May/June 2010 Newsletter
Special Features
September 15 – 16
James Madison’s Montpelier in Orange, VA
Funding Awards and Deadlines
Brower Youth Awards
Deadline May 15
Activists ages 13 – 22 are invited to apply for a $3,000 grant to continue the environmental grassroots efforts of the Earth Island Institute. Six people in North America are annually selected for this award. Go to: http://broweryouthawards.org/article.php?list=type&type=54.
Tool Factory Podcasting Grant
Deadline May 15
The Tool Factory Podcasting Grant offers digital media accessories needed to start a school podcasting program. Applicants develop and submit a lesson plan incorporating student involvement and creativity. Go to http://www.toolfactory.com/olympus_contest/olympus_podcasting.htm.
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Deadline for nomination is May 21
The Leadership in Science Education Prize for High School Teachers recognizes outstanding science teachers. Teachers must be nominated by an administrator within their school or district to be eligible to win a prize of up to $1,000. This organization has several awards that are of interest to both teachers and other leaders in science. For example, The GE & Science Prize for Young Life Scientists awards an annual grand prize of $25,000 while runners up receive $5,000. The GE & Science Prize for Young Life Scientist deadline is August 1, 2010. There are awards for people who write scientific articles and books for people of all ages with a scientific theme. For additional information, go to: http://www.aaas.org/aboutaaas/awards/.
Earth Day/World Ocean Day Challenge
Deadline May 22
Challenge yourself and your coworkers or students to send in your best ideas on how to reduce the use of plastic. The Committee will vote on which idea they consider the most creative and/or demanding of efforts. Send in the idea via email. Contact Amy Gollenberg at agollenberg@dolphinquest.com.
Deadline May 28
What do you love most about the Chesapeake Bay, its rivers, and streams? Enter the photo contest go to: http://www.cbf.org/Page.aspx?pid=1780.
Deadline May 30
April 1 – May 31
Presented by Salvation Army’s EnviRenew Initiative
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. Go to: http://www.openarchitecturenetwork.org/competitions.
Deadline June 1
Samsung’s Active Learning Grant Program awards cameras based on need to K-12 schools that can utilize a document camera to encourage active learning. Go to: http://www.samsunggrants.com/.
Connect Grants for Culturally Diverse Communities
Deadline June 1
Connect Grants provide support and training for Leave No Trace education and materials. Grant awards range from $500 - $2,500. Go to: http://lnt.org/programs/grants.php.
Captain Planet Foundation
Deadline June 30
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 (elementary through high school), 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). Go to the following website for additional information: http://captainplanetfoundation.org/default.aspx?pid=3.
Save the Frogs Art and Poetry Contest
Savethefrogs.com is a non-profit organization that is sponsoring an art contest and a poetry context to get citizens interested and raise awareness of amphibians facing extinction. Both the art and the poetry contests are open to children and adults. The deadline for poetry submissions is May 29, 2010 and the deadline for art is September 29, 2010. Cash prizes of up to $100 will be awarded. The best poems and art will go into a book to be sold to raise money to continue this organization’s conservation efforts throughout the world. http://www.savethefrogs.com/.
Do Something Seed Grants
One award for $500 is given out every week! This grant is available to youth ages 25 and under that have a plan for a community action project and need some seed money to get started. For additional information, go to: http://www.dosomething.org/grants.
Upcoming Events
See the new and improve VaN Calendar with map feature for a listing of all events.
Virginia Marine Science Day at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science
May 22
10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Gloucester Point
VIMS' annual Marine Science Day is a fun-filled event for the whole family. There will be exhibits, children's activities, seining on the York River, lab tours, seafood cooking demonstrations, mini-lectures, and much more. All activities are free, as is parking. The event proceeds rain or shine. For more information go to the website: http://www.vims.edu/public/msd/index.php or contact Susan Maples at montica1@vims.edu or (804) 684-7846.
Learn How to Care for Virginia’s Injured Wildlife
The Wildlife Center of Virginia offers 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. For more information, including class descriptions and costs, visit the Wildlife Center of Virginia's website.
