water Trail which would draw more tourists and recreationists.

The full report includes:

• 24 projects to restore and provide recreational access to rivers and other waterways
• 23 projects to construct new trails or improve recreational
• 20 projects that will create and enhance urban parks and
• 13 projects that will restore and conserve America’s most significant landscapes

To view the full report, click here.

To view a map of the projects announced, click here.

For more information on the President’s America’s Great Outdoors initiative, click here.

As many know, E3 Washington is the leading initiative of the Environmental Education Association of Washington (EEAW).  In the next two months you will begin to see the transition of EEAW, the organization into E3 Washington the organization. 

More about the E3 Washington Awards

 In the past EEAW has offered awards for excellence in environmental education in five categories. Six new categories and a new name for the awards is all part of the exciting transition that is to take place in the upcoming months from The Environmental Education Association of Washington to E3 Washington. 

(EEAW)/E3 Washington is seeking nominations for the below awards categories in environmental and sustainability education. You do not need to be a member of EEAW/E3 Washington to be recognized, and individuals and programs may self-nominate. All nominations should be made by December 15, 2011.

Award Categories:

Green Apple Awards (4 awards)-recognizes outstanding formal environmental educators in WA state. This award has 4 categories this year: PreK-5, 6-8, 9-12, and College/University.

Informal Educator Award-recognizes an outstanding educator who provides learning for all ages in settings outside of, and/or linked to, the formal classroom.

K-12 Student Environmental Leader Award-recognizes a student who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in environmental education.

Business Excellence Award-recognizes a business (or program within a business) that provides and/or supports exemplary environmental education programs.

Government Agency Award-recognizes a government agency (or program within a government agency) that provides exemplary environmental education programs.

Diversity in Action Award-recognizes an individual, organization, or program that demonstrates cultural awareness and encourages a multicultural approach to environmental education projects or programs.

Timeline:
Nomination Deadline-December 15, 2011
Award Announcements by January 30, 2012

Please fill out the nomination form by December 15, 2011 to be considered.

Please contact Jessica Aronson, E3 Washington Awards Chair at jarons@uw.edu or the EEAW/E3 Washington office at 360-943-6643 with any questions.

To view the entire proceedings report, please click here. 

Karen Hollweg, Past President of the NAAEE and a Project Manager for this initiative, stated: “Given the scope and scale of investments and interest in the enhancement of environmental literacy on the part of government agencies, professional organizations, education institutions and corporations, assessments for gauging our progress are needed”.

 “We’ve worked with experts from many disciplines to reach a multi-disciplinary consensus on what constitutes environmental literacy and to provide a framework that can be used by assessment developers as a blueprint for their work. Early indications are that many educators, researchers and policy makers will join us on December 1 to learn about what we’ve done and its potential application", said Hollweg

 To date, the following will be speaking at the National Press Conference event:

 Andreas Schleicher, Advisor to the Secretary-General on Education Policy Head of the Indicators and Analysis Division at the Directorate for Education, OECD
The international importance of environmental literacy and the importance of assessing environmental literacy

 Scott Marion, Associate Director, Center for Assessment
A national and state perspective on environmental literacy assessment

Please oin the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) for the release of "A Framework for Assessing Environmental Literacy" in person at the National Press Club, Washington, D.C., or live on the internet on Thursday, December 1, 2011

To register for this important event, visit: www.naaee.net/framework

The System Dynamics Society occasionally recognizes people for making a significant contribution to a field or a practice over an extended period of time by giving them the Lifetime Achievement Award. Diana has worked over the last 20 years to bring system dynamics into high school mathematics (algebra, pre-calculus, and calculus), and created a year-long system dynamics modeling course for students age 15 to 18 years, using the visual nature of system dynamics software to enhance students’ understanding of both mathematics and changes in complex systems over time.

She has written two books based on her lessons, Lessons in Mathematics: A Dynamic Approach, and Modeling Dynamic Systems: Lessons for a First Course. Diana gave a moving acceptance speech in which she seconded Jay Forrester’s steadfast advocacy of the leverage that the use of system dynamics in K-12 education has for society. Ms. Fisher is currently developing curriculum materials and providing professional development services through CC Modeling Systems. 

For those unfamiliar with the concepts of systems thinking and dynamics, the recently approved WA State Environmental and Sustainability Literacy Plan explains that it is a perspective and a set of conceptual and simulation tools for policy analysis in complex systems. System dynamics helps individuals discover why social and physical systems behave the way they do, help  build progressively richer understandings of dynamic problems, and anticipate weaknesses in policy and strategy initiatives that develop over time. These are useful tool for analyzing the impacts of sustainability policies and strategies and is also useful as a way-of-learning in K-12 education[1]. 

 EEAW and E3 Washington strive to inform and educate people on systems thinking techniques and were represented at the 2011 Systems Dynamics conference by Dr. Ruth Fruland, Dr. Dexter Chapin, and Paul Newton, with their poster presentations, including the following topics (to access their poster sessions, please click on the attachments below):

-          How Can the Project of K-12 Education Function More Like a System, by Dr. Ruth Fruland, WA

-          Systems Thinking / System Dynamics and Sustainability, by Dr. Dexter Chapin, HS Science Teacher, Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences.

-          Washington State K-12 Collaboration: System Dynamics and Sustainability Education, by Abby Ruskey, Mike Town, Paul Newton from E3 Washington, Environmental Education Association of WA, and Redmond High School, WA.

 Note:  EEAW/E3 Washington would like to thank EEAW Board Member Paul Newton for submitting this article.

That was the message at a school assembly on Tuesday, October 18th at Seattle’s South Shore School. The assembly showcased three recent events: release of the Washington State Environmental and Sustainability Literacy Plan, receipt of a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency and Washington’s participation in the Green Ribbon Schools award program.

Environmental and sustainable education involves learning about the natural environment, society and the economy and how critical people’s actions are to the health of these.

U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, a strong supporter of environmental and sustainability education and co-sponsor of the federal No Child Left Inside legislation said, “The Environmental and Sustainability Literacy Plan is another step toward protecting the natural resources that set our state apart. It is more important than ever that our young people know the stakes when it comes to the environment.

“By giving them the opportunity to increase their environmental literacy, we are making an investment in their lives, their economic well-being, and the planet they are inheriting.”

At the assembly, Alan Burke, deputy superintendent of K-12 education for the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, praised the effort that went into the plan. “The Environmental and Sustainability Literacy Plan will provide a road map of how we are going to make sure that students have the best possible opportunities to engage in the world around you and prepare you for jobs of the future,” he said.

The recently completed plan was developed by a committee of stakeholders led by OSPI in partnership with E3 Washington (Education, Environment, Economy). It is based on the E3 Washington plan and defines a 10-year vision that will increase students’ environmental and sustainability literacy and enhance their academic achievement.

A $76,000 EPA grant will help implement key components of the plan and will be awarded at the event.

“This grant is exciting,” Burke said. “It gives school districts additional support to provide environmental and sustainability education from cradle to career.”

As part of the grant, OSPI will partner with the Pacific Science Center/Washington State Leadership and Assistance for Science Education Reform (LASER) organization to embed environmental and sustainability concepts, as well as Native American reading curriculum, into elementary science materials. The grant also will support environmentally-related STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) early learning lessons.

Third, the grant will help OSPI, in partnership with E3 Washington and design firm McKinstry, enhance the existing online network to support the career and technical education Green Sustainable Design and Technology course for middle and high school students.

“Our state’s economy and the well-being of its people depend upon a healthy environment. Education plays a key role in ensuring this,” Burke said.

At the school assembly, it was also announced that the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction will participate in the pilot year of the U.S. Department of Education’s Green Ribbon Schools award program. This voluntary federal program rewards schools that “green” the curriculum and school grounds and support student and school health.

For more information visit http://www.k12.wa.us/EnvironmentSustainability/ and www.e3washington.org

Washington to Lead Effort to Develop New Science Standards
Twenty states will work together to develop the Next Generation Science Standards

 Washington has been chosen as one of the lead states to develop the Next Generation Science Standards, which will clearly define the content and skills students will need to learn from kindergarten through 12^th grade.

The Next Generation Science Standards, or NGSS, is a state-led process where members of 20 lead states will guide the standard writing process, gather and deliver feedback from state-level committees and come together to address common issues and challenges. Achieve, an education reform non-profit organization, is managing the NGSS process.

Recently Washington adopted new science learning standards, which the NGSS will build upon and add to  the current standards.

