Greetings!
Happy 2009! As you move well into second semester, we hope this issue can provide you some great educational resources to supplement your spring semester lessons. We have worked really hard to come up with some great new resources for you and your students, including our brand new website. As always, if you think someone else may enjoy this publication, feel free to forward this to them. Thanks, The Parks & Land Use Educational Team |
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Retzer Nature Center's Issue Forum - Next Thursday Here is an opportunity to find out what we know about some "hot topic" environmental issues, what we don't know about them, and what the average person can do to make a difference. Environmental issues selected for discussion are both with a global and local perspective.
Each forum will take on a different issue in a friendly and low-temperature atmosphere, and will feature a panel of knowledgeable experts, laying out and discussing the facts-followed by a moderated discussion involving the panel and member of the audience. Discussion will be appropriate for high school and college students, and adults.
"Renewable Energy, Bio Fuels, and Efficiency"
The issue of powering our future. DATE: Thursday, February 19 TIME: 7:00-9:00 p.m. FEE: $4.00 REGISTER BY: Monday, February 16, by calling (262) 548-7801 or e-mailing Park System Reservation Desk.
The lead panelist will be John Bahr, who began his career with General Electric, doing process and product design. After receiving his PhD in biomedical engineering, he was appointed to a faculty position by the Medical College of Wisconsin, where he did research, system development and taught in the department of Pediatrics and Obstetrics. He has authored several books and technical papers, and went on to manage two new national businesses in medical data processing before retiring. He currently chairs the Energy and Global Warming Committee for the Sierra Club, and the RENEW Committee Education Group.
Applying his credentials as an engineer and teacher, and his personal commitment to renewable energy, John has created an excellent, comprehensive power point program which will form the basis of our Renewable Energy Forum. John and the other panelists will use this program as an outline for their panel discussion, and for the general audience discussion which follows. |
 Now Is the Time to 'Go Green'!
Participate in Wisconsin's Green & Healthy School Program
Schools
across Wisconsin
are demonstrating their commitment to a more sustainable Earth by choosing to
join the Wisconsin Green & Healthy Schools (GHS) program. GHS is a web-based, self-paced and voluntary
initiative available to all Wisconsin K-12 public and private schools. Schools participate by taking a pledge and
working with students, teachers, staff and the community to complete
environmental self-assessments. Based on
the results of these assessments, schools work to improve in areas they felt
were weak and maintain programs that have a positive impact.
Schools
that have participated in the program experience a variety of benefits,
including:
- economic savings associated
with reduced consumption and operating costs
- a healthier, safer and more
productive learning environment
- an increased sense of ownership
by teachers, students and staff in the school
- increased connections between
the community and the school
- use of the school site and
facilities as a teaching tool
- increased protection of natural
resources
GHS is
correlated to Wisconsin Model Academic Standards and is designed to fit
smoothly into existing curricula. As a
GHS participant, your school will be rewarded with certificates, flags and
statewide recognition. There are also
grant funds available to help reimburse any costs your school may have incurred
during participation in the program.
The GHS
website is full of information to help your school reach its goals.
Questions? We'd love to hear from you! E-mail Tessa Jilot, GHS Program Coordinator, or
call at (608) 267-7622.
 Nineteen
public & private schools are currently part of our county "Green Schools"
program which works with the state program to provide additional, personalized assistance to schools. Each school has had $3000 available for various projects &
educational opportunities that have included: new recycling bins for indoors
& outdoor athletic events, bus trips to the MRF, compost bins, natural
landscape design & creation, and more. For information visit our website.
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 AP Environmental Science Presentation
Get your students ready for the AP exam with this fast paced presentation on latest solid waste, recycling, and hazardous waste issues. We connect these topics to population, climate change, and energy use.
Looking to continue learning after the exam? We have fun programming that expands your student's knowledge and challenges them to think while participating in fun simulations and interactive presentations. Contact the recycling office for more information at 262-896-8300.
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 Green Cleaning Chemistry Presentation
Examine the common chemicals of everyday cleaning products in this fun and interactive presentation. Students will also examine what makes typical household cleaners work and then make less toxic versions to take home. Contact the recycling office for more information at 262-896-8300.
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Additional Programs & Presentations
Each area of the department has unique presentations that can be delivered to your group. Presentations usually last 45 minutes to an hour and we can work with you to make sure the presentations coincide with your curriculum objectives.
Animal Welfare
Animal bite prevention, humane animal education, humane animal careers
Parks
Waukesha County Parks' interactive calendar with a wide variety of monthly events.
Recycling
Waste reduction, recycling, composting, natural resources, climate change, recycling & the county government, economics & recycling, and more!
Water
Soils, groundwater, water cycle, storm drain stenciling, water quality testing, and a wide variety of other presentations.
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A Drop in the Bucket Lesson Plan
From Project WET (Learn more below)
Water can be both abundant and rare at the same time. Use this activity to help students understand that water is a limited resource.
