100 Heartbeats, the next premiere in MSNBC's Future Earth series, will tell compelling stories of some of Earth’s cherished animal species that are dangerously close to extinction. Famed naturalist Jeff Corwin focuses on survival and renewal of creatures large and small, not extinction.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29840099/ns/msnbc_tv-f...

Educators and Parents -- Save the Redwoods League is proud to announce a new suite of online resources to support you in your redwood education efforts. This site has both online activities and ideas for students to get out into nature and explore their environment.
http://education.savetheredwoods.org/kit

Click HERE.

Freehold Soil Conservation District is piloting a new free program for Middlesex and Monmouth County teachers called Plants for Pollinators in the Classroom.* The program is designed to help students discover the importance of native pollinators and to study the relationship between plants and pollinators. [*The Plants for Pollinators program was adapted, with permission, from the Mercer County Soil Conservation District.]

Pollinators, such as bees, hummingbirds, moths and birds play a critical role in the production of over 150 food crops in the United States – among them apples, almonds, blueberries, cranberries, melons, pears and squash.

Selected teachers will receive indoor growing kits, complete with plant stand, grow bulbs, potting soil and seeds for students to explore plant growth, conduct experiments and raise butterfly plants. In the spring, student-grown plants are to be planted in a school or community garden. The materials will be provided free of charge.

Teachers must apply for the program by January 29, 2010 and supplies are limited. The Plants for Pollinators in the Classroom brochure is available online at www.freeholdscd.org, by email to info@freeholdscd.org, or by calling Freehold Soil Conservation District at 732-683-8500. This program is open to teachers in Middlesex and Monmouth County schools.

Click HERE.

The EQ Challenge game is designed to attract visitors to your event booth and get them thinking about ways to conserve energy. Working with the Hopewell Township Environmental Commission, ANJEC developed this game as part of an energy conservation awareness campaign with funding from the Board of Public Utilities. Several environmental commissions have tested it at local fairs and told us it generated booth traffic, was easy to use and helped them engage people in conversation about energy.

The game includes:

• A 28” x 39” full-color poster that serves as a game board
  
• 2 foam dice (2” cubed)
  
• A color brochure featuring a miniature version of the game board graphic with instructions for playing the game at home.

FREE EQ Games are available in limited supply to ANJEC member municipalities.
Shipping and handling charges apply.
To order www.anjec.org/pdfs/EQGameOrderForm1109.pdf

Water Education for Teachers Workshop (Project WET)
With Additional Great Swamp Watershed Educational Focus
Wednesday, December 2, 2009 9am-3pm

The workshop costs $25 per person and includes breakfast. It will be held at Great Swamp Watershed Association offices, 568 Tempe Wick Road, Morristown.

You can register online at www.greatswamp.org/ or call (973) 538 3500 ext 19 to register over the phone. For more information about workshop content please contact Hazel England, Director of Outreach and Education at hazele@greatswamp.org

Don't miss it - Be part of this milestone celebration! The Alliance for New Jersey Environmental Education (ANJEE) is hosting New Jersey’s 25th annual environmental education conference on Thursday, January 28 through Saturday, January 30, at the Wyndham Princeton Forrestal Conference Center in Plainsboro, New Jersey.

This year’s conference theme, A Celebration of Environmental Education, will highlight the state’s diverse legacy of environmental education services, programs and resources by featuring many of them in a program packed with interactive workshops, field trips and networking opportunities, and accessorized by dozens of exhibitors, resource vendors, consultants and authors.

Become a conference sponsor and be recognized by over 350 formal and non-formal educators to be in attendance, including teachers and administrators, university and college professors, naturalists, park and museum staff, youth and scout leaders, government representatives, scientists, community leaders and students. ANJEE also has openings for advertisers and exhibitors, and is accepting donated items and services for ANJEE's auction-fundraiser.

The conference will showcase keynote speaker Cheryl Charles, President of the Children and Nature Network, who will explore the growing benefits of, and needs for, informal environmental education and nature exploration for all ages. Her presentation, “The Ecology of Hope,” addresses the growing disconnect between children and nature and offers practical suggestions for action by educators and others concerned about the nature of childhood, the health of communities and the future of the Earth.

Conference details, forms and program information can all be found at www.anjee.net in the conference section, or at www.anjee.net/conference.

Click HERE.

Are you interested in global sustainability? Do you think it should be taught in schools? As a part of social studies?

Facing the Future, a nonprofit education organization, is developing a high school textbook on sustainability. We're looking for your input so we can create something that will be useful for the widest possible range of educators.

The text will include an exploration of sustainability linked with major global issues such as population, environment, consumption, conflict, quality of life and poverty, while preparing students to be participatory citizens and engage in meaningful solutions. It will include positive real-world examples, emphasize critical thinking, and illustrate systems interconnections.

We want to know what kind of text will be most helpful for you in your school. Thank you for taking a couple of minutes to answer these 9 brief questions.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=hj_2bvsENKrkbp_2fLpoQsbNpw_3d_3d

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about Facing the Future, please email laura@facingthefuture.org or visit www.facingthefuture.org.

Creative Change Educational Solutions, a national leader in sustainability education, announces the opening of its Curriculum and Resource Center (CRC). The CRC is an online curriculum library providing subscription-based access to our full portfolio of instructional resources. Topics include food systems, community revitalization, green engineering, and more. Subscribers can download materials by grade level, discipline, topic, etc. The CRC also provides fully developed units with complete student booklets, Powerpoints, and more. Learn more and download samples:
http://www.creativechange.net/crc/

Teacher Training with the Morris County Park Commission

Educators from all facets of teaching can gain experience and knowledge of the natural world and learn how to teach about it in their classrooms, after-school programs, scout programs and conservation projects!  The Morris County Park Commission is offering a variety of courses at the Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center in Chatham Twp. and at Pyramid Mountain Natural Historic Area in Montville Twp.  Participants will earn 6 Professional Development Credits for each workshop.  All workshops run from 9 a.m.—3 p.m. and costs $30 (includes curriculum guide and a continental breakfast).

    Bring a bag lunch and dress appropriately as all workshops will have outdoor components.

Project WILD

This award winning environmental education program has been used by over 1,000,000 educators worldwide to develop students’ understanding of wildlife, natural resources, and the environment.  Through firsthand interaction with the natural world, interdisciplinary connections, and hands-on learning, students learn to value wildlife, make informed decisions and take positive steps to help the environment.  Appropriate for grade levels K—12.

Wed, February 24 @ Pyramid Mountain NHA (Winter Focus)

Project Learning Tree

Project Learning Tree isn’t just about trees!  This award-winning environmental education program includes 96 interdisciplinary lessons on a wide range of topics including: energy and resources, animals and plants, water, soil, native cultures, population, pollution, transportation, recycling, land use, composting, and much more!  Through cooperative

learning and critical thinking, teachers and students gain an awareness and knowledge of the natural world and use the outdoors as their classroom.  Appropriate for grade levels K—8.

Tues, March 16 @ Pyramid Mountain NHA

(Spring Focus)

Flying WILD

This new and exciting program introduces students to bird conservation through classroom activities and school-wide bird festivals.  This collection of interdisciplinary activities will enrich your science curriculum and engage students in real-world learning using one of the most readily viewed forms of wildlife: migratory birds. 

Appropriate for grade levels K—8.

Fri, January 22 @ Great Swamp OEC

Thurs, April 22 @ Pyramid Mountain NHA

Population Connection

This unique curriculum teaches students about the impacts our growing population have on our planet and explores how we can balance Earth’s people, resources, and environment  By combining math, science, social studies and environmental education, these lessons are powerful educational tools to help children better understand their world and their impact on it.  

Appropriate for grade levels K—8.

Wed, February 3 @ Great Swamp OEC

Wonders of Wetlands

WOW! provides a resourceful and creative collection of wetland activities, information, and ideas.  Participants will receive over 50 hands-on multidisciplinary activities, background information on wetlands, ideas for student action plans, and a wetlands resource guide.  Appropriate for grade levels K—12.

Wed, March 24 @ Great Swamp OEC

Exploring Environmental Issues:

Municipal Solid Waste

Through curriculum, students begin to understand waste management issues and options. The module uses hands-on experiences to show the interrelationships among waste generation, natural resource use, and disposal. The activities guide students through waste management strategies and solutions while providing the necessary tools to make informed decisions and choices on waste management issues.  Appropriate for grade levels 6—12.

Tues, May 4 @ Great Swamp OEC

Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center
247 Southern Blvd.
Chatham, NJ 07928
973-635-6629

Pyramid Mountain Natural Historic Area
472A Boonton Ave.
Boonton, NJ 07005
973-334-3130

Jennifer Brine
Office Administrator and Volunteer Coordinator
Great Swamp OEC & Pyramid Mountain NHA
973-635-6629

The Alliance for Climate Education (ACE) will visit your high school to deliver exciting science-based multimedia presentations on climate education including delving into tangible solutions to stop climate destruction. ACE also offers grant and scholarship opportunities to empower students to take action. View their trailer on YouTube: www.tinyurl.com/acetrailer and visit their Web site for details.
http://www.climateeducation.org/

US Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) Web site for formal and informal educators providing news and information on global and climate change issues.
http://www.globalchange.gov/resources/educators/to...

DIRT! The Movie takes you inside the wonders of the soil. It tells the story of Earth's most valuable and underappreciated source of fertility-- from its miraculous beginning to its crippling degradation. The opening scenes of the film dive into the wonderment of the soil. The film brings to life the environmental, economic, social, and political impact that the soil has. It shares the stories of experts from all over the world who study and are able to harness the beauty and power of a respectful and mutually beneficial relationship with soil.
http://www.dirtthemovie.org

Earth Newswire is a new social networking Web site for people interested in environmental science, ecology, and conservation issues to connect with one another and share news and information. The site features generalized forums but also allows members to create specialized discussion groups.
http://earthnewswire.ning.com/

The Council for Environmental Education has just unveiled its much anticipated early childhood initiative, Growing Up WILD. Designed for educators of children ages 3-7, Growing Up WILD builds on children’s sense of wonder about nature through outdoor exploration. The 27 field-tested activities provide an early foundation for developing positive impressions about nature and lifelong social and academic skills.
http://www.projectwild.org/GrowingUpWILD.htm

Download Your Free 2010 Arbor Day National Poster Contest Materials!

Don't miss out on this engaging and impactful opportunity to teach fifth grade students about the important role trees play in the production and conservation of energy! Download your free 2010 Arbor Day National Poster Contest materials and help foster the next generation of tree stewards.

Download Now!

NJ Regional Workshops and Lectures – looking ahead for the academic year

Earth 2 Class Saturday Workshops at Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory

For more information go to: http://www.earth2class.org/

21 Nov: "Acidification of Global Ocean Water" with Taro Takahashi
12 Dec: Earth2Class #100!! Celebration

23 Jan 2010: "GeoMapApp:Creating lab activities for  the 21st Century classroom" with Andrew Goodwillie
27 Feb: "Water Quality and Sewage Contamination in the Hudson River" with Andrew Juhl
27 Mar: "Tsunami in the Hudson: Evidence for a Large Event with a Source on the New Jersey Margin"
      with Dallas Abbott
24 Apr:  "In and beneath the Hudson's Waters" with Frank Nitsche, Tim Kenna, and Margie Turrin
8 May: AM: "Colonizing the Arctic" with Ray Sambrotto
            PM: The annual E2C Hudson River kayaking adventure

Teacher Connection at Liberty Science Center
For more information go to: http://www.lsc.org/lsc/edprograms/profdev
(Teachers can share a year subscription for the entire series!)
December 5 - Aquaponics, Hydroponics and Biodynamic Farming
January 9 - Utilizing Technology in Education
February 6 - Cutting-Edge Science Lecture Series - Multiple Intelligences
March 6 - Cutting-Edge Science Lecture Series - Energy Storage and Sustainability, Princeton Center for Complex Materials
April 17 - Cutting-Edge Science Lecture Series - Tissue Donation
May 1 - Liberty State Park Reborn
May 22 - Project Wet at Liberty State Park Interpretive Center

Arbor Day Foundation Programs Update
Download Your Free 2010 Arbor Day National Poster Contest Materials!
Don't miss out on this engaging and impactful opportunity to teach fifth grade students about the important role trees play in the production and conservation of energy! Download your free 2010 Arbor Day National Poster Contest materials and help foster the next generation of tree stewards.
Contact us: education@arborday.org

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
National Conservation Training Center
Division of Education Outreach

OUT8115: Balancing Nature and Commerce in Communities that Neighbor Public Lands
Date: January 25-28, 2010, NCTC Registration Deadline: November 30, 2009
About the course: Work with public land managers and gateway community leaders to develop and promote the unique aspects of your own communities that border America’s magnificent national and state parks, wildlife refuges, forests, national monuments, historic sites, wilderness areas, and other public lands.Participants must register and attend as a team.
Contact:Laura Jones, Education Outreach, (304) 876-7499, Laura_Jones@fws.gov

OUT8127: Public Participation and Informed Consent – Part I
Date: February 17-19, 2010, NCTCRegistration Deadline: December 14, 2009
About the course: In this course, instructors Hans and Annemarie Bleiker will teach participants how to choose the appropriate strategies for turning opponents of their project into those who give their grudging or full consent to get it done. College Credit: 1 semester hour.
Contact:Jim Siegel, Education Outreach, (304) 876-7479, Jim_Siegel@fws.gov

OUT8162: Education Programs for Youth: School’s Out
Date: March 8-10, 2010, NCTC Registration deadline: December 28, 2009
About the course: This course presents participants with the elements of designing outdoor programs for youth (e.g. after school, day and residential camps, and weekend programs)in a non-formal setting, such as wildlife refuges, parks, etc. This course offers opportunities to create or modify exciting, safe, natural resource focused youth programs that help to address site missions and/or management objectives.
Contact:Julie Study, Education Outreach, (304), 876-7651, Julie_Study@fws.gov

OUT8194: Trail Management: Plans, Projects and People
Date: March 29-April 2, 2010, San Rafael, CARegistration Deadline: January 19, 2010
Date: June 21-25, 2010, Bloomington, MNRegistration Deadline: April 12, 2010
About the course: Public agency trail staff, contractors, and volunteers will learn to achieve sustainable and accessible trails of all kinds, using the best practices of the trail management process (TMP). This collaborative process includes planning, design layout, construction, maintenance, monitoring, crew leadership, interpretation, operations, and safety. Field exercises include trail layout, construction and maintenance techniques.
Contact:Matt Gay, Education Outreach, (304) 876-7654, Matt_Gay@fws.gov

OUT8101: Public Outreach and Education: Overview and Program Planning
Date: April 19-23, 2010, NCTCRegistration deadline: February 8, 2010
About the course: Outreach is strategic communication by an organization that influences the perceptions, attitudes, expectations and actions of members of the public while providing mechanisms for the public to interact with the organization. Done purposefully, outreach plays a critical role in effectively addressing issues that impact the management of natural resources. During this course, participants will draft a site-specific outreach plan that includes specific outreach goals and objectives, key audiences, and audience-specific messages and strategies that support their station’s resource management goals.College Credit: 2 semester hours
Contact: Sandy Spakoff, Education Outreach, (304) 876-7783, sandy_spakoff@fws.gov
To view the course announcement: http://training.fws.gov/DEO/trng/CoursesOUT.html

To register online at https://doilearn.doi.gov/

3 hour workshop featuring a new interactive CD, based on the widely acclaimed book, Seasons of the Pines, a Photographic Tour of theNew Jersey Pine Barrens and Coast, by Bob and Jean Birdsall.

