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May News

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Funding Sources and Upcoming Deadlines
Partner Updates and Resources
Your Virginia
Assorted Items of Professional Interest

Funding sources and upcoming deadlines

VaNaturally School Recognition Program
 Applications Accepted: May 1- June 30
 Virginia Naturally Schools is the official environmental education school recognition program of the Commonwealth, administered by the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries with support from the Department of Education, Department of Environmental Quality and other resource agencies. Schools may submit applications between May 1 and June 30 of each school year. The recognition will be awarded in the following school year. For application and other information visit: www.dgif.virginia.gov/education/van_school_recognition.html#applications or contact Suzie Gilley at (804) 367-0188 or Suzie.Gilley@dgif.virginia.gov

2006 Virginia EE Conference Call for Presenters
 Deadline: May 15
 Virginia Naturally’s professional development conference for environmental educators will be held on September 19-20, 2006 at W.E. Skelton 4-H Educational Conference Center at Smith Mountain Lake . www.ext.vt.edu/resources/4h/smithmt/conferences Conference organizers are seeking proposals. Submitting a proposal online is easy www.vanaturally.com/eeconference.html  Whether you want to learn new skills or share your expertise; you help strengthen EE in VA by participating in this event. Stay tuned for program and registration details as regular updates are made.

2006 Professional Development Institute “Nature of Science” Call for Proposals
 Deadline: May 15
 The Virginia Association of Science Teachers proudly announces the 2006 Professional Development Institute (formerly known as the VAST Conference). This year’s event will take place November 16-18, 2006 at the Downtown Richmond Marriott. The program continues to emphasize the importance of teaching strategies, technology, Virginia Standards of Learning, watersheds, and professional development on the K-16 levels. Visit www.vast.org for proposal submittal forms, exhibit and registration information.

Chesapeake Bay Academies
 June 19-22, Mountain Academy , Douthat State Park
June 19-23, Coastal Bay Academy , Tappahannock , VA
Deadline: May 15
 The Virginia Resource-Use Education Council (VRUEC), in cooperation with several state, federal, and private agencies, will again conduct two Chesapeake Bay Academies this summer. The Coastal Bay Academy will focus on the coastal portion of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The Mountain Academy will focus on the headwaters of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Openings available for resource educators. www.vanaturally.com/bayacademy.html

Mathematics and Science Partnership (MSP) Competitive Grant Program
 Deadline: June 30
 MSP grants will be awarded to support successful proposals that will provide programs and resources to offer high-quality professional development for (1) elementary (K-5) science teachers in schools Accredited with Warning in science; and (2) secondary Algebra I teachers in high schools with pass rates less than 70 percent on the Algebra I end-of-course Standards of Learning (SOL) test for the entire 2004-2005 testing year. For more information, including the RFP see www.doe.virginia.gov/VDOE/suptsmemos/2006/inf091.html.

Partner updates events & resources

Welcome New Partners

Barry Fox Awarded Thomas Jefferson Medal for Outstanding Contributions to Natural Science Education
 Barry Fox, Extension Specialist, Aquatic and Marine Science Education, is the 2006 winner of Thomas Jefferson Medal for Outstanding Contributions to Natural Science Education. The award recognizes a Virginia educator who has consistently made outstanding contributions to natural history, environmental and science education in either the formal or non-formal sectors.  For more information, please see: www.vmnh.net/news.cfm?ID=47

May is American Wetlands Month
 During the month of May, we will celebrate American Wetlands Month, focusing on the economic benefits that wetlands provide. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) joins with other federal, state and local agencies and private partners to recognize the wonderful ways that wetlands enrich the environment and society. Events are scheduled all across the country to educate and involve Americans in better understanding the importance of one of Earth’s most valuable and fragile ecosystems. Visit www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/awm/ and the Izaak Walton League of America’s website at www.iwla.org for activities. Information about wetlands is available at www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands.

