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National Conservation Training Center        
Division of Education and Outreach        
January 2014        
Kathy Sholl, Editor
Dear Readers:

The New Year is upon us and "Baby, it's cold outside" with temperatures near zero at NCTC. We're looking forward to an exciting year of VOICES.  In this issue, we have several submissions from the field.  Can you find your region?

Our New Year's resolution is to increase our readership in 2014.  Won't you tell your co-workers about VOICES? U.S. Fish and Wildlife staff can join by clicking "Join Our Mailing List" link located on the far right column.  It's that easy to be part of the team in the know!

Your "voice" does make a difference.  Send questions, comments, suggestions, and your region's resources to  Kathy_Sholl@fws.gov.  Happy New Year!
Connecting People with NatureConnecting

Introducing Conservation Connect for Schools
Conservation Connect
Photo Credit: FWS
"Conservation Connect" is a new web-based video series that connects middle school students with the great outdoors and conservation careers. Produced by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, National Conservation Training Center, each episode will help students learn about wildlife, careers, and new technologies utilized to study and protect wildlife. An introductory broadcast for teachers and visitor services specialists will give a preview of the 5-7 minute episodes, and illustrate how these videos can supplement the use of existing environmental education curriculum, citizen science projects, and STEM content. Watch Conservation Connect on February 5, 2014 at, 2 p.m. ET
http://distancelearning.fws.gov/ctn.html

New Look, New Page   
Photo Credit:FWS

The Division of Fish and Aquatic

Conservation, National Fish

Hatchery System, has updated its

website! Along with a new look, comes a new page entirely focused on education. The new page addition of, "And You Thought We Only Raised Fish!" will feature images, videos and highlights of educational projects and programs taking place at our numerous field stations. Visit often for new information.

http://www.fws.gov/fisheries/nfhs/education.html

 

Northeast Region CPWN Site Gets a New Look

The Connecting People With Nature, USFWS Northeast Region website recently got a new look!  This easy to navigate site is filled with excellent CPWN resources and highlights throughout the region.  

www.fws.gov/northeast/cpwn/index_new.html 

 

Schoolyard Habitat Program Website 

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's national Schoolyard

Habitat Program has a new face and focus in the Northeast. 

Schoolyard Habitat
Photo Credit: Common Ground

The Northeast partnered with the Long Island Sound Study and Audubon Connecticut to target urban schools with the goal of providing opportunities for the country's growing urban population to connect with nature in their own cities. The new Northeast focused Schoolyard Habitat website helps forward this initiative by providing a spot where teachers, students, and parents can find guidance to create a Schoolyard Habitat.  

www.fws.gov/northeast/cpwn/schoolyardhabitat.html

 

Threatened Salamanders       Salamanders
Middle school children

created a clever video about the threats to salamanders in the Smoky Mountains.  Enjoy the catchy lyrics created to familiar music.


Youth in the Great OutdoorsYouth

Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program
The Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program Collaborative is Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program looking for 25 students to begin its Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program in June 2014 at collaborating universities including Florida Univ., Idaho Univ, Arizona Univ, Cornell Univ, and North Carolina State Univ.   Students must be in their sophomore year and enrolled at one of the collaborating universities or planning to enroll at one of the collaborating universities by Fall 2014. Students that are accepted into the program will attend an expense-paid, week-long conservation skills and leadership program in coordination with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Conservation Training Center in West Virginia in June, and will work full time for 8 weeks on field research projects with faculty and graduate student mentors at their home university. During their second summer, students will complete paid internships with local, state, federal, or tribal agencies or non-goverment organizations. Applications are available now and will be accepted through February 15, 2014.
http://programs.ifas.ufl.edu/ddcsp

