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Freehold: Richard Obal, Agriculture and Resource Management Agent for Monmouth County Rutgers Cooperative Research and Extension, recently received the Outstanding Professional Conservationist Award from the New Jersey Association of Conservation Districts. This award is presented annually to a professional conservationist who has made an outstanding contribution to natural resource conservation in New Jersey.

Over the course of his 32-year career with Rutgers Cooperative Extension, Obal has educated thousands of homeowners, farmers, nursery owners, landscapers and residents and has trained hundreds of municipal, county, state and federal employees and volunteers. His extensive areas of contribution include, but are not limited to: irrigation management, integrated pest management, soil nutrient management, water quality, landscape management, and farmland evaluation and preservation.

Obal is a member of the Monmouth County Agriculture Development Board and serves as a technical advisor to many organizations including: USDA – Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA – Farm Services Agency, Freehold Soil Conservation District and the NJ Department of Environmental Protection.

The New Jersey Association of Conservation Districts (NJACD) is a non-profit organization overseeing New Jersey’s 15 soil conservation districts. NJACD’s mission is to advocate soil and water conservation through the implementation of conservation measures and through the promotion of conservation education programs for the betterment of New Jersey and its inhabitants.

(09/P26) TRENTON - Department of Environmental Protection Acting Commissioner Mark N. Mauriello today urged motorists to drive very carefully this season when deer are particularly active and more likely to be darting into roadways.

“It’s breeding season for white-tailed deer right now, and motorists should be on the lookout,” Commissioner Mauriello said. “Deer can be seen crossing roadways at any time of day, but typically they are most active during the morning and in the evening. Motorists can minimize the risk of accidents with deer by being alert and slowing down.”

The DEP recommends motorists take the following precautions:

• Drive with caution when traveling through areas known to have large deer populations, particularly along sections of roadways posted as deer crossings.

• Slow down when you see deer on the roadside, and be alert for sudden movement. Remember that deer move in groups, so if you see one deer crossing the road, others might follow.

• Use high beams after dark when there is no oncoming traffic. High beams illuminate the eyes of deer on or near a roadway, giving motorists more time to react.

• Do not tailgate. Remember, the motorist in front of you might have to stop suddenly to avoid hitting a deer.

• Always wear a seat belt as required by state law, and drive at a safe speed for road and weather conditions.

• Do not swerve if it appears you are going to hit a deer. Brake firmly, and stay in your lane. Motorists who swerve to avoid deer increase the likelihood of colliding with oncoming traffic or roadside obstacles.

• Keep in mind that deer are unpredictable. They may stop in the middle of the road while crossing or turn around and return to the roadside. If a deer remains in the road, do not try to go around it. Stop and wait until the road is clear.

• Report any deer-vehicle collisions to a local law enforcement agency immediately.

For more information about deer in New Jersey, visit the DEP’s Division of Fish and Wildlife Web site at www.njfishandwildlife.com.

NJ Env. Ed. Master Plan 4 Review

New Jersey educators interested in advancing environmental education for students, families and adults are invited to provide feedback on New Jersey's revised master plan for environmental education. Comments will be accepted through Wednesday, November 25th.

The purpose of Environmental Literacy in New Jersey: A Call to Action is to cultivate an environmentally literate citizenry. It is New Jersey's third environmental education master plan and is intended for use by environmental education professionals as a five-year action plan, with a timeframe for delivery between 2010 through 2015.

A Call to Action provides direction and recommends state-level actions that would improve the state's capacity to support the delivery of environmental education throughout New Jersey for all citizens. It also provides direction and recommended actions for locally-based environmental education providers and large-scale coalitions, networks and organizations that deliver environmental education programs, services and resources. When combined, both sets of actions work together to help unify and coordinate, increase, promote, inform, recognize and track environmental education efforts throughout the state.

The New Jersey Commission on Environmental Education and Interagency Work Group developed the plan and are state level groups statutorily charged with implementing a master plan for environmental education in New Jersey. Both groups are "in but not of" the NJ Department of Environmental Protection.

Please visit www.nj.gov/dep/seeds/njcee/mprp.htm to review the draft sections of the plan and submit online feedback. Go to www.nj.gov/dep/seeds/njcee to learn more about the work of the commission and work group.

On October 22nd 2009, NJPIRG officially launched our new campus-based project, Energy Service Corps.  A joint project with AmeriCorps, Energy Service Corps is working to increase energy efficiency in local communities through education and outreach.  

To sign up to receive email updates about the Energy Service Corps program click on this link: 

http://www.njpirgstudents.org/energy-service-corps/signup

Energy Service Corps will address immediate problems, such as lack of public awareness and knowledge about energy efficiency, by engaging volunteers in service.  We have four main approaches.

1) Community Education – Energy Service Corps  will educate the community by organizing community forums, workshops, and house “warming” parties that bring together community members and local energy experts.  We also will set up information tables and presentations at community events and go door to door to distribute information about simple things that can be done to conserve energy.   We plan to educate 1,500 community members between September 1, 2009 and August 31, 2010 through 20 Community forums, workshops, or house parties.

2) Energy Assessments – Energy Service Corps will calculate current energy usage and potential cost savings in homes, small businesses, and public buildings based on recommended energy efficiency improvements.  Students will be trained to perform basic energy assessments of buildings, which will include a visual inspection, researching the building’s energy systems, and a review of energy usage data. Students will recruit volunteers to attend trainings and participate in energy assessment activities throughout the program year.  We will conduct 50 energy assessments between September 1, 2009 and August 31, 2010.

3) Organize Community-wide Service Projects – Students will organize and participate in a variety of community-wide service projects aimed at improving the energy efficiency of communities. Students will work with community groups and local agencies to organize projects, which could include providing basic weatherization of residential, municipal, and commercial buildings, distributing energy efficient light bulbs, and participating in community wide tree plantings to reduce heating and cooling costs in urban communities. We can reduce energy use by 10 - 30% in buildings by doing these simple things.  Students will be trained and equipped with caulk, weather-stripping, compact fluorescent light bulbs, and foam insulators.  These projects also will serve to increase residents’ and small business owners’ knowledge of the benefits of energy efficiency measures.    We will organize 12 community service projects between September 1, 2009 and August 31, 2010.

4)  K-12 Education – We know that by education today’s youth about energy and the environment we can foster an ethic of environmental awareness that the future generation is going to need to make great strides in energy efficiency.  Energy Service Corps will visit classrooms in schools to teach hands on lessons about energy to children K-12. Middle school and high school aged students can even participate in the educational experience of assisting with energy audits of their school buildings.   We plan to educate 3,000 children during the 2009-2010 school year.

Rowena Madden, Executive Director of the NJ Commission for National and Community Service, Matt Elliot, advocate for Environment New Jersey, and a representative from Representative Pallone’s office joined us last Thursday for a reception for volunteers and members of the campus community to celebrate the launch of Energy Service Corps.

The following day, Energy Service Corps volunteers weatherized three off-campus student houses in New Brunswick.  Fifteen volunteers taught the residents how to caulk their windows, install weather-stripping, and wrap hot water pipes in foam insulation.  Teaching people how to do these simple things can help to save up to 30% on their utilities bills.

The Energy Service Corps team with Rowena Madden, Executive Director of the NJ Commission for National and Community Service

Check out these articles about our first event:

http://www.dailytargum.com/news/groups-weatherize-houses-to-save-energy-1.2025971

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009910160343

Energy Service Corps has a lot more in store for the coming months, including more home energy assessments and weatherization.  To find out more about our projects and to receive email updates click on this link to sign up: 

http://www.njpirgstudents.org/energy-service-corps/signup

We thank you for you past, present and future support!

Sincerely,

Sarah Mitnick

NJPIRG's Energy Service Corps Assistant Director

Office 732-249-4108

sarahm@njpirgstudents.org

Click HERE.

A video report on the Barnegat Bay Shellfish Restoration Program, a partnership with the Rutgers Cooperative Extension, the grass roots organization ReClam The Bay (RCTB) and the NJ DEP has been posted on the NJ.com StarLedger Videos website.
Dr. Gustavo Calvo, a biologist with the Division of Fish and Wildlife's Bureau of Shellfisheries, has worked side by side with more than 40 volunteers of RCTB to help bring the bay back through building and maintaining clam nurseries and provide education to the public.
To view the video visit http://videos.nj.com/star-ledger/2009/10/bringing_shellfish_back_to_bar.html on the NJ.com website.

The NJ DEP's Division of Fish and Wildlife is pleased to announce the release of the third edition of its popular publication, A Guide to Fishing and Diving New Jersey's Reefs. The guide is a valuable reference for anyone interested in fishing or diving on the state's artificial reefs.
This revised edition of the guide contains DGPS charts of 17 reef network sites (including 3 new sites) and information on more than 4,000 patch reefs. In addition to reef locations and charts, the guide includes information on the types of materials used to construct the various reefs and how to utilize the reefs for diving and fishing.
The guide is available in PDF format in its entirety and in sections on the NJ DEP Division of Fish and Wildlife's website - there will be no print edition available. To download all or portions of the guide visit http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/artreefguide09.htm . For information on the artificial reef program visit http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/artreef.htm .

Department of Environmental Protection Acting Commissioner Mark N. Mauriello today announced the preservation of a 213-acre scenic property in West Amwell Township, Hunterdon County.

“With its breathtaking beauty and spectacular views of the Delaware River, this property is a real treasure,” Commissioner Mauriello said. “It’s hard to imagine that this land was at risk of being developed for new housing. Through the commitment and leadership of Governor Jon S. Corzine, we are protecting New Jersey’s priceless natural resources.”

The DEP’s Green Acres program purchased the Goat Hill Overlook property for $4.5 million from Constructural Dynamics Inc. of Fairless Hills, Pa. The company acquired Goat Hill Overlook from the Boy Scouts in 1983 and originally intended to use the land for mining operations. That plan was later changed in favor of constructing a residential development complex at the site.

In addition to views of the Delaware River, the property features a prominent rock, known as Washington Rock. According to local legend, General George Washington used the views from Goat Hill Overlook to assess battle conditions during the Revolutionary War. The site also offers miles of hiking trails and contains a variety of wildlife and plant species.

The Goat Hill Overlook acquisition is part of the Green Acres’ Crossroads of the American Revolution land preservation initiative, which links Revolutionary War sites across the state to help interpret New Jersey’s role in the American Revolution. More Revolutionary War battles and skirmishes took place in New Jersey than in any other state. The DEP’s Division of Parks and Forestry will manage the area as part of Washington Crossing State Park.

The DEP's Green Acres program purchases land to protect environmentally sensitive open space, water resources and other significant natural and historical areas. Land acquired by Green Acres becomes part of the statewide system of parks and forests, wildlife management areas and natural areas. Green Acres provides funding to county and municipal governments and nonprofit organizations to acquire open space and parks in their communities.

Since its inception in 1961, the program has protected more than 640,000 acres of open space, in addition to funding the development of hundreds of parks throughout New Jersey. New Jersey's statewide system of preserved open space and farmland now totals more than 1.4 million acres.

A construction company using recycled steel to build Meadowlands Stadium, a pharmaceuticals firm that diverts food waste from landfills, and a woman who teaches Bergen County schoolchildren the importance of recycling are among those honored as New Jersey’s recycling leaders, Department of Environmental Protection Acting Commissioner Mark N. Mauriello announced today.

“From the gridiron to our corporate board rooms and our schools, the recycling ethic is strong in New Jersey,” Commissioner Mauriello said in announcing the DEP’s recycling leadership award and poetry contest winners. “Recycling remains one of the best ways to show that we care about the environment. The simple act of separating recyclables from our trash not only saves natural resources, it strengthens our economy and reduces the greenhouse gases that cause climate change. On behalf of Governor Jon S. Corzine, congratulations to all of today’s winners for their efforts in building a greener and more sustainable New Jersey.”