Curriculum Development by
Elizabeth Faircloth and Terry O'Leary
New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry

Here are some of our brainstorming ideas for the CD.
* Each of the 57 nature photographs are depicted as part of a virtual tour, with an inspirational caption, and a description of the plant or animal species and location where the photograph was taken.
* Participants will be asked to describe what thoughts, feelings, and actions each selected image evokes. Lively classroom discussion will ensue.
* Teachers and their students will develop a sense of place and an appreciation for the wonders of the Pine Barrens, and be inspired to explore the unique habitats and hidden places, understand the fragility of this ecosystem, and be motivated to take positive eco-action to protect and conserve this special place.
* Since the target audiences are educators and their students, this CD is divided into segments for use several times during the school year- in Autumn, Winter, and Spring.

COST: $40; includes Seasons of the Pines Curriculum Kit and 3 hour workshop.The Curriculum Kit includes the interactive CD, and an autographed copy of the Seasons of the Pines book, plus other goodies, packed into a canvas bag, printed with the image of a Pine Barrens Tree Frog.A Certificate of Professional Development Training will be provided.

To register online, visit the web site at www.njforestrycenter.org

Free, integrated curriculum unit using the invasive reed, Phragmites australis, as the unifying theme of all of the lesson plans.Study of invasive species creates many exciting opportunities for integrated classroom teaching and building critical-thinking skills. The ambiguities that exist around the positive and negative aspects of species like Phragmites, and the costs as well as benefits that can accompany their management, make study of species like this an ideal focus for building dialogue between students and increasing metacognition within student learners.

Invasive species were recently listed as one of the most important hazards to New Jersey's natural habitats (www.state.nj.us/dep/dsr/njcrp/executive-summary.pdf ).In the centuries since European settlement, such organisms have already changed the face of natural environments throughout New Jersey and around the world, and have the potential to change it yet further if rates of new introductions continue at recent levels. Yet while most people have some appreciation of the role of pollutants and overdevelopment on the natural environments around them, many have little or no appreciation of the damaging effects of invasive species.

The Phragmites Integrated Curriculum Unit was designed by Georgian Court University Science and Education students to raise awareness of the issues caused by invasive species in New Jersey's natural habitats. We provide free lesson plans and associated activities to support middle school teachers in providing a 2-week learning unit for their students, centered around invasive species. Lesson plans are designed to meet federal and state core content standards for middle school educators and include a series of interconnected, inquiry based activities designed to meet the needs of all learners.The lesson plans provide students with the opportunity to learn about invasive species and their impacts, while building basic math, geography, reading and writing skills. Lesson plans are available for math, science, english and social science classes. A variety of activities appropriate for use in art and physical education classes are also available as part of the learning unit. Lesson plans, worksheets, powerpoint slide shows, flashcards and instructions for creating a variety of activities and manipulatives that will enrich the students' learning experience are also provided for teachers to printout for use with their classes.

We chose Phragmitesas the focus for this integrated curriculum unit for several reasons:
* It is large, has a distinctive appearance and is extremely widely distributed within New Jersey and beyond, increasing the chances that every student in the class will have seen this species near where they live.In many, if not most, cases students and teachers would be able to collect materials for use in class activities on or near their school's property, perhaps as part of the class activity
* It is a major invasive species with a clear and often negative impact upon the landscapes in which it is found.
* It has a long and interesting history that will allow us to create entrees for engaging students who might not otherwise be interested in "science."
* It is conducive to use in a wide variety of craft activities, which again creates opportunities for engaging students in the learning process

A more detailed description of the project, along with all of the lesson plans and other materials can be found at http://gcuonline.georgian.edu/phragmites.htm (please copy and paste the URL into your browser's navigation window).

We also have a new suite of lesson plans on water conservation are just about completed: http://gcuonline.georgian.edu/wootton_l/waterconservation.htm

Louise Wootton, Ph.D.
Professor of Biology
Georgian Court University,
Lakewood NJ 08701
phone: 732 987 2349
fax: 732 987 2010
http://gcuonline.georgian.edu/wootton_l/

The National Center for Health Marketing at CDC has published a new issue brief on communicating with teens that may be of interest to you. It reports on use of the internet, mobile phones etc.

Audience Insights: Communicating to Teens (Aged 12-17)
http://www.cdc.gov/healthmarketing/pdf/AudienceInsight_teens.pdf

Greetings!  The Natural Inquirer staff wanted to let you know about the availabiltiy of two new journals. 


First, the Bioenergy edition of the Natural Inquirer is now available.  The Bioenergy edition examines how wood and a variety of plant materials can be used as a source of fuel and how it relates to our energy future.  Please go to www.naturalinquirer.org to order your free copies.

Second, the Natural Inquirer staff has launched a new journal for upper elementary level students called the Investi-gator.  You can order a free copy of this journal from the Investi-gator web site- www.scienceinvestigator.org.

Also this fall we will be looking for educators who would be willing to review the Natural Inquirer or Investi-gator and make suggestions for improvement.  We would either email you some questions to answer or arrange a time to talk to you.  The time commitment would be minimal.  If you or anyone you know would be interested in helping us out, please contact Jessica at jessica@naturalinquirer.org.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Climate Literacy Guide Available
NOAA has released, Climate Literacy: The Essential Principles of Climate Science, a 13-page guide that includes information on how individuals and communities can help reduce climate change and its impacts. The guide is a product of the U.S. Global Change Research Program (GCRP) and was compiled by an interagency group, led by NOAA. The Climate Literacy guide supports the development of formal and informal educational materials about climate science, plus professional development opportunities for educators. In the document, eight principles and a host of supporting concepts list information for individuals and communities to know about Earth's climate. Statements include information about the impacts of climate change as well as possible approaches to adaptation or mitigation. Developers of the guide intend to integrate the framework into national and state education standards, and to support teacher workshops to ensure that educators are proficient in teaching the concepts of climate science. To view and download the guide, go to
http://climate.noaa.gov/index.jsp?pg=/education/edu_index.jsp&edu=literacy.

Resources

The Investi-gator

(The first issue is a resource for PreK-8’s “Signs of Fall,” “Soil Stories,” “Democracy in Action” and “Waste Watchers”)
The U.S. Forest Service, in partnership with the Cradle of Forestry Interpretive Association, has just published its first issue of The Investi-gator, a free science journal for upper elementary level students. The journal focuses on contemporary, Forest Service research and is written in the format of a scientific article. Each article has the following components: Meet the Scientist, Glossary, Thinking About Science, Thinking About the Environment, Introduction, Method, Findings, Discussion, Reflection Sections, and a FACTivity. There is a PLT Activity correlation at the end of each FACTivity!  Visit the website to view, download, and order your free copies.

Catch the Science Bug!

(resource for PreK-8’s “Who Works in this Forest?,” “A Forest of Many Uses,” “Schoolyard Safari,” “Energy Sleuths” and more.)
A new educational science website offers a variety of science activities that increase science literacy, raise environmental awareness, and introduce different careers in the sciences. The site provides users with video clips from the PBS Rhode Island television series, interactive online activities, and great extensions ideas for PLT activities.  

Children's Gardens: A Field Guide
(resource for PreK-8’s “Sunlight and Shades of Green” and “How Plants Grow,” as well as PLT’s GreenWorks! and GreenSchools! programs)
Teachers can download this 200-page guide produced by Common Ground, a program from the University of California Los Angeles County Cooperative Extension Service. The book includes detailed instructions on the process of establishing a garden for children, numerous related experiments and activities, a guide to resources, and a selected bibliography. A Spanish version of the School Garden Start-up Guide is also available.

Tree ID - Trees of Texas

(resource for PreK-8’s “Name that Tree,” “Looking at Leaves,” “Bursting Buds,” “Tree Factory,” “Invasive Species” and many more)

Learn about how trees grow and the tricks to tree identification from the Trees of Texas website created by the Texas Forest Service and the Texas A&M University System. Other helpful features include an extensive tree listing, information on aggressive invaders, and leaf collecting and safety tips. Have a closer look at the education pages to find PLT activity correlations and links to the National PLT website.

Houston, TX- Just as the No Child Left Inside Act (NCLI), a bill designating $100 million in new funding for states to provide environmental education, is moving through Congress,the Council for Environmental Education (CEE) is rolling out its new early childhood initiative designed to interest young audiences ages 3-7 in nature and the outdoors through developmentally appropriate practice.

In step with the children and nature movement and aligned with the goals of the federal "No Child Left Behind Act," Growing Up WILD: Exploring Nature with Young Children is designed to help educators and caregivers engage young children in activities that encourage exploration of nature. With activities written by educators and wildlife professionals and reviewed by experts in early childhood education, the guide provides an early foundation for developing active, healthy children who appreciate nature and are prepared to enter school with ample learning skills. The Growing Up WILD guide stands as the first nationally distributed educator resource specially designed to reach early childhood educators with a focus on nature.

Priorities for Growing Up WILD include outreach to diverse and economically disadvantaged children who have traditionally been underserved by environmental education efforts and opportunities to connect with nature. To that end, CEE is working closely with the Texas Head Start State Collaboration Office and will be partnering with other Head Start offices in each state.

Educators (i.e. childcare leaders, pre-school, kindergarten, and first grade teachers, home childcare providers etc.) receive Growing Up WILD materials by participating in interactive, hands-on workshops designed to meet their needs.These workshops allow educators to experience Growing Up WILD activities, while discovering how the program meets their organization's educational goals.Workshops are delivered by a national network of sponsoring state wildlife and natural resource agencies, children's museums, private child-care organizations, and other provider groups who reach young learners.

Research has shown that there are many positive benefits to spending time in nature and that it is essential for healthy childhood development. Nature-based education improves standardized test scores, grade point averages and develops skills in problem solving, critical thinking and decision making.Children who have opportunities to play and learn in nature are more likely to: handle challenges and problems more capably; be more physically active, healthy, aware of nutrition, and less likely to be obese; have better mental and emotional health; have a greater appreciation of the arts, music, history, and literature; become better informed and environmentally aware adults; and be happier and smarter.

Growing Up WILD goes beyond building connections to nature and prepares young learners for future academic success by emphasizing scientific inquiry. The guide also includes a literacy component to provide word-rich experiences for young children that will aid in reading readiness. Additional skills addressed in Growing Up WILD include beginning inquiry, word recognition, speech, observation, classification, sequencing, measuring, listening, and cooperating.

"Life-long connections with nature begin at an early age," says Josetta Hawthorne, Executive Director for the Council for Environmental Education. "By targeting children ages 3-7 and the adults who care for them, Growing Up WILD will impact these audiences by increasing the chance that children will receive exposure to nature, increasing opportunities for nature play, increase comfort levels with the outdoors, and increasing positive memories of time outside at an early age."

###

About CEE and Growing Up WILD

The Council for Environmental Education (CEE) is a nationally recognized leader in environmental education, providing programs and services that promote responsible stewardship of natural resources. For more than 35 years, CEE has provided environmental education programs and services that promote stewardship of the environment and further the capacity of learners to make informed decisions. Each year CEE's benchmark programs provide materials and training for more than 50,000 educators, who reach millions of young people with essential information about conservation and the environment.www.councilforee.org

Growing Up WILD is a new initiative of the Council for Environmental Education (CEE) that builds on children's sense of wonder about nature and invites them to explore wildlife and the world around them.Through a wide range of activities and experiences, Growing Up WILD provides an early foundation for developing positive impressions about nature and lifelong social and academic skills.www.projectwild.org/GrowingUpWILD.htm

Click HERE.

A different type of Natural Inquirer called the Investigator is ready to order....... FREE!

The Investigator is written for the 4th grade level. The first issue is all about reasearch in the northeast.
Artilces include:
Learning what things affect leaf color change
How rising ozone levels affect tree growth
Protecting the environment through policies
A look at soil activity in the wintertime

Also look for future issues of the Natural Inquirer on Bioenergy and a monograph on Hemlock Woolly Adelgid and the Water Budget.

To order these issues or previous issues:
Investigator - http://www.scienceinvestigator.org/Northern-States-Edition-i-2.html
Natural Inquirer - http://www.naturalinquirer.org/all-issues.html

Waksman Institute of Microbiology
Room 1001, Rutgers, The State University of NJ
190 Frelinghuysen Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854-8020

A forum specifically designed for the needs of the novice life science teacher.
THE BIOLOGY TEACHERS ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY PRESENTS
"Cafe-Connect: Helping New Teachers Grow"

Cost: A nominal fee of $5 reserves your spot for 1 session.
Please forward check payable to "BTANJ" to : Yamini Varma 1 Thrush Drive East Brunswick, NJ 08816
Include your name, mailing and e-mail address with your check.
FUTURE DATES: Feb 18th 2010*, Apr 29th 2010* (*Tentative)

For more information, contact: Yamini Varma at yaminivarma@gmail.com

Susan Connell "The task of preparing for my first year as a Biology Teacher was overwhelming to say the least. I didn't know where to begin! The BTANJ's Summer Cafe Connect in August was a HUGE help. I received everything I needed to get myself prepared for the year ahead. From a list of helpful websites and resources to sample class rules and countless tricks of the trade, I walked away from the workshop with a bag full of bio teacher goodies and a lot of support. I am really glad I decided to go."

Kirsten Regber "I had a wonderful time at the Cafe Connect. I learned so much in a short period of time. Everyone I met was friendly and willing to share their advice and experiences. It is great to know that BTANJ provides a network of teachers to help support new teachers through those difficult first years. BTANJ-thank you so much for such a great and useful workshop!"

Regional Focus: EPA Region 1

New England Federal Partners Interagency Meeting on Climate Change Adaptation

On June 2-4, 2009, approximately 70 representatives of 12 federal agencies in New England met at the National Marine Fisheries Service's Northeast Regional Office in Gloucester, Massachusetts to share information about their respective climate change planning efforts, and identify opportunities for coordination and collaboration. Because the idea for the meeting originated from discussions among the federal agencies participating on the Northeast Regional Ocean Council, the initial focus was on adapting to climate change impacts on ocean and coastal areas. However, the scope was expanded to include inland watersheds to attract greater participation from federal agencies without a strong ocean and coastal mission.