Developing the Next Generation of Conservationists
America's Great Outdoors initiative hopes to foster a conservation and recreation ethic that supports our shared natural heritage, and calls for expanding outdoor job and volunteer opportunities for youth on national lands.  The initiative, Developing the Next Generation of Conservationists, brings together public and private partners to support those organizations that are developing innovative conservation job opportunities for youth on public lands which expose young people, particularly urban, tribal, and minority youth, to the natural world and career opportunities available in conservation. Hurry, the deadline for the online application is January 8, 2014.
www.nfwf.org/youth/Pages/2014rfp.aspx

Bezos Scholars Program
The Bezos Scholars Program @ the Aspen Institute is a year-long leadership development program for high school juniors and educators to put their education into action.  It begins with a scholarship to the Aspen Ideas Festival and continues through the following school year when Bezos Scholar teams return home to launch sustainable local Ideas Festivals that transform their schools and communities.  The deadline for application is February 18, 2014.
www.bezosfamilyfoundation.org/scholars

Global Explorers Climate Change Academy
Through a partnership with the National Park Service, Global Explorers is developing a Climate Change Academy for high school students in Summer 2014. This expedition is currently in development and will likely take place in Alaska, based out of Anchorage with exploration in Kenai Fjords and Denali National Parks.  Costs for this program will be largely offset by scholarships from the National Park Service.  Contact Julia Breul to receive more information as it becomes available.

FWS Professional DevelopmentFWSProfessional
Register in DOI Learn:  www.doi.gov/doilearn/index.cfm

Communicating Climate Change: Earth to Sky@ Mid-Atlantic OUT8109 

Date:  February 19 - May 16, 2014

Location: Webinars frame face-to-face session at NASA Wallops Flight Facility, VA

To meet the challenge to successfully communicate about climate change, this blended course links global change with the Mid-Atlantic region. 60 hours of course work is spread across
12 weeks; face-to-face session March 12 -13 on the Virginia coast.   Contact: Sandy_Spakoff@fws.gov or 304-876-7783
Registration Deadline: To be considered, register in DOI Learn and complete & return the supplemental application (required) to Susan_DeStephanis@fws.gov by January 13, 2014.
Registration Deadline: To be considered, register in DOI Learn and complete & return the supplemental application (required) to Susan_DeStephanis@fws.gov by January 13, 2014. After deadline, call for availability.

 Archery as an Outreach Tool, OUT8061

Archery
Archery
Photo Credit: FWS

March 10-13, 2014 

Location: NCTC, Shepherdstown, WV 

Participants will learn how to facilitate archery programs and games, learn the basics of archery and its equipment, setting up a safe archery range, how to train others as archery instructors, and building partnerships with state agencies and local archery groups.  Contact: Werner_Barz@fws.gov or 304-876-7313.   

Registration Deadline: February 7, 2014 

After deadline, call for availability.


Teaching Youth Outdoor Skills, OUT8062
Date: July 14-18, 2014
Location: NCTC, Shepherdstown, WV
Youth Outdoor Skills
Photo Credit: FWS
This course will provide participants with skills and tools that actively engage youth in the outdoors. Through a variety of instructor certification modules, plus interactive classroom and field based sessions, participants will develop new or enhance existing wild-life dependent recreation programs. 
Contact Werner_Barz@fws.gov or 304-876-7313
Registration Deadline: May 14, 2014
After deadline, call for availability.

Online: Supervising Young Adults in Conservation
FWS-OUT8045-ELEARNING
Date: Ongoing                                 
Location: DOI-Learn - OLT course   
Supervising young adults in seasonal and internship positions can be a new and challenging experience for even the most seasoned of supervisors. This recorded webinar, led by Student Conservation Association & U.S. Forest Service staff, will relate critical thinking and problem solving to common issues and situations often faced by supervisors working with young adults aged 16-25.  Participants have a "quarterly" timeline to complete this course i.e. four-month intervals (Jan 1; April 1; July 1; Oct 1).
Contact: Ora_Dixon@fws.gov; 304-876-7314 or Sandy_Spakoff@fws.gov; 304-876-7783