The awards were presented during the 29th New Jersey Recycling Symposium and Awards Luncheon in Eatontown. The DEP and the Association of New Jersey Recyclers co-sponsor the event each year.

The awards ceremony recognizes the vision, innovation and leadership of individuals, organizations, businesses and government agencies that have taken notable steps to boost recycling during the past year.

During the event, winners of the annual recycling poetry contest for children in fourth through sixth grades also were honored.

“These poems, many accompanied by creative pieces of art, demonstrate commitment to recycling and passion for the environment,” Commissioner Mauriello said. “Our future is in good hands.”

Following are the Recycling Awards:

Institution
Winner: South Jersey Healthcare
Vineland-based South Jersey Healthcare has implemented a “recycle everything” policy that resulted in the diversion of 389 tons of waste from landfills, representing a 120 percent increase in materials the organization recycled. South Jersey Healthcare goes well beyond traditional recycling to recycle used oil, lamps, batteries and telephone books.

Business
Winner: Ortho McNeil Janssen Pharmaceuticals
The Raritan-based company achieved a 72 percent recycling and reuse rate as a result of a campus-wide program that includes fiber, plastics, metal, wood and food waste. The food waste program alone diverted 120 tons. Other items that would have been destroyed are donated to needy countries and the military.

Government
Winner: Ocean City
The city has continually improved its recycling program, over the past few years adding recycling of used electronics, textiles, and phones and a paper-shredding program. The city is committed to using and purchasing recycled materials and products.

Government
Winner: Edison Department of Public Works
The Public Works Department has recycled more than two million tons of materials over the years, achieving annual recycling rates consistently exceeding 50 percent. The program has been expanded to include electronics, batteries, tires, motor oil, concrete, asphalt, textiles and organic waste. The Department of Public Works and Department of Recreation are constructing a walkway made of recycled plastic as part of the Raritan Riverfront restoration and park.

Outstanding Educator/Educational Program
Winner: Lori Russo
Russo manages the Bergen County Utilities Authority’s recycling public education program. Each school year, she presents some 285 programs to thousands of students. She also presents programs to senior citizen groups, women’s clubs, libraries and environmental groups. Russo has developed and written the programs as well as the accompanying promotional materials. She is also responsible for responding to calls to the county’s environmental programs hotline.

Recycling Industry
Winner: Trans-Americas Textile Recycling Co.
Based in Clifton, Trans-America over the years has recycled more than 16.8 million pounds of post-consumer textile waste that includes wiping rags, carpet padding, and used clothing. Since 2001, the company has implemented municipal programs serving an estimated 200,000 residents at no cost to the municipalities.

Commissioner’s Award
Winner: New Meadowlands Stadium Co.
East Rutherford-based New Meadowlands Stadium Co. is using 40,000 tons of recycled steel in the construction of the new Meadowlands Stadium and is planning to recycle 20,000 of steel when Giants Stadium is demolished next year. The company has pledged to recycle 75 percent of its construction waste and use recycled plastic and concrete in construction of seating areas. Concessionaires in the new stadium will use plates and cups that can be composted.

Poetry Contest Awards
Fourth grade: Morgan Howell, Greenwich Elementary School, Stewartsville; Allyson Winters, Walnut Street Elementary School, Toms River; Elizabeth Barbier, McKenzie Elementary School, East Rutherford; Giovanni Privitera, St. Anne’s School, Jersey City.
Fifth grade: Tara Prabhu, Thomas P. Hughes Elementary School, Berkeley Heights; Sophia Gulati, Brookside Upper Elementary School, Westwood; Nico Blasucci, Academy of St. Francis of Assisi, Totowa; Brandon Danley, Notre Dame Regional School, Landisville.
Sixth grade: Sojung Koh, Fort Lee School No. 1, Fort Lee; Natalie Zychlinski, Our Lady of Mount Virgin School, Middlesex; Isabel Soriaga, St. Cecelia School, Iselin; Kelsey Kapski, Saints Philip and James School, Phillipsburg.

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In This Issue Only 5 Spots Remain for 2009! How to Recycle CFL Bulbs Safety Tips Sponsors Only 5 Spots Remain for 2009! The Fall 2009 fundraising program is filling up. To ensure your participation with Green Market Fundraising, complete the sign-up form by clicking here or call us at 1-866-645-2402. You may also begin signing up for Spring 2010 - we have much more availability for this time period! How to Recycle CFL Bulbs Did you know you can recycle your used CFLs at any Home Depot location? Home Depot will recycle unbroken CFLs free of charge. For information on this program, click here. Also, please visit www.recycleabulb.com to find other local recycling locations in your area. Safety Tips According to the EPA, mercury is used in a variety of manufacturing processes and products such as thermometers and fluorescent bulbs. If you improperly dispose of products with mercury in them, they may break and release mercury vapors which are harmful to human and ecological health. See the EPA Web site for safe clean up by clicking here. Sponsors This program is sponsored by New Jersey's Clean Energy Program™ and the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities.        Dear Marc,   With the help of schools and partner organizations across New Jersey, Green Market Fundraising is working to facilitate the donation of CFL bulbs to families and individuals in need. As part of our fundraising program, residents have the option to purchase a 4-pack of 13-watt CFL bulbs to be donated to those in most need. Caring customers have responded to this offer and to date, they have purchased over 1,100 CFL bulbs, which will brighten the lives of those less fortunate.   This month's newsletter is dedicated to thanking everyone who has been so generous in the donation of these CFL light bulbs and to show how their contribution has made a difference in the lives of other New Jersey residents. GMF Helps Donate over 1,000 Bulbs across New Jersey   When a school works with Green Market Fundraising to raise funds for their school or organization, customers have the option to donate a 4-pack of 13-watt CFL bulbs to a family in need. Through that simple yet generous act, Green Market Fundraising has been able to distribute 1,112 bulbs to date.   The donated bulbs were distributed with the assistance of HelpLightNJ, a program established in 2007 by Mater Dei High School (New Monmouth, NJ) students on a mission to fight global warming at a local level. Both Green Market Fundraising and HelpLightNJ are a part of the Green New Jersey Resource Team (GNJRT). Led and funded by New Jersey's Clean Energy Program™, the GNJRT Team gives grassroots groups across the state the necessary resources to distribute ENERGY STAR-qualified CFLs and to educate New Jersey residents on how to save energy and help protect the environment with energy efficient lighting.   The Recipients Again, donations were made to three separate groups by the Green Market Fundraising-HelpLightNJ team during August and September.       HelpLightNJ personnel distributing bulbs to the Morning Star Seniors Ministry.   Morning Star Seniors Ministry in Linden, NJ, received 511 bulbs on September 19. HelpLightNJ held an educational forum for the seniors, teaching them about CFL technology, how to use the bulbs and how to recycle them. In addition to the seniors, bulbs were also distributed to families participating in the Morning Star Church Food Pantry. After the event, Sonia Wilson, Chair of the Seniors Ministry, sent the following note:   "It's said that 'one seed can start a garden'; your act of kindness and generosity is a testament to the garden that you've started. The Seniors Ministry once again says thank you for your unselfishness with your time that you've spent with us today and the fact that three young people can start such a wonderful program to help seniors is truly amazing."   Barbara Roberts of Bethany Baptist Church with HelpLightNJ's Matt Erickson and John Caddock.   An additional 511 lamps were donated to Bethany Baptist Church in Newark, NJ, a mission-driven church in the heart of the city established in 1870. Bulbs were distributed to needy families on September 25 through outreach and via the church's food pantry.     John Caddock of HelpLightNJ and William Nazario of Birch Street Apartments with New Jersey Board of Public Utilities President Jeanne Fox.   Also receiving a distribution of bulbs was Birch Street Apartments in Paterson, NJ, on August 11. The housing development is run by New Jersey Community Development Corporation for mentally-challenged, homeless individuals. Please contact us toll free at 1-866-645-2402 or via email at info@greenmarketfundraising.com to schedule your fundraiser. We look forward to working with you!   Sincerely,   Paul Raver Green Market Fundraising, Inc. About Green Market Fundraising Green Market Fundraising (GMF) is an environmentally conscious fundraising organization dedicated to helping groups raise money by offering fundraising products that make a positive impact on the environment and for the global community. GMF has developed a program that facilitates the sale of energy efficient compact fluorescent lights (CFLs). This program is sponsored by New Jersey's Clean Energy Program and the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities.    To learn more about GMF's program or to sign up your group, you may call GMF directly at its toll-free number, 1-866-645-2402. Alternatively, you may also visit GMF's Web site at www.greenmarketfundraising.com.

Building environmental LEEDership
More reasons to conserve: the many costs of electricity
Cast an informed vote for conservation
Open space: an investment that pays forever

Click HERE.

EARTH SCIENCE WEEK UPDATE
American Geological Institute
Vol. 7, No. 9: September 2009