Goals of the meeting were to:
- identify federal responsibilities for addressing climate change issues in New England and reach consensus on regional federal interagency priorities;
- develop a framework to communicate regional issues to the national level considering federal interagency priorities; and
- identify opportunities to collaborate among federal agencies that will facilitate assistance to stakeholders in the region.

Key outcomes and next steps included:
- agreeing that federal interagency coordination should continue through reestablishment of an ad-hoc New England Federal Partners group;
- developing a regional agreement among federal agencies modeled on the August 2008 "memorandum of cooperation" signed by five agencies;
- gaining consensus on climate scenarios, data sets, models, and projections for New England;
- participating in the next Congressionally-mandated National Assessment of Climate Vulnerability;
- updating and synthesizing the New England Federal Climate Activities inventory, compiling a "points of contact" list for the agencies, and a contact list of names and associated expertise for the region on climate issues; and
- continuing to support regional efforts on climate including: New England Interstate Pollution Control Commission (NEWIPCC), Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management (NESCAUM), Gulf of Maine Council (GOMC) and GOMC Climate Network, New England Governors/Eastern Canadian Premiers (NEG/ECP), and state adaptation planning teams.

For more information, including agency briefs and power point presentations, please visit http://community.csc.noaa.gov/nroc. A final meeting summary report and other information will be posted soon.

Other Water News

3. New Coastal Climate Adaptation Website Features Resources and Forum

States and communities wondering what others are doing to address climate change and looking for guidance on how to approach the topic can now access one website for resources and information. The National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration's Coastal Services Center has released the Coastal Climate Adaptation website, which focuses on adaptation-related resources, such as local and state plans, new policies, case studies, risk and vulnerability assessments, and decision-support tools. The site also provides access to basic climate science resources and has a forum where users can suggest new resources, engage in dialogue on the issues, and submit comments and questions. Questions should be directed to Stephanie Fauver at Stephanie.Fauver@noaa.gov or (843) 740-1287. To view the Coastal Climate Adaptation website, go to http://community.csc.noaa.gov/climateadaptation.

4. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Climate Literacy Guide Available

NOAA has released, Climate Literacy: The Essential Principles of Climate Science, a 13-page guide that includes information on how individuals and communities can help reduce climate change and its impacts. The guide is a product of the U.S. Global Change Research Program (GCRP) and was compiled by an interagency group, led by NOAA. The Climate Literacy guide supports the development of formal and informal educational materials about climate science, plus professional development opportunities for educators. In the document, eight principles and a host of supporting concepts list information for individuals and communities to know about Earth's climate. Statements include information about the impacts of climate change as well as possible approaches to adaptation or mitigation. Developers of the guide intend to integrate the framework into national and state education standards, and to support teacher workshops to ensure that educators are proficient in teaching the concepts of climate science. To view and download the guide, go to http://climate.noaa.gov/index.jsp?pg=/education/edu_index.jsp&edu=literacy.

EPA Climate Change and Water News is produced by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). For more information on EPA's climate change activities, visit http://epa.gov/climatechange.For an overview of climate change and water issues, visit http://www.epa.gov/ow/climatechange.
To subscribe to this listserve, send a blank email to water_and_climate_change_listserve-subscribe@lists.epa.gov.

Click HERE.

Watershed Investigations Hands-On Learning

NSTA's new publication Watershed Investigations: 12 Labs for High School Science is for teachers who use experiment-based environmental science curriculum and want to include studying the relationships between human impact and local hydrology. Lesson plans included may meet state and national standards.

http://www.nsta.org/store/product_detail.aspx?id=10.2505/9781933531489&lid=exp
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Lesson Plan: Taming the Paper Tiger

This lesson plan "Taming the Paper Tiger: a Unit on Paper and the Environment," combines environmental education, science, math, literacy, and technology. It includes a coloring page, reproducible folktale, and multi-grade (k-6) hands-on activities.

http://www.gosmartpay.com/files/smartpay_tigertheme3.pdf
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Multimedia Resources on Nature and the Environment

The Library of Congress has compiled a collection of resources supporting education on nature and the environment. The multimedia resources include presentations, exhibitions, Webcasts, news, and classroom materials.

http://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/themes/nature/exhibitions.html

FREE Posters from EMSL Analytical, Inc. make excellent training resources!

To download a free poster, click on the poster of your choice.

Radon In Homes	Asbestos	Legionella	Vapor Intrusion
Silica and Silicosis	Asbestos In Homes	Hexavalent Chromium	Foodborne Illness
Lead In Homes	Industrial Hygiene	MRSA

This National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) and Project 2061 resource is a collection ofconceptual strand maps showing how students' ideas and skills lead to literacy and how learning goals relate to each other and progress from grade-to-grade.
http://www.project2061.org/publications/atlas/defa...

The Learning Garden: Ecology, Teaching, and Transformation, by Veronica Gaylie (April 2009), tells the story of building a campus Learning Garden over a series of cohorts of student teachers, practicing teachers, and environmental education students. The book describes both the theoretical and the practical basis for school and campus gardens, and includes a chapter of activities and resources.
http://www.peterlang.com/index.cfm?vID=310470&vLan...

This engaging, inspiring No Child Left Inside (NCLI) Coalition video celebrates environmental education and its impact on children, learning, health, and leadership.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRR1feHqZPY

Click HERE.

DGS / Environmental Project Management and Sustainability Solutions announces new online Sustainability training courses and Certified Sustainability Professional (CSP and SCSP) training programs.

The courses include:

• Green Purchasing – Fundamentals & Advanced, Sustainability 101 & Corporate Social Responsibility Essentials, and Carbon Strategies.

• Certified Sustainability Professional Certification (CSP),and Senior Certification (SCSP)

The University of Colorado CIRES Education and Outreach group is offering this free educational DVD about climate change and its effects on polar regions. Polar Visions is an exciting, visually stunning film by Ryan Vachon, about the causes and effects of climate change in polar regions. The film contains seven stand-alone segments appropriate for use in all kinds of science classrooms and informal settings from the middle level through college, and was developed to align with the National Science Education Standards across all science subjects.

To obtain copies and standards alignment information, email Tina Arthur at tina.arthur@colorado.edu with your:

Full Name
Work Title
Employer/Program
Grade Level(s)
# of copies requested
Email Address
Full mailing Address

This new guide from the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) provides model solutions to policy makers and advocates to aid in the effort in connecting children with nature.

http://www.nwf.org/nwfwebadmin/binaryVault/State_P...

Click HERE.

Two video reports featuring the work of the DEP Division of Fish and Wildlife's Endangered and Nongame Species Program (ENSP) are available on the Star-Ledger's website. The videos feature the red knot, a small shorebird which makes an important stopover in New Jersey as thousands of the birds make the 10,000 mile journey to breeding grounds in the Arctic, and the recovery of bald eagles in New Jersey.
Both videos are linked from the division's ENSP page at http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/ensphome.htm.

A unique on-line curriculum focused on invasive species, specifically phragmites.

This project was developed through Louise Wootton at Georgian Court.

Please contact Dr. Wootton directly with any questions, comments or feedback.

Louise Wootton, Ph.D.
Professor of Biology
Georgian Court University,
Lakewood NJ 08701
phone: 732 987 2349
fax: 732 987 2010
http://gcuonline.georgian.edu/wootton_l/

Click HERE.

The ultimate toolkit to green your school, now available online!

After several years of hard work and over 300 pages of materials, Earth Day Network's Green Your School website debuted on Earth Day, April 22. With this new application, Earth Day Network's Education Department has collected the expertise and knowledge of hundreds of schools, teachers, students and administrators to provide teachers the ways and means to make their students' educational experience truly sustainable - from floor to roof, playground to school bus. These extensive, brand-new documents provide the background research, teacher lesson plans and student action plans for dozens of different school greening possibilities. What are you waiting for? Check it out now!

DROP THOSE CAR KEYS & BIKE TO SCHOOL

It's National Bike Month! Combine exercise with fresh air and bike to school with your children.

Plus:

• Make & Do: Get recipes for high-energy treats to enjoy after the ride.
• Book Nook: Read about Curious George on two wheels.
• Did You Know? Health experts say unstructured outdoor play can help fight childhood obesity.

The National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) is a joint venture between school districts, schools and state Fish and Wildlife agencies. Several archery equipment manufacturers and organizations are also partners. In New Jersey, NASP is coordinated by the NJ DEP's Division of Fish and Wildlife.

The program's focus is to provide International style target archery training in physical education classes for grades 4-12. NASP promotes student education, physical education and provides instruction for students as a gateway to participation in the lifelong sport of archery.

Oxford Central School physical Education teacher, Rob Causton, was trained as a level one archery instructor in 2006 as part of a pilot program for the NASP in New Jersey. Later that school year he introduced this new physical education program to his middle school students and found that it was an immediate success. Since that time, Rob and Oxford Central have held the NJ State Archery NASP Champion title each of the last three years. Along with the state title is the opportunity to attend the national championship in Kentucky. This year approximately 5,000 kids competed at the event making it the largest indoor archery competition in the world! Oxford preformed like a well-oiled machine and posted a team score that only 8 other schools were able to beat.

No previous archery experience is required for a physical education teacher to become a certified NASP archery coach. The training is provided free of charge and equipment kits can either be purchased or participating schools can take advantage of a new loaner program that provides all the required equipment for the two-week period the course is being conducted.

School administrators and physical education teachers interested in obtaining more information or training can contact the state NASP coordinator, Paul Ritter at 908-637-4125 or e-mail Paul.Ritter@dep.state.nj.us . Information on the national program and participating states can be found at www.nasparchery.com .

The Cloud Institute Weekly Flyer

The Rainforest Curriculum Issue
Share Your Rainforest Curriculum Today!

We are thrilled to announce that you can now upload and download lessons on the Prince's Rainforest Project website! As an education partner we are encouraging our colleagues and teachers to help educate for rainforests and climate change.

We would like to invite all of you to share your rainforest lessons and units AND to take advantage of all the free multi-media educational resources. You can even make a frog video with your class and have it posted to the website! Please spread the word to your colleagues, share your lessons, and help us educate on rainforests and sustainability throughout our country and world.
If you have any questions please contact Marie-Claire, Program Manager, for a template at marie-claire@cloudinstitute.org.

QUESTIONS? Contact Marie-Claire Munnelly, Program Manager, phone:212-645-9930 ext. *822

COMMON SCENTS... OF SPRING

The PBS Going to Green Educators’ Toolkit contains 19 units of integrated curriculum including thematic, multidisciplinary lesson plans, real-life case studies on video, readings with discussion questions, activities, reproducibles, and other resources.
http://teacher.shop.pbs.org/home/index.jsp?clickid...

Using this online activity students can analyze the spatial patterns of daily temperature extremes, examine the relationship of coasts, latitude, and altitude to temperature extremes across the USA in a hands-on, GIS-based environment.
http://blogs.esri.com/Info/blogs/gisedcom/archive/...

The Conservation and Environmental Education Connections (CEEC) listserv is a tool for moderators from federal and state agencies and nongovernmental organizations to share professional development opportunities with conservation and EE professionals. Questions? Call 304-876-7956. Subscribe:
https://www.fws.gov/lists/listinfo/ceec

Help scientists at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology study how bird families are affected by climate change by registering your nestbox. The NestWatch project collects this information for all species of nesting birds in North America. NestWatch participants visit nests once or twice per week and report what they see during each visit.
http://www.RegisterYourNestbox.org

SLIPPERY, SLIMY FUN: NIGHTCRAWLERS

I just want to share a new project starting for all Salem County NJ schools. I am a teacher at Mannington Township School, and we have partnered with Mannington Mills, flooring company (www.mannington.com ) to start a Going Green Project, where Employees and Teachers will meet throughout the year to encourage green choices in the school environment. I have just set up the website, it is in its beginning stages, but it will have monthly updates about activities going on in the school.The site also has the flyer for the Kick Off event at Mannington Mills on April 8th. (www.goinggreensalem.com ) So far 10 schools have signed up. We are very excited and hope the program with grow with each success. The April 8th meeting is a workshop designed and run by Mannington Mills and supported by other teachers on our team.If you have any questions about the program or want to share it with anyone just let me know.

Nancy Anderson
Mannington Township School
856-935-1078
Cell- 856-761-7364
nlanderson@comcast.net

Want to learn more about the birds in your community? This project can help! Written and narrated by high school students from Boston, Massachusetts, the Urban Bird Sounds Project features recordings and descriptions of birds, tips for remembering their songs and calls, and short quizzes to test your skills. To learn more, download audio, try the quizzes, or order a free copy, visit the Web site.
http://www.urbanbirdsounds.org/Site/Urban_Bird_Sou...

The US EPA offers several listservs for various audiences that provide new information on new climate changes resources and current news and strategies.
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/news_listservs.ht...

FLOW is Irena Salina’s award-winning documentary investigation into the mounting threats to our earth’s precious fresh water supplies through unchecked pollution, corporate privatization, and political malfeasance, what some experts label the most important political and environmental issue of the 21st Century – The World Water Crisis. This DVD is perfect for courses on global studies, environmental policy, environmental/Earth science, agricultural studies, and sustainable development.

Members of NAAEE can receive a 25% discount by entering the code "NAAEE" when ordering online.
http://www.oscilloscope.net/store/store.php

By Michael J. Rosen, illustrated by Stan Fellows. New this spring! A joyful primer on the pleasures of bird-watching that merges haiku, field notes, and exquisite illustrations. In spare and graceful words, poet and birder Michael J. Rosen captures the call of the mysterious cuckoo as well as characteristics of more than 20 commonly seen North American birds. The Cuckoo's Haiku -- featuring evocative artwork of watercolorist Stan Fellows -- captures the excitement of recognizing a bird, whether a darting kingfisher, a wandering wild turkey, or a chirpy house sparrow.
http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?i...

Humans have delighted in the calls of frogs since the beginning of recorded history. Yet, we are only now starting to understand what they are saying to one another. This new 30-minute documentary, Why Frogs Call and Why We Should Listen, from Ravenswood Media, shows over 20 species of frogs in a wide variety of habitats, croaking, mating, and fending off rivals. The DVD includes USGS range maps of frogs and a curated list of the video clips from the Web site.
http://www.midwestfrogs.com/videocallingfrogs.htm

Happy Spring!
Here are some new resources you may find useful to enhance PLT in the classroom.Feel free to share these with other educators.Also, check our our new website:www.newjerseyplt.org

Resources

Single Stream Recycling Video
(resource for PLT’s PreK-8 activites “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle,” “A Look at Aluminum,” and “Make Your Own Paper,” and PLT’s Municipal Solid Wastesecondary module)

Many of us are familiar with sorting recyclables at home or school. In a single stream process, all recyclables can go together in one bin for pick-up. RecycleBank has developed a short interactive animated film about recycling collection, processing, and remanufacturing. It is useful in classrooms or for students, parents, and teachers who want to learn more about recycling.

