California Regional Environmental
Education Community

California Department of Education,
STEM Office

Region 2 Newsletter
January 2016 
Serving Butte, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Plumas, Shasta, Siskiyou, Tehama, and Trinity Counties

Colusa National Wildlife Reserve
 

The Pacific Flyway is one of the greatest migratory bird pathways in the entire world, stretching from the Bering Strait off the coast of Alaska to coastal regions of South America. Each year flocks of birds representing a myriad number of different and unique species black out the sky while using this path. The Northern Sacramento Valley is a local pit stop for these wonderful birds to feed, rest and prepare for the rest of their journey.
 
The valley of the area attract a huge wintering population of waterfowl and raptors. A local favorite among these is the Snow Goose. With the estimated overall population of Snow Geese exceeding 5 million, as many as one and a half million use the Pacific Flyway. Tens of thousands of these will winter right here in our own backyard just outside of Chico.
 
The Snow Goose Festival is a unique five day long opportunity to educate and energize local volunteers, artists, trip leaders, workshop presenters, educators, community members, and sponsors to aid in increasing public awareness, understanding, appreciation and conservation of the incredible wildlife and their related habitats of the Northern Sacramento Valley. This event brings birders from around the country to indulge in the wonderful biodiversity offered in this little pocket of the world. 

So come join us Wednesday January 27 through Sunday January 31 at the Chico Creek Nature Center and Chico Family Masonic Lodge for workshops, games, guest speakers, field trips and many more opportunities to celebrate not only the mascot of this wonderful festival but also all the unique bird species which make the Northern Sacramento Valley their home during our winters.

Online Registration is open until January 25th. For more information Click Here 
 
- Jillian McCool, CREEC Outreach Assistant, Region 2 
 
News in Region 2 

The Butte Environmental Council and City of Chico are pleased to announce the return of the Block Parties with a Purpose, a community cleanup program, focusing on Chico's Urban Waterways. . . .Read more 

State grapples with timeline for implementation of new science standard EdSource

Two years after it adopted a new set of science standards, the California State Board of Education is trying to allow enough time to best phase them in so it avoids some of the pitfalls it faced in implementing the Common Core State Standards in math and English language arts. . . .Read more
 

Wildflower Tours at North Table Mountain

Wildflower season begins slowly in late February and progresses through April. However, the peak and intensity of wildflower blooms can vary highly from year to year depending on the timing and amount of rain. . . . Read more
Local Events
01/30/2016
02/02/2016
02/04/2016

 


GROSSOLOGY: The (Impolite) Science of the Human Body is a fun, exciting and educationally stimulating exhibition based on the best-selling book, Grossology, by science teacher Sylvia Branzei. Explore how and why your body produces mushy, oozy, crusty, scaly and stinky gunk that many people think are gross. This colorful exhibit includes interactive displays and challenges to explain the good, the bad and the downright ugly about the human body and how it works. The exhibit will be on display from January 16 through May 8, 2016 in the North Gallery and James W. Cornyn Valley Gallery.

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Disclaimer: These professional learning opportunities and resources are intended merely to provide access to information. The California Department of Education (CDE) has not reviewed these opportunities or resources for effectiveness or alignment with the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). CDE does not warrant or guarantee the effectiveness or results of any opportunity or resource that may be made available through this communication network. The inclusion of an opportunity or resource is neither an endorsement nor recommendation by CDE. Please excuse formatting errors that may result from the software application used to distribute this newsletter.
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The California Regional Environmental Education Community (CREEC) Network is an educational project supported by the California Department of Education in collaboration with state, regional and local partners. Its expansive communication network provides educators with access to high-quality educational resources to enhance the environmental literacy of California Students.
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Your Name, Contact Info (email, phone - whatever)

Shannon Gordon, Statewide CREEC Coordinator, sgordon@cde.ca.gov
STEM Office, California Dept. of Education, 1430 N Street, Suite 4309, Sacramento, CA 95814
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