June 2009 Newsletter
Funding and Award Deadlines
Upcoming Events
Partner Updates and Resources
Your VirginiaVirginia Natural Resource Agency News
Litter Picks
Assorted Items of Professional Interest
Helpful Resources
Special Features
2009 Virginia Environmental Education Conference
The Virginia Office of Environmental Education is partnering with the Hampton Roads Alliance for Environmental Education (HRAEE) for the annual Environmental Education Conference. The conference will be at Hampton University with workshops and speakers on the 9th and field trips on the 10th. Please visit the link below if you would like to present, have a poster/exhibit session, or lead a field trip. The deadline for proposals is June 15, 2009. Please go to the conference website: http://www.vanaturally.com/vanaturally/eeconference09.html
Vote for a Tree to be Planted in Virginia
The Odwalla Plant a Tree program will donate $1 per vote for each state listed on their website that has registered with the Odwalla Plant a Tree program. This organization has $10,000 that they will disburse among the registered states. Each individual vote will send $1 to each state. Go to: www.parkvisitor.com/odwalla to vote for Virginia.
Notification about this program originated from Nancy Heltman, Director of Operations, at Virginia State Parks. Ms. Heltman verified that this program is legitimate and will be glad to be a contact if people have questions about it. Her contact information is: nancy.heltman@dcr.virginia.gov or 804-786-5057.
Virginia Naturally Launches a No Child Left Inside Webpage
Introducing children to nature and encouraging children to go outside is a growing concern. Visit the new webpage. If there are resources you would like to have added to this page contact Jennifer Underwood at jennifer.underwood@deq.virginia.gov or Sheila Barnett at Sheila.barnett@deq.virginia.gov. Visit the webpage by going to: http://www.vanaturally.com/vanaturally/ncli/homepage.html
Funding and Awards Deadlines
Deadline: June 8, 2009
Deadline June 15, 2009
The Virginia Environmental Endowment Mini Grant Program supports community-based efforts to strengthen environmental education and to promote stewardship of Virginia's waterways. Go to: http://www.vee.org/mini.cfm
Deadline June 30
The Captain Planet Foundation offers up to four funding cycles for environmental projects that involve youth. Support is provided for hands-on projects for children and young adults (ages 6-18) that promote greater understanding of environmental issues, while helping young people develop planning and problem-solving skills. Applications for funding will be considered from nonprofit organizations, including schools. Grants generally range between $250 and $2,500. The next application deadline is June 30, 2009. If the Foundation’s resources permit, applications will also be considered in September and December of this year. Visit the website provided above for additional information.
NOAA is conducting workshops for potential applicants on how to write a successful application to the NOAA Bay Watershed Education and Training program. To RSVP for any of the workshops listed below; contact Ann Marie Chapman at annmarie.chapman@noaa.gov or (757) 627-3823. Participants must RSVP at least one week in advance of the workshop date.
- July 7 1:30 – 3 p.m. Claytor Nature Study Center, 1844 Woods Road, Bedford
- July 8 1:30 – 3 p.m. James Madison University, 701 Carrier Drive, Harrisonburg
- July 13, 2 – 3:30 p.m. DEQ Headquarters, 13901 Crown Court, Woodbridge, VA
- July 17, 1:30 – 3 p.m. New Kent Conference Center, 11301 Pocahontas Trail, Providence Forge
- July 23, 3 – 4:30 p.m. Nauticus Marine Museum, One Waterside Drive, Norfolk
Upcoming Events
June 6, 2009
June 6, 2009
June 13, 2009
Deadline July 20, 2009
The National Wildlife Federation is accepting photographs for the annual contest. The three divisions for entry are professional, amateur and youth. There are seven categories of pictures they are being accepted. They include: mammals, birds, other wildlife, backyard habitats, connecting people and nature, landscapes and plant life, and global warming and wildlife. For details go to www.nwf.org/photozone
Partner Updates and Resources
Welcome New Partners
- Blue Sky Fund, www.blueskyfund.org
- Sally Ride Science, www.sallyridescience.com
- USDA/CSREES, www.csrees.usda.gov
- Virginia Master Naturalists Arlington Regional Chapter, www.virginiamasternaturalist.org
- Virginia Master Naturalists Central Piedmont Chapter, www.virginiamasternaturalist.org
- Virginia Master Naturalists Fairfax Chapter, www.virginiamasternaturalist.org
- Virginia Master Naturalists Riverine Chapter, www.virginiamasternaturalist.org
Your Virginia
Virginia Natural Resource Agency News
In May, the Nature Conservancy was able to buy this land and add to the protected forests of Virginia. This purchase will help with the protection of 90 species of birds and 55 species of fish and will help with cleaner water flowing into the Chesapeake Bay.