Warm up: Have students estimate the proportion of water that they think is potable--not salty and not polluted. Record the students estimates
Step 1. Fill a 1 liter (1000 ml) cylinder or beaker with water and tell students that it represents all the water on earth
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Traveling Trunks
Lesson Plans & Teaching Materials on the Go
Our traveling trunks are filled with lesson plans, videos and all the supplies needed for many hands-on activities. Trunk topics include watersheds and pollution, wetlands, and soils. Call 896-8305 to reserve a trunk for a two week loan period.
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Additional Materials & Resources
Each area of the department has a wide variety of materials and resources available for teachers. These include audio visual aids, traveling trunks, and other items for teachers to use with their students. Please visit our website for more information.
Recycling
Traveling Trunks (Recycling, Compost, Social Studies, Family & Consumer Education), Recycle Raccoon costume, various audio-visual equipment
Water Resources
Traveling Trunks (Watersheds & Pollution, Wetlands, Water History, Soils), Groundwater Model, supplies for stormdrain stenciling, various water testing equipment and many print publications as well as videos and DVD's.
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 Social Studies Teacher's Conference
Waukesha County and the DNR will be co-presenting 2 sessions at the Wisconsin Council for the Social Studies Conference. To learn more about the conference, click on the WCSS logo.
Integrating Recycling into Economics and Geography Curricula will provide a wide variety of ready to use lesson plans and simulations to integrate recycling, markets, natural resources, carbon footprints and more into the middle school or high school geography or economics classroom.
Monday, March 16
11:15 Session
No Can Trashed Behind: How to Grow a Successful Recycling
Program provides easy to follow steps to create or improve your current recycling program. Tips on how to avoid common obstacles will be discussed as well as suggestions for funding sources for bins. Lis Olson from the DNR will be on hand to further explain the DNR's Green and Healthy Schools Program. Monday, March 16
2:15 Session |
 Water Monitoring
Training Sign up now to learn how to test a river or stream for dissolved oxygen, clarity temperature, biotic index and flow. Data is collected and shared in a statewide database. All equipment is provided. Training will be held May 2nd. Call 262-896-8305 to register. Date: May 2nd
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 Sally Ride Academy
Waukesha County will be presenting a week-long look at how to better cover natural resources in the classroom. Limited tuition scholarships are available to Waukesha County teachers. For more information, see Sally Ride Academy's website.
Resources Inside and Outside the Classroom: Differentiation with Environmental Education and Natural
Resources in the Science Classroom (Grades 3 - 8)
Natural resources offer a wealth of learning
opportunities beyond traditional teaching methods. In this fun, fast-paced
overview of natural resources including recycling, compost, soil,
and water, we will explore interesting new ways to delve into these
topics using Gardner's multiple intelligences. Interest your
students who both traditionally excel or struggle with this type of
content through action packed classroom lessons that keep kids coming
back for more.
Additionally, we will travel around the community to
utilize a wide variety of "other" classrooms such as a local river for water
monitoring, a compost education exhibit, and a Materials Recycling Facility
to introduce participants to the wide variety of environmental
educational resources available. All participants will receive a copy of
the Project Wet Curriculum and Activity Guide with over 90 hands on
activities.
Date: July 13 - 17th, 2009
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 Project WET Training
Project WET is a national hands-on curriculum supplement designed by teachers. It covers all aspects of water from physical properties to pollution to ethical issues debates. Project WET training will held at Retzer Nature Center on August 20th. The $30 fee includes the curriculum guide with over 90 hands on activities, lunch and breaks. Local resources are highlighted in the training with a special session on recycling. Call 262-896-8305 to register.
Date: August 20, 2009
8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
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Featured Website
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Waukesha County's new website includes topical searches for all of our county programs. Many of the field trip opportunities and presentations are free, so be sure to check out the website.
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Field Trip Opportunities
For when your class wants to be on the go!
Parks
Eble Park and Naga-Waukee Park Ice Arenas offer a great field trip opportunity, all year around.
Retzer Nature CenterChoose from many different programs. Come to us or we can come to you! Try a "flip-flop" program with the Waukesha School's Planetarium. Recycling
Visit the Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) for a fun one-hour tour of what happens to your recyclables. Visit our website to learn more or call 896-8300 to schedule your trip. Limited bus funding is available! Call to reserve your class's spot today!
Water
Choose a river or stream close to your school and we will meet you there with all the equipment to run your students through stations to test for dissolved oxygen, clarity, temperature, and biotic index. Call 896-8305 to schedule a trip.
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Student Summer Camp Opportunities
Middle School
June 25 - 27, 2009
Camp Bird Youth Camp
near Crivitz, WI
Do you have students that love the outdoors? Would they be interested in learning about how to tell if a stream is healthy by looking for bugs, meet live birds of prey, or shadow a wide variety of conservation careers? Then Sand Creek Conservation Camp may be for them! Students
that will enter grades 6-8 in fall 2009 are eligible to attend this 3 day camp. If registration is completed by June 6th, the cost is $50. | |
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