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April News

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Funding Sources and Upcoming Deadlines
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Partner Updates and Resources
Your Virginia
Assorted Items of Professional Interest

Funding sources and upcoming deadlines

Plan now to participate in Stewardship Virginia
April 1- May 31
Building a Better Outdoors- Today, Tomorrow…Everyday
Stewardship Virginia is a statewide initiative held twice annually to help citizens with projects that enhance and conserve Virginia 's natural and cultural resources. Its focus is on projects that enhance water quality,control invasive species, improve recreational resources, preserve historic and cultural resources,preserve natural heritage resources,educate people about recreational, historical, cultural, wildlife and water resources and improve wildlife habitat. Get involved! Register a project today! Visit www.dcr.virginia.gov/stewardship or contact Bonnie Phillips at 804-786-5056.

“Reflections of Virginia ’s Waters” Contest
Deadline: April 28
A new K-12 art, creative writing and photography contest, called Reflections of Virginia ’s Waters, is being sponsored by the Virginia Office of Environmental Education and the James River Association to support interdisciplinary water education, stream and river studies and meaningful educational experiences. The program is designed to complement the statewide the reflective phase of the statewide meaningful watershed education effort. Individual categories are available for each age-- elementary, middle and high-- as well as group/class project. Visit www.vanaturally.com/reflections.html for contest rules, and entry information, or contact Kris Jarvis at kdjarvis@deq.virginia.gov , Kim Hodge at khodge@jamesriverassociation.org/ or Christine Smith at cmsmith@deq.virginia.gov

2006 Virginia Environmental Stewardship Awards
Deadline: April 30
Virginia Petroleum Council, along with the Virginia Secretary of Natural Resources is accepting nominations for the 2006 Virginia Environmental Stewardship Awards. This is the eleventh year for the award which seeks to highlight innovative and effective stewardship initiatives and educational approaches to help enhance Virginia ’s attractive natural resources. The program is open to any individual, class or school, public/private partnership, business or community demonstrating outstanding contributions for a single project or over a period of time. Visit www.vanaturally.com/esa06.doc for a copy of the nomination form and further details. For additional information contact Mike Ward, Executive Director of the Virginia Petroleum Council at (804) 225-8248 or email virginia@api.org

The Virginia MWEE Mini-Grants Program
Deadline: April 30
The Virginia MWEE Mini-Grants Program is a new small grants program to support efforts by community groups to provide youth with meaningful watershed educational experiences (MWEEs) www.vanaturally.com/pdf/c2k.pdf courtesy of the NOAA Chesapeake Bay office. The program will provide grants of $1,000 - $5,000 to local groups for delivering and sustaining high quality, meaningful environmental education related to water and watersheds.  Applications are due April 21, 2006 with awards being made by May 30th for summer and fall programs.   For more information please visit, www.vanaturally.com/mweegrant.html

2006 Virginia EE Conference Call for Presenters
Deadline: May 1
Virginia Naturally’s professional development conference for environmental educators will be held on September 19-20, 2006 at W.E. Skelton 4-H Educational Conference Center at Smith Mountain Lake . www.ext.vt.edu/resources/4h/smithmt/conferences Conference organizers are seeking proposals…submitting a proposal is easy. Jennifer Underwood is working on the conference website at www.vanaturally.com/eeconference.html  Whether you want to learn new skills or share your expertise; you help strengthen EE in VA by participating in this event. Stay tuned for program and registration details as regular updates are made.

DOE American Stars of Teaching
Deadline: April 15
The U.S. Department of Education Teacher-to-Teacher Initiative is seeking nominations for teachers from all grade levels and disciplines, who are making a difference in the lives of their students. https://www.t2tweb.us/AmStar/About.asp

International Paper EE Award
Deadline: April 17
International Paper and The Conservation Fund will provide national recognition and $10,000 cash grants to two conservation/environmental education leaders. Elementary or secondary school educators, university faculty or staff who have developed an innovative approach to EE are eligible. www.internationalpaper.com/PDF/PDFs_for_Our_Company/INTF-40002_Environ.pdf