IN THIS ISSUE…
* ‘No Child Left Inside’ Day Comes to Your School
* Field Notebook for Students Featured in 2009 Toolkit
* One Month Left to Enter Earth Science Week Contests
* How to Put Your Event on the Map - Online!
* Shine a Media Spotlight on Your Great Activities
* Online Climate Change Conference by Smithsonian
* NASA Offers Educators ‘Eyes on the Earth’
* Women in the Geosciences Day Coming in October
* PolarTREC Now Accepting Applications for 2010-2011
* You’re Invited: Geoscience Outreach and Dinner
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‘No Child Left Inside’ Day
Comes to Your School
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One of the highlights of last year’s Earth Science Week celebration was “No Child Left Inside” Day, an event that engaged hundreds of students in outdoor learning activities and received coverage by news media from NBC to NPR. This year, you’re invited to take part!
AGI’s new NCLI Day Guide provides everything you need to start planning your own NCLI Day event. The free guide provides 10 outdoor activities you can organize to help students discover Earth science in their own neighborhoods. Also included are recommendations for creating partnerships, planning logistics, reaching out to the local media, and following up in the classroom.
Plan your NCLI Day 2009 event for Tuesday, October 13, during Earth Science Week 2009 (October 11-17), when educators and young people across the country will be wading across creeks, climbing hills, and searching the skies to learn Earth science. You can find the NCLI Day Guide online at http://www.earthsciweek.org/ncli/index.html. Have a great NCLI Day 2009!
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Field Notebook for Students
Featured in 2009 Toolkit
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Just one of dozens of educational materials in the Earth Science Week 2009 Toolkit - from posters and calendars to activity books and CDs - is the Field Notebook specially designed for “No Child Left Inside” Day (see above).
Rite in the Rain, which manufactures full-size notebooks for fieldwork by professional geoscientists, has created this miniature Field Notebook - with “all-weather writing paper” and charts on types of clouds, soils, and geological map symbols - for NCLI Day, Tuesday, October 13. By recording their observations and conclusions here, students get a taste of the work performed by professional geoscientists.
“No Child Left Inside” has become a rallying cry for a growing movement. Efforts by government agencies and nonprofit groups - from USGS to the National Park Service - are helping young people experience the joys of outdoor activity. For Earth Science Week 2009 Toolkit ordering, special shipping, bulk orders, and more information, visit http://www.earthsciweek.org/materials/index.html.
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One Month Left to Enter
Earth Science Week Contests
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With entries due near the end of Earth Science Week - Friday, October 16 - science students and enthusiasts across the country are busy completing submissions for the Earth Science Week 2009 essay, visual arts, and photography contests. Send yours today!
The photography contest, open to all ages, focuses on “How Climate Shapes My World.” If you were putting together a travel brochure about your local area, what image would best represent your climate? Show the world!
The visual arts contest is titled “The Climate Where I Live.” Students in grades K-5 are encouraged to draw, paint, or create a poster. Artwork entries should be two-dimensional and no larger than 24-by-36 inches. Show the typical climate where you live now and how it was 100,000 years ago.
Students in grades 6-9 may enter the essay contest: “Climate Connections.” Each one-page essay must be no longer than 300 words. Discuss the ways climate interacts with Earth’s systems in your area.
The contests offer opportunities for students and the public to participate in the celebration, learn about the Earth sciences, and compete for prizes. Each first-place winner receives $300 and a copy of AGI’s “Faces of Earth” DVD set. To learn more, visit http://www.earthsciweek.org/contests.
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How to Put Your Event
On the Map - Online!
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If you’re hosting an event for the public during Earth Science Week 2009 (October 11-17), you want to let people know about it. The best way is to post your event details on “Events in Your Area” (http://www.earthsciweek.org/eventsnearyou/index.html). This webpage provides information on events taking place through major program partners and in each state.
In addition, your event can be listed through “Earth Science Organizations” (http://www.earthsciweek.org/gpn/index.html), an online map that offers clickable links to Earth Science Week events taking place at parks, museums, science and technology centers, university geology departments, local geological societies, and other nearby locations. Anyone can find the map online, click on a nearby location, read a brief description - and even get driving directions!
To post your event, please contact AGI at info@earthsciweek.org. Be sure to provide a brief description of the event, the time and date, the street address, a phone number, an e-mail address, and a URL. We’ll be happy to direct Earth Science Week participants to your event!
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Shine a Media Spotlight
On Your Great Activities
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Climate! Energy! Natural disasters! Earth science is breaking news. Educators can take advantage of journalists’ interest in geoscience to promote awareness of local Earth Science Week activities. Here are five effective strategies:
* Plan a special event to draw attention to your Earth Science Week activities. Conduct an investigation or experiment, invite a prominent geoscientist to talk with students, host a ceremony or a banquet, stage an event with a nearby museum or science center, give awards to volunteers, or recognize geoscience enthusiasts who have made a difference.
* Prepare a press release to alert the media about your Earth Science Week activities. Answer important questions, such as who, what, where, when, and why. Include data and quotes from key players. Provide contact information for followup. Print the release on your letterhead and fax it to editors and reporters at least three days before the event.
* Be persistent in pitching your story to local news organizations. Besides noting the “hook” of Earth Science Week, show how your activities address issues that are urgent, timely, and relevant to the community. Write a brief, compelling query letter to the appropriate editor at each media outlet. Follow up with a phone call or an e-mail.
* Write letters to the editor for print in local newspapers and magazines. You might respond to a recent geoscience-related article with a letter to the editor. If possible, schedule a meeting with the editorial board. Or instead of a letter, perhaps write an opinion editorial, or “op-ed,” to cite concerns and recommend solutions.
* Use available Earth Science Week materials in promoting awareness. In the Earth Science Week Toolkit and on the event website are print and electronic materials - poster, calendar, logo, and more - that you can use to “brand” your activity. Link your local activity to the larger national celebration to emphasize its significance. For more ideas, see http://www.earthsciweek.org/forplanners/gettingstarted/mediaandpublicity.html.
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Online Climate Change
Conference by Smithsonian
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Want to discuss global climate with a Smithsonian researcher or curator? Take part in the Smithsonian Online Education Conference on Climate Change from September 29 through October 1, just in time for Earth Science Week 2009, which celebrates the theme “Understanding Climate.”
In addition to interacting with Smithsonian experts in both general interest sessions and sessions designed especially for teachers, you can explore Smithsonian research and collections related to the evidence, impact, and response to climate change. Alongside Smithsonian scientists and curators, you also can look at issues surrounding climate change from the perspectives of science, history, and art.
Registration is free and open to everyone. Conference sessions are recorded and archived so you can replay them at any time. To learn more or register, please visit http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/professional_development/conference/2009/climate_change/index.html.
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NASA Offers Educators
‘Eyes on the Earth’
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NASA, a longtime partner and supporter of Earth Science Week, is offering educators an exciting, new Earth visualization tool. “Eyes on the Earth 3D” allows users to view the latest NASA satellite imagery within hours of it being photographed.
This resource brings real-time data to the user from all of NASA’s satellites currently monitoring Earth’s systems. Data include sea level height, concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, global temperature, and extent of sea ice in the Arctic.
The site also includes games, videos, and interactive programs with scientists. To get a unique view of Earth’s climate and more, visit http://climate.jpl.nasa.gov/Eyes/index.html.
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Women in the Geosciences
Day Coming in October
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Join the Association for Women Geoscientists and AGI in celebrating the first annual Women in the Geosciences Day - Thursday, Oct. 15 - during Earth Science Week 2009! Women in the Geosciences Day offers you a chance to share the excitement and advantages of geoscience careers with women of all ages, especially those early in their education.
If you’re an educator, invite a female geoscientist to speak in your classroom or institution. If you’re a female geoscientist, visit a local school or volunteer at a science center. Organize a scout event for badges, lead a 4H field trip, or hold a special “Take Your Daughter to Work Day” focusing on the geoscience workplace. No matter who you are, you can help show young women what it means to be a geoscientist.
The Association for Women Geoscientists offers scholarships for women pursuing an education and career in the geosciences, as well as support for female geoscientist lecturers in classrooms. To learn more, please visit http://www.awg.org. And have a great Women in the Geosciences Day!
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PolarTREC Now Accepting
Applications for 2010-2011
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PolarTREC (Teachers and Researchers Exploring and Collaborating) is accepting applications from teachers for teacher research experiences during the 2010 (Arctic) or 2010-2011 (Antarctic) field seasons.
PolarTREC, a program of the Arctic Research Consortium of the U.S. (ARCUS), pairs K-12 teachers with researchers for professional development through authentic polar research experiences. Through PolarTREC, teachers will spend two to six weeks in the Arctic or Antarctic, working closely with researchers as part of the science team. All major expenses associated with teacher participation in PolarTREC field experiences are covered by the program, including transportation, food, lodging, and substitute teacher costs.
Teacher applications are due Monday, October 5, 2009. More information and application forms are available at http://www.polartrec.com.
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You’re Invited: Geoscience
Outreach and Dinner
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Gearing up for Earth Science Week 2009 in the DC/Northern Virginia area? “Earth Science in the Spotlight: Engaging the Public” will be the focus of an interactive talk given by AGI’s Dr. Ann Benbow at The Front Page Restaurant in Arlington, Virginia, at 6-7:30 p.m., Tuesday, October 6.
The news media routinely sound alarms about natural disasters, climate change, and the energy crisis. But who helps the public make sense of these issues? More and more, scientists are stepping up to help ordinary people, from school children to policy makers, understand the Earth science behind the headlines. Learn how AGI, an association of 45 member societies across the geosciences, is tapping the expertise of professional geoscientists to improve education and promote public awareness.
Join Benbow, AGI’s director of education and outreach, for a brief discussion, exciting video, hands-on activities showing how you can play a vital part, and optional dinner offerings. The event is part of the Cafe Scientifique speaker series of the Ballston Science and Technology Alliance/COPUS. To learn more and register, please visit http://www.arlingtonvirginiausa.com/bsta/.
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The American Geological Institute is a nonprofit federation of 45 geoscientific and professional associations that represents more than 120,000 geologists, geophysicists, and other earth scientists. Founded in 1948, AGI provides information services to geoscientists, serves as a voice of shared interests in the profession, plays a major role in strengthening geoscience education, and strives to increase public awareness of the vital role the geosciences play in society’s use of resources and interaction with the environment. For contact information, please visit http://www.earthsciweek.org/contactus/index.html.

Governor Corzine proclaimed October 11 through October 17, 2009 as Earth Science Week (see http://www.state.nj.us/dep/njgs/whatsnew/index.htm#esweek). This year marks the twelfth anniversary of Earth Science Week, which promotes understanding and appreciation of the value of earth science and its applications and relevance to our daily lives."Understanding Climate," the theme of Earth Science Week 2009, will promote awareness of the science behind one of the timeliest topics of the day.This international event will engage students, educators, and the general public in understanding all the factors driving climate and the role climate plays in the history of Earth and humankind.The week will also help spread understanding of the impact the geosciences have on society.Hosted by the American Geological Institute (AGI), New Jersey Geological Survey is proud to promote Earth Science Week.In addition to other activities, NJGS is in the process of distributing free educational toolkits, developed by AGI, to 50 teachers across the state for use in their classrooms.

Contact:Helen Rancan (609-984-6587)

GOVERNOR CORZINE WELCOMES FEDERAL STIMULUS GRANTS TO PROTECT FORESTS AND CREATE TREE-CARE JOBS

Governor Jon S. Corzine today welcomed nearly $2 million in federal economic stimulus funding to the Department of Environmental Protection's Forest Service for projects that will improve the overall ecological health of the state’s trees while creating a diversity of jobs in fields related to tree care.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grants awarded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service will create a wide range of jobs in New Jersey, including employment for tree planters, heavy equipment operators, irrigation contractors, and forestry consultants and managers.

“This is a splendid example of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act creating green jobs right here in New Jersey,” Governor Corzine said. “Trees are essential to our quality of life. This funding will now help many people make a living by working on stewardship projects that will improve the health of trees in forests and communities throughout the state.”

“The projects funded by these grants will make a big difference in the state's efforts to ensure a healthy supply of trees that provide so many important ecological benefits, including moderating the effects of climate change,” DEP Acting Commissioner Mark N. Mauriello said.

The grants will fund a state grant program to help many of New Jersey's communities improve the health of their trees, allow assessment and removal of trees harmed by gypsy moth infestations, fund construction of an irrigation project at the state nursery in Jackson, and restore migratory-bird habitat near the coast in eastern Burlington County.

The New Jersey Community Stewardship Incentive Program received $992,000 for use in urban and community forestry projects. Some 137 cities and towns statewide have qualified for this grant program by filing state-approved tree stewardship plans. Municipalities will be able to apply for grants to have outside contractors remove hazardous trees, plant trees or perform other shade tree functions.

The Hazardous Tree Assessment and Removal Project, funded at $673,000, will be used within six counties hardest hit by past gypsy moth infestations ? Atlantic, Burlington, Ocean, Monmouth, Sussex and Warren. The Forest Service will enter into contracts for the assessment and removal of hazardous trees in or near trails and campgrounds on Division of Parks and Forestry lands. The trees that have to be removed will be made available as firewood for campsites.

The Forest Service received an additional $135,000 to improve water supplies used to irrigate seedlings planted at the New Jersey Forest Nursery in Jackson and to plant seedlings to reforest state lands in Burlington and Salem counties. The seedlings grown at the nursery are used to reforest state lands and are distributed to community forestry programs throughout the state.

Funded at $175,000, the Ballinger Creek enhancement project in eastern Burlington County will establish grasslands and enhance wetlands on land owned by the Division of Fish and Wildlife for use by birds migrating along the Atlantic Flyway.

Video Highlights Biological Sampling of NJ Stream

The NJ DEP Division of Fish and Wildlife has posted links on its site to a new video on theNJ.com website entitled, "Electrofishing a Small Tributary to the South Branch of the Raritan River".The video follows division biologist Shawn Crouse as he and a team of co-workers sample a 150-meter segment of stream for fish.The findings of such studies help determine stream classifications, which can influence land-use decisions, in addition to providing valuable biological data for fisheries managers.
To view the video, visit http://videos.nj.com/star-ledger/2009/09/scientists_study_fish_to_help.html on the NJ.com website.

Status of Waterfowl Video Available Online

The Flyways.us website, produced by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in collaboration with flyway and state waterfowl managers, has posted the 2009 Status of Waterfowl Video Report (also available in PDF format). U.S. and Canadian government biologists have conducted waterfowl surveys in North America for more than 50 years, making it the longest-running wildlife survey in the world.The video report describes biologists' findings as they surveyed the waterfowl populations of the northern United States and Canada.
To view the video and related waterfowl information visit http://www.flyways.us/status-of-waterfowl/video-report on the Flyways.us website.