Climate Classroom

(resource for PLT’s PreK-8 activities “Plant a Tree,” “Waste Watchers,” “The Global Climate,” and “Our Changing World”)

From the National Wildlife Federation, Climate Classroom provides climate curriculum resources for grades 4-6 and for teens. The extensive resources include simple activities, online games, action steps, and lots of photographs.

CNN Student News
(resource for PLT’s PreK-8 activities “Power of Print,” “There Ought to Be a Law,” “Renewable or Not,” “Energy Sleuths,” and more. Also consider using the available maps with PLT’s Places We Live and Forests of the Worldsecondary modules)

Geared for secondary school students, CNN Student Newsposts the latest news and supplements articles with maps, transcripts, videos, classroom activities, quizzes, one-sheet backgrounders on newsy topics, and links to related articles. The Classroom Edition section offers a guide to select CNN television programs, and lists grade levels, subject areas covered, learning objectives, and curriculum standards.

Our Generous Garden*
(resource for PLT’s PreK-8 activities “Pass the Plants, Please” and “Improve Your Place,”and GreenWorks! and GreenSchools!)*

Based on a successful school garden project, “Our Generous Garden ” is a children’s literature book witten from a student’s perspective, and it complements both classroom curriculum and home-based learning. The book also includes garden recipes and activity ideas to encourage teachers, parents, and children to use gardens* *as outdoor classrooms. Appropriate for ages 3-10. The GardenABCs website is also packed with other resources, including school garden success stories, indoor and outdoor project ideas, and field trip recommendations.

When the weather changes daily, how do we really know that Earth’s climate is changing? Lynne Cherry and Gary Braasch co-authored How We Know What We Know About Our Changing Climate: Scientists and Kids Explore Global Warming (Dawn Publications, March 2008), presenting the evidence behind the headlines—gathered by scientists from all over the world, sometimes with the assistance of young "citizen scientists" and told in an age-appropriate manner with clarity and hope.
http://www.dawnpub.com/shopping_cart/INDEX.CFM?Pro...

Quagmire is an interactive role-playing game for grades 5-12. It provides a real-life situation regarding the proposed development of a saltwater marsh. Students take on the roles of various interest groups including government, industry, tourism, agriculture, and environmental organizations to "debate the fate" of a saltwater marsh in front of municipal councillors.This resource is free for teachers in Canada.
Contact: Julia Pelton at jpelton@clean.ns.ca
http://www.green-street.ca/program_search/program_...

The Canary Project is an organization that uses visual art to communicate the impact of climate change. The organization started in 2006 photographing landscapes that are greatly effected by climate change and have since expanded the project to include other artists and media.
http://www.canary-project.org/index.php

The Commons: Open Society Sustainability Initiative, is an independent platform for new thinking & world-wide collaborative problem solving. Project focus is on networking, collaborative problem solving, and knowledge sharing.
http://www.ecoplan.org/

Teacher Training Workshops
Project Wild Fall 2009 Thursday December 3
Whether a formal or non-formal educator, Project WILD can assist you in teaching math, science, social studies, literacy and art to any grade level.You will acquire new teaching skills and practices that translate into more effective teaching.Prepare to get WILD in the classroom through a multitude of inter- disciplinary, hands-on and educational activities, teacher tested and classroom ready for K-12 students. Project WILD lessons are correlated to NJ Core Curriculum Content Standards. $10

* Pre-registration is required for all workshops
* Earn 6 NJDOE credits with each workshop
* Activities are correlated with the National Science Education Standards
* Fee includes: early morning refreshments with registration and workshop guidebook
* Program time is 9 AM - 3 PM; registration begins at 8:45 AM.

Trailside Nature and Science Center
452 New Providence Road,
Mountainside, NJ 07092
(908)789-3670
www.ucnj.org/trailside

Dear Friend,

Spring is rapidly approaching and we know that you’re already busy planning lessons and classroom activities. As you finalize your schedule, remember to save time to celebrate National Wildlife Week, March 16-20, 2009.

Participate in three ways:

1. In your classroom - Download free activities and service project ideas for kids and teens, Wildlife Watch lists of local plants and animals, and fact sheets about the benefits of outdoor play.
2. Personally - Enjoy the wildlife in your community. Get your family and friends outside to watch for wildlife or participate in a wildlife habitat project. Don’t forget to share your wildlife photos and stories online. 
3. Spread the word - Forward this email to others, including educators and parents, so they can get involved during National Wildlife Week.

Since 1938, National Wildlife Week has increased awareness about wildlife conservation and the benefits of spending time outdoors. Research shows that a daily Green Hour® (unstructured time outdoors) improves one’s physical, mental and emotional well-being. Be out there.

Starting March 1, visit the National Wildlife Week website to get your free resources!

Sincerely,

Eliza Russell
Director of Education

P.S. Did you know that celebrities such as Shirley Temple, Robert Redford, and Walt Disney have all commemorated this special event? Watch Walt Disney’s special National Wildlife Week message. 

© 2008 National Wildlife Federation | 11100 Wildlife Center Dr, Reston VA 20190 | 800-822-9919
Privacy Policy |Terms and Conditions | All rights reserved.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation, in partnership with National Geographic, presents Chesapeake Classrooms, a year-round professional development program designed to provide teachers with the skills and knowledge necessary to integrate lessons and projects focused on the local watershed into their classrooms. This program focuses on the evolving needs of teachers and students to engage in outdoor learning and in most cases enabling them to earn inservice and/or graduate credit. Spend five summer days immersed in Bay ecology and culture or spend one fall day with us at a workshop focused on curriculum, field studies or student action.
http://www.cbf.org/chesapeakeclassrooms

The American Museum of Natural History developed Seminars on Science, an online teacher professional development program, in order to connect teachers across the United States and around the world to cutting-edge research and to provide them with powerful classroom resources. The program consists of eight online graduate courses in the life, Earth, and physical sciences.
http://www.amnh.org/learn/

Environmental Concern's team of highly qualified wetland educators train teachers how to bring wetland lessons into their classrooms. Their hands-on workshops feature inquiry-based, cross-curricular activities for the classroom. These trainings are ongoing in different states throughout the year.
http://www.wetland.org/education_professional_dev.htm

From its extraction through sale, use and disposal, all the stuff in our lives affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view. The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It'll teach you something, it'll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever. You can download the movie for free from a link on that web site:
http://www.storyofstuff.com/

A tour of museums, science and nature centersalong with other venues is being scheduled on the east coast (U.S.) for 2009 by children's singer songwriter Musical Mark. The just released CD of songs entirely devoted to bats, "We're Just Hangin' Out", makes this educational approach to bats both unique and fun. The touring one-man multi-media show engages the public and both educates and entertains. For further details go to www.batsongs.com.

Two new (and free) K-12 resources from PBS:

THE GREENS Activity Guide springs from a PBS Web site that encourages kids ages 9 to 12 to explore sustainability and take action wherever they cans. How-to information in the Guide pairs hands-on activities to deepen kids' understanding of topics like recycling and global warming with campaigns to reduce junk mail and get drivers to stop idling cars. The Guide can be downloaded at http://meetthegreens.pbskids.org/features/ and FREE print copies may be ordered by putting "THE GREENS" in the subject line of an e-mail to wgbhmaterialsreq@wgbh.org

New activities from CURIOUS GEORGE focus on earth science and Societies might consider leveraging GEORGE's appeal with preK-2 children to celebrate Earth Day, April 22, 2009. Age-appropriate investigations are detailed online at pbskids.org/curiousgeorge/parentsteachers/activities/ aptly named "Curiosity Centers". At these "Curiosity Centers" (or activity stations), children can make their own discoveries about recycling, wind, water drops, and the properties of soil and sand. A related episode from CURIOUS GEORGE, which might help introduce the topic of earth science to children, can be ordered for free by contacting gay_mohrbacher@wgbh.org

Gay L. Mohrbacher
Outreach Project Director
WGBH Educational Foundation
One Guest Street
Boston, MA 02135
#617-300-5308

WGBH - Produced in Boston, shared with the World

Climate Change From Pole to Pole: Biology Investigations offers case studies and background information on how to teach the science of climate change. The six researched and field-tested activities building on four content chapters, provide students the opportunity to solve real-life scientific problems using guiding questions, graphs and data tables, short reading assignments, and independent research.
http://www.nsta.org/store/product_detail.aspx?id=10.2505/9781933531236&lid=exp

This Center for Ecoliteracy’s initiative is for K-12 educators, parents, and others who are helping young people gain the knowledge, skills, and values essential to sustainable living. The Smart by Nature Initiative is based on four guiding principles: Nature Is Our Teacher; Sustainability Is a Community Practice; The Real World Is the Optimal Learning Environment; and Sustainable Living Is Rooted in a Deep Knowledge of Place. Among other projects from the Center for Ecoliteracy, includes the Rethinking School Lunch initiative and Linking Food, Culture, and the Environment.
http://www.ecoliteracy.org/programs/sbn.html

This UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the UN Educational, Scientific,and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) training kit is a train-the-trainer tool that aims to promote sustainable consumption patterns among young consumers worldwide.
http://www.youthxchange.net/main/english-guide.asp

Helping bats with "batsongs," Musical Mark, a children’s singer songwriter from Ohio, just released the new CD, "We’re Just Hangin’ Out." The 10 original, fun, and educational songs will help kids (and adults) learn about bats and perhaps be less afraid of them. Musical Mark will be touring the eastern U.S. in 2009 with a multi-media theatrical one-man show featuring the songs.
http://www.batsongs.com

This Keep America Beautiful Web site is an educational math and science classroom resource that was recently expanded to include lessons on litter prevention and beautification. The site features interactive learning modules addressing real-world issues about waste. A free copy of the promotional poster is available to the first 100 teachers that contact KAB by email at cleansweepusa@kab.org
http://www.cleansweepusa.org/

Lean Toolkit
Did you know that the U.S. EPA offers a lean toolkit that addresses lean thinking in green initiatives? And it's VERY useful! You can save your company valuable resources with little effort. Check it out.
www.epa.gov/lean/toolkit/

NEW: Lean and Green Newsletter
Former IndustryWeek's New Media Editor, Tonya Vinas, will publish a new, complimentary e-newsletter aimed at the emerging "Lean and Green" movement. Subscribe today and don't miss the first issue.
www.leanandgreennews.com
-------------------------------------
Dwayne Butcher, Lean and Green Summit
9128 Technology Lane, Fishers, IN 46038
317.813.5455

Please share this announcement with your networks.

The 2009 NAAEE Conference in Portland, Oregon, will be here before we know it. Submit your papers early and spread the word! We expect a record number of submissions to present with the announcement of 12 conference strands and the Research Symposium's return to a two-day schedule.

The CFP will close February 1, 2009


2009 Strands:
1. Climate Change Education
2. Coastal & Marine Education
3. Conservation Education
4. Early Childhood & Environmental Education
5. Environmental Justice & Cultural Diversity
6. Innovative Programs and Practices
7. Leadership & Organizational Development
8. Place-based Education
9. Religion, Spirituality and Environmental Education
10. Service Learning & Community Education
11. Teaching & Learning Sustainability
12. The Arts & Environmental Education

Create an environmental vision for tomorrow at the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke while maintaining a commitment to your employer and family! The Duke Environmental Leadership Program offers an innovative, two-year Master of Environmental Management degree. The DEL-MEM is an online and on campus program providing a broad perspective of interdisciplinary and global themes, strategic approaches to environmental management, and effective leadership and communication skills. Learn more at an upcoming information sessions: http://www.nicholas.duke.edu/del/fall08-infosessions.html

On February 5, 2009, the National Teach-In on Global Warming will engage over a million Americans in solutions-driven dialogue, including young people, national political leaders, and other key decision-makers. Join in, and make the National Teach-In a day that can transform America, and place clean energy solutions to global warming at the top of the nation's agenda.

The American Forest Foundation received a $611,353 grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service to infuse service-learning into its Project Learning Tree environmental education curriculum. Monies from the three-year grant will be used to provide training and funding for 6th through 12th grade students and teachers to investigate environmental issues at their school and engage with their community in service-learning projects that create green and healthy learning environments.Each year, 20 middle/high schools in four regions of the country will be selected to become model GreenSchools.

Experience the first ever ship-based university expedition to Antarctica. University students and faculty members from around the world will be embarking on a journey to Antarctica to experience and learn firsthand the effects of climate change in one of the planet’s most remote places. Students on Ice Expeditions is organizing the International Polar Year (IPY) Antarctic University Expedition 2009, a two-week ship-based field course leaving Argentina on February 14th, 2009, returning on February 28th, 2009.

This new National Council of Churches Eco-Justice program is offering this new biodiversity resource Tending the Garden: Stewardship of Biodiversity and Endangered Species. This resource is advocating for the health of biodiversity around the world and aims to provide information for churches and ministries to begin educating people about the importance of biodiversity.

In a collaborative effort between the Encyclopedia of Earth and the Aldo Leopold Foundation, the new collection on Aldo Leopold, one of the most important figures in ecology and conservation in 20th century America, is now online. The collection provides readers with a sense of who Aldo Leopold was and the broad range of his continuing influence in many fields, including conservation, wildlife ecology, wilderness preservation, agriculture, environmental ethics, and public policy.

The Canadian Network for Environmental Education and Communication (EECOM) is now managing a bilingual service to share news of coming events, professional development opportunities, and new resources. This new service is accessible to anyone so be sure to share this announcement with others who may be interested in keeping connected! Post announcements, subscribe to this service, and stay connected by clicking on "News Updates" from the EECOM site:

The Climate Science Literacy Guide (http://climateliteracynow.org) serves as a framework for understanding and communicating about climate science. Points in the guide can serve as discussion starters or launching points for scientific inquiry. The guide can also serve educators who teach climate science principles as a way to meet learning standards in their science curriculum.

Contribute Resources to the Climate Science Literacy Online Catalog
The Climate Literacy Network is developing an online catalog of resources that will be reviewed and annotated by scientists and educators. Please submit your online resources here:

National EE Week offers a carbon calculator specifically designed for students. Built by Zerofootprint, the EE Week Carbon Calculator encourages students, classrooms, and entire schools to measure and manage their own carbon footprints while developing creative ways to curb their carbon output and slow climate change. Access the EE Week Carbon Calculator here:

This new online science curriculum from NOAA’s National Estuarine Research Reserve System is a complete set of estuarine science curricula to help grade 9-12 teachers incorporate coastal and estuarine science into any general science class. Each of the four modules tells the estuary story through one of three domains - earth, life, or physical science.

Keep American Beautiful (KAB) teamed up with Simon & Schuster to publish a new eco-friendly series of books for young children that will help them understand the importance of improving the environment, preserving habitats, developing good "green" habits, and more. The first three books in the series, released in September 2008, include:

· I Can Save the Earth!: One Little Monster Learns to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle – The story of Max, a little green monster, and his journey from being a wasteful “environmental nightmare” to environmental awareness.
· The Polar Bears’ Home: A Story About Global Warming – A father and daughter learn about polar bears, and how they can reduce global warming through conservation.
· Little Panda and Little Monkey - Little ones will love to cuddle with these super soft fleece cloth books that are made out of cotton and recycled Polartec® fleece.