Randy Dorn, Superintendent of Public Instruction wants to lead the way as he stated,“I wanted our state to be an active partner in this effort and not be on the sidelines, our current science standards are strong, but I believe they will become even better if we are involved with some of the best science minds participating in the development of NGSS." [More …]

Full story: http://www.k12.wa.us/Communications/PressReleases2011/ScienceStandards.aspx

To read an article highlighting her life, please click here

If you would like to make a donation in honor of Wangari Maathai and her legacy, please visit the Green Belt Movement

 EEAW-E3 Washington extends our condolences to the family and friends of David A. Kennedy, a great environmental science educator and leader in Washington State and beyond for more than 35 years.

 David began his career in public education, in 1968, as a life and physical science teacher and wrestling coach at Jefferson Middle School in the Olympia WA School District.  He then became the Olympia District's science supervisor and director of the outdoor school at Millersylvania State Park.  Beginning in 1971, Kennedy and Tony Angell supervised environmental education programs at the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. Over the next thirty years, David became Supervisor of Science Education programs, Curriculum Director, Director of Educational Technology, and Director of Science Education Programs serving under four elected Superintendents of Public Instruction.  

 Among his numerous contributions to science education were the instructional curricula Project Learning Tree, Energy and Man's Environment, and the design of energy education programs for the National Science Teachers' Association with John Fowler.  In addition,

David co-authored Project WILD, which is still being used nationwide.  And he has assisted in the writing of the U.S. Forest Service program Investigating Your Environment.  He worked extensively on the development of science content standards at both the state and national levels, and reviewed grant applications for the U.S. Department of Education and for the National Science Foundation.

For fifteen years, David was the sole educator on the American Institute of Architects Environmental Education Committee.  And he served on the American Association for the Advancement of Science Project 2061 Council on Science and Technology Education. 

 He was President of the National Council of State Science Supervisors, President of the Western Regional Environmental Education Council (WREEC), and on the Boards of Directors of the National Science Teachers Association and the Washington Science Teachers Association.

 David was born in Seattle in 1938, to Allard and Julia McGinnis Kennedy.  He was married to Judith Dow of Hampton, New Hampshire, and they celebrated their 51st wedding anniversary this summer. She survives him as do their three children, Craig, Bret, and Holly, and six grandchildren.

 He traveled extensively in the United States, Canada, Europe, Russia, Chile, Scandinavia, Britain, Scotland (the home of his Kennedy ancestors), and the Arctic.

We invite you to learn more about this landmark river restoration project by exploring Celebrate Elwha, a site dedicated to this historic event in conjunction with Olylmpic Park Institute.  Celebrate Elwha! is a multi-day, multi-venue destination event happening this week,centered in Port Angeles and the Elwha River valley. There will be a ceremony marking the beginning of the largest dam removal in U.S. history, a two-day science symposium, educational activities scheduled at locations throughout the watershed, as well as various music acts and art showcased in downtown Port Angeles. 

 To read the full account of Sally Kentch’s visit to Russia, please click on the attached document.

Traditionally, environmental educators have focused on pristine, natural environments while teaching in schools, nature centers and outdoor education centers. More recently, a new trend is emerging in cities, with community development, environmental restoration and social justice groups also teaching environmental education, largely to minority and urban youth. Cornell's "EECapacity" project seeks to link these types of educators, through workshops, online courses and other means, and to create opportunities to exchange ideas, practices and resources.

"Most young people today are going to experience the environment in urban neighborhoods," said Marianne Krasny, professor and chair of the Department of Natural Resources and the project's principal investigator. "In the largest sense, we are trying to redefine environmental education practice within the reality of an urban society."

Through a series of workshops, EECapacity will bring educators together from traditional and nontraditional urban backgrounds to exchange ideas and resources, and form social networks. From there the project will see what innovative ideas emerge. "We are not going to dictate practices," said Krasny. "We want to create an exchange of ideas, and expect that the educators will come up with innovative practices and apply them in the world."

Additionally, there will be a research component to test the notion that diverse groups of educators, given opportunities to share practices and ideas, will develop innovative environmental education practices.

Posted on May 3, 2011 by Green Ribbon Schools

 The Department of Education, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the White House Council on Environmental Quality launched the concept of the U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools program on April 26, 2011. The program will recognize schools that have taken great strides in greening their curricula, buildings, school grounds and overall building operations.  The program will help financially struggling schools to save money and prepare students for 21st century jobs.  Green Ribbon Schools (ED-GRS) is currently under development. Further information and applications for schools will be released in fall 2011.

The recognition program is part of a larger Department of Education effort to identify and disseminate knowledge about practices proven to result in improved academic achievement, graduation rates and 21st century workforce preparedness, as well as a government-wide effort to increase energy independence and economic security.  The US Department of Education is now accepting comments regarding the Green Ribbon Schools Award.

JOIN SENATOR REED AND CONGRESSMAN SARBANES FOR AN EXCLUSIVE UPDATE

This Thursday, July 14, Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) and Congressman John Sarbanes (D-MD) will reintroduce the No Child Left Inside Act into the 112th Congress. You can encourage your local media outlets to cover the bill introduction and locally effective environmental education programs by customizing this press release template and releasing it to your organization and region.

Senator Reed and Congressman Sarbanes continue to demonstrate tremendous vision in championing this critical and historic legislation. We are grateful to them for all that they are doing to make environmental education an integral part of every American child’s education. Once again, many members of Congress have agreed to co-sponsor the NCLI Act, including Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL), whose leadership provides a critical bipartisan boost.

To celebrate this exciting next step towards our collective goal, and to hear from Senator Reed and Congressman Sarbanes about what we as a Coalition can do to support their efforts, please join a No Child Left Inside Conference Call with Mr. Reed and Mr. Sarbanes on Tuesday July 19 at 3:00pm EST. Dial-in: 1-712-432-3066 Passcode: 354022

You may submit questions you would like the Senator and Congressman to address by emailing sbodor@cbf.org  before 8:00pm EST on Monday July 18.

 "Lindsay and Michael are countering every negative public perception of teachers, including the naive cliche of 'those who can't, teach,'" said Dr. Nicole Gillespie, Associate Director for Teaching Fellowships. "They are highly talented individuals who are committed to a career in science education for the long term.  This program exists solely to support them and other KSTF Fellows and invest in their development as masterful teachers."

Lindsay begins her teaching career this fall at Cleveland High School in Seattle and has worked as a global health researcher developing a liver-stage malaria vaccine. Michael will also begin teaching this fall at University Prep in Seattle. He earned a PhD in atmospheric science and has conducted research in Antarctica and Grenoble. 

KSTF empowers its Fellows to think critically and creatively about the teaching of mathematics and science. To date, there are 190 Teaching Fellows and alumni nationwide across 40 states.

Links to pertinent organizations or resources:
www.kstf.org

For more information:
http://somd.com/news/headlines/2011/13952.shtml

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-board-of-education-approves-environmental-literacy-graduation-requirement/2011/06/21/AGWS53xeH_story.html

http://www.k12.wa.us/EnvironmentSustainability/default.aspx

  "Our collective health and financial security as a nation will depend on high quality investments during the critical early years of a child's life."  To win the future, our children need a strong start," said Secretary Duncan. "The Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge encourages states to develop bold and comprehensive plans for raising the quality of early learning programs across America." Secretary Duncan and Secretary Sebelius have challenged the broader innovation community—leading researchers, high-tech entrepreneurs, foundations, non-profits and others—to engage with the early learning community and to close the school readiness gap.

 Washington State a strong and growing statewide system supporting early learning led by the Washington Department of Early Learning (DEL), the non-profit organization, Thrive by Five Washington, and OSPI. This formal statewide partnership, along with numerous other key stakeholders, recently developed a Washington State Early Learning Plan to serve as a roadmap for building an early learning system and that focuses on early learning actions to support children birth to grade three. 

 The Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge will be administered jointly by the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services. The public may provide input, including data and relevant research, by visiting http://www.ed.gov/blog/2011/05/rtt-early-learning-challenge/ . Guidance, eligibility, range of awards and number of grants will be announced in coming weeks. The application will be released later this summer with grants awarded to states no later than December 31, 2011.

  We met many of you last summer at America’s Great Outdoors (AGO) listening sessions, where we learned about what the outdoors means to you, and listened to your ideas for how to protect our lands and waters, and make them more relevant to the lives of young people across the country.  Many of your ideas are reflected in the AGO Report, which contains key recommendations for connecting youth to the outdoor spaces in their communities and beyond. 

