AMS Congressional Science Fellowship
The American Meteorological Society seeks candidates with backgrounds in the earth sciences for the 2015-2016 AMS Congressional Science Fellowship, from September 1, 2015 to August 31, 2016.  Fellows participate in the legislative process by joining a Congressional office of their choosing in the United States Senate or House of Representatives.  Typical duties include developing legislation, negotiating legislative compromises, writing speeches and briefing memos, meeting with constituents, and conducting background research.  Fellows must be U.S. citizens and complete all requirements for their Ph.D. prior to the start of the fellowship year.  Application deadline is March 15, 2015.
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National Service-Learning Conference
More Powerful Together, the 26th Annual National Service-Learning Conference, will gather more than 1,500 youth and adults from across the country and around the world for three days of learning, inspiration, and connection. This inter-generational event creates a unique atmosphere, where youth bring incredible energy and passion to discussions on education and social policy.  The conference will be held April 8-11, 2015 in Washington, D.C.
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State-Fish Art Project
The Wildlife Forever State-Fish Art Project challenges young artists to create an illustration of their state fish and a written composition on its behavior, habitat, and efforts to conserve it.   The deadline for entry is March 31, 2015.
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I'm Batman - Amy Wray

All About Bats
Watch the five-minute cartoon, published on TED Ed 
Watch video
Nine Edubat trunks are now available for use by educators both within and outside of the Service. Project Edubat is a newly launched educational program about bats designed to excite
and inspire kids of all ages.

Date: September 21-23, 2015

Other Professional Development

Sculpture + Intercepting the Waste Stream 

Aurora Robson

Inspire students to clean up their waterways and create sustainable art.  Acclaimed artist, Aurora Robson, has developed a curriculum to lead college students through the process of transforming plastic waste into 3-dimensional works of art.  Watch this awesome six-minute video, which documents Robson's residency at McColl Center for Art+Innovation, where she taught the class to Sculpture I + II students, which included a stream clean-up. This innovative and engaging curriculum, motivated students to clean a local creek and utilize the waste collected to create an object that could not be confused with trash. The culmination of the class was a student "pop-up" exhibition and art sale, where all proceeds went to future stewardship efforts for that creek.  This curriculum is designed for college students, but could be easily adapted for high school and middle school students, too.
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Green Teacher's Winter Webinars
Green Teacher's free 2015 winter webinars are one hour and begin at 7:30 p.m. EST.
January 28: Taking Kids to the Community
February 12: Invasive Species: Towards a Deeper Understanding
February 25: Citizen Science Tackles Invasive Species
March 10: Popping the Bubble Wrap for Child Health
March 24: Invasive Species Learning Options
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Leadership in Accessibility
The National Center on Accessibility will hold Leadership in Accessibility Management for Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Settings course April 13-17, 2015 in Kansas City, MO. This NCA training course is designed to give accessibility coordinators in parks, recreation, and cultural settings a broad perspective and foundation for implementing an accessibility management program.
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Project BudBurt Courses
Offered by Citizen Science Academy, learn how to participate in Project BudBurst, a national network of citizen scientists monitoring plants as the seasons change.  These courses will help you learn about the program, use your collected data in an educational setting, or become a certified instructor.
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School of Open
The School of Open offers free online courses, face-to-face workshops, and training programs on the subject of openness - in education, research, and science.  Topics include Creative Commons licenses, open educational resources, and more.  Training programs are offered in Spanish, English, and other languages. 
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ARKive: An Excellent Visual and Virtual Resource
With the help of the world's best wildlife filmmakers and photographers, conservationists and scientists, ARKive is creating an awe-inspiring record of life on earth. Freely accessible to everyone and preserved for the benefit of future generations, ARKive features videos, photos and more that can be used for conservation, education and public awareness.
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Black Bears
Understanding Black Bears