The Clean Water Pipe Council is an advocacy group focused on the health, environmental, safety, and sustainability issues surrounding rigid PVC plastic and the water pipe made from it. Founded in July 2007, by a consortium of North American businesses, not-for-profit organizations, and concerned citizens, the Clean Water Pipe Council is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit trade organization. The goal is to accumulate and disseminate information about the distribution of safe, clean drinking water, and to ensure the quality of drinking water in municipal water systems.

Leadership Seminars for Healthy Communities by the ALAN M. VOORHEES TRANSPORTATION CENTER

Services - This fall they will host a series of three Common Ground Leadership Seminars. The seminars build on the foundation of the 2004 Common Ground Conference, which explored how community design can support healthy lifestyles, specifically through the advancement of biking and walking. Each event will feature a presentation by a national expert on the topic, followed by a local panel discussion. The seminars are intended to empower local officials, municipal staff, and advocates with the knowledge to address common political, design, and funding barriers to creating active, healthy communities. This free event is sponsored by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

Resources - Under the New Jersey Bicycle and Pedestrian Resource Center they provide information to create a safer and more accessible walking and bicycling environment by researching and disseminating information about best practices in policy and design. Additionally, under the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) they provide information to encourage and enable children to safely walk and cycle to school through an approach that combines encouragement, education, engineering, enforcement and evaluation. The role of the Voorhees Transportation Center is to support the NJ Department of Transportation through research, training and outreach.

Contact - For more information, contact the New Jersey Bicycle and Pedestrian Resource Center at bikeped@rci.rutgers.edu ; Safe Routes to School (SRTS) srts@rci.rutgers.edu or visit the Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center http://policy.rutgers.edu/vtc.

“When do kids have the opportunity to simply be kids?” asks Jane Kirkland, Philadelphia naturalist and children’s book author. It seems like every second of our kids’ busy days are programmed by well-meaning teachers, parents, coaches and others. Kids need a quiet alternative to all this frenzy.Ms. Kirkland has created a series of books that provide this alternative. Take A Walk® Books, Kirkland’s award-winning series of nature-adventure discovery books, encourage kids to step away from the television, the computer, and the playing field and “take a walk.”

Jane’s publisher, Stillwater Publishing, is pleased to present two new members of the Take A Walk family—Take A Wetlands Walk and Take A Winter Nature Walk, both paperbacks priced at $9.95 each. Geared for kids ages 8 and up, these books are designed to accompany readers in the “field” (their backyards, schoolyards, or local parks). All books include beautiful photographs and illustrations as well as room for taking field notes, drawing maps and pictures, and making lists of findings.

The seventh book in the series, Take A Wetlands Walk (10/2008), focuses on the incredible world of wetlands. Readers learn about the amazing variety of plants and animals found in wetlands, and how wetlands contribute to our ecosystem by protecting us from flood waters and purifying the water around us. Take A Winter Nature Walk reminds readers that nature is everywhere—even in the dark, cold days of winter. “It’s really a most exciting time in nature,” says Jane, “a time when plants and animals engage in a life and death struggle to survive.”

www.ktpublicrelations.com
http://www.takeawalk.com

By Gwen Beavans, illustrated by Jack Elrod.
Mark Trail Living on the Wild Side Responsibly is an activity book about living near wildlands. The activities in this book address either all or part of some of the National Achievement Standards depending on how thoroughly the activity is completed or if expansions to the base activity are created. Appropriate for grades 3-6.
http://www.symbols.gov/catalog/products/fire_item.shtml?NFES%2099271

The Earth Charter Handbook provides basic information on the origin, nature, and purpose of the Earth Charter, the structure and mission of the Earth Charter Initiative, and the organization, goals, and policies of ECI.
http://www.earthcharterinaction.org/2008/10/earth_charter_handbook_availab.html

Produced by the Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in association with the Harvard University Center for the Environment, the course consists of 13 half-hour streaming video programs, online text, professional development guide, and a Web site. Graduate credit is available from participating institutions. All online materials are free of charge and hard copies of materials are available at nominal cost.
http://www.learner.org/resources/series209.html

The National 4-H Council and the 3M Foundation launched this new educational program for young people to learn the technology behind using wind as the primary resource for alternative energy. As part of the "One Million New Scientists. One Million New Ideas" program, The Power of Wind is made possible through a grant from 3M Foundation and will include an online multi-media resource that will supplement the curriculum.
http://www.4-h.org/4Hset.html

Leverage Curious George's appeal to bring earth science learning to young kids. PBS has created easy-to-use resources for educators that are free and online. The resources outline how to set up and run hands-on “Curiosity Centers” where children can make their own discoveries about sand, water, soil, wind, and recycling. How-to includes simple materials lists, learning goals, leader notes, and tips for success. Over 80 three-minute video clips showing kids exploring science are also available.
http://pbskids.org/curiousgeorge/parentsteachers/activities

www.neefusa.org/health.htm

New Tools and Resources for Health Professionals to Encourage Outdoor Time for Children

Recognizing the importance of outdoor play to children's health and well-being, NEEF has updated its Pediatric Environmental History Screening Form to encourage more outdoor time for children. Today's sedentary lifestyle has contributed to many health problems impacting our children, possibly putting them at risk of having a shorter lifespan than their parents. Time spent outdoors and in nature can potentially increase levels of physical activity, reduce stress, aid in healthy development, and serve as a coping mechanism for attention disorders, helping children to lead healthier lives.

NEEF's Screening Form now includes questions on the amount of time children spend outdoors, and watching TV, using a computer, or playing video games. This one-page form is designed to be administered by the primary health care provider in less than five minutes in order to capture most of the common environmental exposures to children. The Pediatric Environmental History Primer provides background information on issues included in the history form and has been revised to include a section on exposure to the outdoor environment.

In addition, our Children and Nature webpage contains helpful online resources, a comprehensive Fact Sheet, and a PowerPoint presentation related to the health benefits of nature.

Pediatric Environmental History Initiative Advisory Committee: James Roberts, MD, MPH (chair); Sophie Balk, MD; Ruth Etzel, MD, PhD; Joel Forman, MD; Christine Johnson, MD; Lillian Mood, RN, MPH; and Bonnie Rogers, DrPH, FAAN.

At the National Environmental Education Foundation, we provide objectiveenvironmental information to help Americans live better every day. At a time of conflicting and challenging messages about the state of our environment, we provide trusted knowledge, resources and opportunities to improve our lives and the health of the planet.

Our Program: The goal of the Health & Environment Program is to advance environmental knowledge among health professionals in order to improve public health. Through a variety of initiatives, we facilitate the integration of environmental health into healthcare provider education and practice, with a special emphasis on children and other populations disproportionately impacted by environmental pollutants.

Kimberly Grubb
Program Associate
202-261-6475
grubb@neefusa.org

The BAYSHORE DISCOVERY PROJECT offers on-board educational programs in 2008-09 on the A.J. Meerwald (NJ's tall ship and historic oyster schooner).

Offerings focus on coastal ecology, maritime and shellfish industry history, and water quality.

The web site includes a $100 coupon for education sails as well as numerous resources to explore for supplemental field trip/transportation funds.

http://www.ajmeerwald.org/

MeetTheGreens.org kids' guide to looking after the planet has just added a new activity guide. It pairs hands-on activities to deepen kids' understanding of topics like recycling and global warming with campaigns to reduce junk mail and get drivers to stop idling cars. This innovative, Web-only project comes from WGBH in Boston, the producer of shows like ZOOM, ARTHUR, Frontline, & NOVA.
http://eelink.net/cgi-bin/ee-link/newclick/8922282

The latest Green Schools Initiative newsletter, A Green Back to School, is packed with helpful information on shopping green for the start of the new school year.
http://eelink.net/cgi-bin/ee-link/newclick/8922280

CLEARING is one of the oldest publications for environmental and place-based education in the country. First published in 1978, CLEARING is a quarterly magazine for formal and non-formal educators that features thought-provoking perspectives, insightful resource reviews, grade- and subject-specific activities and lesson plans, and news from regional EE associations in the western US and Canada. Available in print and online.
http://eelink.net/cgi-bin/ee-link/newclick/8922278

Activity Guide for adults who work with 9 to 12-year olds. It springs from a project called THE GREENS, which is a PBS Web site that encourages kids to explore sustainability and take action wherever they can.The new Activity Guide pairs hands-on activities to deepen kids' understanding of topics like recycling and global warming with campaigns to reduce junk mail and get drivers to stop idling cars.

Folks can download or order a print copy of the free Guide at http://meetthegreens.pbskids.org/features/

THE GREENS, a PBS Web site that encourages kids to explore sustainability and take action wherever they can, is offering free Activity Guides to educators working with 9 to 12-year olds. How-to information pairs hands-on activities to deepen kids’ understanding of topics like recycling and global warming with campaigns to reduce junk mail and get drivers to stop idling cars.

Order the free Activity Guide at http://meetthegreens.pbskids.org/features/

THE GREENS Activity Guide contains leader notes, handouts, and how-to information for activities that allow kids to first learn about a problem and then engage in a hands-on activity that can help solve it.Activities can be conducted over separate one-hour sessions and address:
Cutting down on trash: Kids make a garbage dump pizza and then start a “BYOB: Bring Your Own Bag” campaign.
Recycling and reducing: Kids make their own recycled paper and then launch a “Reduce Junk Mail” campaign.
Global warming and carbon footprints: Kids investigate the greenhouse effect and then they take action to reduce carbon emissions through a no-idling campaign.

With the onset of fall, black bears begin actively foraging for food to prepare for the winter denning season.The increase in activity during this time of year can bring bears closer to homes and into backyards as they search for any available food.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's Division of Fish and Wildlife offers "Know the Bear Facts" education seminars for residents to learn common-sense methods to discourage bears from entering a property, and how to react if one encounters a black bear.

"Know the Bear Facts" education seminars are free of charge and available to municipalities, schools, homeowner associations, civic and environmental organizations, and a variety of other audiences.

Program attendees learn about the history and biology of the Garden State's largest land mammal, as well as about black bear research.The program also provides tips on how to react if a black bear is encountered near a home or when enjoying the outdoors.

Precautions that residents should take to prevent bears from becoming a nuisance near homes are also discussed.

Black bears have been sighted in all 21 of New Jersey's counties. Therefore, it is important for residents throughout the state to know the facts about co-existing with bears.

To inquire about scheduling a bear education seminar for your group, please contact Michelle Ruggiero at 908-637-4125 or by e-mail at Michelle.Ruggiero@dep.state.nj.us.

For more information about black bears, visit http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/bearfacts.htm.

http://www.earthday.net/ecofootprint

Earth Day Network has just released its newest tool to combat climate change: The new, updated, and much more fun Ecological Footprint Calculator.

In this new tool created by Global Footprint Network, you can create a three-dimensional avatar of your choosing, and tour your virtual neighborhood. Then you will be asked a series of questions about your food consumption, energy use, favorite mode of transportation, type of residence, recycling commitment, and spending habits. You can even choose to take a long version or a short version of the quiz!

The Footprint Calculator will tell you how many "planets" would be necessary to sustain human life- if everyone lived just like you, and how many acres of land and tons of carbon necessary to sustain your lifestyle. You can even revisit your quiz to see where she "went wrong", and find out how to reduce your carbon footprint.

If you are a teacher or professor, encourage your students to take the quiz and experiment with the answers. An interesting, engaging and highly educational way to teach sustainability and inspire change.

NOTE: The new Footprint Calculator has launched with measures for the United States and Australia only, but we expect to have a new batch of countries by the end of the year. In the meantime, take the test for the country which you think looks more like your own, and then compare results!

Earth Day Network - 1616 P St. NW Suite 340 - Washington DC 20036 - earthday.net - ph 202.518.0044 - fax 202.518.8794

From the Will Steger Foundation’s Global Warming 101 initiative, Arctic Community Curriculum focuses on community, solutions, and positive messages of hope and action in response to the challenge of climate change. Based on the idea that we are all members of the community of Planet Earth, the curriculum looks in detail at a specific area, namely the Arctic, to help us appreciate the meaning of community. The Arctic Community Curriculum is free of charge and compliments the other educational resources available through the Web site.
http://eelink.net/cgi-bin/ee-link/newclick/8472231

The Dangers of Plastic Bags report reinforces the need to change how we take home our groceries. BYOB!
http://eelink.net/cgi-bin/ee-link/newclick/8472233

Visit the ThinkEarth Web site for two easy-to-conduct surveys that will help lessen your environmental impact. The home survey can be conducted by family members, and the school survey can be conducted as a class project from grade six and up. Once survey answers are entered online, personalized recommendations are generated to show you how to better "Think Earth." The free, broad-based surveys cover air quality, energy and water conservation, and waste reduction.
http://eelink.net/cgi-bin/ee-link/newclick/8472237

Explore the world's oceans - from Far Rockaway and the Jersey Shore to Baja California, Hawai'i, and Palau - in the latest issue of Sea Stories, an online journal of creative writing and art by ocean-lovers from all backgrounds and walks of life: writers, artists, educators, students, scientists, fishers, conservationists, explorers, and just regular people. Educators are invited to use Sea Stories in the classroom or as a publishing opportunity for yourself or your students. Join us in celebrating all things oceanic.
http://eelink.net/cgi-bin/ee-link/newclick/8472239

As food and fuel prices rise, a new generation of farmers is looking to sustainable agriculture as a way to provide fresh local food to local consumers in ways that protect the planet. Sustainable Farmer is a new multimedia online magazine for people raising food and fiber with respect for the future of all living things.
http://eelink.net/cgi-bin/ee-link/newclick/8472241

Free online access to historical and current aerial photographs for environmental due diligence and site assessments at www.historicaerials.com You can view aerial photography taken from the 1930s through today. Multi-year comparison tools will enable you to quickly recognize historical changes in a specific parcel of land or the surrounding area of a property.

If you have further questions regarding the aerial photography you may also contact Brett at 480-967-6752, ext 207 or email at brett@netronline.com If in addition to aerial photography, you also have a need for environmental lien/AUL title reports please contact Brooke at 480-967-6752, ext 205 or by email at brooke@netronline.com and she would be happy to assist you.

Project Learning Tree (PLT), in partnership with the World Forestry Center, has completed a new set of secondary activities Global Connections: Forests of the World. The module consists of nine activities that provide students with the opportunity to do research and apply critical thinking skills to consider the social, economic, and environmental implications that underlie decisions about forest management. Educators can use the module in biology, geography, agriculture, and other science and social studies courses at the high school or early college level.
http://www.plt.org/cms/pages/31_41_54.html

"Understanding Sustainability" is a new, flexible, self-contained 1-2 week curriculum unit aligned with national science standards for middle school educators to teach sustainability issues from Facing the Future. This curriculum features hands-on activities that explore sustainability issues, such as energy, consumption, water scarcity, transportation choices, and potential solutions. Thanks to funding from the Russell Family Foundation, a version of this unit is available for Washington State teachers free of charge. In addition, thanks to designated funding from the Marine Conservation Alliance Foundation and the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, a version of the unit is also available free of charge to classroom educators in Alaska.
http://www.facingthefuture.org/Home/CurriculumDeta...