Fund for Wild Nature
Deadline: April 28
Applications are due to the Fund for Wild Nature for campaigns to save and restore native species and wild ecosystems, and actions to defend wilderness and biological diversity. www.fundwildnature.org/proposal.html

Conservation Education Teacher of the Year Program
Deadline for Application: May 1
Nominations open for elementary (grades K-6) and secondary (grades 7-12) educators. The purpose of the Teacher of the Year contest is to recognize the outstanding conservation education efforts of our nation's teachers.  All teachers in public, parochial and private schools in the United States, its territories and its commonwealths are eligible to participate in the program. For more information regarding requirements guidelines and application contact your local soil & water conservation district or Dana Roberts at (804) 559-0324. 

CAPCO Science Class Challenge
Deadline: May 8
Teachers (grades 4-9) participate in the CAPCO Science Class Challenge and win $250 to $5,000 for your school. The competition is meant to encourage students and teachers to learn about the Earth’s protective upper ozone layer, CFCs, and the environment by using provided activities or their own creative methods. Teachers must be employed by a public or private school, or be a home school educator. http://nocfcs.org/scc/home.htm

Brimstone Award for Applied Storytelling
Preliminary proposals deadline: May 8, 2006
Full proposals deadline: July 10, 2006
The National Storytelling Network annual award for Applied Storytelling, a grant of $5,000 for a storytelling project that is service-oriented, based in a community or organization, and replicable in other places and situations. http://eelink.net/cgi-bin/ee-link/newclick/296174

Partner updates events & resources

Welcome New Partners

 

Explore with NEST (Neighborhood Ecological Stewardship Training Program) March- June, 2006
Do you enjoy being outdoors?  Do you wish you knew more about local streams, plants, and soil?  Do you want to get more involved in your community?  Then participate in the free Neighborhood Ecological Stewardship Training (NEST) program.  Explore your NEST!  Adults are invited to learn about natural resources through a series of free hands-on workshops and outings that will be held at various locations around Northern Virginia on weekends and some weeknights from March - June, 2006.  These include: (1) classes about streams, soil, native and invasive plants; (2) land-based exploration including walks, hikes, and bike rides; (3) water-based exploration including kayaking, canoeing, and boating; (4) outdoor arts including photography, music, drawing, and journaling; and (5) optional presentations about stewardship programs and volunteer opportunities.  You have many options for participation. As part of the NEST program, participants will be asked to complete two surveys about stewardship.  No prior experience is needed.  The surveys are the basis for a dissertation project at George Mason University .

For more information and to register, check out http://mason.gmu.edu/~jcornell/NEST  and contact Joanna Cornell at jcornell@gmu.edu or 703-324-1425.  Register early as the program will fill quickly.

The Chesapeake Bay Watershed and YOU…Make the Connection
April 15, 9 am – 3:30 pm , Henrico County Extension Office
Enjoy lectures presented by local experts on topics to include BayScaping principals, water conservation and composting. Lunch will be provided with local vendors on hand to answer your questions from noon to 1:30 p.m. Then put your principals into practice and build your own rain barrel or vermicomposter from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. A materials fee will be charged for each. To register call 501-5160 or www.vanaturally.com/partner.html

National Environmental Education (EE) Week
April 16-22
National EE Week is a full week of educational preparedness for Earth Day and will involve thousands of educators and millions of students. It is coordinated by NEETF and isthe single largest environmental education event in the U.S. Get involved! www.eeweek.org

2nd Talking Trash, A Southwest VA Litter Summit
April 18, 9 am – 12:15 pm , Oxbow Center
Litter is a problem. How do we fix it? This 2 nd Litter Summit is an effort to roll out recommendations for “far” Southwest Virginia ’s decision makers and citizens to tackle the problem of litter. Litter is more than an eyesore.This region pays annually through loss of economic development opportunities and reduced tourism revenue. It impacts regional self esteem everyday. Join us. Working together can make a difference. Contact Carol Doss, Upper Tennessee River Roundtable, Inc., Trash and Tourism Committee for registration at (276)628-1600 or download form at www.cprwma.com/Litter%20brochure1%203-31-06.pdf

Join Environmental Solutions, Inc. for Earth Day
April 21, 3 pm – 6 pm , ESI, 10625 Patterson Avenue
Fun…Information…Discovery… Businesses, Families, and Schools are encouraged to attend. Sponsor Displays by: Environmental Solutions, Inc, Virginia Naturally, CVWMA and Keep Henrico Beautiful. For more information, or to become a sponsor, contact Tena Krouse at (804)740-5605.