No Child Left on the Shore Eco-Heritage Project
EE Volunteer Educator Training Workshop
Free, 14 hours teacher credit
May 15 – 16 & July 24 - 25
The Watermen’s Museum in Yorktown in partnership with the Schooner Alliance is conducting educational training workshops for the environmental science program "No Child Left on the Shore" (NCLOS). This free 14 hour, multidisciplinary workshop will train educators to conduct scientific method based comparative sampling on the shore of the York River and in the main channel on the Schooner Alliance. The workshop also includes Project Aquatic Wild, and NCLOS Special Needs Educator training.
May 13 – 22
National Zoo's Conservation and Research Center, Front Royal, Virginia
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. Go to: http://nationalzoo.si.edu/ConservationAndScience/MAB/GMU/consconflict.cfm.
May 22
This is thespring networking meeting for formal and non-formal environmental educators. For information, contact Dan Cohen at cohen.d1@lynchburg.edu or visit the website at www.lynchburg.edu/claytor.
June 1, 6 – 7:30 p.m.
Virginia Living Museum
524 J. Clyde Morris Blvd., Newport News
The mysterious White Nose Syndrome (WNS) that has killed hundreds of thousands of bats in the northeastern U.S was confirmed in five counties in Virginia in spring 2009. Join U.S. Fish & Wildlife biologist Sumalee Hoskin at the Virginia Living Museum to explore what is known about WNS, the current status of WNS in our state, which bats are affected and what the spread of WNS may mean to Virginia’s caves and other wildlife. Call (757) 595-9135 to register or visit the website at: http://www.thevlm.org/AdultPrograms.aspx.
Wildlife in the Bay Watershed Academy
July 12 – 16
Spaces are still available in the VRUEC Wildlife in the Bay Watershed Academy hosted by the Dept. of Game and Inland Fisheries. The Academy will be held at the Chickahominy Wildlife management Area in Charles City County from 8:30-4:00 each day. Teachers will learn field investigation techniques used to monitor wildlife populations near their school. The Academy is free, teachers will receive guides and materials needed to monitor wildlife populations. Graduate credit is available for a fee. Register on line at www.vanaturally.com/bayacademy.html. Underground Treasures
August 3, 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Virginia Living Museum
524 J. Clyde Morris Blvd., Newport News
Virginia’s Rocks and Minerals Below the surface throughout Virginia lies an amazing variety of rock and mineral resources. In this hands-on workshop for adults at the Virginia Living Museum, we’ll use simple field and lab techniques to learn to identify native Virginia rocks and minerals, ores, encounter some minerals with unusual properties, and show examples of some surprising commercial uses for these resources. Presented by Jim Drummond, VLM Education Associate. Go to http://www.thevlm.org/AdultPrograms.aspx for additional information.
June and August
June 26 – 27, August 14 - 15
Summer Teacher Training Workshops
Virginia Living Museum
524 J. Clyde Morris Blvd., Newport News
June – August, 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
The Virginia Living Museum is offering workshops for teachers throughout the summer. Classes include:
- June 28 Thinking Like a Scientist: Upper Elementary
- June 29 Freshwater Ecology: Pond and Stream
- June 30 Introducing Science Pre-K
- July 1 Exploring Habitats
- July 26 Schoolyard Ecology
- July 27 Chesapeake Bay Ecology
- July 28 More Science Pre-K
- July 29 Webs of Life
- August 9 Living Plant
- August 10 Geology Rocks
- August 11 Virginia’s Prehistoric Past
- August 12 Teaching Scientific Investigation
June 28 – July 2 – Math in the Garden (ED617)
August 2 – 6 Natural Research: Using the Environment for Student-Driven Investigations (ED618)
For more information or to register, go to: www.mbc.edu/ebl or contact Dr. Tamra Willis, Graduate Teacher Education Program, Mary Baldwin College at twillis@mbc.edu or (540) 887-7135.
Partner Updates and Resources
- Early Space, www.earlyspace.com
- Isle Be Green, Isle of Wight County, www.islebegreen.com
- Ocean Conservancy, www.oceanconservancy.org
- Science Systems & Applications, Inc., www.ssaihq.com
- Shenandoah National Park Trust, www.snptrust.org
- Stormwater Planning Division, Fairfax County, www.fairfaxcounty.gov
- The Story of Stuff, http://www.storyofstuff.com/
- Virginia Green Industry Council, http://virginiagreen.org/index.htm
Your Virginia
Nomination Requirements:
- One-page biography of the nominee, and supporting material as needed.