Youth Hunts Offer Great Opportunities This Fall

The NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife's popular Take a Kid Hunting Program has several exciting youth hunting opportunities scheduled for this fall.Special Youth Hunts for deer, pheasant, upland birds and waterfowl are held prior to the usual statewide opening days of those seasons.The days afford young hunters the opportunity for a quality hunting experience in a setting that encourages responsible, ethical and safe hunting practices.
All hunts require that the hunter possess a valid youth license, and be under the direct supervision of a properly licensed, non-hunting adult 21 years of age or older.
For more information about this fall's youth hunts, including dates and guided hunts, visit http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/news/2009/youthhunts09.htm on the division's website.

Surf Fishing Clinic for Women October 3

New Jersey Outdoors for Women - Saturday, October 3, 9:00am - 4:00pm
Island Beach State Park, Seaside Park, NJ
Surf Fishing Clinic - (No surf fishing experience needed.) Open to women at least 18 years old. All equipment and bait will be provided. Participants will learn the basics of surf fishing, including information on rods, reels, line, tackle, knots, bait, fish identification, casting, reading the surf, and caring for your catch. The afternoon will be spent on the beach using techniques learned to fish the surf. The workshop will take place rain or shine, warm or cold. Participants should be prepared with appropriate clothing, as well as other convenience items such as sun screen, sunglasses, hat, and foul weather gear.
Space is limited. A registration form is available on the NJ DEP Division of Fish and Wildlife's website at http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/pdf/2009/surfclinic_reg.pdf(pdf, 11kb). Print and complete the registration form and mail it with a check for $15.00 made out to the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife. This fee will be refunded to you at the class but is nonrefundable for those not attending.
Participants can also register at the Clinic for the Governor's Surf Fishing Tournament held the following day, October 4. The cost for the tournament is $10 for adults. Equipment to fish in the Tournament will be supplied to those who participate in the workshop, but participants will be responsible for their own bait. See http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/gsft.htm , also on the division's website, for details
For additional information or questions please contact Karen Leskie at 609-748-4347 or karen.leskie@dep.state.nj.us.

NJ Stocking Super-sized Trout for Awesome Autumn Angling

It's been an exceptional year for trout fishing in New Jersey, but the best is yet to come.
Beginning Oct. 6, more than 21,000 super-sized trout will be stocked in streams and lakes from Sussex County to Atlantic County. Those big fish, ideal water conditions, great weather and spectacular scenery combine to make autumn what many anglers agree is New Jersey's premier trout fishing season.
For the fourth consecutive year, New Jersey will release statewide brook trout, brown trout and rainbow trout that each measure 14 inches to 24 inches and weigh one and a half pounds to eight pounds. Any of these fabulous fish could very well be an angler's once-in-a-lifetime catch.
Don't miss out. Get on the water and get in on the finest trout fishing action in the tri-state area. If you haven't gone trout fishing yet this year, simply buy and print your fishing license and trout stamp online at http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/. It's that easy.
There's no better way to spend your time and money this fall than trout fishing in New Jersey.
For more information on the fall stocking program and the stocking schedule, visit http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/trtinfo_fall.htm or call the Trout Hotline at (609) 633-6765.

What is Pollution Prevention (P2)?

P2 is the first step in the waste management hierachy, (followed by recycling, treatment and disposal).P2 is source reduction.Pollution Prevention is reducing or eliminating the use and/or generation of hazardous substances.

Industrial P2 examples include equipment or technology modifications, reformulation or redesign of products, substitution of less toxic raw materials, improvements in work practices, maintenance, worker training, and better inventory control.

P2 is the Reduce and Reuse in Reduce-Reuse-Recycle.Examples include using less toxic products, buying products with less packaging, and using your own reusable bags when you go shopping.

CONTEST:The poster is available for viewing at www.p2.org/?page_id=270.

National Pollution Prevention Week is the third full week in September each year; this year that's September 21-27.
It's great to recycle and treat waste, but preventing pollution in the first place saves money and protects the environment!

Fast facts - consumption statistics
Sometimes it can be difficult to relay to people just how much we consume; particularly those of us in developed countries. While purchasing green this and eco-friendly that are all well and good; one of the root causes of our environmental problems is hyperconsumption. We simply buy too much of what we don't need and often even what we don't really want.
Here's some fast facts on consumption relating to various goods, services and resources we use:
*Half the world lives on less than two dollars a day - source: GlobalWatch.
*12 percent of the world’s population lives in North America and Western Europe and accounts for 60 percent of private consumption spending, but a third of humanity that lives in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa accounts for only 3.2 percent- source: WorldWatch Institute
*In 1950, the global population was 2.6 billion people. We had 53 million cars- which works out to be one car for every 50 persons. Today, there are over 6 billion people and 500 million cars-more than one car for every dozen inhabitants- source: Sierra Club (lots of fascinating facts on that page)
For the rest of this article, including links to the sources cited here, go to: http://www.greenlivingtips.com/articles/185/1/Consumption-statistics.html
Michael Bloch, Green Living Tips.com

The recycling movement has gathered plenty of steam in recent years which is wonderful, there's far less hitting our landfills and resources being reclaimed.
However, there is concern building that the recycling wave is allowing us to still be rampant consumers, a throwaway society; and recycling some justification for maintaining this mind set.
While the energy required to recycle the aluminum in a drink can is one twentieth of that to produce the can from raw materials; when you start thinking in terms of billions of cans; it's still a lot of energy consumed.
With the growing number of people understanding that reuse is the first option before recycle, all sorts of groups have started up where you can offer your items for free to others who can make use of them. One such service is The Freecycle Network™ which currently (4/22/07) has nearly 3.5 million members globally.
I've been reading some amazing stories of people who believed *no-one* could make use of their junk, only to find it snapped up when posted to these sorts of sites.
Think re-use before thinking recycle.
To read the whole article go to: http://www.greenlivingtips.com/articles/100/1/Reuse-vs-recycle.html
Michael Bloch, Green Living Tips.com
Green Living Tips is an online resource powered by renewable energy offering a wide variety of earth friendly tips, green guides, advice and environment related news to help consumers and business reduce costs, consumption and environmental impact.

Sure, recycling is not technically pollution prevention (P2).Still...

We encourage you to use rechargeable batteries and compact fluorescents (CFLs) as part of your P2 strategy, so please-- recycle them!
What's so great about rechargeable batteries?Check out the article: http://www.aboutmyplanet.com/science-technology/green-household-batteries/
Did you ever wonder if CFLs are really worth the hype?Find out the Frequently Asked Questions about CFLs and mercury at http://www.energystar.gov/ia/partners/promotions/change_light/downloads/Fact_Sheet_Mercury.pdf.
What you couldn't do without or can't reuse anymore, please recycle if you can!

REDIRECT YOUR DOLLARS

Every dollar counts. When we buy a cup of coffee made with fair trade, organically grown beans, we’re telling the coffee shop that we support social justice and environmental protection-and we’re supporting efforts to create a healthier future. When we buy Forest Stewardhip Council-certified lumber, we’re standing up for the conservation of forests around the world-and we’re letting lumber companies know of the demand for greener forestry products. When we shop at a farmers’ market, we’re rewarding local farmers who are dedicated to growing healthy, delicious food.
Think of it as voting with your dollars. You can send a powerful message to companies by redirecting your spending to organizations and products that are doing good for the Earth, and withdrawing support from organizations and products that aren’t part of the solution. It’s the old carrot-and-stick strategy, and you can use it every time you open your wallet.
Sometimes it can feel overwhelming to be an environmentally conscious consumer. Don’t beat yourself up if you don’t always make the best green purchasing decision-or if no good green options are available at the moment. Keep the 3Rs in mind and do the best you can.
And feel good when you are able to buy green products. Solar electric systems, solar water heaters, cars that get more than 40 miles per gallon, water-conserving toilets, organically grown food-products like these can make a big reduction in our ecological footprints.
See the whole article at: http://www.sierraclubgreenhome.com/co2-carbon-dioxide-center/the-3rs-and-beyond/
It's great to recycle and treat waste, but preventing pollution in the first place saves money and protects the environment!

Click HERE.

As American childhood has steadily moved indoors in the past 12 to 15 years, outdoor play is increasingly rare. The weekly indoor-outdoor time ratio is now about 10 to one on the indoor side. We wondered what effect this modern "indoor childhood" is having on the quality of K-12 education and the average student's readiness to learn in the classroom.

In this back-to-schools time period -- Research shows children are less fit, have shorter attention spans and are less ready to be high-performance learners without a greater emphasis on regular outdoor time such as a daily Green Hour.

Our new NWF report: Time Out: Using The Outdoors to Enhance Classroom Performance is available HERE.

Time Out: Outdoor Time Fuels Classroom Performance
National Wildlife Federation Releases School Readiness Guide for Parents and Teachers

Reston, Va. (September 2)—Back to School shouldn’t mean back indoors for children.In fact, National Wildlife Federation’s (NWF) new report TIME OUT: Using the Outdoors to Enhance Classroom Performance highlights the vast research linking time kids spend outside to increased classroom preparedness. American’s childhood has largely moved indoors in the past 15 years. The increasingly indoor lifestyle causes several factors that work against high performance in the classroom.

The guide on school readiness, authored by NWF’s Kevin Coyle, is for teachers and parents alike and includes tips on how to provide fun and valuable outdoor experiences for kids, even with their busy school-year schedules.

“Today’s indoor kids are distracted, less fit, more aggressive, and hard to manage in the classroom.Some don’t relate well to other students or adults on a personal level.” says Vice President for Education and Training Kevin Coyle. “Outdoor time can improve overall health while lengthening attention spans, diminishing aggressiveness, improving test scores and ultimately advancing learning.”

Lack of Outdoor Time Affects Learning Readiness
Spending life indoors means our children are less physically active and healthy, less creative, stressed, over-stimulated, and more isolated from important human interaction.The new TIME OUT guide aggregates the science behind the link of school readiness with time outside.

Outdoor Education Improves Classroom Performance
NWF’s Back to School guide includes case studies that bolster the fact that outdoor education improves classroom performance. Environmental education (EE) creates more motivated and competent students. Schools with EE programs showed higher scores on standardized tests in math, reading, writing, and listening.

Developmental Gaps
The average child sits more than six hours a day inside looking at an electronic screen and snacking. As a result, the healthy and decompressing outdoor play experience many adults had as children is becoming a thing of the past. Researchers at University of Illinois report findings that indicate exposure to natural settings in the course of common after-school and weekend activities may be “widely effective” in reducing attention deficit symptoms in children. Lack of unstructured playtime in nature for some leads to:
Shorter Attention Spans
Increased Aggressive Behavior
Higher Stress and Depression

Nutrition and Physical Activity Implications
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends kids relax and get about an hour per day of unstructured time to kick back and unwind. According to an analysis of federal data representing more than 6,000 children, low vitamin D levels are particularly common among girls, adolescents, and people with darker skin. Low levels of this nutrient are blamed on a combination of factors, including a decreased amount of time going outside and getting healthy doses of sunlight. The indoor lifestyle has increased America’s rates of:
Poor Fitness and Obesity
Sunlight and Vitamin D Deficiencies
Nearsightedness

Solutions
School administrations and educators have a critical role to play in reversing the negative impacts of the increasingly indoor childhood and helping children to experience, understand, and appreciate nature and the outdoors.Parents can alleviate overly packed schedules and offer sufficient outdoor time to lengthen attention spans, diminish aggressiveness, improve test scores and ultimately advancing learning.

The National Wildlife Federation’s Be Out There campaign offers these suggestions for making sure the child in your life is getting some outdoor time, even with their busy school-year schedules.

