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March/April 2010 Newsletter

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Special Features

Funding and Award Deadlines
Upcoming Events
Partner Updates and Resources
Your Virginia

Litter Picks
Assorted Items of Professional Interest
Become Inspired

Website of Interest

 

Special Features

Happy Earth Day – 40^th Anniversary
Earth Day is April 22, 2010 and was first celebrated in 1970. The Earth Day Network website http://www.earthday.net/earthday2010 is hosting a Global Days of Service, April 17 – 18, to keep track of Earth Day stewardship activities taking place around the world. Visit their website to register your organization's events or individual activities. Whereas Global Days of Service invites organizations to register their stewardship events, the Earth Day Network reaches out to individuals through a Billion Acts of Green. This initiative invites citizens to practice green habits and share what they do through a social network provided by the Earth Day Network.

Funding and Awards Deadlines

Keep America Beautiful and Coca-Cola Recycling Bin Grant Program 
Deadline March 12
The Coca-Cola Company and Keep America Beautiful, Inc. are donating recycling bins and expertise on how to set up recycling programs. Eligible grant recipients include government agencies, civic organizations, schools and nonprofit groups. Successful applicants will be notified on or before April 22. Submit an grant application online.

Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge 
Grant Deadline March 15
Can your K- 12 students create a sustainable classroom and make environmental improvements to their school?

Watershed Education Project Grants 
Deadline March 26
The Water Resources Education Network (WREN) is now accepting proposals for watershed education projects sponsored by community-based partnerships that educate, build awareness, and promote water-sustaining public policies and/or behavior change. Projects should be designed to encourage individual or collective action that will protect and improve local water resources. Applications are due by Friday March 26, 2010.

Thomas Jefferson Medal for Outstanding Contributions to Natural Science Education 
Deadline March 26
The Virginia Museum of Natural History Foundation invites nominations for its 23rd Annual Thomas Jefferson Medal for Outstanding Contributions to Natural Science. This award will be given to a Virginia educator who has made significant contributions to natural history, environmental science, or science education at any academic level.

Captain Planet Foundation 
Deadline March 31
The range of grants from the Captain Planet Foundation is typically $250 - $2,500. In order to be considered, the proposal must promote understanding of environmental issues, focus on hands-on involvement, involve children and young adults 6-18 years of age, promote interaction and cooperation within the group, help young people develop planning and problem solving skills, include adult supervision, and commit to follow-up communication with the Foundation (specific requirements are explained once the grant has been awarded). 

Be The Change 
Deadline March 31
Be The Change is sponsored by Peace Child International. 

Thatcher Environmental Research Contest 
Deadline April 5
The Institute for Global Environmental Strategies is sponsoring the 2010 Thatcher Environmental Research Contest. This contest is for students in grades 9 – 12 who design research programs using satellites and other geospatial technologies or data to study the Earth. The technology used must study some aspect of the Earth’s environment. 

ING Unsung Heroes Awards 
Deadline April 30
Every year 100 educators are selected to receive $2,000 to help fund their innovative class projects. Three of those are chosen to receive the top awards of an additional $5,000, $10,000 and $25,000.

USGBC 2010 Natural Talent Design Competition: Small, Green, Affordable 
Deadline May 31
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) wants you to help rebuild New Orleans sustainably and affordably. USGBC’s 2010 Natural Talent Design Competition, presented by the Salvation Army’s EnviRenew Initiative, is challenging students and emerging professionals to design a small, green, affordable, LEED Platinum homes for elderly residents of the Broadmoor neighborhood in New Orleans. New Orleans has seen a lot of reconstruction and regeneration, but the job is far from done. This is your chance to help rebuild a city the right way and change lives forever.

Upcoming Events

Visit the Virginia Naturally Calendar for a complete list. 