Solid Waste Association of North America 2nd Annual Communications, Education, and Marketing E-Conference
 Tuesdays | May 2006 |  1:00 - 3:00 PM EST  
This May, SWANA's Communication, Education and Marketing Technical Division will be holding its second on-line technical conference. The E-Conference consists of two presentations per day ( 1:00 – 3:00 PM EST ) during the first three Tuesdays of the month. For more session information and to register, visit http://store.yahoo.com/swanastore/2ndanswcoeda.html .Following the session, join in an online chat about key topics. An online discussion board will provide another avenue for you to post questions and your contact information to network with other people in the CEM field from across the continent. Receive 2 CEUs for Tuesday's Sessions or Register for ALL 3 to receive 6 CEUs!

Spring Boat Tour of Presquile National Wildlife Refuge
 May 6, 10:30 am – 12 noon
Pre-Registration required
 Search for eagles, herons, egrets and osprey during this US Fish and Wildlife Service guided opportunity on the James River . Travel in a pontoon boat alongside Shirley Plantation and Presquile National Wildlife Refuge. Limit: 16 participants. Contact James River Association at (804) 730-2898 x 205 to register or visit www.jamesriverassociation.org

Clean Up the Zoo Weekend!
 May 6-7, 8:30 am- 12 noon, Mill Mountain Zoo, Roanoke
 Volunteers needed to assist with some "spring cleaning" at the Mill Mountain Zoo. We'll paint, plant and plow the Zoo into shape for our summer season! Participants must be 16 years and older. Space is limited. Call (540) 343-3241 or visit http://mmzoo.org/index.cfm/fa/cal.view.htm

1st Annual Chesterfield County Environmental Fair 2006
 May 12-13, 9 am – 2 pm , Chesterfield County Fairgrounds Exhibition Hall
 Discover how to be a responsible protector of the environment at this educational and fun event. Contact Pam Cooper at (804) 751-2227 or CooperP@chesterfield.gov. View event flier www.vanaturally.com/pdf/env_fair.pdf

International Migratory Bird Day
 May 13
 International Migratory Bird Day celebrates the incredible journeys of migratory birds between breeding grounds in North America and their wintering grounds in Mexico , Central and South America . Check the website www.birdday.org for a variety of programs, activities and resources.

One Million Educators Gone Wild
 During the 2005-2006 school year, Project WILD will have trained over one million educators nationwide and over 30,000 in the Commonwealth of Virginia . Since 1983, Project WILD educators provided instruction to more than 48 million youth with numbers continuing to soar. For more information about the count down to one million, log on to the WILD website www.projectwild.org or to become one of the 30,000 + Virginia educators using Project WILD to meet the Virginia Science SOLs ,contact Suzie Gilley , Wildlife Education Coordinator Coordinator suzie.gilley@dgif.virginia.gov Upcoming workshops may also be listed on the Virginia Naturally calendar www.vanaturally.com

Virginia Society of Naturalists
May 16, 7 pm , Science Museum of VA in Richmond
Stephanie Flack, with The Nature Conservancy, will present "Ecology and Conservation of the Potomac Gorge." A 15-mile river corridor from Great Falls to Georgetown, the Potomac Gorge is home to more than 200 rare species and natural communities and is one of the most densely biologically rich natural areas in the eastern United States. And, in spite of the fact that the Potomac Gorge runs through a heavily populated metropolitan region, it remains one of the most intact eastern Fall Zone river corridors, thanks to the efforts of The Nature Conservancy and the National Park Service. www.virginianaturalists.org/

EPA Science Forum 2006
May 16-18 - Ronald Regan Building and International Trade Center - Washington, DC.
Your Health, Your Environment, Your Future - Participate in the premier environmental science event of the year! The Forum will highlight the relationship between our environment and public health, and will include discussions on issues as diverse as the impact of understanding the human genome and the impacts of the built environment. The Forum will also highlight the complementary roles of EPA and other Federal public health agencies. For more information, visit EPA's Science Forum 2006

Izaak Walton League of America 2006 Wetland Webcast Series
 Alternative Practices for Highway Stormwater Management
 May 18
 The second series of Webcasts, Alternative Practices for Highway Stormwater Management registration is now open at www.iwla.org/sos/sosweb.htm The first program in this series, Introduction to Alternative Practices to Manage Highway Runoff, will air May 18. Contact Suzanne Zanelli, Protect Our Wetlands Program Coordinator at (301) 548-0150 x 223 for more information.