10 Ways To "Be Out There"—Even After School Starts
Homework, soccer practice, ballet—is there time in the schedule to play outside? Visit www.greenhour.org/topten to see 10 ways to Be Out There, even after school starts.

Keep a picnic blanket in your car for an impromptu picnic after picking up a fast food dinner on any spot of green you can find.
No backyard? Find your local parks using nwf.org/naturefind.
For older kids, start stretching your child's boundaries, allowing them to go for unsupervised walks in the neighborhood with groups of friends. They'll love the feeling of independence.
Have your child make a map of your neighborhood — using only natural landmarks. This will heighten his or her observation skills and can be the first step in creating a "field guide" to the nature in your neighborhood.
Keep flashlights near the door, and go for a neighborhood night hike. Kids will love the novelty, and you can challenge them to identify "night sounds." Learn how to make a moon journal at greenhour.org/moonjournal.
To cloud-watch with older kids, combine technology with the outdoors and go geo-caching or, the lower-tech version, letterboxing. There are about 20,000 letterboxes and 250,000 geocaches hidden in North America. Visit geocaching.comand letterboxing.org.

To view the full report, visit www.beoutthere.org.

National Wildlife Federation is America’s conservation organization, inspiring Americans to protect wildlife for our children’s future. www.nwf.org.

Contacts:
TIME OUT: Using the Outdoors to Enhance Classroom Performance report author and Vice President for Education and Training Kevin Coyle available for interviews

Amanda Cooke at (work) 703-438-6041, (cell) 202-420-9155, or CookeA@nwf.org

BACK-TO-SCHOOL:Educators throughout the state are hard at work preparing for a year that will be punctuated by major reforms on many levels.These reforms are led by changes in state academic standards to reflect the expectations and challenges of the 21st century, and more rigorous and relevant high school graduation requirements to better prepare graduates for higher education and the workplace.

http://www.state.nj.us/education/news/2009/0828bts.htm

Click HERE.

Click HERE.

The NJ Fish and Game Council is proposing amendments to N.J.A.C. 7:25-6, the Fish Code.The Fish Code governs when, by what means, at which locations, in what numbers, and at what sizes, freshwater fish may be pursued, caught, killed, or possessed.

The Notice of Rule Proposal has been posted on the NJ DEP website.The Notice contains a summary of the changes, a link to a copy of the proposal, information on the public hearing to be held September 8 and how to submit written comments.

To view the Notice please visit http://www.nj.gov/dep/rules/notices/081709a.html on the DEP website.

To:                   Friends of  MACOORA
From:              Judith T. Krauthamer, Executive Director
Date:               August 6, 2009
Regarding:     Ocean Observing Updates and  More

MACOORA AND GOOGLE EARTH

The Stevens Institute of Technology has a rich data catalog of meteorological and oceanographic observations and predictions from the New York Harbor Observing and Prediction System (NYHOPS) that is actively utilized by diverse groups. The data are now accessible in Google Earth, greatly expanding the potential user audience [see http://hudson.dl.stevens-tech.edu/maritimeforecast/google/index.shtml]. Google Earth features, such as panning, zooming, and fly-throughs, allow the user to view the NYHOPS forecasts interactively in a realistic, virtual 3D world. Oceanographic phenomena (including freshwater events) are easily explored through 24-hour animations of forecasted fields such as currents, temperature, and salinity. Future developments include automatic generation and dissemination of navigation route maps. These maps will be used to aid ships in safe passage through the harbor approaches and interior waters. The route maps will also be used by devices such as autonomous unmanned underwater vehicles.

With the experimental Google Earth-based product, under development, a user can easily determine the precise geographic location (latitude/longitude) of an event or condition in which he or she is interested, and then follow that event as it unfolds across 24 hours. Since multiple parameters can be selected at once, direction of currents can be overlaid on top of sea surface salinity maps, for example, to track the spreading of a coastal plume.This product is a collaborative effort between Jet Propulsion Laboratory (Dr. Ashit Talukder, Anand Panangadan) and Stevens Institute of technology (Dr. Alan Blumberg, Nickitas Georgas, Dave Runnels).

Ocean observing technology has attracted the attention of fisheries managers. For an animated gif of a blue (B) and a Mako (M) shark track swimming in the MARCOOS temperature fields click here.  Contact matt.j.oliver@gmail.com for more information. Or, visit  http://www.marcoos.us/products.htm for an inside look at  google earth, MARCOOS, and coding. Want more visualizations?  click here

BUOY RE-ESTABLISHED IN THE CHESAPEAKE BAY

Click HERE.

New York Times
July 18, 2009
By CLIFFORD KRAUSS

AUSTIN, Tex. — Peering behind a bathtub in a newly built house, an inspector, John Umphress, spotted a big gap in the wall insulation. “Somebody took a lunch break!” he complained to the builder, who sheepishly agreed to patch the hole.

With the fix, the house, already a model of energy efficiency, will use even less energy and save its residents money — for decades.

But that small catch would not have been made in many American towns. Mr. Umphress is a particular kind of inspector, an energy auditor, and Austin, with one of the toughest building codes in the country, requires an energy inspection before a building can be occupied.

Climate scientists and architects say that no single policy change could do more to save energy over the long run — and reduce the nation’s contribution to global warming — than building codes that make saving energy the law.

Since the energy crises of the 1970s, the United States has known it has an energy problem. Yet today, the energy requirements in building codes remain weak across half the country, and at least seven states have virtually no rules. That means that in many places, particularly the nation’s heartland, almost every new home, store and factory that goes up locks the country into unnecessary energy use for years to come.

The problem is not just construction defects like the one Mr. Umphress caught, though those are plentiful. In many places, builders are still using too little insulation. Citing cost, they have not adopted the most energy-saving water heaters, roofing materials or window panes.

The Energy Department reports that buildings and the appliances inside them account for almost 40 percent of the carbon dioxide emitted in the country.

Stricter codes have been fought bitterly by politically powerful builders’ lobbies, which contend that they can add $2,000 or more to the cost of a house. But in a few places, including cities like Austin and entire states like California, tough new rules have been adopted.

The efforts of these localities show that no new technology needs to be invented to make major gains in saving energy. Products already available permit the construction of homes at least 30 percent more efficient than the national average. With enough political will, a new law can be put in place anywhere with the stroke of a pen, and made even more potent if it is coupled with tough oversight, as in Austin.

“If you build a building well, it’s an asset for 100 years; conversely, if you build a shoddy building, it can be a 100-year liability,” said Hal Harvey, chief executive of ClimateWorks, a group seeking to tackle global warming. “Energy building codes are the single biggest opportunity to save the environment while saving the consumer money.”

Mr. Harvey estimated that if today’s best building practices were applied in new buildings across the United States, the country could cut its total emissions of carbon dioxide, a principal global warming gas, by about 11 percent by 2030, compared to what it would otherwise be.

As global warming has become a pressing issue, sentiment has developed in Washington to push the country toward more stringent building codes. The Obama administration’s stimulus package, enacted in February, required states to pledge to adopt stronger energy building codes as a condition of receiving more than $3 billion in funding for various energy programs.

Energy legislation moving through Congress would go further, setting binding federal targets for efficiency that would require most states to adjust their codes. The proposed legislation aims to achieve an efficiency improvement in the next few years of at least 30 percent in states that already have up-to-date codes, and even more in states without them. That requirement would gradually tighten through 2030.

“A national building code is the key for getting our greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption under control,” said Ed Mazria, executive director of Architecture 2030, an organization that researches building efficiency. “As you begin to level off emissions from buildings, you can begin to phase out coal plants as they age.”

Studies suggest that updated codes produce substantial gains, including savings for homeowners over the long run. In Austin, for instance, the municipal utility estimates that it takes about five years for the typical homeowner to save enough money on utilities to pay for the initial upgrades, and hundreds of dollars a year in savings continue after that. In places where energy costs are higher or codes are weaker, the savings could be even greater.

Strong codes are helping states reduce the growth in their electricity use — sometimes to the point that per capita consumption has leveled off, as in California.

California reports that it has reduced energy consumption in new houses and commercial buildings by 75 percent over the three decades that codes have been in effect there. Likewise, a new home built today in Florida, a state that also has a strong energy code, is nearly 70 percent more energy-efficient than a home of the same size built when codes were first enacted in 1979, according to the Florida Solar Energy Center, a state-supported research institute.

But builders warn that tough energy building codes would further harm the housing market and encourage people, particularly those with modest incomes, to live in older homes that are less efficient. “It’s extremely difficult to market and sell efficiency in a new house as an incentive,” said Harry Savio, executive vice president of the Austin Home Builders Association.

Despite the opposition, political sentiment in many places has shifted toward making more efficient use of energy. Even in the absence of binding national standards, stronger building codes are making headway in most states of the Far West and the Eastern Seaboard, as well as in some cities.

But even so, a majority of the states follow codes that are out of date or leave it up to local communities to decide how efficient they want their buildings to be. The states that have no statewide mandatory codes, or perfunctory ones, include Alabama, Arizona, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming, according to the Building Codes Assistance Project, a research group that supports codes.

Amory Lovins, founder of the Rocky Mountain Institute and one of the country’s leading voices on energy efficiency, estimated that if every state had a building code as tough as California’s, energy consumption in a typical new home could be cut as much as 75 percent.

Here in Austin, which has had progressively stronger building energy codes since 1985, the typical home has decreased its annual energy use per square foot to 6.5 kilowatt hours, from 8.95 kilowatt hours, an efficiency gain of 27 percent, even though residents now own more computers and larger television sets. As a result, the municipal utility was able to avoid building a coal-fired power plant that had been in the planning stage.

Last year, Austin sought to leapfrog California with a code that aimed to increase the efficiency in new buildings by 65 percent, with requirements gradually tightening from now to 2015. It requires reflective heat barriers below roofs, installation of efficient lighting and windows, and better wall insulation, and also requires that new homes constructed in 2015 or later be built in a way that makes it easy to install solar panels or other types of renewable energy. (Builders estimate that in a typical 2,100-square-foot house, the roof heat barriers cost them around $400 while each of the 20 efficient windows will cost an extra $20.)

The code couples strict requirements with tough enforcement. For instance, it obliges builders to hire private inspectors to do energy audits before they can get a certificate of occupancy that allows them to sell new homes. “The buyer gets a better house,” said Mr. Umphress, the Austin auditor.

The day after he spotted the missing insulation behind the bathtub at 2105 Antone Street, he oversaw an energy audit at a pretty yellow house across town at 3013 Sea Jay Drive, just before it was to go on the market. The house had all the markings of an ecologically friendly structure. The insulation surpassed code requirements, the water heater was the highly efficient tankless type, and kitchen counter tops were made from recycled glass.

But when the inspectors ran a test of the duct system, they found leakage more than twice that allowed in the energy code. The crew and Mr. Umphress climbed into the attic and found leaks from duct connectors and around the wires on the air blower.

“This is why we test,” Mr. Umphress said. “Otherwise we would never catch this and this house would have been leaking dollars and contributing more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere for decades, or until the ductwork fell apart.”

Copyright 2009 The New York Times Company

WASHINGTON, July 16, 2009 (AFP) - U.S. retail giant Wal-Mart on Thursday announced plans to develop a database that it said would revolutionize shopping by putting information about products' sustainability at consumers' fingertips.

The database, dubbed the sustainability index, could put information about how environmentally friendly suppliers, manufacturers, and their products are, just a garment label or barcode scan away for shoppers, according to Wal-Mart executives speaking at a webcast gathering of their suppliers.

The index would be put together in three phases, the first of which involves surveying Wal-Mart's 100,000-plus suppliers about how they operate, where a product is made, and what goes into it.

That stage got under way Thursday, when the 15-point survey was sent out to some U.S. manufacturers.

