November News
Funding Deadlines
Upcoming Events
Partner Updates and Resources
Your Virginia
Assorted Items of Professional Interest
Albert I. Pierce (AIP) Foundation Grants
Deadline: November 15
AIP is a private charitable foundation supporting the environment and the arts and will be accepting applications for community-based projects in the areas of arts, education, environment or a combination of the three focus areas. The Foundation will award two grants for $20,000 and four grants for $10,000. Small grants under $5000 may also be awarded at Board discretion each year. Matching funds of at least 25% of the granted amount are required. www.aipfoundation.org/Pages/Guidelines%20Page.html
K-12 Environmental Excellence Awards
Deadline: November 30
Seaworld/Busch Gardens/Fuji Film Environmental Excellence Awards program rewards K-12 students & community groups working at the grassroots level to protect and preserve their local environment. www.seaworld.org/conservation-matters/eea/about.htm
NAAEE Announces 2007 Conference CFP
Deadline: January 31, 2007
Submissions will be accepted beginning November 20, 2006 - online only.
2007 NAAEE Annual Conference will be held November 14-17, 2006 in Virginia Beach , VA. The theme is “Explore New Horizons for Environmental Education". www.naaee.org/conference/2007-call-for-presentations
Virginia Mini-Grant Program
Deadline: December 1
The Virginia Mini-Grant Program supports community-based efforts to strengthen environmental education and to promote stewardship of Virginia 's waterways. These are intended to be one-time, start-up grants, and preference is given to modest local projects. Sponsored by Virginia Environmental Endowment (VEE) this Mini-Grant Program enables citizens to become actively involved in solving environmental problems in their own hometowns. Guidelines and application forms available at www.vee.org/mini.cfm
Virginia ’s 1 st Annual Youth Energy Summit
November 3-5, College of William and Mary
Chesapeake Climate Action Network is hosting this Summit . For registration information click here.
More information is available at www.vaclimatechallenge.org. Questions? Contact Tom Owens, tom@chesapeakeclimate.org
Lynnhaven Friendly Landscaping Workshop
November 4, 8:30 am - 12:30 pm , Windsor Woods Elementary School
Pre-registration required.
Community workshop is free and open to the public. Participants will learn about the value of buffers to their watershed; how to convert their existing lawn into a buffer garden; good choices of native plants for a buffer garden and planting techniques and plant maintenance. After the classroom instruction, workshop participants will create and plant a buffer garden on Windsor Lake in Mount Trashmore Park .
For more information or to register for this workshop, please contact Karen Forget at kforget@lynnhaven2007.com or 757-962-5398 .
“Environmental Partnerships” Environmental Symposium
November 8-10, Ferrum College
Visit www.ferrum.edu/es06/ for complete agenda and other information or contact Dr. Todd S. Frederickson, Assistant Professor of Forestry and Wildlife and Environmental Science Program Coordinator at 540-365-4360 or tfredericksen@ferrum.edu
Jamestown Live Webcast
Register Now!
On November 9, 2006 , hundreds of thousands of schools, teachers, students and homeschoolers can experience the Journey that Changed the World through the free, nationwide educational webcast “Jamestown Live!” Visit www.jamestownjourney.org/Home.htm or email Alta Cassady alta.cassady@jyf.virginia.gov or Linda Stanier linda.stanier@jyf.virginia.gov
48th Annual Garden Club of Virginia Conservation Forum
November 9, Stratford Hall, Stratford, Virginia
Dr. Thomas D. Peterson, Executive Director, the Center for Climate Strategies, Senior Research Associate & Adjunct Professor, Penn State University will share some of the causes of global warming and Dr. James L. Kelly, Professor Emeritus of the Nuclear Engineering Department at University of Virginia will discuss aspects of nuclear power, including safety, environmental and waste disposal. To register, call 804-493-8038 or 804-493-8371 or visit www.stratfordhall.org.
POW! The Planning of Wetlands Workshop
November 11th, 9 am – 4 pm , First Colonial High School , Virginia Beach, VA POW! The Planning of Wetlands - an educator’s workshop designed to give you the tools you need to create your own wetland outdoor classroom and involve your students every step of the way! This is a FREE workshop thanks to NOAA funding. To register: visit www.wetland.org or call Sarah Toman at 410-745-9620
Murray’s Fly Shop Winter Schools 2006-2007
Love to fly fish? Want to learn basics and more? Visit Murray ’s Fly Shop website for the 2006-2007 class dates. Classes are held at the store on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon. Call 540-984-4212 to sign up. www.murraysflyshop.org
First class offered will be: Introduction to Fly Fishing--- November 11, 2006 , Cost $20
2006 Professional Development Institute "Nature of Science"
November 16-18, Richmond Marriott Hotel
The Virginia Association of Science Teachers proudly announces the 2006 Professional Development Institute. The program continues to emphasize the importance of updating content area, teaching strategies, technology, Virginia Standards of Learning, and professional development on the K-16 levels. For more information and to register visit www.vast.org
Kevin Coyle, VP Education at National Wildlife Federation is keynote speaker on 11/18.
2006 Household Hazardous Waste and e-Cycling Event,
November 18, 8 am – 12 noon, The Diamond
The City of Richmond Department of Public Works is sponsoring a Household Hazard Waste and an e-Cycling event for Richmond residents on Saturday, November 18.There are small fees for e-Cycling. Call Billie Raines at 804-646-6785 or email braines@ci.richmond.va.us with questions and for additional information.
