sunset-water-banner.jpg
NCTC Division of Education and Outreach
  July 2016

Greetings!

 

Summer is here and things are getting hot! As we enter the second half of 2016, take a look at some exciting training courses, grants, events, and activities available for your use. Also, the Interagency Visitor Use Management Council has some new resources you might find useful. Have a great summer and try to visit a national wildlife refuge or national fish hatchery you have never visited before on your summer vacation.

                                                                                      Blaine Eckberg, editor

Youth in the Great Outdoors 2015 Annual Report

 

In This Issue 







 
 
Find Out More
 
 
 
 
 
 

 


 

Quotes to Remember

Just living is not enough... one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.
Hans Christian Andersen
 
 
Take vacations! Go as many places as you can. You can always make money, you can't always make memories.
 
You will never understand the true meaning of your life, until you travel and experience how others are living theirs...
 
We rise by lifting others.
Robert Ingersoll 
 

 
 
VOICES is a service for FWS employees. You must use your fws.gov email address to subscribe.
   
Active links in blue
  
Connecting People With NatureConnecting
Read these brief descriptions about our different federal lands to help you explain them to your visitors.

This planning process framework from the Interagency Visitor Use Management Council provides cohesive guidance for managing visitor use on federally managed lands and waters.

Check out four amazing wildlife cams. 
 
National Integrated Heat Health Information System
The National Integrated Heat Health Information System web portal offers information and services surrounding the problems from extreme heat.  Visitors can view forecasts by week, month, and more.  The website also offers adaptation strategies for at risk populations.

Ocean Safety Videos
NOAA's Ocean Today offers the video, Ocean Safe with Bruckner Chase, which explores how reading the water and understanding changing waves, wind, and currents can help keep you safe.  Related videos on rip currents and lightning are also available on the website.

This ebook is a must read for anyone interested in learning about, protecting, managing, and planning public outdoor recreation resources.

The Nature Soundmap provides snippets of sounds and video from the natural world. The website hosts an interactive map of the world, complete with markers which include information about the animal or setting profiled, along with a link to more information.  There are over 400 recordings from 81 countries and 93 contributors. 

Youth in the Great OutdoorsYouth 
Check out the sections for educators that includes lesson plans , webinars, and other teacher's tools. 

This authorizes youth participants who perform work on public lands and waters to apply on a non-competitive basis for merit promotion positions advertised by the FWS and other agencies.
 
Interesting report by Jeff Ledermann that was mentioned by Richard Louv at the recent Children and Nature Network Conference 
 
Read about Arctic Youth Ambassador Reth Duir's amazing story about going from being afraid of the outdoors to working to connect his generation to nature.  

Climate Generation Blog
Climate Generation blog topics include Youth Action, Climate Lessons, Climate Minnesota Series, Climate News, and Climate Justice.

Generator School Network
The Generator School Network is an online community committed to providing and advocating for service-learning experiences for young people.  Generator is a project planning tool to guide the creation of new service-learning projects.  The tool takes users from early planning to project completion, and also houses the National Service-Learning Clearinghouse.  The clearinghouse offers thousands of free online resources and a library of service-learning research, data, tools, and materials. 

FWS Professional DevelopmentFWS
The Friends of NCTC provide financial support to help Friends and Volunteers attend NCTC training courses that will enhance knowledge and skills to benefit their work.

Volunteers can play a critical factor in meeting the management objectives of the FWS. Participants in this course learn to develop and maintain strong volunteer and group service programs. Discussion explores the benefits and challenges of working with volunteers. Examples of resident and non-resident volunteer programs throughout the FWS are also discussed. Online August 2 - September 6, 2016.

A Dose of the Outdoors: The Connection Between Nature and Human Health. Offered August 4, 2016- 2 p.m. EDT 

This presentation takes a closer look at the potential for Leopold's land ethic to serve as common ground in these efforts. Offered July 20, 2016- 3 p.m. EDT

This course is designed to help you understand your unique strengths and identify areas to enhance your personal and professional effectiveness. Your goal in taking this course should be to learn about yourself, so that you will be able to capitalize on the assets of your characteristics and minimize the effect of their downside potential. The more you understand how you approach situations, the better you will be able to work to your full potential, and make decisions that result in greater satisfaction. Offered August 15-19, 2016 at NCTC.

In order to demonstrate the value of a youth program - whether its outdoor skills, environmental education, summer camps, etc. - you must implement programs that deliver meaningful results.  During this blended course (via instructor-led webinars & online self-study), you'll learn to use a deliberate planning process that promotes strategic, accountable, and adaptive action resulting in youth programs that support achieving the resource management goals at your site. Offered August 9 - September 8, 2016; webinars are from 2:00 - 3:30 PM EDT on Aug. 9, 11, 16, 23, 25, 30, Sept. 6, 8
 
Everyone is responsible for some form of supervision, whether it's directing the actions of a few or many, and whether they are classified as a supervisor or not. This course is a general introduction to management where participants learn how to lead others. Specific topics include establishing rapport and cultivating influence; achieving trust and building relationships; planning and organizing projects and resources; building and leading a team; solving problems and making decisions; and implementing change successfully. Offered September 12-16, 2016 at NCTC.