The questionnaire covers everything from a manufacturer's greenhouse-gas emissions and location of factories, to water use and solid waste disposal.

The next step in compiling the index will be to create a consortium of universities that would work with suppliers, retailers, NGOs, and governments to develop the database.

A technology company is being sought by Wal-Mart to create an open platform to power the index, Wal-Mart chief executive Mike Duke told the meeting at the retail giant's headquarters in Arkansas.

Wal-Mart pledged to put up funds to get the index off the ground, but Duke stressed that the database is not intended to benefit only the retail titan.

"It is not our goal to create or own this index. We want to spur the development of a common database that will allow the consortium to collect and analyze the knowledge of the global supply chain," Duke said.

The third and final phase would see the index up and running, and consumers accessing and benefiting from it.

John Fleming, chief merchandising officer for Wal-Mart, outlined how the index might work, while stressing that the end product was several years down the line.

Consumers might point their multi-application handheld devices at a product while shopping online or in-store to get information about the product.

With a T-shirt, they might see the field where the cotton came from, probably with a picture of the farmer, Fleming said.

"There would be information about how much cotton was used, how many 'product miles' were consumed to get that T-shirt into the store. That will make a difference in terms of what products customers consider," especially with future generations of consumers who care deeply about the environment and sustainability, he said.

http://www.grist.org/article/2009-07-17-retail-titan-wal-mart-launches-sustainability-index

Click HERE.

Click HERE.

Interim Year 4 Highlights of EETAP Accomplishments by Activity

In this issue we continue to highlight EETAP’s accomplishments for the first half of Year 4. EETAP’s 12 activities are divided into three programmatic areas: Professional Development, Advancing Environmental Education, and Reaching Diverse Audiences. This issue reports on the three activities grouped under Reaching Diverse Audiences. The April and May issue reviewed activities grouped under Professional Development and Advancing Environmental Education. This instalment completes the interim review of EETAP activities.

Reaching Diverse Audiences

An important EETAP3 priority is helping education professionals develop the knowledge and skills needed to work more effectively with audiences traditionally underserved by EE. These audiences are wide-ranging, including African and Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, and conservation managers. A total of 297 education professionals received training through these activities during the first half of Year 4. In addition, 18,900 individuals visited the EE and diversity web pages provided by EETAP on the NAAEE web site.

Delivering Culturally Relevant EE

As part of a pilot initiative designed to help organizations become more inclusive, UW-SP/EETAP, Intercambios, and three EE organizations located in Norfolk, VA, Minneapolis, MN, and Las Vegas, NV have continued working as a learning community. Focus areas of the organizations include encouraging members of a low income community to participate in Norfolk’s curbside recycling program; broadening non-traditional partnerships in an urban place-based EE program in Minneapolis; and creating more culturally inclusive outreach strategies in a four federal agency collaborative serving Las Vegas, NV.

EETAP and Intercambios are serving as facilitators, mentors, and recorders of this 2-year process. During this period we have collected and coded data vis-ŕ-vis transcribed conference calls and visited organizational sites.

In October 2009 the learning community will come together to discuss patterns and approaches used to becoming more inclusive. It is our expectation that once these strategies are shared with the wider EE community they will lead to improved practices for the field.

We continued to post installments on diversity on the NAAEE website, sharing many of lessons learned and resources about inclusiveness practices. The site continues to show increases in average monthly visitations from 1,333/month in Y2, to 2,394/month in Y3, to 3,154/month at the midterm of Y4; already a 130 percent increase from Y3.

To view the EE & Diversity pages visit: http://naaee.org/ee-and-cultural-diversity

Conservation Education Toolkit

This activity builds the capacity of conservation practitioners (scientists, program officers, policy and communication experts, and those who manage project budgets) to integrate education activities into conservation plans and programs. NAS developed a Conservation Education Toolkit to provide resources, training tools, and summaries of research that will help conservation practitioners better understand how to use education as a conservation tool.

The Toolkit has been presented to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the North American Association for Environmental Education, the Society for Conservation Biology, the Audubon Education Leadership Conference, the Bird Education Network, the Bird Education Alliance for Conservation, Partners in Flight, the TogetherGreen Leadership Institute and other groups. We have also collaborated with the Strategic Marketing and Global Communications Division of Conservation International on trainings and materials. Trainings have been held in, DC, PA, TN, WV, WY, WI, TX, KS, and VA. We have presented the Toolkit to over 350 conservation professionals, who have introduced over 3,000 additional professionals to the Toolkit’s resources.

We have now linked the Toolkit to Audubon’s new overarching conservation planning process, making the Toolkit easier to use and more effective. Audubon has adopted the Miradi™ conservation planning process and associated software, which are based on the Open Standards for the Practice of Conservation developed by the Conservation Measures Partnership (core members of this partnership are the African Wildlife Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, Wildlife Conservation Society, and World Wildlife Fund). Miradi is becoming a widely used standard in the conservation field and we are pleased that the Toolkit will dovetail with Miradi processes within Audubon and throughout the field.

The purpose of this project is to make conservation practitioners more comfortable with and skilled at using education as a strategy for achieving conservation, which will ultimately lead to greater environmental literacy, more effective conservation, and healthier ecosystems and communities. While we are still engaged in testing the Toolkit and incorporating feedback, the evaluation work that we have done thus far indicates that this project increases the belief that education can contribute to achieving conservation goals and enhances user’s ability to integrate education into on-the-ground conservation. Participants in the development of the Toolkit report that as a result of this project, they incorporate education into their conservation programs more effectively. We are using the results of ongoing assessments to enhance the contents of the Toolkit and improve mechanisms of delivery (presentations, workshops, etc.) and its user interface.

Click HERE.

Click HERE.

WASHINGTON - The two winners of EPA’s first-ever water quality video contest made videos that will help educate the public about water pollution and give simple steps that people and communities can take to improve water quality.

“We are delighted by the number and quality of contest submissions,” said Acting Assistant Administrator for Water Michael H. Shapiro. “This is another illustration of how new Web technologies allow people to express their passion for water quality in new and exciting ways.”

In the 30 or 60 second category, “Protect Our Water - Check Cars for Oil Leaks” submitted by Lucas Ridley of Trenton, Ga. was the overall winner. His video illustrates one easy step you can take to protect your watershed through proper motor vehicle care.

In the 1-3 minute category, “Dastardly Deeds and the Water Pollution Monster” submitted by Nora Kelley Parren of Hinesburg, Vt. was the winner. Her animated video, made entirely out of discarded paper, illustrates how polluted runoff threatens ecosystems and offers tips people can take to protect water quality. The two winning filmmakers will each receive a $2,500 cash award, and their videos are featured on EPA’s Web site.

EPA received more than 250 video submissions that covered a wide variety of topics including low impact development, wetlands, marine debris, watershed management, water quality monitoring, polluted runoff, and other water-related topics. EPA received many other highly creative videos, and 22 videos were recognized as honorable mentions.

Thanks to the 1972 Clean Water Act, there have been great improvements to our nation’s waters over the past 37 years; however, there is more that we can do. Educating citizens about actions that they can take to reduce their impact is vital to improving the nation’s water quality.

To view the winning videos and honorable mentions: http://www.epa.gov/owow/videocontest.html

Click HERE.

The Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC) is pleased to announce its Fourth of July Day Camp and Family Nature Getaway combo for the week of July 6-10. “It is a great way for families to spend the holiday together,” said Heidi Normand, Associate Director of Education, in charge of programming at PEEC.

A family of four can relax and bond close to home in the Poconos for a week for just $780! This includes five nights lodging in PEEC cabins and five breakfasts catered by the new food service staff, Green Feed Catering. This also includes five days of summer camp with lunch for two children, 1^st through 7^th grade, with an additional $60 fee for campers 8^th through 10^th grade.

Families can really indulge in the beautiful outdoors with hiking, fishing, canoeing, swimming everyday while their children enjoy a full week of PEEC’s summer day camp program from 9 am until 4 pm. “Families coming together is really important, “said Normand.

The Summer Nature Study Day Camp is led by PEEC staff for children ages three to fifteen. “Seeing the kids’ enthusiasm and interest in nature every time is the best feeling,” said Mike Liese, Summer Camp Manager. There are various nature activities appropriate to age group, including crafts and activities for younger children and more in-depth nature exploration activities for older children. Some examples include journaling, photography, fishing and canoeing.  Children will learn all about nature in the great outdoors and have fun in the process.  Highlighted summer camp programs this week are PEEC ROCKS! for 1^st – 4^th graders in the Wet & Slimy group, The Ground Around Us for 5^th – 7^th graders in the Junior Naturalists group and Ultimate Adventure for 8^th – 10^th graders in the Senior Naturalists group.

Camp fees include all program materials, craft supplies, afternoon snacks and a PEEC camp T-shirt.  Come explore all that nature has to offer on PEEC’s campus and reconnect with loved ones at a time where families need to more than ever.

PEEC’s mission is to enhance environmental awareness, knowledge and appreciation through hands-on experience in a natural outdoor classroom. It provides unique year-round environmental experiences to families, school groups, scouts and nature enthusiasts of all ages. PEEC is located off of Route 209, near mile marker 8, within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, in Dingmans Ferry, PA (Lehman Township). For more information call (570) 828-2319 or visit PEEC’s new and improved website at www.peec.org. PEEC is close to home, where learning comes naturally!

Contact:
Robin Scandura
Communications Specialist
(570)828-2319
rscandura@peec.org

A national survey of EE programs focusing on air quality found that almost half resulted in cleaner and healthier air, according to a recently released report funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Environmental Education. The study, a collaboration of the EPA, the National Park Service Conservation Study Institute, Shelburne Farms, and a group of environmental researchers, educators, and psychologists, found that of the 54 programs surveyed, 46% reported an improvement in a physical air quality indicator (such as decreased levels of CO2 or mold) or an improvement in a proxy air quality indicator (such as the enactment of a policy that decreased car or bus idling). An additional 43% of the programs surveyed reported taking some kind of action to improve the environment. A full report of the study is available at
http://www.peecworks.org/PEEC/PEEC_Research/S03CB4...

The results of this National Science Foundation study of 15-year-old students show that the most informed students are realistic about environmental challenges facing the world. Read the full press release:
http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=1146...

If you haven't gone trout fishing yet in New Jersey this year, there are lots of big reasons to get out on the water right now.

The nearly 622,000 trout raised this year at New Jersey's Pequest Trout Hatchery and stocked in waters statewide set a new record for average size and weight. These brook trout, brown trout and rainbow trout tip the scales at an average of more than one-half pound and measure more than 11 inches. Some 8,000 broodstock also released this season average nearly 3 pounds and are almost 19 inches long.

It's not too late to get in on the action. Not only are New Jersey's waters still teeming with trout, the recent cool and rainy weather has kept stream levels up and water temperatures down, extending the spring trout season well beyond the normal prime time.

Don't miss out this year. Buy and print your fishing license and trout stamp today at http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/als/websalesintro.htm. In just minutes, you can be on your way to enjoying this year's record breaking trout fishing in New Jersey. What's more, you'll be all geared up to go out for more than 26,000 super-sized trout released during fall and winter.

What's lost a gain for another :: Naperville Sun :: Schools
Naperville teen finds homes for found items

Read article HERE.

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The State Board of Education today adopted revised high school graduation requirements, culminating a three-year effort to ensure that a New Jersey high school diploma reflects a level of student achievement that will lead to a successful future.

Please visit DOE's Web site at www.state.nj.us/education/news/2009/0617sboe.htm to view the full press release.

Raritan Valley Community College Finds its Success in Green Partnership with EPA

(New York, N.Y. – June 16, 2009)“Find Your Success” is Raritan Valley Community College’s (RVCC) motto, and the school is doing just that by greening its campus through an agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).The college has committed to build on and enhance the efforts already in place to reduce its carbon footprint.RVCC and EPA today signed an agreement that outlines goals and strategies for energy and water conservation, solid waste management, green design and transportation. Raritan Valley will track the results of these efforts and submit reports to EPA every six months. The agreement is the first of its kind between EPA and a community college.

