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3/3/2010

Be Water and Energy Wise!

Register for National Environmental Education Week, April 11-17, 2010

National Environmental Education Week (EE Week), the nation's largest environmental education event held April 11-17, 2010, inspires environmental learning and stewardship among K-12 students. EE Week connects educators with environmental resources to promote K-12 students' understanding of the environment. EE Week is a program of the National Environmental Education Foundation.

Our nation's water and energy resources are increasingly relevant topics of discussion in today's media, classrooms and homes. Recognizing the importance of conserving both water and energy to protect the planet and reduce costs – and acknowledging the connection between water and energy – EE Week's 2010 theme is Be Water and Energy Wise. Learn more by visiting www.eeweek.org/water_and_energy_wise.

In the United States, generating power consumes 3 percent of our nation's water annually and 13 percent of the energy produced in this country each year is used to treat, transport and heat our water. Conserving water saves energy, and vice versa. The water-energy connection is complex, but it provides an excellent opportunity to get students thinking about the interrelatedness of ecological and environmental concerns. EE Week provides lesson plans and classroom resources on the water-energy connection to help students and educators explore this important topic. Visit www.eeweek..org/water_and_energy_wise/connection to access the growing list of resources.

When you register for EE Week, you will join a national network of educators dedicated to increasing the environmental literacy of K-12 students. You will also receive certificates of participation, free online resources, information on professional development and funding opportunities, and access to discounts on educational materials from Acorn Naturalists, Kilowatt Ours, Nature-Watch and First Hand Learning just for EE Week participants. Register today at www.eeweek.org/register.

Whether you are an educator looking to engage your students and inspire real-world problem-solving in the classroom, a homeschooling parent looking to encourage leadership in your children or a community leader looking to promote local habitat conservation, participating in EE Week is a terrific way to enhance learning and bring about positive change in your school and community.

Visit www.eeweek.org today to register and join thousands of educators working to bring environmental learning into our nation's classrooms.

Posted at 3:15 PM by O'Keefe, Jennifer | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (0)

Sustainable Forestry Teacher Workshop

North Carolina classroom teachers..... Are you looking for a summer professional development opportunity that will take you into forests and mills, provide hands-on experiences with technologies used in the forest industry, and provide fun networking opportunities with teachers statewide? If so, then this is the program you have been looking for!

The online application and more information including sample agendas and pictures can be viewed at www.ncsu.edu/feop/teachers.

Coastal Academy, based in New Bern JUNE 21-25, 2010

Mountain Academy, based in Asheville JULY 19-23, 2010

The Sustainable Forestry Teachers' Academy is a four-day residential program that focuses on the social, economic, and environmental aspects of sustainable forestry. Teachers will visit a variety of forests and mills learning about forest management and the manufacturing of various wood products such as paper, furniture, plywood and lumber. Teachers participate in tours and hikes in forests under a variety of ownership and management plans. Excursions to museums, state forests, experimental forests, and environmental learning centers round out the experience.

Participants should expect a fast-paced week, with extended moderate walking, great food, networking, and lots of fun! In addition, extensive materials and discussions prepare participants to transfer what they have learned back to the classroom.

Meals, lodging, and transportation during the Academy are provided, however participants are required to submit a $100 deposit, which will be returned upon arrival. CEU renewal credits will be awarded.

Multiple teachers from the same school, and teachers of all disciplines, are encouraged to apply! This opportunity is available only for teachers associated with a school district, non-formal educators do not qualify. Questions? Contact Renee at 919-515-5518 or renee_strnad@ncsu.edu.

Renee L Strnad
NC State University - Extension Forestry

NC Project Learning Tree Coordinator

NC Certified Environmental Educator

renee_strnad@ncsu.edu
919-515-5518
919-515-6883 (fax)

NC State University
Campus Box 8008
Raleigh, NC 27695-8008

Posted at 3:14 PM by O'Keefe, Jennifer | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (0)

Courses from LEARN NC

March is STEM month at LEARN NC. We have three science courses designed for elementary and middle-school teachers still open for enrollment. These courses are a great chance to learn skills that will make a difference in your classroom.

Biodiversity in Your Backyard - begins March 9
Designed especially for teachers of elementary-aged students, this course will expand your life science content knowledge with material aligned to the NC Standard Course of Study. You will have two classrooms during this course — this interactive, online classroom and your own backyard!

Elementary Science Learning - begins March 22
Science is fundamentally about the process of making sense of phenomena in the natural and social world. In this course you will think about the scientific process and how it applies to teaching science in the elementary classroom.

Middle Grades Science Learning - begins March 22
This course intends to engage teachers in investigations of Science, the Nature of Science, and Practices that scientists use to make sense of phenomena in the world. Each of these things are at the heart of the Nature of Science and Inquiry Strands of the North Carolina Standard Course of Study: Science 2004 (NCSCOS).