Animal Adaptations

Curriculum is a self-contained computer program that was developed by educators exclusively for use in K-8 classrooms. It's full of quizzes, puzzles, computer games, hundreds of images,dozens of special bear movies and tons of interactive learning within 29 lesson activities.
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Nature Play: Nurturing Children and Strengthening
The Pennsylvania Land Trust Association has published a new free online guide. Unstructured, frequent childhood play in informal outdoor settings powerfully boosts the cognitive, creative, physical, social and emotional development of children. It also engenders deep conservation values, more so than any other factor. Part 1 of this guide explores the essential characteristics of nature play, the benefits nature play provides, and the societal barriers to it. Part 2 describes the array of concrete actions that organizations may take to restore nature play to children's lives.
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Mammal Tracks and Scat: Life-Size Pocket Guide
Lynn Levine, environmental educator, forester and tracking teacher, has written a new tracking guide called Mammal Tracks and Scat: Life-Size Pocket Guide. It includes life-size tracks and scat, waterproof and pocket-sized. For a volume discount, call 802-254-4717.
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Ocean Acidification Curriculum Collection
This website is supported by the EPA, US Fish & Wildlife, Washington Sea Grant, Suquamish Tribe, and the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission.  It offers a curated collection of free K-12 resources on ocean acidification for educators and communicators. Although developed for use in Washington state, much of the material is relevant Service-wide.
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Wildlife Forever 2014 Accomplishment Report  
This report provides an overview of the national outreach and educational efforts to raise awareness of invasive species, how to prevent their spread, plus free opportunities for engaging America's youth.
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Elephant Ivory Crush Challenge                                     

Ivory Challenge PSA

Across Africa, elephants are being slaughtered for their ivory tusks. Last year, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service crushed six tons of elephant ivory to show that we will not tolerate the illegal ivory trade and the toll it is taking on elephants.
Now, the Service is asking for your help in creating a compelling and informative campaign that uses the crushed ivory to increase awareness and reduce demand for ivory and other illegal wildlife products.  Deadline is March 31, 2015.
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EcoTech Grants
The Captain Planet Foundation in partnership with the Ray C. Anderson Foundation will award grants to schools or non-profit organizations for the purpose of engaging children in inquiry-based projects in STEM fields that use innovation, biomimicry, nature-based design, or new uses for technology to address environmental problems in their communities.  The rolling deadline for application is April 30, 2015 (as funds allow).
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Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes
The Gloria Barron Prize recognizes young people, ages 8-18, who have shown leadership and courage in public service to people and the planet.  The deadline for nomination is April 15, 2015.
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IoT World Forum Young Women's Innovation Grand Challenge
This forum is open to women between the ages of 13-18.  The aim of the challenge is to recognize, promote, and reward young innovators as they come up with new uses for Internet of Things technologies.  Innovations should answer the questions: What is a problem you see today or expect to emerge in the next 5 years? How can connecting more devices and everyday objects to the Internet or other networks help to solve this problem?  The deadline for submission is March 25, 2015.
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McCarthey Dressman Grants
The McCarthey Dressman Education Foundation partners with individuals to expand educational opportunities for America's youth that inspire students by nurturing their curiosity about the world and their place in it.  Funding includes Academic Enrichment Grants, Teacher Development Grants, and Student Teaching Scholarships.  The deadline for application is April 15, 2015.
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Norm Strung Youth Writing Award
The Outdoor Writers Association of America offers the annual Norm Strung Youth Writing Contest to students in grades 6-12 for published poetry and prose with an outdoor focus.  The deadline for submission is March 16, 2015.
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PIAEE Award
EPA, in partnership with the White House Council on Environmental Quality, is now accepting applications for the 2014-2015 Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators. This award recognizes K through 12 teachers who employ innovative approaches to environmental education and use the environment as a context for student learning. Applications are due March 13, 2015.
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Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching
National Science Foundation is accepting nominations for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.  The award recognizes citizens and organizations that have demonstrated excellence in mentoring individuals from underrepresented groups in STEM education and career paths.  The deadline for nomination is April 1, 2015.
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