Project Learning Tree (PLT) PreK-8 Workshop
 May 18, 10 am – 4 pm , Holiday Lake 4-H Center
 PLT is an award-winning national environmental education curriculum that uses trees and forests as a window to the world. Workshop participants will receive 400- page curriculum guide. Cost is $11.00. Register with Holiday Lake at (434) 248-4444 or email bgoin@vt.edu

Wetlands Celebration Day
May 20, 1 pm – 3 pm Julie Metz Mitigation Bank, Woodbridge , VA
This will be a fun day for the family with a special dedication service, a guided tour of the bank with a naturalist, and entertaining learning stations. For information about Wetlands Month Ceremony contact Judy Bailey bailey.judy@epa.gov at (202)566-1380 or the Prince William County Department of Public Works at (703) 792-6819.

Northern Virginia Environmental Educator Training Workshop
 "Bringing the outdoors to classrooms near you!"
 May 25, 9 am – 3 pm , Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve, Loudoun County
Pre-registration required. Bring your own lunch or Box lunches can be purchased.
 The Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts Education Committee and the Loudoun Soil and Water Conservation District will provide a training workshop for Teachers and Non-Formal Environmental Educators. This free, one day workshop is for those that provide environmental education programs to teachers, students or scouts. This workshop will focus on providing a variety of hands-on learning activities and resource materials to participants.

Contact Suzanne Brown, Loudoun SWCD, suzie.brown@va.nacdnet.net or (703)771-8395 x 100.

James River Regional Cleanup Day Event
 June 10, 9 am – 1 pm
It's your river. Enjoy it. Care for it.
The cleanup is a regional effort to involve communities in cleaning more than 50 miles of the James, including sites in Chesterfield , Henrico, Powhatan, Goochland, Cumberland and Charles City counties, as well at Richmond and Lynchburg . The cleanup includes some tributaries in the James River watershed, such as Falling Creek. Volunteer! Get involved! Register online at www.jamesriveradvisorycouncil.com

Your Virginia

VA Pollution Prevention Lesson Recognized by National publisher
 AIMS Education Foundation, a national curriculum publisher, has recognized a lesson plan developed by VA Office of Environmental Education at DEQ. The foundation will include a lesson, called Ms. Virginia ’s Cookie Factory, on how to manufacture a product while reducing waste and managing raw materials as part of the sixth grade curriculum for schools in Portsmouth , VA. The lesson is available at www.deq.virginia.gov/education/pdf/ps19.pdf

Article by Julia Cole, Public Affairs Office, VA DEQ

Free Freshwater Fishing Days
 June 2, 3 and 4 (statewide)
 What a prefect way to spend the weekend. No fishing license of any kind will be required for rod and reel fishing in freshwater (except in designated stocked trout waters) on these days in early June. For more information visit www.dgif.virginia.gov/events

Virginia State Parks celebrate 70 years of fun by rolling fees back to 1936
On June 15, 1936 , Virginia simultaneously opened six state parks: Douthat, Westmoreland, Hungry Mother, Fairy Stone, Staunton River and Seashore, now First Landing. The parks had a general admission fee of 10 cents for people over 10. Children under 10 were admitted free. On June 15-18, 2006 , Virginia State Parks celebrates its 70 th anniversary by rolling back the admission fee to 1936 rates – visitors will be charged 10 cents each, all weekend long. All parks will also have free birthday cake Saturday, June 17, from 1-3 p.m. Individual parks will offer special programs, children's activities, educational programs, tours and historical vignettes reflecting their unique characters. www.dcr.virginia.gov/parks/sp70.htm