About LEARN NC

LEARN NC, an agency of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Education, serves more than 30,000 teachers and students daily. LEARN NC delivers lesson plans, best practices and classroom content at no cost to schools in 50 states, 145 countries, and all 115 North Carolina school systems via www.learnnc.org.

Posted at 3:10 PM by O'Keefe, Jennifer | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (0)

2/19/2010

Carolina Beach State Park hosts Workshops

Do you need workshops for your EE certification? Carolina Beach State Park will be hosting an Environmental Education Primary Week in April 2010. Come spend a week at the beach and get credits toward your EE certification at the same time. Contact Carla Edwards for more information about the workshops and to sign up.

Project Learning Tree Monday April 19, 2010 9 am to 4 pm

Project Learning Tree is an award winning supplemental environmental education program that helps teachers and youth leaders enhance student's interest in the environment. Wear clothes suitable for the outdoors. Workshop hours will be from 9:00am to 4:00pm. There is no charge for this workshop, and it is open to the general public. Meet at the Carolina Beach State Park Visitor Center.

Pre-registration is required. There is no charge for this workshop. Contact Carla Edwards at carla.edwards@ncdenr.gov or call 910-458-8206.

Project WET Tuesday April 20, 2010 9 am to 4 pm

Project WET is an award-winning organization with a mission to reach children, parents, teachers and community members of the world with water education. The Project WET curriculum teaches people about water resources through hands-on, investigative, easy-to-use activities. Wear clothes suitable for the outdoors. Workshop hours will be from 9:00am to 4:00pm. Meet at the Carolina Beach State Park Visitor Center. Pre-registration is required. There is a $15 charge for this workshop that covers the WET book and also includes a CD with materials that go with the book.

Contact Carla Edwards at carla.edwards@ncdenr.gov or call 910-458-8206.

"Plants that Bite Back": Carolina Beach State Park EELE Wednesday April 21 9am to 4pm

The Environmental Education Learning Experience "Plants that Bite Back" is collections of activities geared to Carolina Beach State Park. It is designed to teach students about carnivorous plants that are found in the park like the Venus flytrap. This workshop will introduce educators to the park, and the activities in the EELE. Workshop hours will be from 9:00am to 4:00pm. Meet at the Carolina Beach State Park Visitor Center. There is no charge for this workshop, and it is open to the general public. Pre-registration is required. There is no charge for this workshop.

Contact Carla Edwards at carla.edwards@ncdenr.gov or call 910-458-8206.

Reptiles and Amphibians Thursday April 22, 2010 9am to 4 pm

The NC Wildlife Resources Commission and Carolina Beach State Park will offer a workshop on native reptiles and amphibians on April 22 from 9:00-4:00. Through hands-on fieldwork and classroom presentations, participants will learn basic biology, habitat requirements and human interactions with salamanders, frogs, snakes, turtles and lizards. There is no charge for this workshop, and it is open to the general public ages 16 and up. Meet at the Carolina Beach State Park Visitor Center. Pre-registration is required. There is no charge for this workshop.

Contact Carla Edwards at carla.edwards@ncdenr.gov or call 910-458-8206.

Posted at 12:10 PM by O'Keefe, Jennifer | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (0)

NOMINATE A YOUNG ENVIRONMENTAL HERO FOR A $2,500 BARRON PRIZE!

The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes seeks nominations for its 2010 awards. The Barron Prize honors young people ages 8 to 18 who have made a significant positive difference to people and our planet. Half of each year's ten winners are chosen for their work to protect the environment. Winners each receive $2,500 to support their service work or higher education. Nomination deadline is April 30. For more information and to nominate, visit http://www.barronprize.org/

Posted at 12:05 PM by O'Keefe, Jennifer | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (0)

NC Plan for Environmental Education released

N.C. PLAN FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION RELEASED

RALEIGH – The Office of Environmental Education today released the plan that serves as the state's guiding document for environmental education efforts.

The North Carolina Plan for Environmental Education outlines strategies for increasing environmental literacy and natural resource stewardship in North Carolina.

There has been a recent surge of interest in environmental literacy, especially on the federal level. The Partnership for 21st Century Skills now recognizes environmental literacy as one of the five interdisciplinary themes essential to student success. Moreover, environmental literacy was recently included in the President's 2010 education budget, and federal legislation has been proposed that would provide states with funding for teachers' professional development and programming in environmental education through the No Child Left Inside Act.

"Environmental education has a long history in North Carolina, and the renewed focus on increasing environmental literacy makes this a very exciting time for our state," said Lisa Tolley, director for the Office of Environmental Education.

The goal of environmental education is increased environmental literacy, but there are many benefits to being outside and engaged with the natural environment. Environmental education also fosters an environmental ethic and encourages civic responsibility while promoting healthy, active lifestyles.

Although the previous plans performed extremely well as a guiding framework for the office and other environmental educators in North Carolina, many of the original goals have been accomplished. Demographic and economic changes in the state, advances in the environmental education field and technological innovations necessitated an updated plan.