This 3-day Communications, Outreach and Visitor Services Workshop will follow a format of plenary sessions in the morning and breakout sessions in the afternoon. Poster session included. Sessions to address current topics and trends as identified by Communications, Outreach and Visitor Services community. Offered September 13-15, 2016 at NCTC.

This program is a coordinated effort between schools, FWS offices and other organizations to establish ecologically sound restoration projects that are sustainable outdoor learning areas on school sites.  This hybrid course develops Schoolyard Habitat technical consultants that can assist schools at the local level in areas such as project design, plant selection, construction, maintenance and curriculum connections. Offered September 19-23, 2016 (onsite at Chicago, IL), Webinars (online) September 1 and October 27, 2-3:30 p.m. EDT

This course gives participants an introduction to GIS technology and terminology and teaches them how to use an existing GIS. Offered October 17-20 at NCTC.
 
Other Professional DevelopmentOther
For July 19th it is "Learn how Sierra Club Outdoors can help you get more youth outdoors" and for August 16th it is " Reframing Evaluation: A better path to understanding your impact."

Each year the Carhart Center and its partners offer one or more free webinar series on different wilderness topics. Webinars in each series are archived for later viewing.

Introduction to Animal Behaviour - Online
This free six-week MOOC from the Wageningen University in the Netherlands starts August 9, 2016.  Explore wild animal behavior, discover how animals learn, communicate, find food, avoid predators, and interact socially.

UQx - Online
The University of Queensland, Australia offers a myriad of free, online courses.  Browse the courses, including Question Everything, Making Sense of Climate Change Denial, Working in Teams: a Practical Guide, and much more.  The UQx courses can be audited free or students can choose to receive a verified certificate for a small fee.

On this website you will find courses, modules & tutorials designed to help you implement Citizen Science programs in your educational setting.

Offered throughout the year at various locations throughout the country. The Certified Interpretive Guide program is designed for anyone who delivers interpretive programs to the public. It combines both the theoretical foundations of the profession with practical skills in delivering quality interpretive programming to visitors.
  
Educational ResourcesEducational
Inspired by the content from the upcoming PBS series Earth A New Wild, the Ecosystem Explorer is a collection of videos, games, and infographics designed to take students deep into the ecosystems of three thrilling animals: vultures, wolves and sharks.

EPA Fact Sheets on Climate Change and Health
Check out these eight new climate change and health fact sheets from the EPA.  Topics include health and pregnant women, health of indigenous populations, and more.

Try these activity ideas from Project Learning Tree to connect children to the outdoors and nature. Suitable for children ages 3 - 15

NSTA Calendar Resources
The NSTA publications/calendar page offers event category searches, including awards/competitions, grants/fellowships, summer programs, and more.  Further filters include regional locations, date range, and grade level.

Hurricanes: Science and Society
With hurricane season underway, it's a good time to revisit the Hurricanes: Science and Society website, which provides information on the science of hurricanes and their impacts on people, buildings, and the environment.  It offers inquiry-based activities about wind in a hurricane, building a coastal home, and utilizing hurricane imagery.  The downloadable iBook explains how hurricanes form, how they are tracked and forecast, and more.

Innovative Instructor
The Innovative Instructor is a newsletter published by John Hopkins University to provide instructional resources and ideas to higher education instructors.  The newsletter publishes articles related to pedagogy, best practices, and technology.  While aimed
at higher education professionals, teachers at the high school level may also find useful software tools or ideas.

Mitigating Microplastics
This middle school science curriculum from Oregon Sea Grant guides teachers and their students in grades 6-8 through the threat to our oceans posed by microplastics.  The lessons include opportunities for student inquiry, as well as collaboration and engagement with real data collected by researchers working in the field. 

NBC Learn
NBC Learn, the educational arm of NBC News, has assembled a collection of videos, generally less than six minutes long.  Each video includes a transcript, and on the reverse, additional information and links.  The STEM & Innovation topic includes Changing Planet, Sustainability: Water, When Nature Strikes, and more.

Roots and Shoots
The Jane Goodall Institute's Roots & Shoots website encourages youth-led community action programs.  The website offers example campaigns, lessons and activities for students, tips on community collaboration, and more.

STEM Teaching Tools
STEM Teaching Tools is designed to help STEM educators develop a toolbox of instructional approaches that meet the Next Generation Science Standards.  Educators can browse a number of Practice Briefs addressing common educator questions and topics.

Values Taught by Our Ancestors
The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes are incorporating elders' wisdom in the process of systematically analyzing climate impacts and vulnerabilities in nine categories of tribal life, to prioritize actions to take to enhance the evolution of an ancient culture, while protecting tribal traditions.  Applying the Values Taught by Our Ancestors offers a video, tools, and more.

Check out this report by Jeff Ledermann that was mentioned by Richard Louv at the recent Children and Nature network Conference.

