Fall 2013 CREEC Region 4 e-Newsletter
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Environmental Education faces the important, but daunting task of inspiring children (and people of all ages) to fall in love with nature while also equipping them with the skills and knowledge to protect and preserve it.
In many ways, this challenge mirrors the broader challenge facing all of education: How do we inspire students to become lifelong learners, prepared for life after school in a world that is continually transforming?
As students and teachers return to classrooms and schools across California, they enter a quickly changing educational landscape. In the first of weeks of September, the California Board of Education formally adopted Next Generation Science Standards and the legislature passed AB 484 which, if signed by the governor, will accelerate the adoption of the new Common Core State Standards by suspending the California Standards Tests (CSTs) this spring.
These changes present challenges and opportunities for classroom teachers and environmental educators alike.
The new standards place an emphasis on inquiry, investigation, analysis, and the construction of arguments based on data- the same skills that are needed to understand and tackle our greatest environmental challenges.
As schools work to adapt to the new standards, the environmental education community faces challenges of its own. Building an appreciation for nature and an awareness of environmental issues is an important function of environmental education, but it is not sufficient for preparing students for life after school. Environmental educators must also provide students with opportunities to practice building the skills needed to study and solve problems, to analyze and adapt to changing environments, and to work together and lead for positive changes that make a difference. In other words, we do students a disservice if we make them aware of climate change but fail to prepare them to survive it, or better yet, stop it.
In many ways, the Bay Area and Region 4 are well situated to make the most of these changes. We are blessed with a range of incredible organizations- many with international reputations, and others that are indispensable partners to local neighborhoods. As we struggle to define the next generation of environmental education, drawing on the experiences of all types of environmental education organizations will be essential to bridging the space between global issues like climate change and local issues like water quality, air quality, access to healthy food and efficient transportation.
2013-2014 promises to be a transformative year for schools and environmental education providers alike.
I look forward to working with you to make the most of these changes.
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Nate Ivy, Coordinator
CREEC Region 4
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Introducing the All-New CREEC.org Website
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CREEC is proud to announce the launch of our newly upgraded site with a complete revitalization of our Resource Directory in progress!
If you're an EE PROVIDER, please visit the new CREEC.org to create a master account for your organization and post your programs, resources, video and more, so teachers can find them! We have an illustrated user guide that can help!
If you're a TEACHER, please visit the site to see what's coming, and come back again in a few weeks after the providers have had a chance to post! You'll be able to search for programs by topic, grade level, or content standard, to find the right programs to meet your needs. Our events calendar works great on a mobile device, so you can always see what local EE events are available in your area, even when you're on the move!
No matter what your interest in EE, you'll want to bookmark the EVENTS CALENDAR
so you can stay informed of great events and happenings.
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Featured Resources and Opportunities
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California Communities Environmental Health Screening Tool The California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA) and the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) announce the availability of the California Communities Environmental Health Screening Tool Version 1 (CalEnviroScreen 1.0). This tool presents the nation's first comprehensive screening methodology to identify California communities (by zip code) that are disproportionately burdened by multiple sources of pollution and presents the statewide results of the analysis using the screening tool. A report describing the methodology and results along with an online mapping application are available. Region 4's very own Annie Leonard seeks educator input on the development of a young reader version of The Story of Stuff.
 Annie Leonard has received thousands of requests from educators for material for a
younger audience.
Annie did collaborate with Facing the Future on a high school curriculum covering the issues in The Story of Stuff which you may download for free here. She is now starting work on a non-fiction book on these issues for a young young adult audience (grades 3 - 8).
Annie invites educators experienced with that age group to provide input so the book will meet their needs and those of their educators. She will be grateful if you might contribute 10 minutes of your time to complete this survey about the book. It includes a sign up to be kept informed on this project as it progresses.
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This November, join students from around the San Francisco Bay Area to discuss transportation issues in your communities. Share stories from events you've hosted at your school. Discuss what changes have to be made to encourage transportation alternatives at your school. Learn how to fix a flat tire on your bicycle. Whether you come to learn about innovative projects school groups have worked on, advocate your elected officials to promote sustainable modes of transportation, or to win raffle prizes; join us! Register for FREE
 Date: Saturday, November 2nd, 2013
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Location: Joseph P. Bort MetroCenter, 101 Eighth Street, Oakland (near Lake Merritt BART Station)
Student Film Competition: San Francisco International
The San Francisco International Ocean Film Festival is accepting student entries for the 2014 Student Film Competition as part of the annual festival! Do you want to get your students involved in telling a story? Producing a short film? Why not focus on the ocean?
Prizes for 1st-3rd place. Contact education@oceanfilmfest.org Submission deadline: January 5, 2014 (Film Festival is March 2014)
Open to all students grades 6-12 Alameda County Waste Reduction Field Trips FREE Field Trip and school bus for 4th grade public school classes in Alameda County to the irecycle@school Education Center to learn about the 4Rs and find out first-hand what happens to their recyclables, garbage and green waste. Alameda County Waste Reduction Classroom Programs FREE in-class program for 5th grade Alameda County public classrooms Bring fun and educational 4Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Rot) student action projects into your classroom. Engage students in addressing real environmental issues at your school and in your community! |
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Professional Development Opportunities
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Student Energy Actions is an exciting standards-based education program that teaches the science of energy and empowers students
 to become smart energy managers through hands-on lab and action activities! Participating teachers receive professional development, substitute reimbursement (or a stipend), curriculum correlated to 3rd-7th grade standards across disciplines (including Common Core), a toolkit of materials for our hands-on science labs (worth $300+), and ongoing implementation support at no cost! PEAK is offering training at the Contra Costa County Office of Education on Wednesday, October 2nd or at the San Francisco Unified School District on Saturday, November 9th. PEAK will reimburse for the cost of your sub or provide a stipend so you can attend! Space for participation during the 2013-2014 school year is LIMITED! Register NOW!