*Limit one free red dogwood sapling per attendee / family unit; (first 100 attendees)

Youth Conservation Camp and Scholarships
The Blue Ridge Soil and Water Conservation District (BRSWCD) is offering scholarships to a limited number of qualified applicants to attend an expense paid, week-long conservation camp at Virginia Tech.  Camp dates are Sunday, July 9 through Saturday, July 15, 2006.  Soil and water conservation officials from the local, state, federal levels in cooperation with the faculty members from Virginia Tech, work together to conduct the camp.  If you are within the Franklin County, Henry County, Roanoke County and the City of Roanoke areas, contact Kathy B. Smith at (540) 483-5269 Ext. 3 for more information regarding application and camp schedule. The deadline for applications at the BRSWCD is Friday, April 21, 2006.

National Wildlife Week
April 22- 30, 2006
The National Wildlife Federation mission is to inspire Americans to protect wildlife for our children’s future. To support a greater public connection to wildlife—visit www.nwf.org/nationalwildlifeweek/ and volunteer to “Rebuild places for wildlife”; or “Read with Ranger Rick” or be part of a nationwide event to monitor and record spring wildlife species “National Wildlife. Watch.” www.nwf.org/natioanlwildlifeweek/watch.cfm

Greater Lynchburg Environmental Network’s (GLEN) 2 nd Annual Earth Day Gathering
April 22, 8:30 am – 4 pm, Bank of the James Building, 8 th floor
GLEN is hosting forums on Green Business, Faith Based Approaches, Sustainable Planning and Development and Community Partnerships. Come take part in discussions on these inspiring topics and see how together we can build healthy communities in the Greater Lynchburg area. Everyone is welcome. For more information visit our website at www.glenetwork.org

Loudoun Arbor Day Celebration
April 22, 10 am – 3 pm , Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve
The 18 th Annual Loudoun Arbor Day Celebration kicks off with a parade at 11:00 a.m. that will lead into the formal ceremony which features keynote speakers, Tree City USA acknowledgements; recognition of Poster Contest Winners and presentation of awards to students. Throughout the day there will be many activities, exhibits, and demonstrations highlighting the numerous uses and benefits of trees. Further information is available at www.vanaturally.com/loudoun_arbor.doc or call Loudoun Soil and Water Conservation District at (703) 777-2075.0 or email Suzie Brown at suzie.brown@va.nacdnet

FREE Electronic Recycling Event
April 22, 9 am – 12 noon, Prince Edward County Natural Resource Building
This free e-cycling event is open to all. A list of accepted electronics can be found at: www.vanaturally.com/ecycling.doc For more details, especially if you are a small business interested in recycling large quantities, call Clean Virginia Waterways (434) 395-2602.

2006 Earth Day Richmond Celebration, Fish Festival and 2 nd Annual Mayor’s Walk & Roll
April 22nd, 10 am to 4 pm
Earth Day Richmond will be held along the James River and in Old Manchester at the south end of the Mayo Bridge .  There will be music, food, art, activities and exhibits- for more information, to partner, volunteer or exhibit, call 804-649-3764 or write earthdayrichmond@aol.com. The event website is www.earthdayrichmond.org

Additional Earth Day Community Events and Cleanups
Visit www.vanaturally.com/volunteer.html, www.dcr.virginia.gov/stewardship/svevents.htm and www.cvwma.com for additional listing of events.

