April 2015 News for Teachers

Apply for the 2015 Leadership Clinic!

We are now accepting applications for the 2015 Cenovus Energy Environmental Education Leadership Clinic!

If your organization or school delivers on energy and/or environmental education,we encourage you to apply for this year's leadership clinic. This four day, fully funded professional development opportunity will explore the intersection between energy and the environment, imperatives of new curriculum directions, and increasing both environmental and energy literacy. You will have opportunities to explore what this means for your organizations's work and how you can enhance both areas in your program or practices. The deadline to apply is July 17.

Click here to learn more about the leadership clinic and how to apply.

Earth Matters: Call For Proposals Now Open!

We invite you to share your programs, research, lesson plans, skills, knowledge and stories at the Earth Matters Conference next October. The call for proposals for sessions and posters is now open!

If you are interested in presenting a workshop session, please click here.
If you are interested in submitting a poster proposal, please click here.

If you have any questions, please contact Christina: christina@abcee.org.

To learn more about the Earth Matters conference or to register, click here.

Environmental Inquiry Workshop- May 20th

Alberta Education is redesigning curriculum - and ACEE and the Calgary Regional Consortium want to help teachers prepare for these changes.

Our upcoming workshop on environmental inquiry will explore designing authentic knowledge building opportunities using the four dimensions of environmental inquiry: inquiry learning, experiential learning in nature, integrated learning and stewardship.

Environmental Inquiry: Preparing Alberta students to create a sustainable future through authentic learning

When: May 20th from 4:30 pm -7:30 pm

Where: Elizabeth Barrett Elementary School, 605 Fourth Ave N, Cochrane

Cost: $47.00

Additional details about this workshop and how to register can be found at: http://abcee.org/preparing-new-curriculum/

Earth Day is April 22nd!

Earth Day is just around the corner! Here are a few fantastic resources to help you take action and engage your school community this Earth Day, April 22nd.

Download your complete Earth Day 2015 Toolkit by clicking on the links below or select sections of the Toolkits and join schools across Canada in a united effort to live green on Earth Day and every day!

For additional resource ideas, visit: http://earthday2015.ca

Ecological Literacy Workshop-Edmonton

Come and explore our beautiful river valley and learn how any accessible green space can encourage a greater connection between children and the natural world. In this experiential outdoor workshop, you will learn how to lay the foundation for ecological literacy, that of establishing a caring and respectful relationship with the natural world. You will be introduced to nature journaling, earth art, and simple observational activities as ways of increasing awareness and appreciation of nature. This workshop links directly to aspects of the language arts, fine arts, science, social studies, health, and physical education curricula at the grades 4-6 level.

When: May 21, 2015

Where: 13204 Fox Dr NW ( Alfred Savage Building), Edmonton

Cost: $55.00 ( does not include lunch)

Click here for more information on how to register for this workshop.

Tim Gill to Speak in Calgary May 11-12th

Tim Gill is one of the UK's leading thinkers on childhood, and an effective advocate for positive change in children's everyday lives. For over 15 years his writing, research, consultancy projects and other work has focused on the changing nature of childhood, children's play and free time, and their evolving relationships with the people and places around them.

Tim will be offering 4 diverse sessions in Calgary on May 11-12 ranging from :Children and Nature, Play in Public Policy, Child-Friendly Cities and No Risk, No Reward.

To register for one of these sessions, go to the eRecreation web site, https://rec-econnect.gov.calgary.ab.ca/Start/Start.asp and Request a New Account or call 268-3800 to speak to a registration agent.

Field Trips Across Alberta

Spring is a great time to get out of the classroom and explore some of the beautiful outdoor learning sites across Alberta. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Inside Education offers a number of full-day outdoor learning adventures for grades 4 - 12, taking place at unique field sites across Alberta.

Des Crossley Demonstration Forest (Red Deer/Rocky Mountain House/Central Alberta
Evergreen Centre for Resource Excellence & Innovation(Grande Prairie Area)

Devonian Botanical Gardens offers a wide range of field programs for elementary, junior high and high school (Edmonton area). Click on the link above to view their full suite of programs.

Helen Schuler Nature Centre offers regional field trips for students in

Grades 5 and 7. These full-day programs encourage project-based learning and promote environmental stewardship (Lethbridge area).

CPAWS Southern Alberta has some unique education programs and guided hikes for grades 2-12 on diverse topics from wetlands to grizzly bears and more!

Need some other ideas? Be sure to check out our environmental education resource database (http://abcee.org/resources/), where you will find a wealth of information on resources and field trips all across Alberta!

Quick Links

Sustainability Illustrated

This excellent video presents a simple definition of sustainability based on natural cycles and a scientific consensus, as well as the four root causes of unsustainability.

Getting Into the Classroom
This article helps answer the ultimate question of every administrator that, given all of the demands on an administrator's time, what can be done to escape the pull of the office and spend a majority of our time in the classroom?

For more information visit:
www.abcee.org
Questions or comments? Please contact rosemarie@abcee.org.