Stewardship Virginia 
April 1 – May 31
Stewardship Virginia is a statewide initiative held twice annually to help citizens with projects that enhance and conserve Virginia's natural and cultural resources. Participants receive recognition from the Governor for stewardship activities. To learn more about Stewardship Virginia contact Bonnie Phillips at (804) 786-5056.

Ongoing Lunch Break Science Series at the Science Museum of Virginia
The Science Museum of Virginia offers free adult education lunch break science lectures from 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. every Wednesday. 

ECO Do it Yourself Workshops offered by Keep Virginia Beautiful
Keep Norfolk Beautiful is hosting two upcoming workshops. Contact Holly Carson to register at knb@norfolk.gov or (757) 441-5813.

Raining in the Storm -April 14th, 6-8p.m.
Topic: Rain barrel info and construction class
Speaker: Michael Minor, Mike's Rain Barrels
Fee: $55/$50 for FONE members
Register by April 7th
 
Cool Composting -May 12th, 6-8p.m.
Topic: How to build a composter
Speaker: Tom Chabi
Fee: $10/$7 for FONE members
Register by May 4^th

National Wildlife Week 
March 15 – 21
Get outside and have some fun! The National Wildlife Federation offers activities and suggestions for getting outside and enjoying the outdoors for families and for classroom teachers. Are you interested in developing your child’s green thumb or watching wildlife?

Learn How to Care for Virginia’s Injured Wildlife
The Wildlife Center of Virginia will be offering classes for citizens that are interested in learning how to assist wild animals that need help. The introductory classes will also cover wildlife rehabilitation and the permitting process.

Here is a list of upcoming classes being offered by the Wildlife Center of Virginia:

Wildlife Capture Restraint, Handling, and Transportation and Introduction to Rehabilitating Reptiles
March 20
Bridgewater College, Bridgewater

Wildlife Capture, Restraint, Handling, and Transportation
April 21
Tonsler Park, Charlottesville

Wildlife Capture Restraint, Handling, and Transportation and Introduction to Rehabilitating Reptiles
July 17
Lynchburg Parks and Recreation, Lynchburg

National Environmental Education Week 
April 11 – 17
National Environmental Education Week (EE Week) is the largest organized environmental education event in the United States. The 2010 theme is Be Water Wise and includes a full week of educational preparation, learning, and activities in K-12 classrooms, nature centers, zoos, museums, and aquariums. By participating in EE Week, you encourage your students to make a difference in their schools, homes, and communities!  

Plant Sale: Plants Galore 
April 24 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Partner Updates and Resources

A Journey Toward Excellence
March 31 from 1:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Department of Environmental Quality, Charlottesville
I'm sure you've asked yourself before, "How are we doing? Are we being effective?" This workshop will give you the opportunity to evaluate your program from many different aspects.  You will leave with knowledge and tools that will help you critique and fine tune your program. But just why should I go to another workshop when I can read about program evaluation?" First off, this workshop will be unlike any you've attended so far. You will literally be taking a journey on a path toward understanding how your program can obtain excellence. There won't be any of this sitting for hours in a chair stifling yawns.  Second, you’ll meet other environmental educators and learn how each of your program’s approach evaluation. To register contact Page Hutchinson at page.hutchinson@deq.virginia.gov or call her at (804) 698-4419.

PLT for PreK-8 Educators at Wintergreen 
April 16
Trillium House, Wintergreen Nature Foundation, Roseland
9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
This workshop will focus on the use of Project Learning Tree (PLT) activities for exciting indoor and outdoor learning experiences. PLT activities are interdisciplinary in nature and cover a broad array of topics, to include trees, wildlife, water, energy, communities, land use and forest management. All participants will receive a free copy of the PLT PreK-8 Environmental Education Activity Guide and correlations to the Virginia Standards of Learning. Led by Melissa Hutchinson, Wintergreen Nature Foundation and LoriAnne Barnett with Virginia Cooperative Extension Albemarle Unit. You MUST pre-register by April 2 to attend. Contact Lisa Deaton at lisa.deaton@dof.virginia.gov or (804) 512-2933 for the registration form. There is a $15 fee for the workshop. Lunch is provided. Dress for the weather and outdoor activities.