Meaningful Watershed Education “Train the Trainer” Workshop
April 26, 2006 , Camp Kitty , Burgess, VA
NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office and the Virginia Resource Use Education Council ( VRUEC ) will provide a “Train the Trainer” opportunity. This one day workshop will target providers- educators who do not directly work in the K-12 system - but may train teachers and other educators in summer and/or school programs. Just in time for your summer teaching trainings: this workshop will focus on watersheds, Chesapeake Bay and development of meaningful watershed educational experiences (MWEEs). It will help informal educators and agency representatives develop great programs for teachers and students. Contact Jill Bieri jill.bieri@noaa.gov or Suzie Gilley suzie.gilley@dgif.virginia.gov for more information. www.vanaturally.com/pdf/vruecprof.pdf

April 28 is Celebrate Arbor Day
Arbor Day is a nationally celebrated observance that encourages tree planting and care. Visit www.arborday.org/arborday/index.cfm for resources to plan an event.

Run for the Trees Arbor Day 5K
April 29, 8 am, Bryan Park, Richmond
Celebrate Arbor Day in Virginia with an outdoor run in Richmond 's Bryan Park! The Arbor Day 5K Race www.dof.virginia.gov/press/arbor-day-2006-5K-run.shtml is a great way to stay in shape and enjoy the outdoors with other runners. All runners will have the opportunity to plant a tree seedling in Bryan Park. Race is limited to the first 200 who register, so sign up today! The post-race activities are free. Everyone who participates will get a free t-shirt and the proceeds will go towards a tree planting in one of Richmond 's public communities. This event is being put on by the Virginia Department of Forestry and co-sponsored by the Richmond Department of Parks and Recreation. If there are any questions or to register please contact Lisa Krajewski at (804)328-3031 or lisa.krajewski@dof.virginia.gov

York County’s Bird FanFair
May 21, 1 pm- 5 pm , Tabb Public Library (Note: the date and location have been changed)
The local community is invited to participate in York County ’s first educational and fun festival hosted by York County Master Gardeners and 4-H Junior Master Gardeners to celebrate and learn about wild birds. The event is free and will take place rain or shine. Contact Jody Turner at (757)867-1135 or the York County Extension Office at (757)890-4940 for more information or if you would like to sponsor a booth.

Celebrate Earth Day 2006 at Mt. Trashmore Park
May 7, 11 am – 5 pm , Virginia Beach , VA
Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation’s Clean Community Commission is sponsoring a free, fun-filled family event to encourage Earth Day, Every Day! With over 50 interactive exhibits and activities, event attendees can explore and learn ways to maintain an Earth-friendly view toward the environment. For more information please call the Virginia Beach Clean Community Commission at (757)385-4104 (TTY: 471-5839), E-mail vbclean@VBgov.com or visit www.VBgov.com/vbclean.

The Cleaning of the Dan
May 13, 10 am – 1 pm
Pre-registration required
We have crossed it, fished in it and canoed it; now it is time to clean it! As part of the Stewardship Virginia campaign, you can join the effort to beautify our city’s landmark river. Four groups will join forces to clean the riverbanks and the actual waterway from Union Street Bridge to Angler’s Park. The Science Center will lead the cleaning effort from the pedestrian bridge to Brantley Dam. The City of Danville , Dan River Basin Association and Dan River Angler’s Association will lead the work in other areas. This program supports some Scout badge requirements too! FREE!

For more information and to register, please call (434) 791-5160.

Environmental Education Training Opportunity
May 18, Holiday Lake 4-H Center
Register by May 10
A six hour training session is open to any interested educators. The session will include activities from Projects WILD/WET/Learning Tree/Healthy Water - Healthy People and other resources. Groundwater, water quality and Environscape will be included along with numerous hands-on outdoor activities. To register, send your name, affiliation, address, phone number and e-mail address to Barry Fox, Box 9081, VA State University, Petersburg, VA 23806 and a check for $15.00 (includes lunch and all materials) payable to Virginia 4-H Foundation by May 10, 2006.

Questions? Call Barry at (804)524-5848 or email bfox@vsu.edu

Northern Virginia Environmental Educator Training Workshop
"Bringing the outdoors to classrooms near you!"
May 25, 9 am – 3 pm , Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve, Loudoun County
Pre-registration required. Bring your own lunch or Box lunches can be purchased.
The Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts Education Committee and the Loudoun Soil and Water Conservation District will provide a training workshop for Teachers and Non-Formal Environmental Educators. This free, one day workshop is for those that provide environmental education programs to teachers, students or scouts. This workshop will focus on providing a variety of hands-on learning activities and resource materials to participants.