Online: Mentoring: Getting Started with Your Mentee-OUT8081
Date: Ongoing                    
Location: DOI-Learn (Online)                                           
In this course mentoring experts provide tips and techniques based on their experience. The self-paced training focuses on mentoring fundamentals, including tools, job aids, and skills needed when meeting with a mentee for the first time. Participating in this course will contribute to building a successful partnership with your mentee. Participants are given a "quarterly" timeline (Jan 1; April 1; July 1; Oct 1) i.e. four-month intervals to complete this online course. Receive 2 ½ hours credit annual diversity training upon course completion. This course is a prerequisite for Mentoring the Next Generation: Voices of Experience OUT8050-ELEARNING, an Archived Webinar.  Contact: Ora_Dixon@fws.gov; 304-876-7314 or Sandy_Spakoff@fws.gov; 304-876-7783

Online: Mentoring: The Next Generation - Voices of Experiences: OUT8050-ELEARNING
Date: Ongoing                
Location: DOI-Learn (Archived OUT8050 Webinar/Online)    
Hear the ins and outs of mentoring as a panel of experienced mentors and mentees answer questions and provide suggestions for ensuring a productive mentor-mentee relationship.  This archived webinar (eLearning) training builds on the mentoring prerequisite OUT8081 and focuses on trouble-shooting challenges in a mentoring relationship. Participants will apply the insights they've gained to their personal mentoring practices to build a more open, inclusive, and trusting relationship with their mentee(s). Course enrollees must score 80% or higher on the online final assessment for course completion.  Participants are given a "quarterly" timeline (Jan 1; April 1; July 1; Oct 1) i.e. four- month intervals to complete this online course.  Receive 2 ½ hours credit annual diversity training upon course completion.  Contact: Ora_Dixon@fws.gov; 304-876-7314 or Sandy_Spakoff@fws.gov;304-876-7783                                         

Other Professional DevelopmentOther
Duke Environmental Leadership Program 
Online: February 3-March 21, 2014
Learn how human behavior can affect environmental change! Join the Duke Environmental Leadership (DEL) program for the seven-week, distance-learning course "Environmental Communication for Behavior Change." This course can be taken for graduate credit.  Register before January 13, 2013 for the reduced tuition rate. Email questions to del@nicholas.duke.edu or call 919-613-8082. 
http://nicholas.duke.edu/del/overview

Univ of Wisconsin-SP Online Courses for Spring 2013 
Registration is now available for 2014 Spring online courses through the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. UW-SP has a strong reputation for providing quality education to environmental educators throughout the country and world. Online courses are convenient, flexible, and allow you to pursue higher education while maintaining current employment.  Three pre-paid slots are available to FWS employees for each of these Spring courses: Urban EE, EE Theory and Practice and Applied EE Program Evaluation. First come, first served! Tuition for all others is $453.66 for the non-credit workshop. For more information, contact Michelle_Donlan@fws.gov

 

Educational ResourcesEducationalResources 

 

Reprint Available Schoolyard Habitat Project Guide 
The Service's Schoolyard Habitat Project Guide, Second Edition, has been a hit since it was printed in 2011 with almost all 5,000 copies being distributed nationwide and even internationally! Because of the high demand and shortage of supply, a reprint is being put together for FY14, coordinated through Region 8 by Carolyn Kolstad. If your office or region is interested in purchasing any guides for local distribution, contact Carolyn_Kolstad@fws.gov or 530-889-2308
www.fws.gov/cno/conservation/schoolyard.cfm 

 

Shorebird Sister Schools Program (SSSP)

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Shorebird Sister Schools Program is a science-based environmental education program designed to engage participants in learning about shorebirds and the conservation of their wetland and grassland habitats.  SSSP has an educator's guide and student activity workbook available for free distribution to schools and environmental education centers. For more information about SSSP and to receive materials, contact Jim_Siegel@fws.gov or 304-876-7479.