Events, Conferences and WorkshopsEvents  
The 23rd annual NEEF National Public Lands Day is the nation's largest, single-day volunteer effort for public lands. Thousands of volunteers spend the day outdoors giving back to their community by pulling invasive species, maintaining trails, picking up trash, and more. NPLD is a fee-free day for all federal public lands and many state parks. Host an event at your site this September 24, 2016.
Historic Preservation
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the National Historic Preservation Act with a web page commemorating the even.  Check out the podcasts, success stories, and more.

Wild West Region- August 19-21,2016; Chesapeake Region- September 20-23,2016; and others.

National Science Teachers Association conferences offer science content, teaching strategy, and more. Each year NSTA hosts a national conference on science education, a STEM Forum & Expo, and three area conferences. Upcoming conferences with open submission deadlines are:
  • 5th Annual STEM Forum & Expo, July 27-29, 2016
  • Minneapolis Area Conference, October 27-29, 2016
  • Portland Area Conference, November 10-12, 2016
  • Columbus Area Conference, December 1-3, 2016
  • Los Angeles National Conference, March 30-April 2, 2017
See the website for submission deadlines and new proposal guidelines. Free registration is required.

This event engages people to remove trash from the world's beaches and waterways, identify the sources of debris and change the behaviors. September 17, 2016.
 
This conference from October 18 - 21 at the University of California Davis, will explore strategies and tactics that resource and natural areas managers can employ to prepare for and respond to climate change.

NAAEE Annual Conference
The 45th Annual NAAEE Conference, one of the largest educational conferences in the world, will be held on October 19-22 in Madison, WI. Join environmental educators from North America and abroad, take advantage of the field experiences offered, and more. 

This workshop in Missoula, MT November 7 - 10 focuses on current wilderness issues.
 
This national conference on interpretation will be held in Corpus Christi, TX on November 8-12. 
Grants, Awards, and ContestsGrants 
Every Kid in a Park Funding
Fourth grade teachers can request funding through Donors Choose for Every Kid in a Park projects, courtesy of the Johnson Ohana Charitable Foundation.  Funding can help cover transportation costs and more, to a U.S. national park, forest, wildlife refuge or other national public lands and waters.

Check out this webpage where your site's friends group can apply for grants for anniversary celebrations.  

Home Tweet Home
The categories in the annual NestWatch photo contest, Home Tweet Home, include Nests & Eggs, Cutest Baby, Eye Witness, and Feeding Time.  The deadline for entry is July 31, 2016.

This NWF contest invites kids to get outside and create original works of art, writing, photography, videography and music inspired by nature. Runs until November 1, 2016.

Melinda Gray Ardia Environmental Foundation Grants
K-12 teachers are invited to apply for grants to develop or implement environmental curricula that integrate hands-on ecology exercises into the classroom.  To facilitate learning and student empowerment, environmental curricula should be holistic and strive to synthesize multiple levels of learning (facts, concepts, and principles), often including experiential integrated learning and problem solving.  The deadline for pre-proposals is August 12, 2016.

21st Century Solutions Grants
The NBCUniversal Foundation and partners support community-based programs in the areas of education, environment, and more in their market areas, with 3 grants in each market.  See the website for details.  The deadline for application is August 26, 2016. 

Patagonia Grants
They make grants to support small, local, grassroots, activist organizations with provocative direct-action agendas, working on multi-pronged campaigns to preserve and protect local habitat. Applications are due by August 31, 2016.

Siemens Competition in Math, Science and Technology
This competition encourages students to undertake individual or team research projects that foster intensive research and improve their understanding of the value of scientific study, and informs their consideration of future careers in these disciplines.  The deadline for submission is September 20, 2016.

PLT offers grants up to $1,000 to schools and youth organizations for environmental service-learning projects that link classroom learning to the real world.  Deadline to apply is September 30, 2016. 

Captain Planet Foundation Grant
They provide grants between $500 and $2,500 to school and community groups to support hands-on environmental projects. Next deadline is September 30, 2016.

CSX Beyond Our Rails Grant
CSX provides non-profit assistance and support through a variety of programs, including grants for projects focusing on the environment, community, and more.  There are no deadlines for applications, but organizations are encouraged to submit all their annual requests at one time each year.

Safeway Foundation Grants
The Safeway Foundation supports nonprofit organizations whose mission is aligned with four priority areas, including education.  Grants are reviewed quarterly or biannually.  See the website for complete details.

Kinder Morgan Foundation Grants
The Kinder Morgan Foundation supports nonprofit youth programs that focus on education, the arts, and the environment in communities where Kinder Morgan operates.  Application deadlines are the 10th of every other month, starting in January.  See the website for complete details.
 

 

VOICES is Archived! 

Looking for that special resource from a previous issue?  
Click here to find past issues of VOICES.
  
               
This newsletter is only as good as the information sent in by readers like you to share with others, so please send any comments or submissions to Blaine_Eckberg@fws.gov  
Thank you very much!