Litter Picks
June 8
Application Deadline June 30, 2009:
Billy Hunt, a photographer will have an exhibit opening at Café Cubano in Charlottesville on June 5. The exhibit will be up for the month of June. The exhibit focuses on litter in and around the Rivanna watershed. To view the photographs, go to: http://billyhunt.smugmug.com/gallery/8058870_NAmVc#525002881_GMuXC You can also contact Mr. Hunt at billy@billyhunt.com or (434) 825-7721.
The Virginia Recycling Association (VRA) hosted a litter and recycling conference in Lynchburg May 5 – 6. Information from sessions included: how to develop programs, work with contractors, how to implement the Assign-a-Highway Program, understand what happens to electronics when it is recycled, information about capturing mercury and composting. For more information, contact Erica Trout at Erica.trout@msn.com or call 804-302-4231.
Assorted Items of Professional Interest
The Virginia Living Museum is offering workshops for educators throughout the summer. Their programs target pre-school through high school teachers. Go to: http://www.thevlm.org/teachertraining.aspx to view a description of the classes offered or call 757-595-1900 ext. 216.
June 12
RFP Deadline June 15
Project Learning Tree Workshop
June 15 - 21
Advanced Workshop at Holiday Lake Forestry Camp, Appomattox
PreK-8 Educator Workshop
Each year, Holiday Lake Forestry Camp provides an in-the-woods residential camp experience for about eighty 13-16 year olds. We seek camper nominations from teachers who have students interested in natural resources careers. We also are able to include six teachers per year in this residential camp program for their own professional development. Teachers receive the full Project Learning Tree curriculum, participate in PLT activities during the camp classes, and learn about PLT resources during special teacher sessions at camp. Cost is $60; all meals and lodging are included. Contact Lisa Deaton at 804-328-3031 or lisa.deaton@dof.virginia.gov for more information.
Water Stewardship: Living Shorelines & Rain Barrels
Longwood University’s Hull Springs Farm will conduct a 4-hour workshop for educators that will explore many aspects of protecting water quality and aquatic habitats. We will visit an award-winning Living Shorelines marsh, look for resident animals, and help plant marsh grasses. Participants will also make a functioning rain barrel from a recycled pickle barrel that they will take home. They will also receive a CD with watershed and rain barrel presentations, plus a copy of Virginia’s Water Resources: A Tool for Teachers correlated to Virginia's Standards of Learning. Dress appropriately for the weather and outdoor activities. Fees: $47.00 Pre-registration is required by June 9, 2009 by calling Bobbie Burton at 804-472-2621 or email: hullspringsfarm@longwood.edu
The Box Turtle Connection: Virginia's Box Turtle Monitoring Program for Teachers and Their Students
June 18, July 7, July 16
The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) is offering three workshops for educators interested to helping to monitoring Box Turtle populations. Participants will learn field methods and protocols including setting up a census plot and conducting a visual survey, equipment use and maintenance, collection of morphometric data, and radio telemetry and other tracking techniques. Download and submit registration from www.dgif.virginia.gov/events. For more information go to: Water Stewardship: Living Shorelines & Rain Barrels
Nature Journaling across the Curriculum
June 22-26
Mary Baldwin College Environment-Based Learning Course
Nationally-known author and illustrator Clare Walker Leslie will lead this course as we practice the wonderful art of nature journaling. In the course, educators will study a variety of journaling techniques and artistic medium for observing and documenting the natural world. The course is designed to: 1) introduce educators to strategies for improving the artistic, written and reflective abilities of K-12 students using nature experiences; 2) encourage educators to use the outdoors around the school and community as sites for nature-related observation, documentation, and artistic/written expression; and 3) help educators develop school-based curriculum strategies for integrating art with science and writing through nature journaling. For more information or to register, go to www.mbc.edu/ebl.