Contact Suzanne Brown, Loudoun SWCD, suzie.brown@va.nacdnet.net or (703)771-8395 x 100.

Your Virginia

Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
Finding Solutions to Environmental Challenges in Virginia
Virginia ’s diverse geography and abundant natural resources benefit agriculture, industry and commerce and provide a rich environment for people, plants and wildlife. To ensure the continued vitality of what the Commonwealth has to offer, the mission of the Department of Environmental Quality is to protect and improve the environment and the well being of all Virginia ns.

Meeting Virginia ’s environmental challenges is a cooperative effort that involves communities, businesses, educators, government agencies and many more. DEQ collaborates with these partners to enhance the quality of our environment and to strengthen the role everyone plays in environmental protection. www.deq.virginia.gov/info/homepage.html

DEQ administers state and federal laws and regulations for air quality, water quality, water supply and waste management. In addition, other programs cover a variety of environmental activities, such as improving the ability of businesses and local governments to protect the environment, and offering technical and financial assistance for air and water quality improvements. Through its seven regional offices, DEQ issues permits, conducts inspections and monitoring, and enforces regulations and permits. www.deq.virginia.gov Article by Julia Cole, Public Affairs Office, VA DEQ

Virginia Natural Resource Agency News
For the latest information about VA’s seven natural resource agencies visit www.naturalresources.virginia.gov/Agencies/agency.cfm and click on the agency link you need.

Virginia State Parks
Are you interested in receiving periodic information about Virginia State Parks ? If so, you can join a new group to receive e-news mailings. Just visit the link below to sign up! www.dcrintra.state.va.us/dcr_forms/lstsrv_request.cfm

Assorted items of professional interest

 2006 MAMEA Teacher Overnight at the Virginia Aquarium
April 8-9 (Limit of 50 participants)
Sleep with fish at the Virginia Aquarium! This overnight adventure for teachers, grades K-12, will enrich your experience in marine science, highlight activities you can do in your own classroom, and show you how to make the most of a field trip to an aquarium. For more information and to register contact Tim George at 757-437-6552 or by email at tageorge@VirginiaAquarium.com

Summer 2006 Professional Development Opportunities
Visit www.vanaturally.com/summer.html for a complete list of opportunities.

EE and Public Outreach Resources
The Air & Waste Management Association (A&WA) publishes the Environmental Education Resource Guide (EERG) curriculum for grades K-12, the Understanding Air Quality outreach products, Information Booklets, Fact Sheets, and other materials. www.awma.org/education/eeandpublicoutreach.asp

Cleansweep USA
Six lessons for grades 4-8 on waste in the environment. Lessons focus on source reduction, recycling, composting, landfills, and waste to energy. www.kab.org/kids/educators.htm

Science & Human Health Lessons for Grades 6-8
National Institutes of Health (NIH) site offers middle school curriculum supplements including teachers’ guides to two weeks of lessons on science and human health. http://science.education.nih.gov/customers.nsf/middleschool.htm

Spring 2006 EField Trips
Check out the spring 2006 eField trip "Butterflies: Unlocking the Mystery of Metamorphisis" presented in an engaging format and designed to meet national education standards. Classrooms register for free. Also available now and through the rest of the year: Renewable Energy: POWERful Choices. www.efieldtrips.org

The Scoop on Soil
National Geospatial Development Center presents these educational pages featuring “The Soil Game,” hands-on educational materials, posters, lesson plans, and links to other soil- related resources www.ngdc.wvu.edu/~hferguson/educationNGDC

New Poster: Insect Diversity
The Entomological Foundation is offering the “Insect Diversity Poster: Celebrating Little Creatures of the World.” This initiative supports the Foundation’s efforts to excite youth about science through insects and increase public awareness of the importance of insects and insect science. www.entfdn.org/print.php

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