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 Dear Powerful Choices supporters,
Welcome to the spring edition of the Powerful Choices newsletter! We are nearing the end of the school year and are gearing up for a summer filled with exciting projects. Stay tuned for more information about curriculum updates as well as our new, web-based scheduling tool.
We are always looking for submissions to this newsletter, so feel free to pass on any student artwork, writing, or other ideas. As always, thank you for your continued support, and enjoy the last days of school!
Sincerely,
Energy Education Team at Puget Sound Energy
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| AWARDS |
Powerful Choices Program Manager Jessica Aronson with Gina McCarthy, EPA Assistant Administrator of Air and Radiation  |
Powerful Choices for the Environment wins National EPA Clean Air Excellence Award
The Environmental Protection Agency Clean Air Excellence Awards Program, established in 2000 at the recommendation of the Clean Air Act Advisory Committee, annually recognizes and honors outstanding innovative efforts to make progress in achieving cleaner air. Award-winning entries directly or indirectly reduce pollutant emissions, demonstrate innovation, offer lasting outcomes, and provide a model for others to follow.
Powerful Choices received the 2009 award in the Education/Outreach category. Program Manager Jessica Aronson traveled to Washington, DC on May 26 to attend the awards ceremony, hosted by the Environmental Protection Agency. Thank you to the facilitators, partners, teachers, students, and Puget Sound Energy for helping Powerful Choices receive this incredible recognition. Congratulations to Powerful Choices for winning such a prestigious national award! |
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| JESSICA LEVINE: OUTSTANDING ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATOR AWARD |
Photo of Tim Stetter, Jessica Levine and Jessica Aronson |
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Congratulations to Jessica Levine, Eckstein Middle School, Seattle
Environmental Education Association of Washington board members Jessica Aronson (Program Manger, Powerful Choices) and Tim Stetter (Program Manager, UW Professional and Continuing Education) awarded Powerful Choices' 6th grade science teacher Jessica Levine the Outstanding Environmental Educator Award in the formal classroom teacher category. On April 27, Jessica and Tim presented Jessica Levine this award in front of all the 6th graders at Eckstein Middle School. Jessica Aronson nominated Jessica Levine for this award due to her ability to teach basic science concepts from an environmental perspective. Jessica makes the laws of conservation of matter and thermodynamics come to life through the lens of the environment. When teaching about the law of conservation of matter, she does a "cradle to cradle" project, educating students about how every resource comes from somewhere and will ultimately never go away. When teaching about solubility, Jessica conducts a Clean Water Challenge with students so they can see the impacts of solutes, solvents, and insoluble materials in our water systems. Students apply their knowledge of acids and bases to household hazardous products. In teaching about energy transformation and thermodynamics, Jessica uses a custom built photovoltaic unit in her classroom so that students can see electricity being transformed from the sun every day.
Jessica has presented her unique curriculum at local and national conferences, inspiring other formal educators to approach science from such a real-life perspective and sustainable context. She was on the committee that wrote the Washington K-12 Environmental and Sustainability Standards, and she continues spread sustainability ideas to colleagues. Jessica is not simply educating good scientists; she's raising sustainable savvy citizens. Her classroom models resource conservation and environmental learning, action, and change. Jessica is extremely committed to teaching students about the environment - in the formal classroom. |
| SENIOR PROJECT TIME! SAMANTHA MINTY | |
Samantha Minty, a high school senior at International School in Bellevue, chose to learn more about energy efficiency and alternative energy for her senior project. Samantha, who is interested in a career in energy and engineering, contacted Puget Sound Energy and decided to "shadow" Jane Howard, a Powerful Choices Program Facilitator, at the Jewish Day School in Bellevue.
Through her senior project, she has been learning about how to make her school more energy efficient, specifically by working with the staff and student population. Samantha explains, "I want to learn how to successfully educate students about leading a more 'green' lifestyle, which is why I wanted to observe the Powerful Choices presentation. Observing the Powerful Choices presentation was very helpful for my project, as I was able to see how to interact with a group of students and make the material interesting. I thought the presentation had a great balance between being informative and fun. The informational parts kept the students very engaged with questions and discussion, while the games allowed for the students to apply what they had just learned in a fun way. I was very impressed by the students' willingness to contribute to discussion and their interest in being more environmentally friendly."
Overall, Samantha felt the presentation was very successful in teaching young students about the way their lifestyles may impact the Earth, while keeping them engaged and entertained. Thank you Samantha for your interest, enthusiasm and initiative in pursuing energy efficiency. Best of luck to you in your career ahead, and don't forget to drop us a resume! |
| BIKE TO SCHOOL MONTH |
May was Bike to School Month
Did you get the memo? Helmet hair is in this spring. During the month of May, ~1500 students in the Puget Sound area joined a national movement to ride their bikes to school. A great way to stay fit, riding your bike decreases your dependence on oil and reduces your carbon footprint. It can also be a way to win great biking prizes if you signed up for Cascade Bicycle Club's official Bike to School Month competition. Even if you missed the official Bike to School month, it's never too late to start riding to school! Visit cbcef.org/bts/bts_secondary.html for more information.