 Hosting a roundtable is a great way for you to provide feedback on the AGO Report and share your thoughts on AGO topics, like: conservation, outdoor jobs and service opportunities, environmental education, outdoor recreation, urban parks and waterways, and working lands. 

Here’s how it works: 

1. Download the youth roundtable toolkit at www.whitehouse.gov/YoungAmericans
2. Follow the instructions to host a roundtable with 10-15 young people in your community
3. Fill out the webform so that we know about your roundtable (no guarantees – but if you want, we’ll do our best to participate, as well!)
4. Return the completed toolkit to the URL above by May 31^st

 Beginning in June, we will compile all of your submissions and share them online.  Then, we will work with our friends at the agencies to follow up with you and invite you to conference calls, webchats, and events on issues that matter to you.  So, before summer sets in, keep the AGO conversation going by hosting a roundtable in your community!

These are some of the questions Laurel Nyquist's 7th grade students pondered on their field trip to Glendale Country Club in Bellevue, WA on May 5. Nyquist's class, numbering over 50, left their classrooms at Sacred Heart School in Clyde Hill, Washington for the hands-on learning environment of the golf course.  Principal David Burroughs also attended.

Through First Green, local golf course superintendents host students on field trips where they test water quality, collect soil samples, identify plants, design plantings, assist in stream bed restoration and are involved in the ecology and environmental aspects of the golf course. The students are also introduced to many other aspects of golf.

 To read full article about the field trip, click here 

 Links to pertinent organizations or resources:  http://thefirstgreen.org

The program has already been part of the curriculum at 24 schools in Bickleton, Ellensburg, Mt. Adams, Selah, Thorp, Union Gap, Wapato, West Valley, Yakima, Zillah, St. Joseph/Marquette, and St. Paul Cathedral School.

The salmon tanks and related equipment at those schools were provided from various funding sources obtained through Bob and Lynn Tuck of the Yakima Basin Environmental Education Program.

The recent grant from the YVCF will allow for the purchase of 36 additional fish tanks that will bring the program to up to three dozen previously unserved schools in the East Valley, Easton, Grandview, Granger, Mabton, Naches Valley, Royal, Selah, Sunnyside, Toppenish, Wahluke, Wapato, and Yakima school districts.

Links to pertinent organizations or resources:
http://www.esd105.org/images/stories/Publications/Class_Winter_2010-2011.pdf

The state cut money for the school salmon-raising program last week, and its future looked grim.

But on Monday, two Mid-Columbia conservation districts announced they'll keep the program alive for fourth- and fifth-graders alive in Benton and Franklin counties.

Ryder said his Jason Lee Elementary School class gets its salmon eggs after the holiday break is over each year. He said the program is a highlight of the year.

"It's a very good program for kids to watch salmon develop," Ryder said....

Read more: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/12/28/1480628/salmon-in-classroom-stays-alive.html#ixzz1ADBktQxA

The Green Ribbon School awards will be given to schools that best exemplify America’s transition to a sustainable economy, from graduating environmentally literate students to effectively managing their carbon... To read full article, click here.

• Students at Camas High School not only wrote a children’s book about conservation, but the book’s hero, Captain Conservation, visited local elementary schools to spread the word.

• At Tacoma School for the Arts, two students laid the groundwork for a composting project at a nearby elementary school. They taught classes, created a comprehensive website, and even composed a catchy composting rap.

• Lake Roosevelt High School students created a small, inexpensive and reusable solar water pasteurization kit, complete with operating instructions. Now they are working with a teacher in Malawi to use their invention to help prevent water-borne disease in that country.

• A recycling project at Heritage High School is saving their school $500 each month in garbage fees and providing compost for their garden project as well.

$100,000 in prize money
The overarching theme of the competition is finding ways to use alternate energy sources and reduce our dependency on nonrenewable resources. Competing for more than $100,000 in prize money, students were invited to enter projects in one of four categories: design, behavior, technology and multidisciplinary collaboration.

To read more about the prize winners, see full article at http://imagine.wsu.edu/past/2010/press.aspx.

To read the full story, click on the link below

For more information on Referendum 52, click here

Wheeler, Town, and Ruskey make the case for sustainability education in the context of recent crises, such as the Gulf tragedy and the Wall Street meltdown. The column highlights the ways in which Washington State is poised to lead by example to ensure that future generations grasp the far-reaching economic, environmental and social implications of our choices and actions.

"Imagine a future where you get to exclaim, 'Wow, we finally learned and generations to come will be the beneficiaries.' Isn't that the legacy we actually prefer to leave behind?”

Read the full column here.  

In a related Education Week opinion piece, Jennifer Harper-Taylor, president of the Siemens Foundation, discusses the need for public and private entities to support rigorous science and math education programs that engage students in solving current and future challenges.

“Just as we depend on our nation’s teachers to inspire the next generation’s quest for solutions to the problems of today and tomorrow, all of us, in both the public and the private sector, must find innovative new ways to support them in this difficult but essential task. The future of the nation depends on it.”

Read the full article here. (Premium article access compliments of EdWeek.org)

Despite occasional bouts with rainfall, the Salmon Homecoming Alliance successfully completed its 18^th annual celebration on the Seattle waterfront September 16-18, highlighted by the coordinated visitation of up to 1000 fourth and fifth grade students from both tribal and public schools, according to Alliance President Walter Pacheco,  Community Services Director for the Muckleshoot Indian Nation.

The Salmon Homecoming theme this year was “Habitat Is Where It’s At,” one intended to focus attention on the issue that tribes have long said is the key issue in salmon restoration—habitat.

“We have to take better care of Mother Earth for the sake of our children,” said Pacheco. “Salmon Homecoming is all about teaching people, including the children themselves, why this is important, and how it can be done,” he said.

 In the 18 years that the Salmon Homecoming organization has existed in Seattle, it has brought that message front and center by featuring educational exhibits and forums. “We’ve also featured cultural performances, tribal arts and crafts, and a salmon bake intended to show people how the tribes celebrate our Earth—by knowing where we belong as a part of it,” he said.

This year’s celebration was no different, as both students as well as visitors of all ages, vocations and ethnic backgrounds were able to experience tribal culture—so integral to the long term history as well as contemporary stewardship of the region, as well as environmental exhibits sponsored by the city, the county and various tribes, companies and associations and an underwater show at the Seattle Aquarium.

The Salmon Homecoming Alliance will sponsor a forum and job fair at some point to be determined in the months to come, and no doubt will remain a fixture on the Seattle waterfront for the years to come.

For more information, contact:  Steve Robinson   (360) 951-2494 or Laura Austin  (206) 386-4329

The highly competitive selection process resulted in less than 3% of applications being selected and the E3 Washington program was among two awarded in this region of the country. The grant supports implementation of the E3 Washington plan. 

With a plan in place and a growing E3 network of education, business, tribal, community and governmental leaders ready to participate, this funding will allow EEAW to coordinate implementation, track, measure and adaptively manage towards achievement of the five E3 goals.

"E3 Washington is about achieving together, something much greater than the sum of the parts”, stated Project Director Abby Ruskey. “The next phase supports a whole new level of networked implementation including use of the state-of-the-art E3 Washington site to facilitate and showcase connected action.”

In addition to the grant received by EEAW, 13 other awards were made across the nation.  Stated EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson, “Every American community relies on clean air, water and land for their environmental and economic health. These grants will help communities across the country show how a clean environment starts at home.”

To learn more about the E3 Washington award, other programs funded or the U.S. EPA Office of Environmental Education, visit http://www.epa.gov/education/grants.html.

The U.S. EPA Headquarters and Region 10 press releases can be found at http://go.usa.gov/acL and http://yosemite.epa.gov/R10/extaff.nsf/environmental+education/education.

 Please see the attached copy of Secretary Duncan’s complete address.  Also, please click on the link below to view an article from CNS News summarizing his incredibly supportive position.            

Why this matters: 

Clearing Magazine has published many original and unique articles on environmental education over the years.

Distinguished writers and educators such as Mike Weilbacher, Jim Martin, Cliff Knapp, David Orr, and others have offered their thoughts and perspectives on a myriad of topics relating to environmental education. Those articles were original to Clearing are not found anywhere else.

Such as...
    • Jim Martin on "Of Metatarsals, Associative Cortex, and Stewardship";
    • Peter Hayes on "What is Good Environmental Education?";
    • Cliff Knapp on "Teaching the 3 R's with the 3 C's: Connecting, Curriculum and Community"

and remember "Knowing One Big Thing: The Role of the Nature Center" by Mike Weilbacher?