“Raritan Valley Community College is taking a huge step toward reducing its campus’ greenhouse gas emissions,” said EPA Acting Regional Administrator George Pavlou. “Campus life and the environment will be improved by the commitments the college is making today.”

“The RVCC community has demonstrated a strong commitment to protecting the environment. Last year, we became one of the first community colleges in the nation to rely on co-generation to power our campus, resulting in greater fuel efficiency and reduced carbon dioxide emissions.This landmark agreement lays the foundation for RVCC to become a national leader in promoting environmental responsibility on college campuses,” said RVCC President Dr. Casey Crabill.

The following are highlights of the agreement between the Raritan Valley Community College and EPA. RVCC will:
• Become an ENERGY STAR® partner and commit to reducing energy use campus-wide by at least 10 percent. To reach this goal, it will conduct energy audits of campus buildings, install a voltage reducer for lighting of the college’s pool, and install occupancy sensory and energy efficient lighting, including LEDs (light-emitting diodes).
• Explore opportunities to install solar photovoltaic systems on campus where possible and is evaluating options to purchase other types of green power.
• Work through EPA’s GreenScapes program to implement an environmental grounds keeping plan. To start, the college will eliminate the use of herbicides and use only organic fertilizers starting on July 1, 2009.
• Join EPA’s WasteWise program and increase its recycling efforts, including adding 75 recycling containers across campus.
• Send all bio-degradable food and kitchen waste to an off-site composting facility.
• Use, when possible, construction materials that are made of recycled content, that are manufactured within a 500 mile radius and that have low levels of volatile organic compounds, which can cause health problems. The college will also recycle waste generated from new construction and renovations on campus when possible.
• Use EPA-certified WaterSense products, which improve water efficiency. The college has already installed waterless urinals and metering faucets across campus.
• Build all future campus buildings to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) silver certification standards. The college is undergoing evaluation from the U.S. Green Building Council on whether designs for two campus buildings meet LEED green building certification.
• Include the use ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel and the best available pollution retrofit technologies in its specifications for all future facility construction projects.
• Implement idling reduction measures for its campus vehicles and encourage service vendors and other vehicles to do the same.
• Use vehicles with improved fuel economy and reduced emissions for its campus fleet, and provide preferred parking spots for faculty, staff and students driving hybrid or alternatively-fueled vehicles. RVCC currently uses cogeneration on its campus, a more efficient way of producing power. In May 2007, it installed a 1.4 megawatt cogeneration engine, becoming the first community college in the country to do so. This cogenerated power reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 1,900 tons per year.

EPA has similar agreements in place with the New York Jets and New York Giants for the new Meadowlands Stadium, the New York Mets for the team’s new Citi Field stadium, the Destiny USA mall project in Syracuse, N.Y., the real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield, Montclair State University in Montclair, N.J., Monmouth University in West Long Branch, N.J., and St. John’s University in Queens, N.Y.

For more information on EPA green construction and operations agreements, visit http://www.epa.gov/region02/greenteam/.

A Don Bosco Prep student team has won a highest award in the 12th annual Internet Science and Technology Fair (ISTF), a national competition of pre-college student science and technology teams. The Don Bosco Prep winning project addressed environmental quality pollution control, specifically waste elimination. As winners in this category, the student team will receive the ISTF’s highest honor, a Meritorious Achievement Award, from the National Medal of Technology Program from the U.S. Department of Commerce, which recognizes America’s leading innovators.

The ISTF program challenges students to research the use of National Critical Technology (NCT) applications as they solve real-world problems using information technology tools. Don Bosco Prep’s winning project addressed the problem of household water consumption by developing a system for the recycling of grey water from rain gutters, which involves filtration systems for the use of water in non-body contact.

Don Bosco Prep’s winning project was directed by Ms. Erin Judd, Environmental Science and Biology Teacher, with the assistance of Mr. Marc Rogoff, Environmental Education Specialist for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Students involved in the project, known as Gr-ain, were Joe Moynihan, Dave Caulfield, Scott Johnson, Mike Cywinski, and Ji-Hun Lee. Hundreds of hours of research and preparation were invested by the students in this project.

Additionally, Don Bosco Prep student team submissions were finalists in the science and technology competition. In the category of energy, a finalist group project addressed the issue of solar cell paint to provide solar power for vehicular and other uses. In the category of materials, the finalist group project proposed the inclusion of anti-missile equipment on heavy military transport aircraft, especially for use in terrorist-prone areas. In the category of transportation, the finalist group project proposed the magnetization of our nation's roadways to reduce energy consumption and promote safe driving.

The 2008 -2009 Internet Science and Technology Fair (ISTF) competition has concluded with the announcement of this year's winners. University of Central Florida's College of Engineering and Computer Science (UCF-CECS) sincerely congratulates the Finalists, Meritorious Achievement Awardees and the Honorable Mention Certificate recipients. Our institution wishes to also acknowledge and congratulate the 167 student teams that began the ISTF challenge. In our eyes, every student who participated is a winner.

Thank You,

Bruce Furino
Director, CECS Outreach
College of Engineering and Computer Science (CECS)
University of Central Florida
E-mail: Director@istf.ucf.edu
Phone: (407) 823-4927

INTERIOR: New office aims to get kids outdoors (06/08/2009)
Phil Taylor, E&E reporter

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar went fishing today at a pond on the National Mall to jump-start a new initiative to connect kids with nature.

Salazar signed an order today establishing the Office of Youth in Natural Resources to create more opportunities for children to get outdoors and inspire a new generation of conservation leaders. The new office will coordinate existing youth programs and spearhead the department's 21st Century Youth Conservation Corps, an initiative to support hunting, angling and other outdoor recreational activities for youth and their families.

"In this century, we will introduce young Americans of all backgrounds to the beauty of our national parks, our refuges and all our landscapes," Salazar said at the Constitution Gardens Pond, surrounded by hundreds of schoolchildren.

Salazar said the average youth spends six hours a day watching television or surfing the Internet, but only four minutes outdoors.

President Obama's fiscal 2010 budget proposal includes $50 million in new investments to connect kids and their families to the outdoors. The proposal includes $30 million to educate young hunters and anglers and doubles funding for Interior's Youth Careers in Nature.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar lends angling advice to Washington, D.C., public schoolchildren at a youth fishing event on the National Mall. Salazar earlier announced a new Interior office to connect youth to nature. Photo by Phil Taylor.

"Jobs are not the only reason for such a program," Salazar said. "When Franklin Roosevelt created the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression, he said, 'More important than material gains will be the moral and spiritual value of such work.'"

The new initiative includes a Youth Conservation Corps to allow young people to work on conservation projects such as maintenance and construction, habitat management and visitor services. The program hopes to provide training for a new crop of national parklands managers and conservation professionals.

The youth office will be headed by Robert Stanton, the new deputy assistant secretary for policy management and budget. Three career jobs will be created to help manage the new office.

"There is no better investment that we can make than in those who will be in charge of preserving the richness of our diverse collection of natural and cultural areas," Stanton said.

"What I see behind me is the superintendent of Yellowstone National Park," Stanton said, turning to the children behind him at the pond, many of whom were holding fishing poles. "I see the next secretary of the Department of Interior."

Jim Owens came to the event to support the department's continued funding of C.A.S.T. for Kids, a nonprofit organization he runs that provides fishing opportunities for disabled children and their families. The Renton, Wash.-based program gets about half of its funding from the Interior's Bureau of Reclamation and would stand to benefit from Obama's budget proposal.

"It's something that almost every single disabled child can do with some amount of help," said Owens, whose group organizes fishing opportunities for kids in 32 states. "These kids don't run down to the mall like the other kids; they really don't have much in the way of activities where they can get outside."

As outdoor enthusiasts across New Jersey gear up to celebrate National Trails Day on Saturday, Department of Environmental Protection Acting Commissioner Mark N. Mauriello today unveiled a comprehensive plan for shaping the future of the state’s network of recreational trails.

Reaffirming the value of trails and their myriad benefits, the New Jersey Trails Plan Update will serve as a blueprint for improving the state’s trails for recreation, transportation and quality of life. It provides decision makers and other officials at the state, county and local levels with guidance on a wide range of issues, including funding for trails, development, operation and maintenance.

The New Jersey Trails Plan Update, funded by the Federal Highway Administration through the New Jersey Department of Transportation, reflects a cooperative effort among the DEP, NJDOT, the New Jersey Trails Council and the Trails Plan Advisory Committee.

Representatives of New Jersey’s trail advocacy groups and members of the public also contributed to developing the new trails plan by participating in surveys, focus groups, open houses and workshops.

The public is encouraged to read the plan online at www.trails.nj.gov.

In celebration of National Trails Day, a variety of recreational events are planned Saturday, June 6, and Sunday, June 7, throughout New Jersey. For details on those activities, visit http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/natural/trail_day.htm

New Jersey's Priceless Resource - Studying the Delaware River,a feature article originally posted in May 2008, has been updated to include the latest data available.The information will beof interest to both river and saltwater anglers because the Delaware estuary provides a nursery environment for young fish to grow.
Monitoring populations of these juvenile fish is essential for fishery managers to estimate abundance and evaluate the viability of the population. These assessments provide a means to predict population trends and future harvest potential of monitored species. The DEP's Division of Fish & Wildlife's Bureau of Marine Fisheries conducts several surveys each year, which allow biologists to study the status of a given species population or water body.
For the details on the surveys, and their results, visit http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/artdelstudy08.htm on the division's website.

The Department of Environmental Protection today announced a new recommendation for consuming large bluefish, a popular species commonly caught in Atlantic Ocean waters.

In coordination with the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services and agencies in six other states, the DEP updated its fish consumption advisories and is recommending that the public consume no more than one meal every other month (six meals per year) of bluefish larger than 24 inches. Previously, fish consumption advisories for large bluefish recommended four meals per year for most people.

Bluefish contain polychlorinated biphenyls at levels which may pose a risk to public health; the samehealth concern exists for another popular species, striped bass. Long-term exposure to PCBs has been shown to cause cancer and a number of other serious health effects, including damage to the nervous system of developing fetuses, the immune system and the reproductive system.

For bluefish smaller than 24 inches and for striped bass, state officials continue to recommend no more than one meal per month (12 meals a year) for most people. Also unchanged are the bluefish and striped bass consumption advisories for infants, children, pregnant women, nursing mothers and women of child-bearing age - a high-risk group that is advised to avoid eating any bluefish or striped bass caught in Atlantic coastal waters.

Officials in New Jersey and six other coastal states updated their fish consumption advisories based on the results of a multi-state study, which evaluated PCB levels in striped bass and bluefish from Maine to Georgia. Completed in 2008, the study also showed that bluefish and striped bass are not good sources of beneficial fish oils. Different from other fish, these two species have lower amounts of omega-3 fatty acids compared to the amount of PCBs they contain.

The other states -- Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Delaware and Maryland - also are issuing similar updates and instructing pregnant women, young children and other high-risk people to avoid eating striped bass and large bluefish. All others are advised to consume only moderate amounts of these fish.

Aggressive cleanup efforts and improved disposal practices have reduced PCB contamination in the environment, and a continued decline in PCB levels in fish is anticipated. In the meantime, the public is encouraged to enjoy more frequent meals of other types of marine and freshwater species, such as flounder, weakfish and trout.

For more information, visit New Jersey’s fish advisory Web site at www.FishSmartEatSmartNJ.org.