Project Underground
June 23
Project Underground is a national education program focused on cave and karst awareness. Each participant will receive a Project Underground Education Guide (for K-12 students) as well as other resources. Facilitators and participants will work together to model hands-on activities found in the guide. “These materials and workshops are designed for classroom teachers, cavern, park, museum, and nature center staff, or any youth-oriented group leaders.” Visit www.dcr.virginia.gov/underground.shtml for more information about Project Underground. Cost is $15, lunch is provided and registration is required. To register or for more information contact Emily Ford or Lisa Green at 540-837-1758 or email at schprog@virginia.edu.
Project Learning Tree
June 25
Project Learning Tree is an award winning environmental education program designed for teachers and educators. Each participant will receive a (preK-8) Project Learning Tree Activity Guide. Facilitators and participants will work together to model hands-on activities found in this guide. Activities are interdisciplinary and designed to help educators add environmental education to their curricula. Visit www.vanaturally.com for more information on PLT. Cost is $15, lunch is provided and registration is required. To register or for more information contact Emily Ford or Lisa Green at 540-837-1758 or email at schprog@virginia.edu.
June 27
June 29 - July 2
Mary Baldwin College Environment-Based Learning Course
In this course, educators will learn to integrate problem-based themes of the local community into the K-12 curriculum. Using the complex interconnections of natural and built environments, educators from rural to urban areas will learn to facilitate investigations of real-world issues from a variety of perspectives: historical, scientific, socio-cultural, economic, and personal. This course will emphasize the use of Environment-Based Learning (EBL) to teach state and national standards. For more information or to register, go to www.mbc.edu/ebl.
Clean Virginia Waterways (affiliated with Longwood University) will host this 3 hour water stewardship workshop for educators in late June or early July. Participants will make a functioning rain barrel from a recycled pickle barrel that they will take home. The workshop will provide educators all the knowledge, PowerPoints, budgets and handouts they need to host Rain Barrel Workshops in their schools and communities. Participants will receive a CD with watershed and rain barrel presentations, plus a copy of Virginia’s Water Resources: A Tool for Teachers correlated to Virginia's Standards of Learning. Workshop is open to teachers, teachers-in-training, and natural resource professionals. Fees: $30 Pre-registration is required by calling or emailing Katie Register at (434) 395-2602 (email: cleanva@longwood.edu). Class size is limited. Rain Barrel & Water Conservation Workshop for Educators
Storytelling: A Pathway to Curriculum Integration
July 6 - 10
Mary Baldwin College Environment-Based Learning Course
The oral tradition of storytelling provides a window into the context of culture and environment; therefore, the process can address standards in language arts, science, and social studies. In the course, educators will come to understand how to use this timeless tradition as a tool for motivating student learning while enhancing the oral and written abilities of k-12 students. Through storytelling, students will learn to observe, reflect upon, and document their own sense of place in time. Donald Davis, nationally known and award winning storyteller, will return this summer as the facilitator for this course. The course will begin with a 3-day stay on historic Smith Island with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and end at Mary Baldwin College in Staunton; the Chesapeake Bay and Shenandoah Valley will provide a cultural/environmental context for practicing the process. For more information or to register, go to www.mbc.edu/ebl.