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| E3 WEBSITE |
New Interactive E3 Website Connects Teachers, Sustainability Programs
The Environmental Education Association of WA recently launched E3 Washington, an interactive website and networking tool designed to connect people with environmental and sustainability education programs offered throughout Washington State. We invite you to check out the website and get involved in the E3 network! Please visit www.e3washington.org to:
· Learn about the E3 Washington initiative to create a System of Education for Sustainable Communities. Start by viewing the new E3 video via the homepage. · Discover programs that provide quality environmental and sustainability education by visiting the "Featured Programs" page. Visit the Student Project Space! · Keep up-to-date about environmental and sustainability education across the state and in your region. Check out "Showcase News" as well as "Events", "Jobs" and "Endorsements" on the home page.
Joining the E3 network is a great way to stay involved in sustainability education before, during, and after your students participate in Powerful Choices. |
| NATURAL HISTORY WITH CHRIS CUNNINGHAM |
Want to Learn More this Summer? Check This Out!
Chris Cunningham, a teacher at Thurgood Marshall Middle School in Olympia who has worked with Powerful Choices for the past several years, has taken learning to the next level. Chris has tied his passion for teaching, the natural history of the Northwest and biking all together. This summer, Chris will lead two 5-day teacher trainings that involve bike touring on the San Juan Islands as well as the BC Gulf Coast Islands. These classes provide teachers with the opportunity for credits through the Heritage Institute of Learning and Antioch University-Seattle.
The courses are both natural history courses for teachers of all grade levels and can be tailored to be relevant to a number of different content areas. In each class, they establish base camps at one of the amazing camp grounds in the area. From there they do bike tours to various islands as they practice natural history interpretation skills that teachers can use in their own communities. The course will focus on issues in ecology, geologic and glacial history, human impact issues, and a good dose of introductory level ornithology. All are welcome regardless of condition. The goal of these courses is to help all teachers find ways to enhance their instructional practice by integrating outdoor experiences. Feel free to check out the website for these courses at http://sites.google.com/site/naturalhistorywithchris/.
Chris is a national board certified science teacher and a champion for environmental causes in his school. A regular bike commuter, Chris also wrote a grant to receive a solar panel array from Puget Sound Energy for his school. |
| POWERFUL CHOICES FACILITATOR PROFILE: JANE HOWARD, "ISLAND JANE" |
 Jane Howard has been educating students through Powerful Choices for the Environment since May 2008. Before then she enjoyed a career of connecting people with their natural environment through many different avenues - as an artist and as a founder of Island Institute, a kayak guiding service and marine life education camp for all ages in the San Juan Islands. Jane has also taught middle school science in the Caribbean, as well as on Vashon Island. In a nutshell, if you have been a part of an environmental education program in Alaska, Washington, Montana, or the Caribbean and anywhere in between, Jane probably taught you.
After Jane left New York where she was raised, her educational pursuits brought her to Ohio Wesleyan, an art school in San Miguel, Mexico, and to Western's Huxley College of the Environment, where she finished her undergraduate degree in Environmental Education and Art. Through her work at the Pacific Science Center and Huxley College, she acquired her Standard K-12 Teaching Certificate and an master's of science in Natural Science Education.
The Powerful Choices for the Environment staff benefit by having Jane's creative, inspirational and innovative personality. When "Island Jane" is not working, she is busy raising two teenagers on Vashon Island, creating salmon art from reclaimed material, riding horses and walking the beach with her dog. |
| PARTNER PROFILE: INTERCITY TRANSIT | |
Partner Profile: Intercity Transit
Intercity Transit has been an important partner to Powerful Choices since 2008. Intercity Transit provides public transit to all Thurston County residents and offers Smart Moves, a program that teaches students how to ride the bus. Smart Moves can be incorporated before or after Powerful Choices comes to your school. To find out more information, read the interview below with Erin Scheel, Intercity Transit's Youth Education Specialist.
Can you describe Intercity Transit's Smart Moves program?
Students in Thurston County learn first-hand how to get around on foot, bike and on transit through Intercity Transit's award-winning Smart Moves Youth Education Program. Smart Moves partners with schools and recreation programs to build a generation of safe and healthy walkers, bike riders, and transit users.
Why should middle school students learn to use transit?
When students get into middle school, they want to be independent and are old enough to learn and retain the information about how to use bus service. The more students do outside their home, the more they rely on time-stressed parents to drive them around. Many students see bicycles as toys meant for little kids, and public transportation as something scary. Often they understand that auto emissions are the number one source of air pollutants in the region and a top contributor to climate change, but they don't know what to do about it as non-drivers.