MWEE Capacity Building Workshop 
April 17 
Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Gloucester Point
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Secondary teachers will participate in a one-day professional development and capacity building workshop to learn how to conduct their own Meaningful Watershed Education Experiences (MWEE’s) for students at their schools. Activities will include how to plan a MWEE, site selection, pre- and post-trip activities, safety and organization, appropriate equipment, introduction to Chesapeake Bay flora and fauna, and environmentally responsible field trip practices. For more information contact Sarah McGuire at mcguire@vims.edu or 804-698-7878.

Mary Baldwin College Environment-Based Learning
June, July, August
For more information or to register, go to: www.mbc.edu/ebl or contact Dr. Tamra Willis, Graduate Teacher Education Program, Mary Baldwin College. 540-887-7135 or twillis@mbc.edu.

Your Virginia

Dominion’s Project Plant It! Brings Mother Nature into Classrooms
Thousands of third-graders around Virginia are participating this spring in Project Plant It!, a program developed by Dominion Virginia Power to educate children and plant trees. Earlier this year, teachers got a complete kit of SOL-aligned lesson plans and other instructional materials such as posters and a DVD with videos about planting and caring for trees. On Arbor Day, April 30^th, the students will get a tree seedling to plant at home. All of the teaching materials can be downloaded from the web site and educators located in outlying areas of the state can order tree seedlings from the site while supplies last. The web site features additional games, activities and videos that families can enjoy together. Launched in 2007 in the Richmond area, Project Plant It! Now includes more than 30,000 third-graders in six states. Contact Sara Hunt at sara@touchpointspr.com or (804) 994-1120 for additional information.

Litter Picks

Spend Your Non-Competitive Litter Prevention and Recycling Grants!
The Virginia Litter Control and Recycling Fund Advisory Board wants to encourage every locality to use their entire allocation this year. On the annual performance and accounting report, expenses must be reported as well as any funds that have been committed but not paid. For example, if you have an outstanding purchase order that was generated on or before June 30th, the money is committed and you can report that expense on your performance and accounting report.

If you need to know how much money was available to you for FY 2009 – 2010, contact Sheila Barnett at Sheila.Barnett@deq.virginia.gov or 804-698-4055. Check with your fiscal administrator if you need to know your remaining balance.

The application for the for the non-competitive litter prevention and recycling grant fund will be posted by May 1 and the deadline for the applications to be postmarked, as always, will be June 30, 2010. 

Keep America Beautiful Great American Cleanup
The 2010 theme is “Green Starts Here.” In March and May, KAB anticipates that 1,200 affiliates will rally an estimated 3 million volunteers to participate in litter cleanups, host recycling events, remove graffiti and participate in other litter, recycling, and beautification events. There are 13 Virginia litter programs that are KAB affiliates. KAB encourages individuals to either contact their local KAB affiliate or host their own activity. Visit KAB’s webpage for suggestions for organizing a stewardship event:

Here is the link to the list of litter and recycling program managers in Virginia from the DEQ website: http://www.deq.virginia.gov/recycle/contactlist.html. The local litter program managers can help individuals or groups to organize a litter cleanup.

Alice Ferguson Foundation Schedules Annual Potomac River Watershed Cleanup
The Alice Ferguson Foundation is hosting the 22^nd Annual Potomac River Watershed Cleanup on April 10, 2010. There are many sites to pick from in Virginia to participate in a cleanup of the Potomac River watershed in the counties of Augusta, Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William and the cities of Fairfax, Alexandria.

Virginia Recycling Association Meets on May 18-19
The annual Virginia Recycling Association’s conference will be held in Virginia Beach at the Wyndham Hotel. 