The Greater Newark Conservancy has Discovery Boxes available for educators in the Newark area (and beyond) for free.Each box contains one month’s worth of lessons, lesson materials (for 25 students), classroom display materials and a comprehensive Teacher’s Guide.All Discovery Boxes correlate to the NJ Core Curriculum Content Standards, which are included in the Teacher’s Guide.Delivery and pickup within Newark is provided by the Greater Newark Conservancy, educators outside of Newark may arrange to pick up the boxes from our office.

We have ten discovery boxes:
Asthma Information
Environment and Your Body
Food Science
Lead Awareness
Lenape Life
Managing Our Garbage
Nelson Mandela Freedom Garden
Seeds
Urban Wildlife
Wonders of Weather

Daniel Wolff
dwolff@citybloom.org
(973) - 642 - 4646 (extension 11)
Greater Newark Conservancy
972 Broad Street, 8th Floor
Newark, NJ 07102

The EoE Collection is anchored by an electronic version of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Nobel Prize-winning reports. It also includes articles by climate experts, biographies of individuals who have made important contributions to climate science and policy, a timeline of key events in the history of climate science and policy, a climate glossary, and much more. Scientists, educators, environmental professionals, and concerned citizens should find the collection to be an invaluable resource.
EoE seeks to expand the collection with articles on a wide range of climate-related topics written for a large and diverse global audience.
http://www.eoearth.org/article/Climate_Change_%28c...

New Jersey DEP's Division of Fish and Wildlife brought the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) to New Jersey in 2005. There are currently 15 NASP schools in the state that teach archery in their physical education programs.

Although there is interest amongst other schools the cost of the required equipment has been an obstacle to growing the program. That obstacle has been removed by a recent grant from the Easton Sports Development Foundation, which paid for 21 NASP archery equipment sets for New Jersey. Starting this fall, schools in every county will have access to a NASP equipment loaner kit, free of charge. The kits have an individual value of $2,800 so this is an excellent no-cost way for teachers to introduce archery into their physical education curriculum.

NASP is designed to teach Junior Olympic Archery Development style target archery in the 4th - 12th grades. Students shoot at bulls-eye targets placed before an arrow resistant net in their gymnasium. Equipment used is state-of-the-art and designed to fit every student. Core content covers archery history, safety, technique, equipment, mental concentration and self-improvement. The course is designed for a minimum of 10 forty-minute sessions. Most schools go beyond the phys-ed class and establish teams, which compete at the state level with the top school moving on to the national tournament.


To participate in NASP, physical education teachers are required to complete a free 8- hour NASP training program. Interested teachers can register for the training programs being scheduled for late summer and early fall. An effort is being made to schedule training sessions on teacher in-service days. At the conclusion of the training teachers can schedule the use of the equipment for a minimum of 10 school days.

Is your school next? Teachers and administrators interested in having their school participate in NASP or teachers who want to register for training should contact Keith Griglak at keith.griglak@dep.state.nj.us (908-735-6826) if your school is located north of Route 195 or Nathan Figley at nathan.figley@dep.state.nj.us (856-629-1014) if located south of Route 195.

More information on the National Archery in the Schools Program can be found by clicking on the following link: http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/nasp.htm

View U.S. history through a local lens! Civil War Quests offer students the opportunity to learn from the place they live. Students adopt soldiers and use primary & secondary sources to connect with history personally. They practice being historians, and their culminating product extends learning to the broader community. Free and online. Valley Quest is available to lead training workshops. Created by www.valleyquest.org and www.flowofhistory.org with support from the Teaching American History program.
http://eelink.net/cgi-bin/ee-link/newclick/7652119

It's All about Student Learning: Assessing Teacher Candidates' Ability to Impact P-12 Students, edited by Arthur E. Wise and associates, is a compilation of performance assessments currently in use by consortia (the Performance Assessment for California Teachers, or PACT; the Renaissance Partnership, and the Ohio Teacher Quality Partnership), and individual teacher preparation institutions, to measure candidates' ability to impact P-12 student learning, including challenges and lessons learned. The publication includes actual assessment instruments. It provides practical assistance to those designing assessment systems or individual assessments.
http://eelink.net/cgi-bin/ee-link/newclick/7292923

Planned for full release in Fall 2008, LandScope America is an interactive conservation Web site linking maps, data, and stories about natural places of America’s lands and waters. This online resource for the land-protection community and the public is a collaborative project of NatureServe and the National Geographic Society. Tour the site, sign-up for the newsletter, and learn more about conservation efforts and issues in the U.S.
http://eelink.net/cgi-bin/ee-link/newclick/7292921

Adventures with Jonny is a very unique outdoor children's series that combines three books into one. The book opens with a colorfully illustrated, rhyming children's story to pique the child's interest in the sport of fishing. The second section is a parental tutorial to aid parents in the proper introduction of their children to the sport. The book concludes with a fish identification game and a writing journal so that kids may record their early fishing adventures. Adventures with Jonny has teamed up with Project F.I.S.H. in a combined effort to reach more children and introduce them to the great sport of fishing.
http://eelink.net/cgi-bin/ee-link/newclick/7292919

This website has a map interface of the nation showing all the near real-time continuous water quality monitors operated by the USGS. Click on the parameter desired, and New Jersey to see the sites in our state. Hover over the symbol on the map to see the name of the site and the most recent value. Click on the symbol to get tables and graphs of the data, site maps and other data and information about the site.
Streamflow and stage data for the nation is still available from the Surface Water Watch website at http://water.usgs.gov/waterwatch/ and groundwater levels are still available from the Ground-Water Watch website at http://groundwaterwatch.usgs.gov/ .

Real-Time Water Quality Information Available Across the Nation

Real time water-quality data are now easily accessible online through the USGS WaterQualityWatch website (http://water.usgs.gov/waterwatch/wqwatch).

Continuous real-time information on water quality is a vital asset that helps safeguard lives and property and ensures adequate water resources for a healthy economy.

Real-time water quality measurements are available at more than 1,300 sites across the United States in streams with watersheds as small as a few square miles to more than a million square miles in the Mississippi River. Measurements include streamflow, water temperature, specific conductance, pH, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity.

"Real-time water information is breaking new ground in science and technology and is proving to be very useful, helping local water managers make important daily decisions, such as regarding drinking water, water treatment, recreation, and public safety on beaches throughout the U.S." said Matthew Larsen, USGS Acting Associate Director for Water.

The public also uses the on-line data to decide whether conditions, such as water temperature or turbidity, are favorable for recreational activities such as fishing, boating or swimming.

As the science advances, real-time measurements for relatively simple parameters such as temperature, conductance, and turbidity can be used to help predict more health-related conditions, such as if E. coli levels will exceed safety standards at beaches. For example, predictions of E. coli are part of a system used by the City of Wichita to ensure public safety during the Annual Riverfest in May of each year (http://ks.water.usgs.gov/Kansas/rtqw/sites/07143672/htmls/ytd/p31648_ytd_all_uv.shtml).

Access additional USGS real-time water information sites by visiting WaterWatch for surface water information (http://water.usgs.gov/waterwatch/) and Ground-Water Watch (http://groundwaterwatch.usgs.gov/).

USGS provides science for a changing world. For more information, visit www.usgs.gov.

Subscribe to USGS News Releases via our electronic mailing list or RSS feed.

Site offers free biology lesson plans including ecology lab, ecosystems, biomes, the cycles of matter, and environmental science for high school biology teachers. Free science curriculum from Lesson Plans, Inc.
http://eelink.net/cgi-bin/ee-link/newclick/6838670

Environmental Countdown is a nonprofit video community that allows environmental organizations and activist individuals to create profiles and upload and highlight their videos. With easy to use download technology and tools to create a profile page with information about your group, Environmental Countdown offers ways people can donate and volunteer and add your video to your own Web site with a simple code (known as a widget).
http://eelink.net/cgi-bin/ee-link/newclick/6838672

iEARN Launches (OF)2 - Our Footprints, Our Future, an Online Environmental Campaign with Zerofootprint for Earth Day

With the arrival of Earth Day, iEARN has launched a new initiative "(OF)2 -- Our Footprints, Our Future" to enable young people aged 5-19 throughout the world to learn about carbon footprinting, measure their footprint, compare the results with students in other schools, ages, countries, etc. and then interact online on specific lifestyle changes.

This calculator is the first one to be youth-friendly and truly global in its questions and answer options, taking into account, for example, that students go to school using very different transportation systems and have significant variations in their habitats and usage of water and other resources.

Access the Zerofootprint Youth Calculator at http://of2.iearn.org/youthcalculator.html

Recognized children's author and educator Jane Kirkland has made one of her Take A Walk book series for educators available on-line for free, in support of current Environmental Education Week and Earth Day education interests and growing interests in climate and weather.

TAKE A CLOUD WALK
6th book in acclaimed Take a Walk® Series
FREE DOWNLOAD at www.nostudentleftindoors.com

Online book for kids age 8 and up is all about the magical world of clouds!

Philadelphia, PA, April 16, 2008—“April is 'Earth Month' in most people's minds,” says Jane Kirkland, author of TAKE A CLOUD WALK, Stillwater Publishing’s first free downloadable Take A Walk® book.“The earth's health is on children’s minds too, and I wanted to bring climate and weather awareness to kids in a positive, non-threatening and fun way. Clouds are an ever-present natural laboratory for learning about weather and climate. This book is a light-hearted and enjoyable introduction to the wonderful world of clouds.” This full-color, 30-page book can be downloaded now at Jane's new website for educators, www.nostudentleftindoors.com.

Take A Cloud Walk, like its predecessors, helps kids make new and amazing discoveries—this time right above their heads! Readers will learn: The basic names and shapes of clouds, what makes clouds move, why clouds are white, how clouds affect climate change, the difference between weather and climate, weather terms and conditions such as hail, lightning, and fog, and much more!

Teachers can download and print the book for their students. Homeschoolers can download the book for their science studies. With this photo-filled, family -friendly guide in hand, readers age 8 and up learn new and exciting facts about clouds and weather. Jane provides plenty of space and instructions for readers to take field notes and make their own drawings of their exciting discoveries.Jane introduces her readers to the weather experts who helped her with this book—Jim Cantore, meteorologist for The Weather Channel, and “Storming” Bob Swanson, one of USA Today’s “Weather Guys.” Kathy Orr, Chief Meteorologist for KYW Television in Philadelphia was also interviewed. These professionals give children a closer look at the amazing world of weather and how it affects our lives each and every day.

There is no question that too many of our kids have “nature deficit disorder.” But Jane Kirkland believes the cure is simple—getting kids to spend time outdoors for a few moments a day, with her series of award-winning interactive nature books.Take A Backyard Bird Walk, Take A Tree Walk, Take A Walk With Butterflies and Dragonflies, Take A City Nature Walk and Take A Beach Walk showed kids that nature is not a destination—it is everywhere kids go. With the free download of Take A Cloud Walk, children have the opportunity to discover even more about their world. As she does in all her books, Jane reminds readers to remember that they should “Take a minute to be in it” and find adventure, discovery, beauty, and inspiration in nature.

Editors / Producers: Jane Kirkland is available for interview.Review copies of Take A Walk® books and photographs are available.Learn more about Jane at www.takeawalk.com.
Contact: Kae Tienstra, 610-395-6298, kae@ktpublicrelations.com.

Take A Cloud Walk
Stillwater Publishing
Spring 2008
FREE DOWNLOADABLE BOOK at www.takeawalk.com and at www.NoStudentLeftIndoors.com
Full color
30 pages

Media contact:
Kae Tienstra
KT / PR & Literary Services
1905 Cricklewood Cove
Fogelsville, PA 18051
610-395-6298
www.ktpublicrelations.com
Visit our new blog:
www.newliteraryagents.blogspot.com

Annenburg Media Web site offers The Power of Place instructional video series for high school and college classrooms. Visitors can watch any of the VODs after completing a free online registration form, and further explore Web content on each program.
http://eelink.net/cgi-bin/ee-link/newclick/5781242

This Earth Day, the National Council of Churches Eco-Justice Programs is marking Earth Day Sunday (the Sunday closest to Earth Day) by recognizing the interconnectedness of poverty and climate change and offering a resource for worship, adult study, and youth activities. Copies are available online.
http://eelink.net/cgi-bin/ee-link/newclick/5781192

New Guide on the Health and Environmental Effects of Pollution and Toxins for Congregations
Pollution of the air, land, and water, along with toxic chemicals found in products ranging from children’s toys to baby bottles are leading to unprecedented illnesses and disease. These conditions range from asthma to cancer. The National Council of Churches is offering this resource to give people of faith the tools to respond in their home, their congregation, and their community. Learn more about Mindful Living: Human Health, Pollution, and Toxics.
http://eelink.net/cgi-bin/ee-link/newclick/5781194

The New Jersey Department of Education has established a newsletter to serve the information needs of the state's education community and the general public.DOE f.y.i.will provide readers with regular updates on news involving state-level programs affecting the public schools in digest form.It will also contain news about upcoming events and recent postings on our Web-site.

Please take some time to review the inaugural issue by clicking on the link at the end of this message.We have taken the liberty of sending you the first issue because of your expressed interest in education.If you would like to continue to receive this free newsletter, we are asking you to fill out a brief subscription request.You will be subscribed upon submission of your request.

To review your issue of DOE f.y.i., click on this link:

http://www.nj.gov/education/newsletter/08/0402.pdf

For your free subscription to DOE f.y.i., click on this link:

http://www.nj.gov/education/newsletter/

If you have any questions or comments about DOE f.y.i., please contact the Office of Public Information at 609-292-1126.