 

Junior Duck Stamp Curriculum Guides  

Targeted at middle level students, these curriculum guides from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Junior Duck Stamp program stress wildlife observation, nature journaling, and photography, while teaching students about conservation and developing art skills.  The Educator's Guide contains background information for each study and drawing unit, while the Youth Guide provides instructions for students to complete the various activities.

 

Across the Spectrum Publication 

Download this free environmental education resource from the North American Association of Environmental Education website.

Events, Conferences & WorkshopsEvents

FWS Free Fee Days
Seeing wildlife conservation in action just gained even more appeal. America's national wildlife refuges will offer free admission to visitors on these days in 2014:
Jan 20:       Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Feb 15-17:  Presidents' Day weekend
Sept 27:      National Public Lands Day
Oct 12:        First day of National Wildlife Refuge Week
Nov 11:       Veterans Day

EE Week 2014
Join a national network of educators and organizations dedicated to increasing the environmental knowledge of K-12 students.  EE Week is April 13-19, 2014.

National Children and Youth Garden Symposium in Ohio
Network with like-minded teachers, garden designers, community leaders, program coordinators, and others involved with connecting kids to the natural world at the 22nd Annual National Children and Youth Garden Symposium (NCYGS), hosted by Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. The American Horticultural Society (AHS) is offering a limited number of full and partial scholarships to qualified applicants and will also offer one scholarship that will cover full registration fees as well as three nights at the symposium hotel. The symposium takes place July 17-19, 2014, in Columbus, Ohio.
http://goo.gl/O5S05e

Sustainable Trails Conference
The 2014 Sustainable Trails Conference will be held March 30 to April 5, 2014, in Stonewall, West Virginia.  The conference will feature workshops, min-workshops, and concurrent sessions.  

Grants, Awards, & ContestsGrantsAwards
Saving Endangered Species Art Contest
Parents, teachers and youth group leaders across America are invited to engage children in putting their creative skills to work in the 2014 Saving Endangered Species Youth Art Contest, an integral part of the ninth annual national Endangered Species Day celebration.  Entries must be postmarked no later than March 15, 2014.
www.endangeredspeciesday.org

Junior Duck Stamp Art Contest
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service oversees the Federal Junior Duck Stamp Program. Students are invited to create duck stamp drawings to show what they have learned about wetlands habitat and waterfowl conservation.The deadline for submission is March 15, 2014.
www.fws.gov/juniorduck/ArtContest.htm#GeneralInformation

Bird-Sleuth Habitat Heroes Mini-Grants
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology's BirdSleuth program offers grants to support habitat improvements and citizen science monitoring at schools.  From January-June 2014, up to 10 schools per month will be invited to apply for Habitat Heroes mini-grants so they further develop their projects.  The deadline for submission is June 30, 2014, but submit early for best chance.
www.birdsleuth.org/habitatchallenge/

Birdspotter Photo Contest

Project FeederWatch and Bob's Red Mill Natural Foods are teaming up for the second annual BirdSpotter photo contest. Take photos of the birds that visit your feeders and post them on the contest website. Voting on the web page will decide the weekly winners. The contest runs through February, 2014.

http://feederwatch.org/birdspotter2013/ 

 

Disney Friends for Change Grants
Disney's Friends for Change Grants offer young change-makers, ages 5-18, an opportunity to help make a lasting, positive change in the world.  Projects should highlight the creativity and commitment of young people working to meet the needs of others and show how even small actions can add up to big changes.  Projects should take place on or around Global Youth Service Day, April 11-13, 2014.  The deadline for application is February 6, 2014.
www.ysa.org/disney_friends_for_change_us_grants

Youth Voices of Change Video Contest
Make a video for Youth Voices of Change and engage youth in climate change solutions. Youth in grades 4-12 are invited to submit a video (maximum 2 minutes long) that shares solution projects or helps raise awareness about climate change issues for a chance to win great prizes.  Contest ends May 16, 2014.
http://bit.ly/youth-voices

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