Waste Watchers of the Eastern Shore
Waste Watchers is a new group that has formed on the Eastern Shore. This organization has representatives available to speak to local groups about litter and recycling and can help groups or individuals to schedule Eco-Walks (litter pick ups in their neighborhoods.) Contact Jenny O’Neill at wastewatchers@yahoo.com or (757)787-7468.

King William County Letter to the Editor about Promoting Recycling
Mary Walton, Litter Program Manager for King William County, wrote a letter to the local newspaper. She wrote: 

Dear Editor,
Good day! I am excited to share with you what the 2^nd graders at Cool Spring Primary School helped provide at the King William Administration Building. Terri Hale, Assistant County Administrator of King William County, made a suggestion of having children design recycle boxes. This way each office in the Administration Building would have a designer recycle bin to put in their offices to collect paper. 

I contacted Ms. Glenda Shulleeta, Art Director at Cool Springs Primary School, to see if she would be able to work this into her class curriculum. Without hesitation, she advised that she would. I provided the boxes (recycled paper boxes) to the classroom for the children to decorate as they saw fit. Ms. Shulleeta worked this project in with her 2^nd grade students. She stated that she and the children discussed the importance of recycling and what difference it made to the environment. These recycle bins are truly works of art. The children were very excited about the project and completed 13 bins, which were then decoupaged.

Assorted Items of Professional Interest

Live Deliberately Essay Challenge 
Deadline March 31
The Thoreau Institute of the Walden Woods Project invites students ages 13 – 21 years old to submit 500 words or fewer essays about what it means to live deliberately. 

Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching 
Deadline to nominate a Teacher (Grades 7 – 12) is April 1
The National Science Foundation administers the President awards on behalf of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy announces the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. Awards, given to mathematics and science teachers from each state, recognize teachers for their contributions to teaching and learning and their ability to help students make progress in mathematics and science.

Environment Virginia Symposium 
April 7 – 8, Lexington
There are seven tracks that will feature four sessions each. They are:

• Regulatory updates – air, water, stormwater, waste;
• Restoring the Chesapeake Bay;
• Strategic land conservation;
• Energy Development;
• Viable and sustainable farms and forests;
• Adapting to Climate Change; and
• (Re-) Development. 

Conservation Conflict Resolution Course 
May 13 – 22
National Zoo's Conservation and Research Center, Front Royal
The new Smithsonian-Mason Global Conservation Studies Programs graduate and professional course, “Conservation Conflict Resolution,” will explore conflict dynamics through conflict analysis models, appreciate the role of identity in conflict, and absorb the principles behind effective conflict resolution processes.

Chesapeake Classrooms
June, July, August
Starting in your local area, these five-day courses through the Chesapeake Bay Foundation will include studies about the human impact on our rivers and the Chesapeake Bay watershed as a whole. Participants will do hands-on activities and can take home an array of interdisciplinary activities and lessons that can be incorporated into the school curriculum.

National Wildlife Photo Contest 
Deadline July 6
The contest is sponsored by National Wildlife Magazine.

Adapting to Change: A Short Course for Land Managers
The USDA offers this short course on-line or is available on a DVD. Learn up-to-date information on climate change by listening to lectures, watching videos, and by taking interactive quizzes. 

Growing Up WILD – 2^nd Edition Now Available
Growing Up WILD is the Council for Environmental Education’s new early childhood activity guide and training program designed to help young children (ages 3 – 7) with school readiness through nature exploration.

My Name is Professor Sneeze
The Professor Sneeze stories and educational materials were developed in the framework of a project of the International Polar Foundation. Stories for 5 – 12 year olds explain ways to save energy; 8 – 12 year olds learn how energy is produced by wind, sun and water. 

Surgeon General’s Campaign on Outdoor Play
The Surgeon General, Regina Benjamin, issued a “Call to Action” on the physical and mental health benefits of daily outdoor play for children and families. 

Become Inspired

Website of Interest