In addition to those articles, many other individuals throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond shared their best ideas, activities and EE success stories in quarterly issues of Clearing. Do you remember the K-12 activity ideas on invertebrates compiled by Bruce Barbarasch and the staff of the Tualatin Hills Nature Center? Or the unique lesson plan on human and natural systems interactions by Barbara Jackson of Anacortes Middle School (attached)?

Now you can have those articles, and many more, for your resource library through the newly published CD-ROM, "The Best of CLEARING," which has just been published and is available for purchase.

Everyone should have a copy of this CD-ROM so that we retain a historic record of the many great ideas that defined environmental education over the years. Plus, by purchasing a copy of the CD-ROM, you will help sustain the new format of CLEARING as an on-line and print publication.

For more information, visit the Clearing website at http://www.clearingmagazine.org/online/best-of-clearing.

 
After years of taking students into the field on research projects, two common problems surfaced time and time again. Students lacked "naturalist" skills that included how to observe; record observations in ways meaningful to them; measure and estimate size and distance; use maps and orient themselves; and use their observations in an analytical way. The other problem was what we called "sensory overload". Students taken into the field were in such a different environment, they would forget what they learned in the classroom.

Awakening Inquiry was written as a core "how-to" book to overcome these challenges. It weaves three parallel approaches to nature awareness into a step-by-step guide for the classroom and schoolyard in preparation for a field research project. These approaches are derived from the NatureMapping Program, with its strength in science and technology; Habits of Mind, which focus on patterns of behavior that lead to lifelong inquiry and problem-solving; and the Coyote's Guide to Connecting with Nature, which emphasizes development of a traditional kinship with nature...

To read more of the article and purchase this great resource, please click on the link below.

For an overview of the bill, please see the attached fact sheet generated by Congressman Polis’s (Colorado) office.

EEAW and E3 Washington will be following up with Washington’s Congressional delegation to secure their support to sign-on and co-sponsor the bill.  Please contact Abby Ruskey at aruskey@eeaw.org if you would like to coordinate or receive further information about this effort.

This is a huge step forward to ensuring that Maryland high school graduates are environmentally literate. Every Maryland public school must now provide a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary environmental education program aligned with the Maryland Environmental Literacy Curriculum. Each local school system can design its own program, which will be reviewed by MSDE every five years.  The requirement does not require an additional course or specific number of environmental education experiences. Each local school system can implement its environmental literacy plan based on the resources unique to their system. This decision is expected to provide the opportunity for all public school students to participate in quality, integrated environmental education programs.

 While members of the Maryland No Child Left Inside Coalition celebrate this victory, they recognize it as a partial victory, as the state board rejected language that would strengthen and clarify the provision as a high school graduation requirement.  The Maryland coalition has pledged to continue working with the Maryland State Department of Education and the State Board of Education to ensure that school districts in the state have clear expectations as they begin implementation. 

In the meantime, the move has generated some positive local and national press for environmental education and No Child Left Inside.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-environmental-education-20100921,0,5912210.story

 http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/curriculum/2010/09/md_state_board_takes_partial_s.html

The Call for Presentations and Vendor/Sponsor sign-up are now live via both the WSTA and EEAW sites!

The 2011 EEAW-WSTA Conference is titled “Science and Sustainability: Making Connections in a Diverse World,” and will be held March 18-20 in Poulsbo, Washington.

This is shaping up to be a professional development and networking event you won’t want to miss!

Registration for Exhibitors and Sponsors is now open. To learn more about exhibiting, sponsoring, and other advertising options at the conference, click here.

The Call for Presentations has been opened. You can read more and submit a proposal here.

            NOAA's Environmental Literacy Grants program is a competitive national grant program focused on creating an environmentally literate public that uses a comprehensive understanding of the role of the ocean, coasts, Great Lakes, weather and climate in the global ecosystem to make the best social and economic decisions. The program provides funding for an array of educational organizations that reach diverse audiences.

 NOAA’s mission is to understand and predict changes in the Earth's environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and to conserve and manage our coastal and marine resources. Visit us at http://www.noaa.gov or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/usnoaagov.
 

List of all grants and recipients:

These seventeen grants will fund thirteen projects:

·         University of Wisconsin & University of Maryland; “A collaborative project: Interpretation of Real-Time Weather and Climate Data for Spherical Displays”; $1,159,887

·         American Museum of Natural History (N.Y.); “Exploring Earth Systems: Expanding Data Visualization Experiences for Museum Learners”; $826,112

·         Denver Museum of Nature & Science, California Academy of Sciences, University of Louisville; “A collaborative project: The Worldview Network: Ecological Literacy Programming for Digital Planetariums and Beyond”; $1,248,123 

·         Colorado State University; “CoCoRaHS: Capitalizing on Technological Advancements to Expand Environmental Literacy through a successful Citizen Science Network”; $1,249,993

·         Nurture Nature Center, Inc. (Pa.); “Science on a Sphere and Flood Forums: Education to Action”; $341,274 

·         College of Exploration (Va.), Literacy Volunteers of America (Fla.); “A collaborative project: Engaging ESL adult and youth learners in technologically facilitated outdoor experiential learning to improve environmental, ocean, climate and English literacy”; $400,000

·         Seacoast Science Center (N.H.); “Families by the Seaside: Building community-based outdoor ocean science learning experiences”; $489,574

·         Science Museum of Virginia; “Science on a Sphere--Earth Systems Display Center at Science Museum of Virginia”; $295,202

·         Science Museum of Minnesota; “Planet Earth Decision Theater”; $500,001

·         Miami Science Center; “Hurricanes and Climate Change: Local Impacts and Global Systems”; $499,559

·         Monterey Bay Aquarium; “Teen Conservation Leadership”;             $450,000

·         Butler University (Ind.); “FLOW: an innovative educational toolkit for river awareness”; $257,492

·         Exploratorium (Calif.); “Embedding NOAA in a Public Learning Laboratory - The Environmental Scientist-In-Residence Program at the Exploratorium”; $517,900

Spokane, Washington Teacher Selected for Distinguished Fellowship at the National Science Foundation’s Office of International Science and Engineering

The Triangle Coalition for Science and Technology Education has announced the selection of Steve Schreiner, a Science teacher of 5^th - 8^th Grade Students at West Valley City School, Spokane, Washington as a 2010-11 Einstein Fellow. The prestigious Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship Program offers elementary and secondary science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) teachers with a demonstrated excellence in teaching an opportunity to serve in the national education or public policy arenas. One of 32 teachers serving this year, Schreiner was carefully selected from a nationwide pool of applicants. 

Steve Schreiner teaches 5^th-8^th grades in multi-age classrooms, focusing primarily on environmental education and scientific investigation design.  His students visit authentic places—natural areas, schools, back yards, and businesses—to perform independent research projects, collect data, and form conclusions   Schreiner says, “Rather than focusing on textbook knowledge of scientific concepts, I teach students how to ask and answer scientific questions, empowering them to work independently on research topics of their own choosing.”  His students have presented their original work to audiences that include school district superintendents, state legislators, and community leaders. His efforts to engage students in environmental field studies earned him the 2008 Outstanding Formal Environmental Educator Award from the Environmental Education Association of Washington. 

Schreiner holds a BA from Stanford University in Human Biology and a Master’s in Secondary Science Teaching from the University of Washington.  He loves travel and adventure and frequently leads his classes on local field trips.  He has recently led week-long student expeditions to Yellowstone National Park, Orcas Island, and Puget Sound.  His Semester at Sea experience took him to 10 foreign ports of call, from Vietnam to Morocco, and sparked an interest in international travel that continues to this day. 

For more information about the Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship Program, please visit www.trianglecoalition.org/ein.htm.

 
http://www.teach-nology.com/worksheets/

(Update: We have learned that Seattle Public Schools do not allow orchards on their property because it conflicts with their Integrated Pest Management Policy. So FTPF can accept applications from schools in the Seattle metro area, but not Seattle Public Schools proper. They are also looking for at least one school in Tacoma.)

The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to planting fruitful trees and plants to benefit communities and heal the earth.

As featured on The Today Show, “Fruit Tree 101” is a program that brings fruit tree orchards to schoolyards so students can improve the quality of the air and water while creating a source of tasty snacks for decades to come. Not only do the schoolyard fruit orchards help the environment, but they give students access to an exciting outdoor classroom right on your school grounds.

Orchard donations involve, on average, about 20-25 trees minimum. Thanks to the support of a generous sponsor, the trees, materials, orchard installation design work, and onsite environmental curriculum for students are all donated, free of charge, for the benefit of the school and its students. Orchard planting events are fun and offer a wonderful volunteer engagement opportunity for students, parents and community members to improve their community school.