Bipartisan measure would give states matching funds to develop progressive curricula
By Maya T. Prabhu, Assistant Editor

Sen. Rockefeller introduced legislation that rewards states that implement 21st-century skillsStates offering students curriculum options that integrate key 21st-century skills would receive matching federal funds through an incentive bill introduced in the U.S. Senate May 13 by West Virginia Democrat John D. Rockefeller IV.

The legislation was developed using ideas generated from West Virginia educators and the Partnership for 21st Century Skills, which researched and surveyed the skills students need in the classroom to remain competitive for the future, according to a press release from Rockefeller's office.

"The knowledge base and skills set that most students learn in school should expand to provide students with the skills, like critical thinking and problem solving, needed to succeed in modern workplaces and communities," Rockefeller said when he introduced the bill.

"The purpose of the 21st Skills Incentive Funds Act is to offer competitive grants from the Department of Education for states willing to invest in education reform. … Although the economic downturn has current challenges for new investment in education, waiting for a better time to engage in reform would be unwise," he added.

Shelley Pasnik, director of the Education Development Center's Center for Children and Technology, said she is pleased to see the bill addresses more than simply putting more technology into schools.

"The legislation goes beyond technology. It's about implementing a framework for 21st-century learning," she said. "It's more promising this way. If it were just about technology purchases, it would be a missed opportunity."

The bill, which is co-sponsored by Sens. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, and John Kerry, D-Mass., suggests several areas where states could expand their curricula to encompass 21st-century skills, such as global awareness; financial, economic, business, and entrepreneurial literacy; civic literacy; and health and wellness awareness.

"Students need to go beyond just learning today's academic context to develop critical thinking and problem solving skills, communications skills, creativity and innovation skills, collaboration skills, contextual learning skills, and information and media literacy skills," the bill reads.

If passed, the bill would appropriate $100 million a year for the U.S. Department of Education to pass on to states that have developed a comprehensive plan for implementing a statewide 21st-century skills initiative and are able to supply matching funds for their initiative.

Since the Partnership for 21st Century Skills was founded in 2002, ten states have voluntarily adopted the more comprehensive set of skills and standards that the group says are needed for students to remain competitive in the classroom-and beyond.

"There is no doubt that successful states have an informed, innovative, and civically engaged citizenry," said Paige Kuni and Ken Kay, chair and president of the Partnership for 21st Century Skills, in a statement. "In fact, to sustain a viable economy in today's world requires workers with 21st-century skills, as almost all emerging industries are built upon knowledge, creativity, communication, and problem solving."

Pasnik said she sees passage of the bill as an opportunity for the states that already have implemented a 21st-century skills initiative-Arizona, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and West Virginia-to receive financial help.

"The states that have been working with the Partnership have really been doing so on their own volition," she said.

The bill, S.1029, was in the Senate Committee on Finance at press time.

Governor Jon S. Corzine and Education Commissioner Lucille E. Davy today joined the Common Core State Standards Initiative, a state-led process to develop common English-language arts and mathematics standards. The Common Core State Standards Initiative will be jointly led by the National Governors Assoc. Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO).

In addition to New Jersey, the following states and territories have also signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA): Alabama; Arizona; Arkansas; California; Colorado; Connecticut; Delaware; District of Columbia; Florida; Georgia; Hawaii; Idaho; Illinois; Indiana; Iowa; Kansas; Kentucky; Louisiana; Maine; Maryland; Massachusetts; Michigan; Minnesota; Mississippi; Montana; Nebraska; Nevada; New Hampshire; New Mexico; New York; North Carolina; North Dakota; Ohio; Oklahoma; Oregon; Pennsylvania; Puerto Rico; Rhode Island; South Dakota; Tennessee; Utah; Vermont; Virgin Islands; Virginia; Washington; West Virginia; Wisconsin; and Wyoming.

In the 26 years since the release of A Nation at Risk, states have made great strides in increasing the academic rigor of education standards. Yet, America’s children still remain behind other nations in terms of academic achievement and preparedness to succeed.

By signing the MOA, Governor Corzine and Commissioner Davy join their colleagues across the country in committing to joining a state-led process to develop a common core of state standards in English language arts and mathematics for grades K-12. These standards will be research- and evidence-based, internationally benchmarked, aligned with college and work expectations, and include rigorous content and skills.

“As Education Secretary Arne Duncan has said, ‘We have to educate our way to a better economy,’” said Governor Corzine. “Common standards will give us the opportunity to focus our efforts on ensuring that our students are learning the skills that will be required for success as 21st century global citizens and workers.”

The Common Core State Standards Initiative will build directly on recent efforts of leading organizations and states that have focused on developing college- and career-ready standards and will ensure that these standards can be internationally benchmarked to top-performing countries around the world. The goal is to have a common core of state standards that states can adopt voluntarily. States can choose to include additional standards beyond the common core as long as the common core represents at least 85 percent of the state’s standards in English language arts and mathematics. The second phase of this initiative is to ultimately develop common assessments aligned to the core standards developed through the process.

“New Jersey’s graduates no longer are competing for jobs against students from neighboring states; the global economy requires that they be prepared to meet the international standards to which students around the world are being taught,” said Commissioner Davy. “Our participation in the common core standards initiative will help us achieve our goal of preparing all children for college and the workforce.”

The NGA Center and CCSSO will coordinate the process to develop the standards and will create an expert validation committee to provide an independent review of the common core state standards, as well as grade-by-grade standards. This committee will be composed of nationally and internationally recognized and trusted education experts who are neutral to - and independent of - the process. The college- and career-ready standards are expected to be completed in July 2009. The grade-by-grade standards work is expected to be completed in December 2009. States also will have the opportunity to review the standards throughout the development process.

46 States Commit to Common Standards Push
By Michele McNeil
Education Week

Forty-six states-representing 80 percent of the nation’s K-12 student population-have formally agreed to join forces to create common academic standards in math and English language arts through an effort led by the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers.

The four states not on board, as of Friday, were Alaska, Missouri, South Carolina, and Texas.

“This is a giant step,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, who has been pushing states to adopt common, rigorous standards. “It would have unimaginable, this kind of thing, just a year or two ago.”

As for those states holding out, he said: “I’m not focused on politics, but there’s plenty of time” for them to sign on.

In each of the 46 states, both the governor and the chief education officer signed a memorandum of agreement committing to the process and development of voluntary, common standards-the tangible result of a daylong meeting in Chicago in April. The District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands have also agreed to take part.

“It’s going to take both the governor and the chief to get this work done,” said Dane Linn, the director of the education division of the Washington-based NGA’s Center for Best Practices. “This is really becoming an economic and a moral imperative. We can’t afford to keep operating in a vacuum.”

The groups plan to pursue their aggressive timeline of getting college- and career-readiness standards-those things students should know by the time they finish high school-in draft form for states and eventually the public to review in July. Grade-by-grade standards-which the organizers are also calling “learning progression standards”-are set to be done in December.

Working groups composed of representatives from the Washington-based group Achieve, the New York City-based College Board, and ACT Inc., the Iowa City, Iowa-based organization that administers the college-entrance test of that name, will develop the standards.

Both the NGA and the CCSSO plan to create a “validation” committee made up of independent national and international experts in content standards to review and comment on the drafts. The experts will be nominated by states and organizations, but ultimately chosen by those two organizations.

Once the standards are agreed to, it will be up to the states to get them adopted. The signed memo stipulates that the common core must represent at least 85 percent of a state’s standards, and that the common core needs to be adopted within three years.

The memo also spells out that the governors’ association and the state chiefs’ council will convene a “national policy forum” to facilitate the sharing and coordination of this standards effort. The forum will include the Alliance for Excellent Education, the Business Roundtable, the National School Boards Association, the Council of the Great City Schools, the James B. Hunt Jr. Institute for Leadership and Policy, and the National Association of State Boards of Education.

Lengthy Process
The 46-state commitment follows an April 17 meeting in Chicago that drew 41 states. The one-day summit was meant to get education chiefs and governors’ policy advisers in a room to learn about the effort, and eventually to commit to it. ("NGA, CCSSO Launch Common Standards Drive," April 20, 2009.)

“We didn’t want them to join in a cavalier way,” said Gene Wilhoit, the executive director of the Washington-based CCSSO. “It’s time for a very serious effort.”

A primary goal is to eliminate the patchwork of academic standards across the country that result in students in the same grades learning different things in different states. The effort also is intended to devise a more rigorous common set of academic targets, and then internationally benchmark them.

But that isn’t a persuasive argument for officials in Texas, which just approved new English and math standards, and developed and ordered new testing materials and textbooks as a result. Switching gears could cost the state up to $3 billion, said Texas Education Agency spokeswoman DeEtta Culbertson.

“The economic reasons [for holding out] are substantial,” she said.

In South Carolina, a spokesman for Gov. Mark Sanford said that the state has a separately elected superintendent of education, and that Gov. Sanford, a Republican, deferred to Superintendent Jim Rex to make the decision.

“The governor does not have a role in implementing education policy,” spokesman Joel Sawyer said.

But even though Mr. Rex, a Democrat, has signed on, Gov. Sanford will still not sign the agreement, Mr. Sawyer added.

Pete Pillow, a spokesman for the education superintendent, said the state education department is already preparing to pursue the common standards even if South Carolina isn’t officially part of the larger group.

Missouri isn’t necessarily holding out for good, but is currently searching for a new education chief. Gov. Jay Nixon, a Democrat, wanted to wait until a new chief is on board, which will probably be this summer, said spokesman Scott Holste.

A call to the education department in Alaska was not returned.

For states that are forging ahead, there could be a financial payoff.

Chiefs and governors have their eyes on federal economic-stimulus money in the $4.35 billion Race to the Top fund, authorized as part of the $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which Secretary Duncan will dole out in the form of competitive grants to states. (The memo of agreement mentions the Race to the Top Fund as a possible revenue source.) Mr. Duncan and President Obama are pushing for voluntary common content standards.

The U.S. Department of Education is finalizing the application process for the Race to the Top money, said spokesman John White. Although states will need to submit individual applications for that aid, states will still be asked to collaborate on their proposals, Mr. White said.

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TAIL-WAGGING NEWS FOR CAMPERS WHO LOVE THEIR PETS AND HATE TO LEAVE HOME WITHOUT THEM

(09/P10) TRENTON - Attention Fido, Fluffy and Felix: If your people are going camping in New Jersey this year, now you can go, too.

Under a pilot program launched today, campers can bring along their dogs and domestic cats when they book accommodations at select campgrounds in three state parks and forests, Department of Environmental Protection Acting Commissioner Mark N. Mauriello announced.

“For many people, dogs and cats are bona fide members of the family. Taking pets along can make a family vacation even more special, so we’re delighted to offer this new option,” Commissioner Mauriello said. “Responsible pet ownership is the key to making this program a success.”

Pet-friendly camping is available at the following locations:

• Brendan T. Byrne State Forest: Family campsites 17 through 32
• Parvin State Park: Family campsites 45 through 56
• Wharton State Forest: Batona Camp, Goshen Pond Camp, Hawkin Bridge Camp and Lower Forge Camp

The pilot program will continue until Dec. 31, and no additional fees will be charged for using a pet-friendly campsite.

At each of the pet-friendly pilot sites, dog and cat owners must comply with people-friendly guidelines, including leashing, proper cleanup and disposal of pet waste, and discouraging barking and other noise. A maximum of two pets per camping permit will be allowed, and owners must be able to show proof of required pet licensing and necessary vaccinations.

In addition, dogs and cats are prohibited from all buildings, swimming beaches and swimming waters, and any campsites or overnight facilities not specifically designated as pet-friendly.

Campers who violate any guidelines could be required to remove their pets from park grounds.

The DEP’s Division of Parks and Forestry will gauge the success of the pet-friendly pilot program by evaluating pet owners’ compliance with the guidelines and gathering comments from all campers.

For more information, visit: www.njparksandforests.org