- A one page abstract giving as overview of contributions and accomplishments.
- Detailed description of local, regional and statewide educational projects/activities and their impact on the educators and students in Virginia. Include objectives and results of activities. No more than three pages.
- Describe nominee’s ability to inspire and encourage environmental awareness.
VRUEC Award Committeec/o Suzie Gilley – ChairP.O. Box 11104Richmond, VA 23230-1104Beth Hawse
Chief Ranger of Interpretation and Education
Douthat State Park
14239 Douthat State Park Road
Millboro, Virginia 24460
540-862-8117
beth.hawse@dcr.virginia.gov
This article was submitted by Carol Zokaites, Education Coordinator for the Department of Conservation and Recreation. For additional information contact her at carol.zokaites@dcr.virginia.gov or 540-394-2553.
It has been a year since WNS was found on bats in a Virginia cave so I wanted to update you on White-Nose Syndrome in Virginia and surrounding states. Basically it is not good. We now have 8 counties in Virginia where the bats have the WNS fungus. WNS has been confirmed in a Tennessee cave, just over the state line from Bristol, Virginia. WNS was also found in the biggest bat hibernaculum in the Virginia's, Hellhole, in West Virginia.
I went to the caves in Bland County. The temperature was in the 50's but there was still about 6 inches of snow cover on the ground and ice in the cave entrances. We saw many bats flying out of the cave in the middle of the day and we found about 1,000 bats in the entrance room to a cave where there is usually only one or two. These are the type of behaviors displayed by bats with WNS.
Website opens May 25.
Litter Picks
Virginia Recycling Association Conference
May 18 – 19
The annual Virginia Recycling Association’s conference will be held in Virginia Beach at the Wyndham Hotel. For additional information to: http://vrarecycles.org.dnnmax.com/.
Deadline to Apply June 1
Keep America Beautiful is offering three grants to governments to help clean up and reduce graffiti. For information about the grant go to: http://www.kab.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pressreleases_4_1_10.
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. Here is the link to KAB’s webpage with suggestions for organizing a stewardship event: http://www.kab.org/site/PageServer?pagename=gac_organizeyourown
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 hosted the 22nd Annual Potomac River Watershed Cleanup on April 10, 2010. There were 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. The results of the litter cleanups are being updated as results are received. Visit the website at: http://www.fergusonfoundation.org/trash_initiative/trash_cleanup.shtml.
Calcasieu Parrish in Louisiana had inmates create an innovative anti-littering billboard that shows citizens the variety of trash that has been found along the roads. It encourages citizens to call the litter hotline when they see citizens littering. To read the full story and see the billboard go to: http://www.cppj.net/index.aspx?recordid=292&page=30.
This educator’s guide is a collection of activities and lesson plans to teach about the harmful effects of marine litter. Although it is written especially for the Southeast and the Gulf of Mexico, the activities are relevant to Virginia’s waterways. This guide is similar to Pollution Solutions, but offers some variations. To download the Educators Guide to Marine Debris: Southeast and Gulf of Mexico; visit this website: http://www.cosee-se.org/marinedebris.php. To view the Pollution Solutions activities, go to: http://www.deq.virginia.gov/education/polsol.html. Additional litter resources are available on the DEQ litter page by going to: http://www.deq.virginia.gov/recycle/lprevention.html.
June 5
Twenty-Six organizations in Virginia have registered events with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation as part of Clean the Bay Day. Go to:http://www.cbf.org/Page.aspx?pid=1697.
1st National Reuse Conference & Expo
October 18 – 20, 2010 Raleigh, North Carolina
To learn more about attending the conference and/or exhibiting at the expo, go to www.reuseconex.org.
Fools for Art
Chesterfield County held their annual “Fool for Art” celebration on April 17 at John Tyler Community College. Over 5,000 people attended this event. The recycling bin painting was very popular. Contact Pamela Cooper at cooperp@chesterfield.gov or 804-751-2227.
Assorted Items of Professional Interest
Find out what is happening around the country or register an event go to: http://www.stopextinction.org/esd.html.