“Fruit Tree 101” orchards can serve as outdoor edible classrooms, where students meet to learn about botany, ecology, and how to protect the planet’s health. FTPF’s orchards have been planted throughout the United States and include trees bearing figs, cherries, apples, pears, citrus, cherimoyas, sapodillas, and much more! That means that students across the country have a fresh, healthy source of nutrition in their diets.

You can read more about some of the schools that have benefited from the program here: http://ftpf.org/fruittree101.htm.

If you would like to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to gain a valuable asset for your school this summer, please contact Robyn du Pré at The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation as soon as possible. 
 
Robyn du Pré
Director of Outreach and Development
Fruit Tree Planting Foundation
P.O. Box 632
Mill Valley, CA 94942
360-318-7639
www.ftpf.org

The Tahoma School District and City of Maple Valley Sustainability Summit, held on May 20, brought together nearly 40 people­­--including high school students, teachers, community members, representatives of local government, state agencies, private organizations and businesses--to delve into topics that aren't always easy to define and for which there may be no clear answers.

Their task was to brainstorm how to better involve students in community activities and decisions related to environmental sustainability. Nancy Skerritt, Tahoma Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning, advised participants to consider ways to maintain the environment while also providing for human needs, such as jobs, manufactured goods, food and lifestyle.

The meeting is an extension of the school district's growing emphasis on environmental sustainability as part of students' regular curriculum. Tahoma has won acclaim for curriculum it has developed, such as "Sounding Off on the Sound," which focuses on the Puget Sound ecosystem and its influence on the economy and ecology of the entire region.

Each discussion group generated ideas to help fuel the next steps in the school district's effort to provide leadership opportunities for students. Ideas included:

• Promote more local food production through community gardens, urban farming, rain gardens and farm-to-cafeteria programs.
• Include student representatives on the city planning commission and parks commission.
• Involve students in city council and school board discussions about sustainability.
• Bring together the wisdom of adults and the ideology and enthusiasm of youth to improve systems, such as creating alternative transportation that can persuade students--and adults--to get out of cars.
• Study the local environment to begin learning how to live with existing wildlife and ecosystems.

Superintendent Mike Maryanski ended the evening by expressing his vision for the young people who attend Tahoma schools. “We want to be a beacon in learning how our youth can come together in a variety of ways,” he said. Maryanski said the ideas and comments generated at the Sustainability Summit will be used to plan the next step, which will be to arrive at a shared vision of youth engagement and community leadership.

To read the full article, open the PDF attached here.

Following are examples of some of these student-led, teacher-facilitated, projects. These and other projects can be found on the E3 Student Project Space at http://e3washington.org/student-project/projects.html. 

• In the Yakima region, the West Valley School District students have created posters, conducted storm drain stenciling, raised and released salmon, restored habitat, built and maintained nature trails, developed school gardens and worked on energy efficiency improvements in school buildings.  At Davis High School, students created the Better Students-Better Bulbs-Better School project and conducted a community-based service learning music project based on the life of Dr. Martin Luther King.
• A senior elective designed by students at the Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences includes a detailed carbon footprint analysis of the school and proposes a mixed-forest project to sequester enough carbon to offset the footprint. Excess offset will be sold to support efforts to retrofit the school building with solar panels and energy efficiency measures. A side benefit will be the development of an education center in the middle of the woodlot recently donated to the school.  
• In the Kettle Falls School District in northeast Washington, 2^nd-4^th grade students studied wood ducks, built nesting boxes, and helped restore fish habitat after monitoring land erosion, water quality and fish health. Teachers coordinated with Ducks Unlimited and the USDA Forest Service community partners.  
• Coupeville Middle and High schools and Bay View Alternative High School students are planting, growing and harvesting food to use in the cafeteria, provide to the homeless and produce seeds. Gardening experts and scientists are community partners, and students are planning to maintain the gardens over the summer. 
• Cheney Middle School students visited the water treatment plant and analyzed water and its sources. The project involves collaboration with Eastern Washington University pre-service teachers and other college students who worked directly with the Middle School students. 
• In the Chimacum School District, student apprentices are learning boat building and seamanship. Two boats were built which provide maritime and water testing programs on the water for younger students.  Subject integration takes place throughout the program. At the Chimicum Middle School, water quality testing in a stream on the school site has led to a Salmon Coalition for outreach to other schools to generate further projects for habitat protection. 
• At the Spanaway Elementary School, teachers and students expanded the garden and recycling program by starting a composting program and reducing lunch garbage from 3 barrels to ¼ of a barrel. They also designed posters to share their efforts with other schools and have created a 6^th grade Environmental Education Camp. 
• East Valley School District students in Spokane have started a Farm to School program to grow food for use in the school and the community.  The Kiwanis Club is a community partner, and to date 70 plots have been planted  with an estimated 12,000 pounds of fresh produce planned for the local food bank this summer and fall. 
• Students in the Pasco School District planted a garden in planter boxes built by the Boys and Girls Club and convinced the school administration to change the condiments in the school cafeteria to healthier offerings. 
• At Clover Park High School in Lakewood, students planted a large school/community garden in a high-poverty area.  Students are learning from professionals how to run a market garden. This summer,  a 9^th grade academy will add food and energy components to the curriculum, including seeds; gardening and nutrition; energy use and conservation; and culture, including respect for the land and respect for self. 
• In Grays Harbor, students are working to protect local estuaries together with teachers and professionals at the National Wildlife Refuge, National Wildlife Federation and the Audubon Society.  Projects included clean-up and restoration activities and educational activities at the annual bird festival.  

The Sustainable Design Project is a collaboration among the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, Puget Sound Energy, Learn and Serve America, U.S. EPA Region 10, the Environmental Education Association of Washington, and participating schools and school districts. Many other businesses, agencies and organizations across the state are also involved. Stated Beth Kelley, Program Supervisor for Learn and Serve America - Washington State, “It is re-energizing to hear so many examples of high quality service-learning experiences. It reminds me of why we do what we do even though it is not always easy.” 

For more information please visit the E3 website at www.e3washington.org or the Environmental and Sustainability Education program at OSPI at www.k12.wa.us/EnvironmentSustainability.

-President Barack Obama, April 16, 2010 

A scheduled July 1st public listening session and discussion will provide an opportunity for leaders of the America’s Great Outdoors Initiative to hear from people in the Northwest about solutions for building a 21st century conservation and recreation agenda and reconnecting people with the outdoors. In the Northwest many citizens and organizations are already deeply involved in the conservation of working farms, forests, lakes, and rivers, scenic lands, and historic areas, and in celebrating and enjoying the region’s rich outdoor and cultural heritage.

The America’s Great Outdoors Initiative was established by President Obama in April at a White House Conference specifically to develop a conservation and recreation agenda worthy of the 21st century and to reconnect Americans with our great outdoors. To accomplish this goal, the Administration’s effort will be community driven.

The Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality have been asked by the President to lead this effort and to listen and learn from people all over the country. Listening sessions will engage a full range of stakeholders including tribal leaders, farmers and ranchers, sportsmen, community park groups, foresters, business people, educators, state and local governments and recreation and conservation groups.

Young people play a critical role in shaping our country’s environmental future.  In his memorandum establishing the America’s Great Outdoors initiative, President Obama asked that, “special attention…be given to bringing young Americans into the conversation.”  We want to engage our youth in this conversation from the beginning, and ensure that their voices are heard in the end. To that end, there will also be a special Youth Listening Session on the same day. See below for details.

Please Register: The event is free and open to the public, but please let us know if you will attend so we can plan accordingly. You may register through: http://www.discovernw.org/ago-signup.htm.

For more information on the America’s Great Outdoors Initiative and to submit comments on-line visit: http://www.doi.gov/americasgreatoutdoors/.         

The award recognizes outstanding 4-H program development, implementation, and evaluation in wildlife conservation and environmental education.

“The youth in our program know they are making a significant difference in their community and the local environment,” said Kevin Powers, Director of the WSU 4-H Eco-Stewardship Program.  “They work directly with natural resource professionals assisting with the accomplishment of various monitoring activities and service projects that benefit watersheds, fish and wildlife habitat and the community for years to come.”

Now in its eighth year, the 4-H Eco-Stewardship Program has served over 18,000 teens from Chelan and Douglas counties.  Youth participating in high school and summer programs assist with Chinook and Coho salmon spawning activities at two federal hatcheries, build interpretive nature trails, and take part in the live capture of mule deer to evaluate the declining species population. 