This new book Feet Wet, Hands Dirty: Environmental Projects in Maryland Public Schools, highlights 15 different elementary school student-developed environmental projects. Maryland's EE program provides students with the opportunity to investigate environmental issues and take action to preserve or restore the environment.
http://eelink.net/cgi-bin/ee-link/newclick/5182266

Exploratorium site links to real-time NOAA imagery and graphs on atmosphere, hydrosphere, global effects, etc. Students can explore scientific data relating to the atmosphere, the oceans, areas covered by ice and snow, and the living organisms in all these domains.
http://eelink.net/cgi-bin/ee-link/newclick/5182268

When the weather changes daily, how do we really know that Earth’s climate is changing? A new book from Lynne Cherry and co-author Gary Braasch, written especially for middle schoolers, How We Know What We Know About Our Changing Climate: Scientists and Kids Explore Global Warming (Dawn Publications, March 2008) presents the evidence behind the headlines—gathered by scientists from all over the world, sometimes with the assistance of young "citizen scientists" and told in an age-appropriate manner with clarity and hope.
http://eelink.net/cgi-bin/ee-link/newclick/5182270

New online journal, Lessons in Conservation (LinC), provides educators and students with the most up-to-date resources and thinking in biodiversity conservation. Published semi-annually, the official publication of the Network of Conservation Educators and Practitioners (NCEP) is a collaborative project to develop capacity aimed at sustaining Earth's biological and cultural diversity. The teaching modules presented include documents summarizing a wide range of topics, field or laboratory exercises, and relevant short case studies with teaching notes to help educators tailor their lessons to local issues or questions. All modules include current, peer-reviewed content and are designed to facilitate active approaches to teaching and learning.
http://eelink.net/cgi-bin/ee-link/newclick/5182262

HippoWorks.com has just produced a new 12-part cartoon series "One by One, Ton by Ton, Let's Stop Global Warming!" to help teach kids about this important environmental issue and what they can do to stop it. A new episode will air every week.
As an educational tool for teachers, each episode concludes with questions and a glossary for a follow-up classroom discussion. Previous cartoons from Hippo Works have promoted energy conservation, awareness about animal extinction, and green living. The weekly cartoonlets are a free offering, for subscribers or for your Web site!
http://eelink.net/cgi-bin/ee-link/newclick/5182258

This Spring, National Geographic Explorer Will Steger and a team of young adventurers from Norway, Great Britain, Canada, and the U.S. will bring their High Arctic dogsled expedition to educators and learners through multimedia dispatches.
Endorsed by the National Education Association (NEA), this adventure learning project includes standards-linked multidisciplinary lesson plans appropriate for middle school and older students that explore how climate shapes the past, present, and future for members of the High Arctic community. In addition to the free lesson plans, the site includes discussion starters that challenge students to think critically and form well-supported opinions.
http://eelink.net/cgi-bin/ee-link/newclick/5182240

The CAPCO Classroom Aerosol Adventure Kit contains all of the materials necessary to teach your students about the Earth’s protective upper ozone layer, CFCs, and aerosol products in a fun and active way. The kit includes a teacher’s guide, classroom activities, experiments, homework assignments, and the DVD, "Another Awesome Aerosol Adventure," created by the makers of "Beakman’s World." It is a perfect compliment to standard teaching materials and an excellent way to meet state SOLs. The kit is free and can be ordered or downloaded from CAPCO’s Web site.
http://eelink.net/cgi-bin/ee-link/newclick/4682954

Special Offer for Classroom Teachers! Free 1-Year Subscription to YES! Magazine.

YES! magazine is an ad-free quarterly journal published by the Positive Futures Network, an independent, nonprofit organization supporting people’s active engagement in creating a just, sustainable, and compassionate world. Our stories are about real people making positive change in the real world. They are stories of hope that are especially inspiring to young people.

YES! honors classroom teachers for engaging and inspiring the next generation. Thanks to the generosity of our funders we can provide K-12 classroom teachers and college faculty with a one-year introductory subscription at no cost.

Sign up now and start your free year of YES! with our next issue devoted to climate change solutions with compelling stories by Bill McKibben, Joanna Macy, youth, and others about what's needed for us to meet this global challenge.

Sign up today at: http://eelink.net/cgi-bin/ee-link/newclick/4682952

Free "Kids Outdoors" magazine that can be ordered for visitors centers, events, workshops, outreach--targets families, communities, recreation, green living--a deal!

Children & Nature Network (C&NN)
Kids Outdoors Magazine

We have exciting news!As part of the "Leave No Child Inside" campaign, the Children & Nature Network (C&NN) has endorsed a magazine titled Kids Outdoors Magazine.Kids Outdoors Magazine focuses on helping parents, grandparents, and caregivers reconnect children with nature by providing compelling evidence of how children learn and grow by spending time outdoors.The look, feel and content makes getting kids outside fun and easy and promotes the benefits to their physical and psychological health.

Kids Outdoors Magazine has four distinct sections focusing on:
* Outdoor recreation (biking, hiking, skiing, camping, snowshoeing, etc..)
* Healthy and green living (safety, organic foods, non-toxic cleaning, recycling, plant a garden)
* Nature-based family vacations (visit a nature center, raft the Grand Canyon, volunteering)
* Connecting with nature (crafts, scavenger hunts, build a butterfly house)

Our goal is to reach as many families as possible and expose them to the concept.That's where you come in.Nature Centers get regular visitors, school children on field trips, host events and have many other opportunities to put copies of the magazine in the hands of the people who are most likely to respond to the message.And, you are a highly respected source. The best part is that you will have the opportunity to distribute the magazine absolutely FREE OF CHARGE to your visitors, members, and the general public in your community!You simply request them and we ship them to you.

An advisory board made up of ANCA members will oversee the editorial content for this magazine.That way we can ensure that all the information comes from experts and that it fits the missions of both the C&NN and ANCA.

It will include advertising.It couldn't be funded otherwise.ANCA will have the opportunity to reject any advertisers it feels are controversial or would cause any other conflict.The great thing is that advertisers want the same thing we want-to get a message to as many people as possible.

Our projected launch is Spring 2009 but Please respond now.You can help by letting us know if you are willing to participate and how many single copies you will distribute annually.Keep in mind, it costs you nothing and we are trying to reach as many families as possible with this important message.Our target goal is a minimum of 2,000,000 copies across the nation annually.Don't forget to include visiting groups, events, PR functions and other gatherings in your calculations.

Again, these are free single copies, not subscriptions.We do intend to solicit subscriptions (a tear out card will be included in every copy) and a portion of that money will go to the Children and Nature Network.

It is a quarterly magazine; we will ship every three months.How many can you distribute?Please try to estimate in multiples of 100. Please also keep in mind that the more you can give away, the better.From our perspective, and building a base that is attractive to advertisers (our source of funding), it is better to overestimate than underestimate.We can always cut back on shipments later.Let us know as soon as possible.We need to establish our total numbers.

Kids Outdoors Magazine will be published by the same company that publishes Whisper in the Woods Nature Journal. Yes, we are moving full speed to find a sponsor for the Whisper in the Woods project. The two publications work hand in hand.Whisper in the Woods has the staff in place to handle both simultaneously.As they seek sponsors for one, they are recruiting and building relationships for the other.

You may download a sample PDF of the prototype issue at http://www.whisperinthewoods.com/sample/sampleissue.htm

We can also help you find ways to use the magazine to market your center. Don't hesitate to call Kimberli to discuss it.

Please send your numbers directly to Kimberli at kim@whisperinthewoods.com

If you have further questions, feel free to contact Kimberli Bindschatel at (866) 943-0153 ext. 83.

Produced by the Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in association with the Harvard University Center for the Environment, the course consists of 13 half-hour streaming video programs, online text, professional development guide, and a Web site. Graduate credit is available from participating institutions. All online materials are free of charge and hard copies of materials are available at nominal cost.
http://eelink.net/cgi-bin/ee-link/newclick/4154928

EPA is working with 20th Century Fox in connection with their new movie, Dr. Seuss' "Horton Hears a Who" to help Americans and their kids learn about energy efficiency and ENERGY STAR. Using the lyrical rhymes and colorful illustrations that are the hallmarks of Dr. Seuss, EPA has two new brochures to remind us that - with help from Horton and ENERGY STAR - we can all do our part to fight global warming, save energy, and protect the earth. Both brochures are downloadable from the Web site.
http://eelink.net/cgi-bin/ee-link/newclick/4154930

The US Environmental Protection Agency has developed the "Teach English, Teach about the Environment" curriculum to assist teachers of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) to teach English to adult students while introducing basic concepts about the environment and individual environmental responsibility.
http://eelink.net/cgi-bin/ee-link/newclick/4154932

Classroom teachers, home school educators, naturalists – if you are committed to teaching children about the world in which they live and how they are an integral part, you will appreciate these 230 illustrated pages of hands-on activities. These activities have been created from the first-hand experience of the Ferry Beach Ecology School Staff on the coast of Maine or adapted with permission from other environmental organizations.
http://eelink.net/cgi-bin/ee-link/newclick/4154926

The SAI (STEM Accelerator Initiative) Guide to Building Effective STEM Education Programs has just been made available by the National Alliance of State Science and Mathematics Coalitions (NASSMC). Written by Brett Pawlowski of DeHavilland Associates, the SAI Guide is a complete resource for anyone designing a new education program or conducting a strategic review of an existing program.
http://eelink.net/cgi-bin/ee-link/newclick/4154924

New interactive software collects bird sightings at parks and refuges

Ithaca, NY-­Parks, nature centers, and wildlife areas can now enhance their visitors’ experience with the installation of eBird Trail Tracker software from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. The program includes maps and checklists of birds customized for each site. Visitors check Trail Tracker to find out which birds have been seen recently and where they may find them. After going out on the trails, visitors can record their own sightings, creating a continuous, updated record of bird observations for the site. Users can also view photographs, listen to sounds, and read life history information about all the birds on the site’s checklist, using simple touch-screen technology. Trail Tracker may be used at a regular computer work station or self-contained kiosk.

The program is already in use at Estero Llano Grande State Park in Weslaco, Texas. “It’s an easy, user-friendly way for our visitors to get an update on the species they are interested in seeing and then share their experiences with future visitors,” says Estero Llano Grande park natural resource specialist Jennifer Owen. “People enjoy mapping their sightings and comparing them to what others have seen, plus the new sound and video features make it an educational tool.”

All eBird Trail Tracker reports are pooled in eBird, a database containing millions of bird observations maintained by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society. Anyone can explore this data at www.ebird.org, using charts and graphs that highlight patterns in bird distribution over time.

For an online demonstration of eBird Trail Tracker, visit www.birds.cornell.edu/is/ett. For more information contact Barry Bermudez at bab78@cornell.edu or 607-254-1143.

Ever wonder what it would be like to live with your own garbage? In Garbage! The Revolution Starts at Home, director Andrew Nisker takes an average urban family, the McDonalds, and asks them to keep every scrap of garbage that they create for three months. He then takes them on a journey to find out where it all goes and what it's doing to the world. http://eelink.net/cgi-bin/ee-link/newclick/2431714

This new e-learning Web site provides science-based, introductory information about invasive plants. The five self-study modules address the purpose and history of the Refuge System, how volunteers help in invasive plant management, how refuges manage invasive plants, and tips for community outreach. The program is part of a larger U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service program in conjunction with partners to engage volunteers in managing invasive species on National Wildlife Refuges. http://eelink.net/cgi-bin/ee-link/newclick/2431716

This site features printable (K-6) teacher worksheets all aligned to National Standards and can be sorted by grade level of subject. http://eelink.net/cgi-bin/ee-link/newclick/2431718

These are just in from the current (just landed) space mission. These pixs are so good that it makes one feel as if you are there taking the pictures. Maximize your viewing area and enjoy.
(Oh yeah. . .look for the $10,000,000 screwdriver on the space-walker's "magic utility belt" !)
http://www.texasjim.com/NASApix/NASA%20pix.htm

Mike Watts
Regional Sales Manager
904 374-4002 Office
904 477-4504 Cell
904 374-4066 Fax

The U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy offers 350 downloadable lessons and activities on energy efficiency and renewable energy, organized by grade level and topic. http://eelink.net/cgi-bin/ee-link/newclick/2016659

From The JASON Project, this free and online curriculum is designed to teach students (grades 5-8) how powerful storms form and how advanced technology is used to better understand and forecast weather. The five- to nine-week core science unit covers key middle school National Science Education Standards, and can be aligned to state standards. http://eelink.net/cgi-bin/ee-link/newclick/2061465

The first 500 educators to respond to a survey the Entomological Foundation is conducting will receive the science education kit free once it is developed. The survey is to help determine what the needs of K-12 educators are regarding the use of insects in teaching science. Follow the link to the survey: http://eelink.net/cgi-bin/ee-link/newclick/2061459

ECOBASURA is a board game to help teach recycling, raw material recovery, profitable reduction of wastes, and the environmental renovation. Created in Colombia and endorsed by its Educational Ministry, it is adaptable game to all languages and cultures. The Web site is available in English or Spanish.
http://eelink.net/cgi-bin/ee-link/newclick/1783684#

The American Chestnut Foundation (www.acf.org/), is bringing back as much of the native American Chestnut as possible through many generations of crossback.

They have been working with Penn State to bring back this magnificent hardwood, which had been the predominant hardwood tree in PA.

A surviving American Chestnut was combinedwiththe Japanese chestnut, which is blight resistant, and through at least 16 back crosses at this point, have developed trees that are mostly American Chestnut, but are blight resistant.They intend to continue refining the strain with more back crossing.

My students and I were fortunate enough to receive 10 of these trees, which we planted on the school grounds.They will be innoculated with blight and the survivors (statistically maybe 1?) will be used in the back crossing efforts.The American Chestnut Foundation has marvelous teaching kits available to teachers, and will also send germinated chestnuts to schools for planting.This is an exciting project, and it would be great for more schools to be involved.

Darlene Yanoff
Fourth Grade Teacher
Franklin Twp. School

http://maps.grida.no/
Welcome to the UNEP/GRID-Arendal Maps and Graphics library.
This service is an on-going project to collect and catalogue all graphic products that have been prepared for publications and web-sites from the last 15 years in a wide range of themes related to environment and sustainable development. To learn more about UNEP/GRID-Arendal, please visit our main web-site.

There are currently 1003 graphics available in the database.

Edutopia article "Truth and Consequences: Teaching Global Warming Doesn't Have to Spell 'Fear'," by Kevin Sweeney, discusses approaches to take when teaching children about global warming. Sweeney was to speak to a fifth-grade classroom about climate change and heard concern raised by other parents over instilling fear in these students. Sweeney received advice from friends to "focus less on the details and more on a framework." Read the article for practical advice.
http://eelink.net/cgi-bin/ee-link/newclick/1466367index

Check out the growing list of resources on the Climate Change page of the EE-Link Web site.
http://eelink.net/cgi-bin/ee-link/newclick/1466369

Yes, Kids, There Really is a Magic School Bus

Contact:
Dave Ryan, (202) 564-4355 / ryan.dave@epa.gov
Paul Niemi, (212) 343-6402 / pniemi@scholastic.com

Science, imagination, education, healthier kids and a cleaner environment come together when Scholastic Inc. and EPA team up to clean up the Magic School Bus. Released today, The Magic School Bus Gets Cleaned Up – a new special edition book based on the popular Scholastic series – takes children on a smart, fun and colorful trip to learn what can be done to protect their lungs and their world from air pollution.

"President Bush and EPA are making that black puff of diesel smoke from school buses something children only learn about in history class," said EPA Deputy Administrator Marcus Peacock. "This book is a fun way to inspire our children to make our communities cleaner, healthier places to live."

"The Magic School Bus for decades has entertained children and educated them about how innovation and science can make the world better," said Leslye Schaefer, Scholastic Media Senior Vice President. "Scholastic is thrilled to join the EPA in its effort to educate children and their families about clean air – and to make The Magic School Bus more environmentally friendly at the same time."