The Science Museum of Virginia offers free adult education lunch break science lectures from 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. every Wednesday. For a listing of classes go to: http://www.smv.org/adulteducation.html.
May 12, 2010
Registration begins June 1
June 26
The National Wildlife Federation encourages people to camp in their backyards or participate in community camp outs as a way to connect with nature and build memories of spending time outdoors. For more information go to: http://online.nwf.org/site/PageNavigator/gabc_2010_home.
Register by May 14
May 24 & 25, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
University of Maryland College Park, Stamp Student Union
Accessible by Metro (College Park station on the Green Line)
Deadline to Apply May 26
June, July, and August 2010
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation is offering 5-day immersion courses in DC, MD, PA, and VA throughout the summer. Each session is $150 per person. Visit the website at www.cfb.org/chesapeakeclassrooms.
All programs and activities listed in this guide are free of charge and open to the public. Upcoming festivals, gardening workshops and youth programs are listed here for May, June, July and August. To register for one of the Healthy Garden Workshops call (202) 690-3898. To schedule a Guided Tour of the People's Garden or Program for Youth call (202) 708-0082. Click Here.
June 11
This conference is sponsored by the American Bar Association Standing Committee on Environmental Law. For additional information go to: http://new.abanet.org/committees/environmental/Pages/ConferenceProgram.aspx.
University of Virginia’s Mountain Lake Biological Station (Pembroke, VA)
The Mountain Lake Biological Station is a field research and teaching facility located in the deciduous hardwood forest of the Appalachian Mountains of southwestern Virginia. The astonishing diversity of the region and MLBS provides an extraordinary setting to integrate research experience with strategies and tools for effective science education.
- Experience hands-on, active and problem-based learning in conservation, evolution, ecology, and genetics
- Study local animals, plants and their interactions
- Develop survey and identification skills for local wildlife
- Conduct field and lab experiments that may be used within a classroom
- Create a teaching portfolio to facilitate field research by your students, develop and utilize wildlife habitats, integrate field and lab studies, fulfill state and national teaching standards, and assess student outcomes
- Write a short grant to apply for external funding to support wildlife education at your school
June 24 – 26 Baltimore
National Wildlife Photo Contest
Deadline July 6, 2010
The contest is sponsored by National Wildlife Magazine. Go to: http://www.nwf.org/photocontest/default.aspx?s_src=News_and_Magazines_Pages_2010_NWM_photocontest?20100211_WLO_February_Edition.
July 21-22, 2010, 8:30 A.M. to 5 P.M.
Course ID: ETOX - 410
Department of Environmental Quality Building
629 East Main Street, Richmond, VA 23219
This introductory course provides participants with a strong foundation in aquatic toxicology and the way these concepts are applied to managing pollutants in aquatic environments. The course covers terminology, common test designs and endpoints such as lethality, cancer, and endocrine disruption. Discussion includes fate and transport as it relates to bioavailability and pollutant partitioning in aquatic environments, as well as important preexisting and emerging pollutants. Other topics include Water Quality criteria from the Clean Water Act, 2007 EPA updates for Aquatic Life Copper Criteria, and site-specific criteria for metals using hardness correction, water effects ratio (WER), and the biotic ligand model (BLM).
You may register via the link below or by calling the Northwest Environmental Training Center at 206-762-1976. Register Online!
Semester of Service Strategy Guide
Help young people to learn to take action in their communities through long-term service projects. This guide contains links to other websites where the leader can find ideas for projects in their communities. Go to: http://www.ysa.org/2010-sos-guide.
The Bay Backpack is a website that was produced by the Chesapeake Bay Program. It provides teaching resources, field studies, professional development opportunities, and grant funding. Go to: http://www.baybackpack.com/index.cfm?page=app.home.
The Howard Hughes Medical Institute is a wealth of information for adults and children interested in science. The science database has resources available for teaching a variety of scientific topics. Children can get ideas for science fairs or experiments that they can do at home. Students can ask scientists questions. Go to: http://www.hhmi.org/coolscience/index.html.
Website of Interest
Learn about animals as they travel along their global migratory paths. What blooms and when? Learn interesting facts about nature. Go to: http://www.learner.org/jnorth/.
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