Over thirty local, state, and federal agencies partner with the program providing guidance and direction in projects including restoration and maintenance of wilderness lakes, streams and trail systems. Teens monitor water quality and quantity in regional streams and rivers and work with re-vegetation efforts to reduce erosion and improve fish spawning habitat.   Recycling programs in their schools reduce the carbon footprint and impacts on landfills.

“The 4-H Eco-Stewardship Program has a unique impact on young people,” said WSU Chelan County Extension Director Ray Faini.  “Youth work with forestry and wildlife experts to insure their efforts are accurate, reflect critical thinking skills and implementation.  Teens stay in school and move into college or careers and have better chances for meaningful employment.”

The recognition includes a $10,000 cash award and recognition at the 75th North American Wildlife and Natural Resource Conference, sponsored by the Wildlife Management Institute in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on March 24.

The award is a partnership between 4-H National Headquarters, Cooperative Research, Education and Extension Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of the Interior, and the Fish and Wildlife Service.

This is a hybrid masters degree designed for educators (formal and informal, ie museums, non profits etc), who want to pursue a graduate degree while working.
We offer this low residency program in either the Pacific Northwest and Maine/Massachusetts.  The program cultivates ecological literacy and ecological consciousness by focusing on the interface between social and ecological issues and opportunities for transformative change.  The program allows students to focus on their particular interests and professional goals, within a strong cohort model and is very reasonably priced to make it more accessible for a diverse array of educators and community change agents.

If you have questions please contact: abigaillynam@mac.com

http://www.lesley.edu/gsass/audubon/etl_program.html

Come experience our award-winning
Field study programs for a fraction of the cost!!

Thanks to a generous gift from the Russell Family Foundation, Pacific Science Center is currently able to offer subsidy to qualifying elementary and middle schools within the Everett, Renton and Seattle school districts to participate in environmental field trips!

• Qualifying schools must have a free and reduced lunch rate of 25% or higher and must be in the Everett, Renton or Seattle school districts.
• For the 2009 – 2010 school year the subsidy will cover part of the cost of the Field Study program, as well as a transportation stipend. 
• With the subsidy, your fee to participate in our Wetlands Field Study program will range from $50 - $100 per class.

This full day Wetlands Field Study package includes:
• A 2.5 – 4.5 hour program split evenly between lab- and field-based studies at the Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center in Bellevue
• $125 transportation stipend

Our Wetland Field Study programs are focused on several key themes in life science: habitats, soils, wetland organisms, salmon, water quality testing and much more.  For example, in Soil Adventurers (for grades K-2), students use soil probes in the field as part of a comparative study of soil types and then head to the lab to examine the invertebrates of the soil food web that are the backbone of soil making.

If you would like to participate in a Wetland Field Study program, please:
• Read the attached descriptions of our programs and subsidy eligibility requirements.
• Information about our programs is available at www.pacificsciencecenter.org/slough, along with a summary of how each of our Wetland Field Study programs aligns to the 2009 Washington State K-12 Science Standards.
• Call our registration department (206) 443-2925 soon, as funds and spaces are limited, and please identify a few possible dates for participation. 
• If you have any questions, wish to receive further information or would like to speak to someone about any of the Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center programs, please call our Registration department at (206) 443-2925.

To view full description and application, please click on the attachment below.

“Still Developing the Toolbox: Making EE Relevant for Culturally Diverse Groups,” by Joanne M. Lozar Glenn addresses this question and profiles five organizations working to connect their programming to the communities they serve. From creating learning groups to reaching urban, immigrant, and native audiences, these organizations address what it means to work with diverse audiences, and how connecting with these communities changes what they’re doing and how that work gets done.

The article includes 10 “learnings” that have emerged from environmental educators who are on the ground and at the forefront of efforts to make EE more inclusive. The article also provides a list of resources (books, articles, websites, programs, and organizations and individuals) designed to inspire readers who want to learn more about this topic and to get ideas they can apply to their own work.

To read and download the article click here.

Note: If the above link does not work copy and paste the following address into your browser:
http://eetap.org/media/pdf/StillDevelopingToolbox.pdf

The most impressive component of the national gathering was the representation of youth to adult ratio, 34 of the total 88 attendees were youth. Such a large representation of youth made for a stronger overall conference result.  Sites from all over the country included St. Louis, Missouri, Long Island, New York, Lake Forest Illinois, Burlington, Vermont and Ashland, North Carolina in addition to the Washington team.
 
MIT’s Peter Senge facilitated the conference which focused on combining systems thinking with education. The first few days were spent laying the groundwork to systems thinking and visioning. The key to any successful change in any systems starts with a shared vision. One of the biggest highlight was the Learning Journeys on Wednesday.

One of the sites visited by the Washington team was St. Augustine Catholic School, which used chickens and gardens for the students to learn hands-on. The blatant poverty demonstrated at the facility greatly impacted the youth’s perspective of education. However, Erica Baker, representative from PEI, said “the site was so inspirational. I want to fly back and learn more!”

Stone Barns was the other site visited by the Washington Team. Stone Barns is an old Rockefeller farm that has been transformed into an outdoor learning academy, high scale restaurant and sustainable gardening facility which sells their product at a farmers market on site. Stone Barns is a growing, working tool to help teach the children and public about sustainability.

The Learning Journeys were able to physically demonstrate the systems approach to learning and teaching. EEAW will continue to work with the many partners involved in bringing sustainability and systems thinking to our communities and invite others to participate. From this conference we hope to take systems to a new level in the schools around Washington State.  In the week following the SoL Education Conference, the first ever Sustainability Education Summer Institute was held at Islandwood near Seattle, Washington.  SESI was inspired by many years of teacher leadership in Washington and last year’s SoL Ed conference. A report of SESI will be posted to the E3 site soon!

“Faces of the Grassroots will help EPA expand the conversation on  environmentalism and work for environmental justice,” said Charles Lee,  director of the Office of Environmental Justice. “Participants can make  a difference for the historically underrepresented in their community  by using motion pictures to show the struggles and triumphs they have  endured to advance environmental justice.”

Videos can focus on any environmental justice activity, issue, or  topic. Examples would be a music video about climate change, or a video  recording a successful environmental justice project that has made a  community a healthier and happier place to live.

Awards will be given to the winning submissions in each category. The  videos will also be featured on EPA's website and may be used as public  service announcements. Entries must be received by 11:59pm EST on  Thursday, April 8th, 2010. EPA will announce winners in honor of the  40th Anniversary of Earth Day.

Below are the categories and prize money:
|----------------------------------------+--------------------------------|
|  Public Service Announcements (30-60   |    Informational Video (3-5    |
|                seconds)                |            minutes)            |
|----------------------------------------+--------------------------------|
|1st Place - $2,500                      |1st Place - $2,500              |
|----------------------------------------+--------------------------------|
|2nd Place - $1,500                      |2nd Place - $1,500              |
|----------------------------------------+--------------------------------|
|3rd Place - $1,000                      |3rd Place - $1,000              |
|----------------------------------------+--------------------------------|
|Student Winner - $500 (13-18 years old) |Student Winner - $500 (13-18    |
|                                        |years old)                      |
|----------------------------------------+--------------------------------|

More information:
http://www.epa.gov/compliance/environmentaljustice/events/video-contest.html

Press release:
http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/e9ad08715c645b37852576d9005ef43a?OpenDocument

Contest Web page:
http://www.epa.gov/compliance/environmentaljustice/events/video-contest.html

YouTube URL:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDBl2_f_CSk

EPA homepage banner (click on banner #4):
http://www.epa.gov/

Flyer:

(See attached file: Faces of the Grassroots_Poster.doc)

For a limited time, when you purchase the web educational series (at a cost less then the price of the book with shipping) you receive a free copy of the new Coyote's Guide!

In addition to the new web series and book we have also produced free online videos with my friends, experts and I talking about the lineage of tracking and how they put nature connection and cultural mentoring into practice with children, gardens and music.

To see the free videos, learn more about buying the educational web series, get a free copy of the Coyote's Guide to Connecting With Nature and for other special offers; follow this link:

http://naturementoring.com

The educational web series expands on the teachings in Coyote's Guide and gives readers tools to get started with the book right away. This series includes 2 hours of video presentations by me (Jon Young), an audio mp3 download of the presentations, transcripts of the presentations with citations and links to the articles, books, studies and other resources referenced.