Virginia was the first state to open an entire park system on the same day. The new parks offered modern outdoor recreational facilities while protecting areas with significant natural resources. Recreational choices have always included fishing, hiking, boating, swimming and horseback riding. Today there are biking and multi-use trails, volleyball pits, more than two dozen playgrounds, and countless recreational opportunities. For 70 years Virginia State Parks have continued to offer millions of visitors countless ways to enjoy the beauty and serenity of Virginia ’s natural wonders. www.dcr.virginia.gov/parks/

Summer Camps in Virginia
For a complete listing of summer camps in Virginia visit http://camppage.com/virginia.htm .

Virginia Natural Resource Agency News
 For the latest information about VA’s seven natural resource agencies visit www.naturalresources.virginia.gov/Agencies/agency.cfm and click on the agency link you need.

Assorted items of professional interest

May 11 is Endangered Species Day
 Sponsor an Endangered Species Day event, field trip, or educational program in your locality. The goal of this day is “to educate people about the importance of protecting our rare, threatened, and endangered animal and plant species.” Get involved! www.stopextinction.org

Summer 2006 Professional Development Opportunities
 Visit www.vanaturally.com/summer.html for a complete list of opportunities.

Applied Environmental Education Program Evaluation- New online course
 The Environmental Education and Training Partnership (EETAP) and the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point is offering summer and fall 2006 offerings of a new 11-week “Applied Environmental Education Program Evaluation” on-line course. It will be offered June 12-August 25 and in the fall (September 18- December 1).This course is designed to assist environmental educators and natural resource professionals in evaluating their education programs. Visit www.eetap.org or contact Angela Arkin aarkin@uwsp.edu for a registration form.

Summer Professional Training Opportunities for Teachers from the Smithsonian Institute
 June 19-23, Biodiversity Monitoring Institute-
 June 26-30, Watershed Academy : From the Headwaters to the Bay,
 Register online at http://nationalzoo.si.edu/education/teacherworkshops/
The Conservation and Research Center of the Smithsonian’s National Zoo offers teachers advanced opportunities to learn from Smithsonian scientists, new ways to make science come alive with students. The goal is to build capacity in schools where meaningful, inquiry-based activities, using the natural world as a living laboratory, are part of the culture for teaching and learning. Contact Jennifer Buff buffj@si.edu or call (540) 635-6540 for course descriptions, tuition and lodging information.

American Museum of Natural History Summer Seminars on Science- Online
 June 12- July 23
 July 3- August 13
 The American Museum of Natural History’s Seminars on Science professional development courses designed for K-12 educators. Visit http://learn.amnh.org for course descriptions.

Online Energy Bibliography
 A new online bibliography of fiction and non-fiction energy books is available at www.need.org sorted by energy subject areas and grade levels. It also includes a search engine to assist teachers as they search for literacy connections to energy. Other energy resources can be found at www.eia.doe.gov/bookshelf/eer/kiddietoc.html

Nuclear Resource for K-4 Teachers
 “Dear Sandy,” from Primary Stories and More, includes information about nuclear energy, and a hands on activity for understanding a chain reaction. For a copy of Primary Stories and More, contact NEED at info@need.org, or call 1-800-875-5029.

New Book: Designing a Communication Campaign: The 4-P Workshop
 This World Conservation Union publication is the first in a series called “Lessons from the Field: Conservation Awareness” and provides a practical guide for conservation practitioners. The 112-page book focuses on the creative process for strategic planning—a critical component to designing effective conservation awareness initiatives. www.conservation.org/xp/CIWEB/programs/awareness

LearningScience.org
 The LearningScience.org website offers free, high quality, newer and emerging web interactive learning tools of science education on National Science Education Standards. www.learningscience.org/index.htm

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