Informal Science Educator Professional Learning Programs The California Academy of Science is offering two programs this fall for informal educators interested in exploring the theory and practice of education within free-choice settings. Program #1 focuses on Learning, Reflections and Science and runs October 2- November 20. Program #2 focuses on Conservation and Sustainability Education. Sessions take place at the California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park. Register here
Water: The Essential Resource
National Geographic and Annenberg Learner invite you to join a FREE online teacher professional development course focused on ocean and freshwater systems and incorporating strategies for teaching environmental topics. October 9 - December 11, online Professional Development for 4th - 8th grade teachers . This experience supports the California Environmental Education Initiative (EEI). Teachers will increase environmental science knowledge, have access to National Geographic scientists, prepare classroom content using effective instructional strategies, be part of a collaborative online community and receive CEU credit upon completion.
Tracking Workshop for Teachers
After a morning introduction to wildlife tracks and scat, participants will head out to a local park to put the new skills to the test. The cost for the program is $20.00 and will include lunch. For more information, or to sign-up, contact the Felidae Conservation Fund at info@felidaefund.org. October 19. The workshop will start at 10:00 at Fort Cronkite Office (1062 Fort Cronkite, Sausalito).
Fundamentals of Inquiry: Examining Scientific Practices and the Next Generation Science Standards. October 21-25, Mon-Thurs, 8:30 am-4 pm, Fri, 8:30 am-12:30 pm, in San Francisco.
Registration Cost: $1,850 per person or $1,700 per person for teams (early bird discount available). Presented by the Exploratorium's Institute for Inquiry, this workshop for Professional Developers is organized into three sections that illuminate the fundamentals of inquiry-based teaching and learning. Throughout the workshop, participants have reflective conversations that allow them to see into the professional-development design process-from the design of each individual activity to the structure of the workshop. Questions: 415-528-4397 or mcampbell@exploratorium.edu
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World Water Monitoring Challenge
World Water Monitoring Challenge is an international education and outreach program that builds public awareness and involvement in protecting water resources around the world by engaging citizens to conduct basic monitoring of local water bodies. Many resources and opportunities are available at their website.
Trash in the Deep Sea: Bringing a Hidden Problem to Light
Using advanced technologies, such as remotely operated vehicles, the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) is helping to uncover the far-reaching presence of man-made debris in deep ocean ecosystems. Includes details specific to the Monterey Bay Area.
Plastic Paradise
Many teachers attended the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Plastic Pollution Summit in early September and will find this film relevant to plastic pollution issues. This award-winning documentary follows a journalist/film maker on a voyage of discovery to Midway Atoll.
California's national marine sanctuaries new iPhone, iPad app
For each California National Marine Sanctuary, the app provides general information including travel tips, current weather, visitor center locations, hours, and more. The app also features a searchable encyclopedia, glossary and photo galleries that bring the sanctuaries and their habitats to life. Detailed maps allow users to locate sanctuary points of interest, filter them by activity, get directions from their current location, add them to a list of favorites, and share the information on their social networks. Visitors can tag locations on the map with their own photos and comments, as well as share them with other app owners.
WHALE TAIL� Grants Program
The California Coastal Commission is now accepting proposals for WHALE TAIL� grants for coastal and marine education projects. This program supports marine science education and projects encouraging people to value and take action to improve the health of California's marine and coastal environments. Educational projects improving the quality of beaches or coastal or marine habitats are also eligible. This year there is a new special subcategory for projects addressing climate change and/or ocean acidification. Emphasis is on reaching underserved students or members of the public. Applications must be postmarked by November 1st. Nonprofits, schools, and government agencies may apply. Applicants may request up to $50,000, and 25-50% of the funding will be allocated in small grants below $10,000. A total of $341,940 will be distributed. For full guidelines and an application, see the link at www.coastforyou.org or call (800) Coast-4U.
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Bioneers Conference: October 18-20, San Rafael, CA
Green California Schools Summit: November 6-7, Pasadena, CA
San Francisco Green Festival: November 9-10, San Francisco.
CompostCon 2014 January 25, 10 am - 5 pm, Oakland Convention Center
The first of its kind, CompostCon is a fun, family-friendly festival and educational event celebrating compost in our gardens, farms and landscapes. Home gardeners, urban farmers, and teachers can learn and see the latest trends and technologies through music, workshops, marketplace, and kids activities. For more information: Call Lauren Romanazzi, (408) 975-2574 lauren.romanazzi@sanjoseca.org
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CREEC Regional e-Newsletters are a publication of the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Office, California Department of Education.
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Copyright � 2013 Reprints and Permission: Although CREEC holds the copyright to this email, we grant permission to use our copyrighted text for a variety of education related purposes, and therefore encourage dissemination and sharing via social media and other reprint, reproduction or dissemination whether electronic or hard copy print.
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