Agriculture in the Classroom Elementary Workshop
July 9; 9:00am - 2:00pm (lunch is provided)
Virginia Beach Farmers Market, Rural Heritage Center
Virginia’s AITC program provides teacher training workshops throughout the Commonwealth. Hands-on activities and grade level appropriate, SOL-aligned lesson plans cover multiple content areas. Additionally, each teacher receives a free teacher resource kit with curriculum, books, posters, and much more! For more information please contact kalvarez@vbgov.com or 757-385-4395.
Trout in the Classroom
July 13 - 17
Mary Baldwin College Environment-Based Learning Course
Trout in the Classroom (TIC) is designed to teach educators about a science-based curriculum developed through the conservation organization Trout Unlimited. In TIC programs, students in grades K-12 raise trout from eggs, monitor tank water quality, engage in stream habitat study, learn to appreciate water resources, begin to foster a conservation ethic, and come to understand ecosystems. Most programs end the year by releasing their trout in a state-approved stream near the school or within a nearby watershed. In the MBC course, educators will focus on integrating TIC across the curriculum, coordinating efforts with local resources, finding grant and funding options, and TIC tank set-up and maintenance. Field experiences will include stream studies, fisheries biology, and land use/watershed issues. For more information or to register, go to www.mbc.edu/ebl.
Garden in the Classroom Workshop -July 14; 9:00am - 3:00pm (lunch is provided)
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden (Richmond)
Virginia’s AITC program provides teacher training workshops throughout the Commonwealth. Garden in the Classroom workshops focus on the indoor and outdoor instructional garden. Hands-on activities and grade level appropriate, SOL-aligned lesson plans cover multiple content areas. Additionally, each teacher receives a free teacher resource kit with curriculum, books, posters, and much more! For more information, call 804-262-9887.
Agriculture in the Classroom Elementary Workshop
July 20; 9:00am - 2:00pm (lunch is provided)
Loudoun Farm Museum
Virginia's AITC program provides teacher training workshops throughout the Commonwealth. Hands-on activities and grade level appropriate, SOL-aligned lesson plans cover multiple content areas. Additionally, each teacher receives a free teacher resource kit with curriculum, books, posters, and much more! For more information, call 571-258-3800.
Contaminant Chemistry Series
July 20 – 24, 2009
The Northwest Environmental Training Center is presenting a workshop about contaminant chemistry and transport in soil and groundwater July 20 – 24, 2009 in Philadelphia. For more information go to: http://nwetc.org/chem-403b_07-09_philadelphia.htm
Garden in the Classroom Workshop - July 28; 9-3 (lunch is provided)
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden (Richmond)
Virginia’s AITC program provides teacher training workshops throughout the Commonwealth. Garden in the Classroom workshops focus on the indoor and outdoor instructional garden. Hands-on activities and grade level appropriate, SOL-aligned lesson plans cover multiple content areas. Additionally, each teacher receives a free teacher resource kit with curriculum, books, posters, and much more! For more information, call 804-262-9887.
Agriculture in the Classroom Middle School Workshop
July 29; 9:00am - 2:00pm (lunch is provided)
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden (Richmond)
Virginia’s AITC program provides teacher training workshops throughout the Commonwealth. Hands-on activities, experiments, and grade level appropriate, SOL-aligned lesson plans cover multiple content areas. Middle School Workshops emphasize natural, life, and physical science as well as language arts and economics. Additionally, each teacher receives a free teacher resource kit with curriculum, books, posters, and much more! For more information, call 804-262-9887.
Garden in the Classroom
July 31; 9:00am - 3:00pm
Hahn Horticulture Garden (Blacksburg)
Virginia’s AITC program provides teacher training workshops throughout the Commonwealth. Garden in the Classroom workshops focus on the indoor and outdoor instructional garden. Hands-on activities and grade level appropriate, SOL-aligned lesson plans cover multiple content areas. Additionally, each teacher receives a free teacher resource kit with curriculum, books, posters, and much more! For more information, call 540-231-5970.
For a current list of spring and summer professional development opportunities for educators, visit www.vanaturally.com/summer.html
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