Released in 2008, the first edition of Coyote's Guide has become the essential guide for mentors, parents, and educators for how to connect with nature in a deep and exciting way. Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods hailed the Coyote's Guide as "good medicine for nature-deficit disorder."

Based on feedback from mentors and educators across the world, we now bring you the Second Edition of Coyote's Guide - expanded from 408 to 548 pages, with beautiful full color photographs, a comprehensive index, and color codes that link the principles and activities for easier navigation.

Master Composters can participate in a wide range of activities; giving free workshops on backyard composting to community members, staffing information booths at community events, giving composting presentations to community groups, help Master Gardeners compost garden waste at three demonstration sites, work with community organizations to help them learn the benefits of composting and much more. 

Master Composter training will be conducted at the following times:

Wed, March 31: 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Wed, April 7: 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Wed, April 14: 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Wed, April 21: 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Sat May 1: 10:00am - 12:00pm (field days)
Sat, May 8: 10:00am - 12:00pm (field days)
Wed, May 19: 6:30pm - 8:30pm

Attendance at all seven trainings is required to become a certified Master Composter.

Class size is limited to 20. Applications will be accepted until March 26, 2010. 
If you need more information, please e-mail Cori Carlton at carltoc@co.thurston.wa.us or call 360-867-2162.

PLEASE JOIN US AS A PARTNER IN SALMON SUMMIT

Salmon Summit is the culminating activity for “Salmon in the Classroom” schools. After raising fish through the winter and spring, Salmon Summit provides students with an outdoor learning experience that enables them to release the fish into an approved water body. During Salmon Summit, students attend field stations to learn about wise use of water, fish tagging, hydroelectric dams, fish transport, agriculture, salmon recovery efforts, local wildlife, natural resource conservation and other topics. Over fifty entities, including federal, tribal, state, county, municipal, corporate and non-profit organizations contribute financial support, staffing, or goods and services to Salmon Summit. Over 300 volunteers participated in Salmon Summit 2009.

This year, Salmon Summit will include schools from Benton, Yakima, Franklin, and Walla Walla counties.  To accommodate all these students, Salmon Summit activities will be offered on Tuesday, May 4 and Wednesday, May 5.  We are expecting over 4,000 students.

We hope that you can join us for both days of Salmon Summit by providing a 20-minute student activity for one classroom at a time.   To RSVP or for more information, please contact Rachel Little at rachel-little@conservewa.org or (509)832-1329.

This achievement marks a measurable success for E3 Washington, especially for the K-12/Teacher Education sector that included the following in their plan (which rolls up into the five state goals):

Goal 2: Teachers, administrators, and community based educators will participate collaboratively in high quality ESE preparation and ongoing professional development.  Strategy 2:  Develop and secure approval for an ESE Specialty Endorsement.

“We can check that one off the list and proceed with other strategies to create the infrastructure needed in K-12 professional development that support the five comprehensive E3 state-level goals” exclaimed Dr. Margaret Tudor, Co-Director of the Pacific Education Institute (PEI) and leader of the E3 K-12/Teacher Education sector along with Wheeler. Together, PEI and the Environmental Education Association of Washington (EEAW) applied to OSPI for the ESE Specialty Endorsement.  Dr. Dennis Sterner, Dean of the College of Education at Whitworth College and President of the Board of PEI, led the charge to secure support from these two organizations and Washington’s colleges of teacher education.  Colleen Putaansuu, Program Specialist, Professional Education and Certification at OSPI coordinated a series of competency writing sessions over 6 months involving teachers, teacher educators, school and college administrators and representatives of tribal, business and environmental and sustainability education organizations.

One of these representatives, Dr. Victor Nolet, Director of Assessment and Evaluation at Western Washington University stated, “An ESE Special Area Endorsement is an elective that is added to the resumé of a teacher candidate or a teacher already working in the schools. Ultimately we want students to develop the understanding that nature isn’t something you have to drive to and sustainability isn’t something that involves buying a fancy bicycle or hybrid car.”

The ESE Specialty Endorsement will ground a teacher fully in environmental and sustainability education content and methods including utilization of systems thinking and project based learning. The requirements are three fold: content, methodology and competencies.

Content: “a teacher must know and critically analyze the historical development, purposes, interdisciplinary nature, defining characteristics and guiding principles of environmental and sustainability education.”
Methodology: “teachers must use the unique features of environmental and sustainability education in the design and enrichment of curricula and school programs. They teach and assess environmental and sustainability curricula and create stimulating and motivating learning environments.”
Competencies: “teachers belong and contribute to the environmental and sustainability education professional community and understand that professional development is a life-long endeavor.” (ESE Specialty Endorsement Competencies approved by PESB, May 21, 2009)
The ESE Specialty Endorsement was preceded in November of 2007 by another important component of the infrastructure needed to support teacher professional development in environmental and sustainability education.  Standard 5 and particularly Standard 5.3.D. requires that all pre-service teachers have environmental and sustainability part of their education and are able to design curricula preparing their students to ‘be responsible citizens for an environmentally sustainable, globally interconnected, and diverse society’.

According to Putaansuu, “21 colleges and universities approved to offer teacher education programs in our state are finalizing their preparations to update their programs to meet the new Standard 5 requirements including 5.3.D.  As such they will review all programs plans regarding Standard 5 updates in July 2009. They will also make approval decisions for programs wishing to offer the ESE Special Area Endorsement.”  Gilda Wheeler added that only one or two colleges will be ready for the 2009 fall term including Eastern Washington University. There is, however, growing enthusiasm and several universities have expressed interest in adding this to their curriculum.  “Beginning in 2010 we should be seeing several universities embracing this new endorsement, said Wheeler.” The universities will be creating their own curriculum and submitting programs to the PESB.

Pertinent organizations or resources:
www.k12.wa.us/curriculumInstruct/EnvironmentSustainability
www.wce.wwu.edu/Resources/TFPF/Summer%20Institute.shtml
http://www.pacificeducationinstitute.org/

The contest is open to students in grades K through 12.  Judging will take place in four categories, K-Grade 2, Grades 3-6, Grades 7-9, Grades 10-12, with one national winner being chosen from the semi-finalists in these four categories.

The contest is organized by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Endangered Species Coalition, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the Ogden Museum of Southern Art/ University of New Orleans.

The Endangered Species Coalition is a national network of hundreds of conservation, scientific, education, religious, sporting, outdoor recreation, humane, business and community groups across the country. Through public education, scientific information and citizen participation, we work to protect our nation's wildlife and wild places. The ESC is a non-partisan coalition working with concerned citizens and decision makers from all parties to protect endangered species and habitat.

At the launch of the E3 website and implementation phase of E3 Washington, Governor Chris Gregoire, Bill Ruckelshaus and Billy Frank Jr. send their regards to all contributed to this achievement.

“We offer our wholehearted thanks to the thousands of people and organizations across Washington who gave their time, talents and real-world expertise to help craft E3 plans. Your work reflects the incredibly rich cultural and geographic diversity of our state. Your superb work laid an excellent foundation for future success.”

“By linking education, the environment and the economy, you’re helping to encourage sustainable communities, which will enhance Washington’s quality of life and our reputation in the global economy.”

“For those unfamiliar with E3, we encourage you to visit its website at http://www.e3washington.org. Most importantly, we hope you will consider getting involved in this important work. Your participation will help ensure the health of our residents, communities, environment and economy for generations to come.”

This weekend the President released his blueprint for the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.  It at this point does not appear that the administration will introduce a fully drafted bill.   This blueprint does mention environmental education twice – elements below.  Although it does not indicate direct support for NCLI, it does show that the President and Secretary of Education have made environmental education a priority.  

Please see the attached document to view the blueprint.

She is offering additional copies for only $4 each to interested teachers in western Washington, grades 2 - 6, now through June lst, 2010.  To order, contact nrsefton@comcast.net.  

Looking ahead to fall…
Fall 2010 course offerings:
• Leadership Development in Natural Resources: Strategic Planning and Implementation: September 20 – November 19
• Applied Environmental Education Program Evaluation: September 13 – December 10
• Making EE Relevant for Culturally Diverse Audiences: September 13 – December 3
• Fundamentals of Environmental Education: September 13 – December 3

Course Details
________________________________________
Fundamentals of Environmental Education
 A 12-week online course about the fundamentals of environmental education is appropriate for both classroom teachers and for non-formal educators who work with students and/or teachers. Participants may obtain three undergraduate or graduate credits from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. All students, regardless of location, are eligible for the in-state tuition rate. The course is also offered at a reduced cost for those who are not interested in obtaining college credit.