Members of the N.C. Environmental Education Advisory Council, a volunteer body comprised of representatives from the academic, business, economic development and environmental communities, were crucial in drafting the third edition of the plan. While the third edition retains the core goals and definition of environmental education reflected in previous plans, it is enhanced by the perspectives and ideas of a broader selection of academic, environmental, cultural arts, business and agricultural contributors. The result is an effective guidebook for environmental education in the 21st century.

"This is a pivotal time for environmental education in our country," said Dee Freeman, secretary for the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources. "Citizens will be required to address and solve complex environmental issues affecting the economy, public health and shared natural resources. I think this plan will help bring our state closer to its goals for environmental literacy."

The plan is available online at http://www.eenorthcarolina.org/ee_plan_web_spread.pdf (low resolution print version http://www.eenorthcarolina.org/ee_plan_web_print.pdf .. You can view members of the N.C. Environmental Education Advisory Council at http://www.eenorthcarolina.org/eeadvisorycouncil.htm.

Posted at 12:00 PM by O'Keefe, Jennifer | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (0)

2/5/2010

90 Days to Earth Day

This is a great local initiative with fabulous prizes!!

Contact: Kevin Murphy FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Email: kmurphsbu@hotmail.com

Phone # (919) 247-1630

2^ND ANNUAL 90 DAYS TO EARTH DAY BEGINS JAN 22

From 1/22- 4/22 students in grades K-12 will be challenged to clean our coast!

Our Ocean is getting more and more polluted every day! Our fragile ecosystem is in danger of dying. Every piece of seafood we eat now has traces of petroleum in it. But there is something that is being done locally to help save our Ocean, and it begins with our youth.

For the period of 90 Days students will be challenged to collect, recycle and dispose of trash and debris along our beaches, rivers, and intercoastals. Each student must collect as much as they can and keep a photo or video essay documenting everything they have collected. They must properly recycle everything they can and dispose of all other material collected properly.

Fantastic prizes will be awarded to all participating students. Winning Prizes include a hand crafted Dale Carter surfboard, 1 week of Indo Jax Surf and Kiteboard School, Sea Shepherd apparel pack, and many more.

Last year director, environmental activist, and 5^th grade teacher Kevin Murphy collected over 1 metric ton of trash. He vows to collect more this year setting the bar high for the participants. 4 students in the Wilmington area participated last year accumulating an additional1 ton of trash. Imagine how much trash is out there and imagine what a difference this community could make with 100 participants or even 1,000!

5 Local businesses have agreed to help get the word out and/ or judge the essays. Tony Butler owner of Wblivesurf, Robert Ray owner of Mellow Mushroom, Surf House of Carolina Beach, Local Sessions Magazine and Indo Jax Surf School have all committed to this event. Sea Shepherd, star of the Discovery Channel Whale Wars has lent there support and is putting together a prize pack for the winner.

# # #

If you would like more information about this event, or to schedule an interview with Kevin Murphy please call Kevin @ (919) 247-1630 or email Kevin @ kmurphsbu@hotmail.com

Posted at 9:49 AM by O'Keefe, Jennifer | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (0)

The No Impact Curriculum

New Dream partner, the No Impact Project, has released a free secondary-school curriculum <http://noimpactproject.org/educators-middle-high-school-environment-curriculum-html/>focused

on earth-friendly living. Divided into five individual lessons, each co-authored by environmental nonprofit leaders, including the Center for a New American Dream, the No Impact Curriculum focuses on consumption, energy, food, transportation, and water. Each multi-media lesson incorporates the "No Impact Man" book and film to encourage middle and high school students to explore the effects that their everyday behavior has on the environment, as well as their health and well-being. The lessons also will challenge students to think about how the systems in our present society influence our lifestyle choices in ways that often are detrimental to the environment. Ultimately, this curriculum will guide students to take action both individually and with others to bring about positive change. For more information or to download the free No Impact Project Curriculum, clickhere!

<http://noimpactproject.org/educators-middle-high-school-environment-curriculum-html/>

Posted at 9:48 AM by O'Keefe, Jennifer | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (0)

1/29/2010

More World Changing

Here's a grant opportunity that might be of interest for schools.

http://wecanchange.com/

Posted at 10:01 AM by O'Keefe, Jennifer | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (0)

Plastic products are changing

Feel like the plastic pollution problem is so big, you can't make a difference? Check this out.

We're demanding different sorts of products, and many companies are responding to that. While using recycled plastic is still using plastic, at least no new plastics are being generated.

http://earth911.com/blog/2010/01/25/can-consumers-change-plastics/

I visited a Material Recovery Facility in Fayetteville on Wed. Update on that coming soon. (I LOVE touring these kinds of places!!)

Posted at 9:27 AM by O'Keefe, Jennifer | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (0)

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