Our Smart Moves program reintroduces biking, busing, and walking as ways to have more fun, be more mobile, and hang out with friends without begging for rides. Student understanding of transportation's impact on climate change reinforces the downside of cars - and that a healthy future will include a lot fewer of them.
How do students respond to transit activities?
The first thing we hear when classes board a bus during our "Rolling Classroom" demonstration rides usually is "Wow-this is really cool-and really clean. But isn't the bus for old people?" When students find out that 49% of our riders are 25 and under, they are first surprised and then interested in how they can use transit too. Students can be pretty intimidated by stepping out of their family vehicle and into the wider world. We show them that combining transit, biking, and walking can be social, simple, affordable, and really no big deal. For these transportation options to be the practical choice, they must be thought of as normal and not "alternative" transportation. Starting these behaviors early reinforces what often becomes a lifelong attitude - that taking the bus, walking and biking is second nature and often quite enjoyable.
A simple ride on a bus can bust a lot of myths about public transportation. We were recognized nationally by the American Public Transportation Association as the Best Medium Sized Transit Agency in America in 2009. Middle-schoolers are even tougher judges, and they are always surprised by how friendly, welcoming, safe and comfortable our system is.
What other programs exist at Intercity Transit to encourage biking, walking, and transit?
Smart Moves works with community partners on Walk n' Roll Safe Routes to School programs in several middle and elementary schools. These grant-funded year-round programs are based in schools excited about walking and biking to school. We've seen days with 50% fewer cars dropping children off, and a steady increase in the number of families choosing a healthy and active trip to school.
Intercity Transit coordinates the annual Bicycle Commuter Contest in Thurston County. The Contest, now in its 23rd year, and has been recognized nationally by the American Public Transportation Association for its innovation and success. During Bike Month in May, the contest encourages people in Thurston County to save money and get healthy by riding to work, school, or on errands. This May 21st many hundreds of bicyclists will be seen riding on Bike to School Day and Bike to Work Day. Last year, event organizers estimate over 100,000 pounds of CO2 emissions were saved by bicycling in May!
The transit agency also provides free one-on-one travel training for people new to using the bus. It's a popular, customer-friendly program that everyone loves.
How can teachers learn more?
If your school is in Thurston County, consider including a "Rolling Classroom" lesson on transit, biking, and walking as a fifth day during your Powerful Choices week. It's a great fit. For more information, please visit www.intercitytransit.com/smartmoves or contact Smart Moves coordinator Erin Scheel at escheel@intercitytransit.com or 360-705-5839. |
| EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES |
Green Chemistry & Sustainable Science Curriculum Institutes,
July 27-29, 2010
Ecology, EEAW, and Beyond Benign are holding a Green Chemistry workshop for middle school teachers at the Department of Ecology Lacey building. This class will include clock hours, lunches, and all materials for just $50.
Visit beyondbenign.org for more information.
Call for Teacher 'Coaches'
The Third Annual Green Industrial Business and Career Expo is looking for teachers willing to help coach other teachers in how to conduct green-based learning projects. Participants will receive clock hours, free admission and meals at the next Green Expo scheduled for October 7 and 8 in Seattle.
Visit greenexpo-wa.com for more information.
Quillisascut™ School Garden Workshop, August 14-18, 2010
Quillisascut School Garden workshop is for school teachers, administrators, parents, or volunteers who are wanting to start a school garden or evolve their present garden. Participants will explore how planting a garden can feed us healthy foods as well as save the earth, how composting closes the loop in our farm to table cycle, and how we can learn from 'Natures Operating System' and the simple joy of putting ourselves back in the garden circle.
Visit quillisascut.com/farm-school/school-gardens for more information.
Seattle Teachers: Learn How to Start up a Composting Program,
June 4, 2010
Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) invites representatives from Seattle public and private schools to attend this FREE School Compost Workshop! You will learn how to start up and improve school food waste collection programs, and also take a tour of recycling and composting facilities.
E-mail Kim@resourcestewards.com for more information.
Recycle Forward: Raise Money for Your School by Recycling Used Electronics
You can get new technology for your classroom by recycling used electronics and ink cartridges for cash through this innovative program coordinated by Digital Wish.
Visit recycleforwardnow.org for more information. |
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Powerful Choices for the Environment (formerly called In Concert with the Environment) is an environmental education program that is changing how Washington state's middle school students and their families think about and use natural resources in their daily lives. Environmental education professionals, trained in science education and local resource use, in cooperation with over 20 local partnering agencies, deliver this hands-on, four-day program. The program is designed to empower sixth to eighth grade students across the region with the knowledge that their everyday choices do make a difference. For more information, visit Powerful Choices at PSE.com.
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