 Winter 2014 | CREEC Region 2
Serving Butte, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Plumas, Shasta,
Siskiyou, Tehama, and Trinity Counties
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| Message from Your Coordinator |
It's Winter in the North State!
I hope that all of you are taking advantage of the
winter holiday season to share special times with
 friends and family.
While enjoying our family celebrations, here's a reminder that it's also a great time to get outdoors and connect with our natural environment.
This time of year we have the special opportunity to view the winter water fowl through activities at the snow goose festival. Consider introducing your family, friends and students to the wonders of the winter season by checking out the CREEC website for information on local events.
GET ready for the Next Generation Science Standards with new and exciting opportunities in environmental education.
The CREEC Network has launched the newly upgraded CREEC.org with a complete revitalization of our Resource Directory currently underway!
If you are a Teacher, you'll want to use the new site to find programs, EE activities, exhibits and events in our region and across the state, searching by grade, topic, EEI unit or even content standard. You'll also want to reach out to your coordinator to help you with bringing EE to your school. Visit CREEC to see what's coming, and come back again in a few weeks after the providers have had a chance to post!
If you are an EE PROVIDER, be sure your organization has created a master account on the site, where your staff can log in to post your programs, resources, video and more, so teachers can find them. We even have a downloadable illustrated provider guide to walk you through the easy process! Your coordinators are ready to help you engage with CREEC.
Visit CREEC.org to create a master account for your organization and post your programs, resources, video and more, so teachers can find them!
And, check out the events calendar! 
You'll want to bookmark it so you can stay informed of great events and happenings in Region 2 as more and more providers get on board!
 Wishing you a Happy New Year,
Tanya Heaston
Center for Mathematics and Science Education,
California State University, Chico
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Featured Festival
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January 22- 26, 2014
Millions of waterfowl migrating along the Pacific Flyway call the Northern Sacramento Valley their home during the winter months, creating ample viewing opportunities for bird and nature enthusiasts of all ages. Be part of one of the premier birding events in California, for an action-packed five days celebrating this annual phenomenon. More info and registration: CREEC.org/Region2.
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Engage Students
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The Chico Creek Nature Center
The Chico Creek Nature Center provides environmental education in Bidwell Park, Chico, CA. They serve school groups from prek-6th grade, and older upon request.
With Chico Creek you can bring back the magic of Summer Camp with Holiday Camps. It is the philosophy of the Chico Creek Nature Center that through increased knowledge and understanding, individuals will learn to protect and preserve our natural resources and, especially, Bidwell Park. As stewards of our environment, we can promote a high quality of all life now and for the future.
Winter Break Day Camps
Dec. 26, 27, 30, 31, Jan 2, 3
7:45 AM- 4:30 PM
$35 day
at the Chico Creek Nature Center
California Urban Streams Alliance - The Stream Team
The Stream Team's mission is to empower effective environmental stewardship to protect, enhance, manage, and restore the ecological health and educational opportunities of the Big Chico Creek Watershed, and other important California's river systems.
The Citizen Monitoring Program provides opportunities for the public to participate in watershed monitoring and restoration. These efforts are closely linked with the goals of the City of Chico Storm Water Management Program and the City of Chico Park Division Volunteer Program, as well as the educational needs of schools.
Educational Use at BCCER
Field Science: Don't Dream It, Be It!
 At the Outdoor Classroom of CSU Chico's Ecological Reserves they not only encourage students to touch, feel and hold nature - they invite them to participate in natural science research projects! Students receive both education and inspiration through experiential learning like recording bird detections, assessing stream health and monitoring native grasses.
Our standards based field trips employ a variety of methods to reinforce student learning. Visits revolve around a central theme such as ornithology, aquatic ecology and salmon migration through songs, games and field modules.
Field trips take place at the 4,000 acre Reserve on Big Chico Creek or the 100 acre Preserve on Butte Creek. Spring field-trips begin about March 15 and fall field-trips in mid-September. Available dates fill quickly. Contact our reserves management staff to discuss your proposed classroom project or activity by calling (530) 898-5010.
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| Professional Development |
American Association of University Women (AAUW)
Next Generation Science Conference
STEM for junior high school girls
Saturday, March 8, 2014
Shasta Community College campus
Redding, CA
Join a day promoting a college-going culture, peak interest and confidence in the S.T.E.M. disciplines and expose girls to various career paths. Numerous local professional women, including Medical Doctors, Veterinarians, Geologists and more, will present hands-on workshops in this all-day event, providing information that will plant the seeds for college and career motivation.
It will be held on the Shasta Community College campus. Sponsored by the Redding area A.A.U.W. ( American Association of University Women). Email Donna Scott for more information.
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| Grant Opportunities, Events and More at the New CREEC.org! | |
Visit CREEC.org fantastic Free Stuff for teachers and their classrooms.
For instance, you will learn more about programs like, Adopt-A-Classroom Grants, Box Tops for Education, CalMAX - California Materials Exchange and Freecycle.org.
These are just a few of the great free things CREEC.org has found for you.
Many more sources of funding, contests and awards for teachers and providers are also on CREEC! Here's two as an example:
- February 8: Deadline for Captain Planet Foundation Education Grants
- March 7: The 2014 Mantis Tiller Award for Community and Youth Gardens
Visit CREEC each month, for up-to-the-minute events, workshops, grants and more in Region 2!
Here's a sample of what you'll see:
- Find grade level Environmental Education Curriculum -- CREEC.org/eei
- Looking for EEI Credit for Teaching, Contests and Spring Conferences?
Find it here in CREEC news! - Events throughout the state!
Be An Early Adopter! We look forward to seeing you on the site!
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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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Region 2 eNews is a publication of the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Office, California Department of Education.
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