The "Fundamentals of Environmental Education" online course was developed by the Environmental Education and Training Partnership (EETAP) in collaboration with national EE experts.  It provides educators with the knowledge and skills necessary to incorporate quality environmental education into their instruction. Participants discuss the history, definition, and goals of environmental education; develop an understanding of the professional roles and instructional methods of environmental educators; and interact with other educators from across the country. Past course participants have given the course excellent reviews. 

“The assignments were challenging, yet rewarding.  The cumulative assignment was a huge jump-start to our new EE program.  This class has not only taught me the fundamentals of EE, but has given me the skills to create a functional, quality educational program based on national standards.”
                                                                                    ~ Summer 2009 FEE Course Participant

 
Summer 2010 course dates: June 1 – August 20
Fall 2010 course dates: September 13 – December 3

To learn more, visit the course web site: https://www.uwsp.edu/natres/eetap/fee_course_page.aspx

*Scholarships available!  Go to https://www.uwsp.edu/natres/eetap/fee_scholarship.aspx for more information.

________________________________________
Making EE Relevant for Culturally Diverse Audiences
This 10-week on-line course is designed to provide participants with the basic knowledge and skills needed to make EE relevant to culturally diverse audiences. Through this course participants will broaden their perspective of EE to encompass interests and issues of concern to culturally diverse audiences, assess barriers to participation among these audiences, and apply cultural competency skills in building relationships and partnerships with members of an audience they intend to work with in the future. Environmental educators must understand how to work with and involve diverse populations to ensure that their perspectives are heard and that they participate fully in environmental decisions being made at the local, regional, and national levels. This online course has been developed in collaboration with national EE experts who represent diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Although there are no prerequisites for this course, a working understanding of environmental education is essential for success in this course. Participants may obtain two undergraduate or graduate credits from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.  It is also available as a non-credit workshop for those that are not seeking college credit.  All participants, regardless of location, are eligible for the in-state tuition rate. 

“I recently completed the "Making EE Relevant to Culturally Diverse Audiences" on-line course and it was WONDERFUL!! It provided great information and the suggestions that were given for the EE  program at my refuge were helpful and will be considered when we evaluate our program soon. Not only was the course great now I have great references and contacts if I ever need help in the future. I would recommend this class to other service employees especially in areas where the demographics are changing and they are trying to reach the more non-traditional audiences.”

~ Fall 2008 MEER Course Participant

 Summer 2010 course dates: June 1 – August 6 
Fall 2010 course dates: September 13 – December 3 *Note: MEER will be offered as a 3 credit, 12 weeks course starting Fall 2010

To learn more, visit the course web site: https://www.uwsp.edu/natres/eetap/makeEErelevant.aspx

*Scholarships available!  Go to https://www.uwsp.edu/natres/eetap/meer_scholarship.aspx  for more information.

________________________________________
Applied Environmental Education Program Evaluation

This 13-week on-line course is designed to assist environmental educators and natural resource professionals in evaluating their education programs. Participants have the opportunity to develop and apply skills in designing evaluation tools such as surveys, observation forms, and interview and focus group guides.  This course was developed as a cooperative effort between the Environmental Education and Training Partnership (EETAP) at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) National Conservation Training Center.  Participants may obtain three undergraduate or graduate credits from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.  All participants, regardless of location, are eligible for the in-state tuition rate.  The course is also offered as a non-credit workshop for those who are not seeking college credit. 

“I thought it was a great introduction to a wide variety of tools and techniques and incredibly applicable to my current job and programs.”
~ Spring 2008 AEEPE course participant

           
Summer 2010 course dates: June 1 – August 27 
Fall 2010 course dates: September 13 – December 10

To learn more, visit the course web site: https://www.uwsp.edu/natres/eetap/aeepe_course_page.aspx

*Scholarships available!  Go to https://www.uwsp.edu/natres/eetap/aeepe_scholarship.aspx   for more information.

Leadership Development in Natural Resources: Strategic Planning and Implementation

Learn how to develop successful strategic planning and implementation models, processes and techniques.  Emphasis will be placed on managing the strategic planning process to build the capacity of organizations to provide effective environmental education programs.  Course participants will also have an opportunity for individual consultation time with the course instructor to discuss specific issues/questions they might have regarding strategic planning.  This course has been designed for environmental educators, natural resource professionals and graduate students who are currently involved in a strategic planning process or may become involved in one in the future. This is a 9-week course available for 2 graduate level credits through the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.  It is also available as a non-credit workshop.
 
“Strategic planning is often misunderstood, misplaced and sometimes forgotten.  So this course focuses on best practices for a successful process and its implementation.” - Dr. Corky McReynolds, Strategic Planning and Implementation course instructor

Fall 2010 course dates: September 20 – November 19

To learn more, visit the course web site: https://www.uwsp.edu/natres/eetap/spi_course_page.aspx

 Other Links:  
Online Course Website: http://www.uwsp.edu/natres/eetap/index.aspx
EETAP website at http://www.eetap.org/

Four elementary schools in the Puget Sound area, four schools in greater Spokane and two in Tri-Cities received a free greenhouse, a cash grant and other benefits from the alliance. The competition focused earlier on the urban and suburban area of Puget Sound where students aren't as likely to be exposed to agriculture and may not have backyard gardens, according to Karen Bonaudi, Assistant Executive Director of the Commission, who runs the Kids Are Growing program.  

"This promotion is a really great way to give kids the opportunity to experience, first hand, the miracle of growing," said David George. "It really helps them understand where their food comes from and what it takes to produce it."

Schools each receive a $1,000 grant, potato seed and educational materials from the Commission.

"Teachers value the greenhouse program not only for the broad support it gives their curriculum, but also how it gets the parents and communities at large involved in what the schools and their kids are doing," said Bonaudi. 

Some schools in the past have grown vegetables for their lunch rooms with the help of their greenhouses, she said. 

The grants and other prizes are awarded and celebrated at assemblies at each of the winning schools.

For more information: www.potatoes.com 

Which E3 Goals does the success story address?

• Get Together
• Lead Green

Contact Name: Karen Bonaudi

Washington State Potato Commission

Email: kbonaudi@potatoes.com

Phone: 509-765-8845

WOW provides links to organizations offering marine science-related classroom resources and field activities, as well as professional development and funding opportunities. WOW covers regional marine science from interior watersheds to the outer coast and features a simple user interface that allows quick identification of available resources. Washington Sea Grant will keep the site up to date to ensure the database remains comprehensive and current. Users can also submit suggestions for adding new programs and contributors.

By facilitating connections among educators, scientists, industry, government and nonprofit organizations, Washington Sea Grant seeks to improve marine literacy in the state.

Give WOW a try: http://www.wsg.washington.edu/wow
 

Links to pertinent organizations or resources:

http://www.wsg.washington.edu/wow

http://www.theoceanproject.org/wod/

Which E3 Goals does the news item address?
Connect Up
Get Together
Go Out

Contact: Julie Hahn
jkhahn@u.washington.edu
Washington Sea Grant/ NOAA/ University of Washington

This exciting new film is now available.  Director Camilla Rockwell was inspired by Richard Louv's book Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder and decided to make a film on how children adapt to being out in nature.  Richard Louv expresses his thoughts about the film, “In poetic words and images, and focused passion, ‘Mother Nature’s Child’ captures the essence of the challenge we face: the generational disconnect from the natural world and the great benefits that will come to our children, and ourselves, by giving the gift of nature.”

To read more about the film, please click on the website below.

"The certification experience allowed me to challenge myself against the high standards set by the National Board," said Mary Lee McJimsey, who has taught at North Central High School since 2006.  "It broadened my perspective on student learning and made me more aware of the contact I make with my students' families."

The NBPTS certification process takes the better part of a school year and involves at least 300 hours of work beyond the regular demands of teaching. According to NBPTS, in 2010, 8,600 teachers received National Board certification.  The total number of Nationally Board Certified Teachers nationwide is just 91,000, approximately 1.5 percent of the 6.2 million
teachers in the United States. 

Other Links:
www.kstf.org
www.nbpts.org

Please have your organization sign-on to four important letters by Monday, April 25th in support of continued funding for environmental education to the following agencies: NOAA, EPA, NSF and NASA.  

To sign on, please email Jenna Peters at PetersJ@nwf.org with the following information by Monday, April 25th:

• Your organization’s name
• The state where you are based ONLY if you are not a national or regional group (i.e. – operating in more than one state)
• Whether or not your organization is signing onto ALL FOUR letters, just one letter, or some combination