EPA Deputy Administrator Marcus Peacock read the book to second graders gathered in Cunningham Park Elementary School library in Vienna, Va., outside Washington, D.C. Afterward, the students boarded Scholastic's traveling Magic School Bus, which is an interactive science experience for children. The bus, which had a new diesel particulate filter installed, courtesy of Caterpillar Inc., has had its particulate matter pollution reduced by up to 90 percent.

Children are especially vulnerable to the effects of diesel emissions, which can cause respiratory disease and exacerbate long-term conditions, such as asthma. EPA has set stringent standards to dramatically cut nitrogen oxides and particulate matter from new heavy-duty diesel engines, such as those used in school buses. EPA addresses emissions from the nation's existing fleet of school buses through Clean School Bus USA, a component of the National Clean Diesel Campaign. Clean School Bus USA brings together partners from business, education, transportation and public health organizations to eliminate unnecessary school bus idling, add pollution control devices to buses, and replace the oldest buses with new, cleaner buses. Because of Clean School Bus USA, more than 2 million students across the country are riding on cleaner buses. The special edition book is Clean School Bus USA's first partnership with Scholastic.

Scholastic -- the global children's publishing, education and media company -- is celebrating The Magic School Bus book series' 20th anniversary this year as the Emmy award-winning television series marks ten seasons on the air. Over the years, millions of children have joined Ms. Frizzle as she takes her students on class field trips and scientific adventures. Kids can join the class by reading the books, watching the television show on The Learning Channel and Discovery Kids, and viewing DVDs.

More information about the book and how to order: http://www.epa.gov/otaq/schoolbus/msb-book.htm

More about Clean School Bus USA: http://www.epa.gov/otaq/schoolbus

WOW...take a look...an air pollution problem is solved on the Magic School Bus!

These books are available at no charge from EPA.They are not for sale. They are best suited for Grades K through 4. Books must be ordered directly from the EPA publications clearinghouse. See ordering info at end of e-mail.There are specified limits on the number that can be ordered. http://www.epa.gov/otaq/schoolbus/msb-book.htm

EPA’s Clean School Bus USA program has partnered with Scholastic to write, illustrate, and publish a new book in the popular "Magic School Bus" children’s series.

In “The Magic School Bus Gets Cleaned Up,” the children and Ms. Frizzle explore the pollution emitted from their own diesel school bus and learn about how to reduce the emissions as they find themselves traveling through a diesel engine. The children learn about idle reduction and ways the community can help reduce the health risks from diesel exhaust. At the end of the book, the "Magic School Bus" gets its own pollution control device, a diesel particulate-matter filter.

Ordering info at: http://www.epa.gov/otaq/schoolbus/outreach.htm#order_pubs

EERE Network News - 10/18/07 DOE announced last week the launch of a new educational Web site that provides more than 350 lesson plans and activities on energy efficiency and renewable energy for grades K-12. DOE's new "Get Smart About Energy!" Web site includes hands-on activities that address energy fundamentals, energy efficiency, sources of energy, and the environmental impacts of energy use, and all the activities and lesson plans are aligned with the National Science Education Standards. Teacher guides are included with many of the lessons, and all the materials are free and reproducible. The Web site will help to equip today's students with the knowledge and resources to develop cutting-edge energy technologies in the future.

The new Web site is part of DOE's EnergySmart Schools Program, which also promotes energy efficient schools. K-12 schools spend more than $8 billion annually on energy, making energy the second highest operating expenditure for these schools after personnel costs. To help lower those costs, the EnergySmart Schools program promotes the building of new schools that exceed code by 50% or more, as well as retrofits to existing schools that improve energy efficiency by 30% or more. The program is endorsed by the National School Boards Association and offers tools and resources to assist school decision makers in planning and financing energy-efficient high-performance schools. The program also offers education and training for building industry professionals.

http://www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/energysmartschools/

Just published, Nature Inside Out- A Leader's Guide to Nature Education Programs is the perfect addition to your classroom resource library. Using this simple approach that spans multiple disciplines, preschool and elementary school teachers, scout leaders, camp counselors, naturalists and home schooling parents will discover the natural beauty in their schoolyard, backyard or neighborhood and learn ways to use these resources to bring their curricula to life.

Uniquely divided in to 12 chapters that correspond to the months of the year, Nature Inside Out offers background information, indoor activities, songs, recommended reading, outdoor activities and art projects that relate to the chapter's topic.

Nature Inside Out is available through the publisher, I-Universe , Amazon.com or most other online book retailers.

The Environmental Education and Training Partnership (EETAP) has developed these understandable and explainable descriptions of "Environmental Literacy" and "Environmental Education" to make it easier for the field to explain and how these terms are directly connected with people’s lives. Included with the descriptions are examples of what environmental literacy looks like, how EE and educational achievement are linked, EE "done right," and links to additional resources.
Comments or suggestions? Contact: gmedina@niagaradsl.com
http://eetap.org/html/environmental_literacy.php
(mouse-over "Education & Environmental Literacy" to view all four sections)

Learn how to restore naturally appearing wetlands at schools and nature centers for use by 30-students at a time for under $2,000.00.Author Tom Biebighauser has built over 985 wetlands across North America and regularly teaches hands-on wetland restoration workshops.The book features his specialty of helping educators build wetlands at schools by using a variety of techniques including synthetic liners to benefit frogs, toads, salamanders, aquatic plants, and endangered species.

Supplement Opportunity (NSF)

National Science Foundation will fund activities that will enable K-12 science educators to participate in projects funded by the Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO) at the National Science Foundation (NSF).

The goal of the Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) activity is to enhance the professional development of K-12 science educators through research experience at the emerging frontiers of science in order to bring new knowledge into the classroom. BIO strongly encourages all its grantees to make special efforts to identify talented teachers who can participate in this RET supplement activity to integrate research and education.

A RET can be requested as a supplement to an existing NSF award or as part of a new or renewal NSF proposal. NSF 07-539 (Posted 7/10/07)

URL: http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf07039

Deadline: Varies

The Surfrider Foundation, Jersey Shore Chapter has put the contents of its Respect the Beach program online.The lesson plans, teacher tools, and even a game can be found at www.respectthebeach.com .We are looking for teachers interested in bringing these lessons into their classrooms or educational programs.Learn more about the Surfrider Foundation at www.surfrider.org and the Jersey Shore Chapter at www.surfriderjsc.org

John Weber
North East Regional Manager
Surfrider Foundation
732-988-4742
Jweber@surfrider.org

Please help our Mother Ocean by becoming a Surfrider Foundation member!

Encyclopedia of Life
Supported by grants from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the "Encyclopedia of Life" is a global effort to document all 1.8 million named species of animals, plants, and other forms of life on Earth. The encyclopedia will be a multimedia Wikipedia-style Web site, providing downloadable information on each species. The Field Museum, Harvard University, the Marine Biological Laboratory at Woods Hole, the Smithsonian Institution, and the Biodiversity Heritage Library partnered to launch the project.
See Demo >http://www.eol.org

The Forest History Society introduces If Trees Could Talk, http://www.foreshistory.org/Education/Curriculum.

If Trees Could Talk is an excellent new Environmental History Middle School curriculum, http://www.foresthistory.org/Education/Curriculum.This 9 module curriculum allows teachers to download (free of charge) social studies activities that are based upon archival materials and focus on environmental history.If Trees Could Talk helps students develop critical thinking skills in environmental issues within a social context.It helps produce better informed and more productive citizens.If Trees Could Talk is a comprehensive program that has been tested by teachers in multiple states.It is correlated to National History and Social Studies Standards, as well as New Jersey’s Core Curriculum Content Standards.This curriculum offers not only Social Studies lesson plans but also numerous team teaching possibilities for Science, Math, Technology, and English.To find out more about the Forest History Society and their educational programs go to http://www.foresthistory.org/Education.For additional questions or comments contact, Meg John, mfry@duke.edu.

Combine the power of radio, the Internet, and Project Learning Tree activities to enhance learning in the classroom.Earth & Sky produces short daily radio shows on a range of environmental topics.These 90-second shows can also be downloaded for free from the Internet and many are correlated to Project Learning Tree (PLT) activities.
Both Web sites provide a wealth of additional resources for educators and students for each radio show and PLT activity:
http://earthsky.org/teachers/
http://www.plt.org/cms/pages/21_23_60.html

By Jane Kirkland, author and publisher of the award-winning Take A Walk® series of nature adventure books. No Student Left Indoors: Creating a Field Guide to Your Schoolyard, is a guide for K-8 grade teachers to create an interdisciplinary nature-study in any schoolyard. Stillwater Publishing, June 2007.
http://www.takeawalk.com

Feed your imagination with the just-released Vernal 2007 issue of Sea Stories , an online journal of creative writing and art by ocean-lovers from all backgrounds and walks of life. Educators are invited to use Sea Stories in the classroom or as a publishing opportunity for themselves or their students.
http://www.seastories.org

Composting in the Classroom: Scientific Inquiry for High School Students, by Nancy Trautmann and Marianne Krasny, is a comprehensive guide for teachers interested in guiding composting research projects by high school students. Downloadable in pdf format.
http://compost.css.cornell.edu/CIC.html

New Jersey Natural Gas is proud to sponsor the Energy Hog, a nationwide energy efficiency campaign launched by the Alliance to Save Energy and the Ad Council. The program teaches children and adults about the many ways they can conserve energy in their homes.

The children’s section of the Web site offers fun, interactive games and contests designed to help children understand the importance of saving energy. Adults will find the energy facts, checklists and home energy audit helpful when looking for ways to conserve energy costs in their home.Many resources and activities are available to help parents and teachers encourage children to explore the world of energy and learn about energy conservation.

We believe educating young children about energy conservation will help them make smarter energy choices throughout their lives – saving energy now and helping preserve our natural resources for years to come. Use the information below to learn more about the Energy Hog program and how it can open up a child's mind to the idea of energy efficiency.

Teachers can use the following guides to incorporate energy efficiency into their classroom curriculum.
Student Guide - http://www.njliving.com/pdf/studentguide.pdf
Teacher Guide - http://www.njliving.com/pdf/teacherguide.pdf

Families can use the Energy Hog Scavenger Hunt to find where the Energy Hog may be lurking in their home.
For more information about the program and to play the online games, visit www.energyhog.com.

The Energy Hog campaign is a program of the Alliance to Save Energy and the Ad Council. It is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, The Home Depot, the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association, 18 state energy offices and New Jersey Natural Gas to advance home energy efficiency.

The Easy Breathers high school student produced video investigates air pollution problems and teaches new teen drivers the importance of making wise, eco-friendly driving choices. It's a great springboard for science, driver's education, or environmental lessons. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is in the process of distributing as many as possible to the EE community at no charge. For single, multiple, or bulk orders, please contact Elisabeth Olson at Elisabeth.Olson@wisconsin.gov or (608) 264-9258.

Looking for an inspiring lesson to engage your middle and high school students at the end of the school year? Or the perfect faculty workshop? Facing the Future's interdisciplinary activities provide a starting place for young people to think critically about issues facing the planet and to find entry points for making a difference in their local and global communities.
Free Lessons: http://www.facingthefuturedata.org/download.htm
Workshops and student textbooks: http://www.teacherscorner.org/howto.htm

This is an announcement for free workshops for K - 12 public and private school personnel.
Colleges and Universities developed this program.
It is designed to enable schools to develop best management practices to avoid environmental problems and violations.

Workshops are free.

Please see the Web site or the PDF document for details and registration information.

The colleges and universities involved have already mailed out information to localK - 12 schools.This announcement is meant to bring the workshops to the attention of workshop audience members who may not have been on those invitation lists.

This program grew out of an EPA Region 2 initiative that focused on environmental violations at colleges and universities.The workshops are geared to non-higher education facilities.Participants will receive free software to help management of environmental issues in schools.

Please check to be sure you are part ofthe target audience for these workshops:
Audience: School Superintendents, Principals, and Administrators, Health and Safety Personnel, Art and Science Teachers and Supervisors, Buildings and Grounds Supervisors, and Transportation Supervisors

(See file: fall2006.k-12workshops.registration.web.pdf)
www.K-12compliance.org

Teresa (Terry) Ippolito
Environmental Education Coordinator/Education Press
U.S. EPA , Region 2 Public Affairs Division/26th Floor
290 Broadway New York, New York 10007-1866
phone: (212) 637-3671fax: (212) 637-4445
VISIT EPA'S ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION WEBSITES:
www.epa.gov/teachers
www.epa.gov/kids (pre-K - 4th grade)
www.epa.gov/students (middle grades)
www.epa.gov/highschool
www.epa.gov/enviroed

Fun learning resources from Texas Water Development Board designed to help K-6 students become more water wise. Includes a series of interactive website modules, a 6th grade curriculum, and a K-3 coloring book with original Texas-centric characters.
http://www.twdb.state.tx.us/kids/

Attached please find additional Science Fair ideas from Project WET, Conserve Water, Healthy Water Healthy People and WOW Wonders of Wetlands Activity guides.
This is from a NSTA presentation that was made to promote the use of the Watercourse/Project WET publications.
H20 the Way to Go - Science Fair project ideas.pdf
H20 the Way to Go - Science Fair project ideas.xls

For the last 16 years the Goldman Environmental Prize has recognized and rewarded the efforts of grassroots environmentalists around the world. Today the Prize is proud to announce the launch of a new high school ethics curriculum that will engage and educate the next generation of environmental leaders.

It’s been ENDORSED BY 24 OF THE NATION’S TOP EDUCATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS including Earth Day Network, the National Audubon Society, National Wildlife Federation, World Wildlife Fund, and the National Environmental Education and Training Foundation (NEETF), as well as individual teachers across the U.S. who tested it in their own classrooms earlier this year.

In order to introduce the new curriculum to educators as quickly as possible, starting today, the Prize is giving away 1000 FREE COPIES of ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS: EXAMINING YOUR CONNECTION TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND YOUR COMMUNITY.

The curriculum consists of:
-A SEVEN-PART, 60 MINUTE VIDEO SERIES (on DVD or VHS) that introduces concepts in environmental ethics through profiles of select Goldman Prize recipients from around the world. VIEW THE TRAILER HERE: http://envethics.org/curriculum/overview

-TEACHER AND STUDENT CURRICULUM GUIDES aligned to national standards of education organized by major topics: environmental ethics, air, water, forests, wildlife and minerals.

ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS will help students:
- IMPROVE THEIR CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS by grappling with complex environmental issues that have many different sides.

- MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS by considering what is right and wrong in light of their own personal perspectives.

-FEEL EMPOWERED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE in their own communities by hearing the stories of normal people who have done extraordinary things by making the decision to act.

Please visit www.envethics.org to learn more. And to obtain a free copy of ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS, please email natalie@envethics.org with your name, school, address and phone number.