Kathy Sholl, Editor

Dear Readers:

Here at NCTC, we are not only appreciating the beautiful red, brown, yellow, and orange fall colors, but we're also thankful for diversity. The Division of Education and Outreach recently held  "A Taste of Diversity" with an ice cream event.  The objective was to try new flavors of ice cream sprinkled with different toppings.  I think you will agree with all the different colors of fall, it is a perfect time to experience and value diversity.     

Thanksgiving will soon be here, so we are sending you happy holiday wishes in this issue since the next issue of VOICES will be released January 2015.    

Be sure to read "Zombie Survival Nights" in the Connecting People with Nature section sent in from the field.  You can help other staff by sending in your written paragraph and one photo to Kathy_Sholl@fws.gov.   

Zombie Survival Nights 

One of the best ways to Connect People with Nature is to tap in to relevant pop culture trends.  So what about the popularity of zombies in today's pop culture?  Is there a way to marry nature with wildly popular shows like The Walking Dead? You might not think so, but Edinburg Scenic Wetlands in south Texas has started a series of programs called "Zombie Survival Nights." Consider creative programming such as a "zombie survival night" at your refuge to encourage visitors to connect with nature!
www.valleycentral.com/news/story.aspx?id=956106#.VFd_cvldUU1 

Schoolyard Habitat Grants 
The National Wildlife Refuge System is

collaborating with the National Wildlife Federation in 2015 to create 24 demonstration schoolyard habitats near refuges. Grants of $2,500 toward the development of habitat gardens are available to schools nationwide that partner with a nearby national wildlife refuge. Let your local school district know about this opportunity. Application deadline is November 14.
www.nwf.org/~/media/PDFs/Eco-schools/NWF-USFWS-applicationfinal-formfields.pdf  

Environmental Education Update   

This EE Update features NCTC staff Michelle Donlan who hosts Chelsea McKinney, Randy Robinson, and Kathy Sholl as they present USFWS Conservation Connect.  This is a web-based video series produced by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Conservation Training Center (NCTC), which aims to connect youth with the great outdoors, wildlife species, and conservation careers.  The program targets ages 9-13, although any age is encouraged to enjoy.
http://nctc.fws.gov/topic/online-training/webinars/environmental-education.html 

Connecting Urban Youth to Nature
Here is a cool and exciting program that Don Edwards NWR is starting to get kids excited about their NWR. Become a Junior Refuge Ranger! This is being mostly organized and administered by one of their volunteers, who recently won an award for her work on the project. Might this work at your refuge? If not today, then maybe it's something to work towards.
www.fws.gov/FieldNotes/regmap.cfm?ARSKey=35256    

Project Edubat - Education Taking Flight  

Bats are amazing animals that are vital to the health of our environment and economy by eating tons of insects nightly, pollinating flowers, and spreading seeds that grow new plants and trees. This archived broadcast features activities, resources, and lesson plans to help you teach both children and adults about bats.  Learn how to use newly developed bat educational trunks that will be available across the country for your use.  Special appearances by live bats and a few of our favorite bat experts
http://nctc.fws.gov/resources/knowledge-resources/video-gallery/education-outreach.html 

Nature is Speaking  

Conservation International's Nature Is Speaking project aims to raise awareness that people need nature in order to survive. The campaign features a series of short films voiced by recognizable Hollywood stars.  In the series, Nature reveals serious misgivings about the way humans are treating the Earth from the viewpoint of a cast of characters - from Mother Nature to The Ocean and The Rainforest.  Of course, the photography is phenomenal.
http://natureisspeaking.org/   

Pollinator Web Event 

www.doi.gov/doilearn/index.cfm 

Registration Deadline: December 19, 2014

Registration Deadline: February 13, 2015  

Contact: Sandy_Spakoff@fws.gov; 304-876-7783 or Ora_Dixon@fws.gov; 304-876-7314  

Climate Change Report 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released the third edition of  "Climate Change Indicators in the U.S." The report pulls together observed data on key measures of our environment, including U.S. and global temperature and precipitation, ocean heat and ocean acidity, sea level, length of growing season, and many others. To order a FREE copy of the report, send a request with your mailing address included to climateindicators@epa.gov
www.epa.gov/climatechange/indicators.html   

Seeking Bird Ambassadors for Workshops
From September to March, we are seeking Ambassadors to help us train teachers in birds and bird feeding. Ambassadors will receive free feeders for all the teachers they train!
You can help your local teachers incorporate birds and bird feeding into their curriculum, while giving them valuable resources and providing new ways to get their students involved outdoors.  Must recruit 10 or more teachers.
www.birdsleuth.org/seeking-pennington-ambassadors/  

Top 100 Sites for Going Green
The sites featured here are some of the best on the Web for finding stories and advice about sustainable living and going green.
www.environmentalsciencedegree.com/green-living/

Winter Edition of IJECEE Available
Click here for a free downloadable version of the winter edition of International Journal of Early Childhood Environmental Education.
www.naaee.net/publications/ijecee/ijecee2 

Hands on the Land Funding Opportunity
There is a funding opportunity for Hands on the Land members. The  National Environmental Education Foundation in partnership with Partners in Resource Education (PRE) just released a request for proposals (RFP). Through this RFP, NEEF will award mini-grants to HOL sites to support their efforts in delivering placed-based environmental education and STEM activities. See below for more information.  Application Deadline is 11:59pm CT  Monday, November 17, 2014
www.handsontheland.org/blog/302-hands-on-the-land-mini-grants-program-request-for-proposal.html 

 
President's Environmental Youth Awards
Sponsored by the EPA, the President's Environmental Youth Awards program recognizes young people for projects which demonstrate their commitment to the environment.  The program is available to K-12 individuals, classes, and youth groups.  Awards are presented in each of the EPA regions, and one project from each region is presented with a national award.  The regional deadline for application is December 31, 2014.
www2.epa.gov/education/presidents-environmental-youth-award

River of Words Art and Poetry Contest
River of Words is an international environmental poetry and art project open to youth ages 5-19, designed to nurture respect and understanding of the natural world.  The deadline for entries from the U.S. is December 1, 2014.
www.stmarys-ca.edu/center-for-environmental-literacy/art-poetry-contest

Schoolyard Habitat Funding Opportunity
Participate in a dynamic program that supports the development of a Schoolyard Habitat Program.  Your school can work in association with a local National Wildlife Refuge. Complete an application by November 14, 2014.
www.nwf.org/Eco-Schools-USA.aspx?s_src=EcoSchools_GoogleMini

Captain Planet Foundation Grants 
The Captain Planet Foundation provides grants of up to $2,500 to school and community groups to support hands-on environmental projects.
Deadline is January 31, 2015.
http://captainplanetfoundation.org/

Think Outside the Bag Recycling Contest
K-12 students are invited to participate in a national plastic film recycling contest sponsored by the Plastics Industry Trade Association and JASON Learning.  Grocery bags, product wrapping, and dry cleaning bags are recyclable but few communities do so.  Students will create a poster and local campaign to convince their community to collect and recycle flexible plastic films.  The deadline for submission is March 1, 2015.  
www.jason.org/contest/2014-2015-plastic-film-recycling-contest

Wild for Wilderness Contest
This year's contest from the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies invites young scientists and artists, grades 2-4, to learn about preserving wilderness by taking a walk in nature, observing it, and expressing what they see or feel through art.  The deadline for entry is November 14, 2014.
http://strategies.org/education/student-contests/art-contest/2014-wild-for-wilderness/