Virginia Farmer & Small Producer Workshops on Safe Biodiesel Production and Usage
- November 20, Virginia Tech, Squires Student Center , Blacksburg , VA
- December 7, Eastside Community Enhancement Center , Petersburg , VA
Virginia Clean Cities will be hosting 2 workshops in Virginia to increase awareness of biodiesel as a viable alternative fuel that can be produced on a small-scale and which can take advantage of a community’s local resources. These one-day workshops will cover the basics of biodiesel use and production, why it is important to switch to cleaner, domestic and more environmentally friendly fuels, important safe usage and production information, and case study experiences with making and using biodiesel.
For more information, www.hrccc.org/biodiesel.html , or email cjenkins@hrccc.org for registration information.
State of Rivanna : Our Shared Watershed Teacher Workshop
November 28, 12:00 - 4:30 pm , Albemarle County Fifth Street Office Building
Pre-register by November 17
The Rivanna Conservation Society is coordinating a half-day teacher's workshop on the state of the Rivanna River Watershed. We are bringing together local advocacy organizations, regulatory agencies and educational institutions to discuss the history, culture, current indicators, issues, and trends around the use and preservation of the Rivanna.
This very special event is being held to provide teachers with information and resources for the development of Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs), and to create a partnership of watershed educational support and expertise for our schools.
Please email pc@rivannariver.org or call 941-961-8284.
Project WET Workshop
November 29, 9:30 am - 3:30 pm , Environmental Solutions, Inc.
Pre-register by November 15
Free workshop with emphasis on Water Conservation and Supply. Participants may also begin training as a Workshop Facilitator by being assigned an activity to lead in advance. Contact Kris Jarvis at 804-698-4274 or kdjarvis@deq.virginia.gov
Directions to ESI can be found at: www.envirsol.com/
Save the Date! Streams of Stewardship
A Symposium on Water Management
February 24, 10 am – 4 pm , Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
Presented by Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden and the Virginia Society of Landscape Design. Visit www.lewisginter.org/streamsofstewardship for details and updates.
Partner updates events & resources
Welcome New Partners
- Alleghany Highlands Environmental Alliance sjohnson@homesteadpreserve.com
- Mill Mountain Discovery Center www.roanokeva.gov/outdoors
- Lynchburg Grows - Lora DeVan
- The Garden Club of Virginia www.gcvirginia.org
- Virginia Clean Cities www.hrccc.org
- Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center - Earth Watch Committee http://wwrc.virginia.gov/
2006 Keep Virginia Beautiful Awards
Missy Neff, Assistant Secretary of Natural Resources recognized community leaders across Virginia for their efforts in beautification and community improvement; litter prevention; waste reduction; landscape excellence and awards of excellence.
VaNaturally Partners won:
- 2nd Place - Beautification & Community Improvement Youth Groups/Schools
Cooper Elementary Ecology Club, Hampton- 1st Place- Litter Prevention Government Agency Journey Through the Chesapeake Bay
Clara Mills, Spotsylvania County
2007 Virginia Outdoors Plan Update
The Virginia Outdoors Plan is the Commonwealth's official conservation, outdoor recreation, and open space plan, and it is intended to serve as a guide to all levels of government and the private sector in meeting the land conservation, outdoor recreation, and open space needs of the state. The 2007 Virginia Outdoors Plan (VOP) will be the 9th produced in Virginia in accordance with § 10.1-200 of the Code of Virginia. In addition, the plan serves as a guidance document for the protection of lands through actions of the Virginia Land Conservation Foundation (VLCF). Its development is also necessary to meet requirements for Virginia 's participation in the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LCWF) program.
Public input meetings for the Virginia Outdoors Plan will be held across the state. The draft text and locations and schedule of the meeting may be queried using the following link: http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/prr/vop.htm. Comments on the draft 2007 Virginia Outdoors Plan are due December 15, 2006 . Comments may be e-mailed to vop@dcr.virginia.gov or via US mail to John Davy at Department of Conservation and Recreation, 203 Governor Street, Suite 326 , Richmond , VA 23219 .
VA Department of Conservation and Recreation
Adopt –a- Stream Program
Volunteers Needed!
The purpose of this statewide program is to encourage citizen-based stewardship of the Commonwealth’s water resources, while reducing the amount of litter entering Virginia ’s waters, promoting education and outreach, and facilitating community capacity building. For more information about the Adopt-A-Stream Program visit www.state.va.us/~dcr/sw/adopt.htm, or contact Lane Guilliams at lane.guilliams@dcr.virginia.gov
2007 Virginia Environmental Stewardship Awards
Nominations Being Accepted
The Secretary of Natural Resources and the Virginia Petroleum Council (VPC) have announced that nominations are now being accepted for the Year 2007 Virginia Environmental Stewardship Awards. The environmental recognition program in its twelfth year is sponsored by the Virginia Petroleum Council and the Commonwealth. Nominations that exemplify innovative and effective stewardship initiatives and educational approaches to help enhance Virginia ’s attractive natural resources will be considered. Contact Mike Ward at 804-225-8248 or virginia@api.org
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
The Virginia Soils poster, "Nature's Hidden Beauty," can be viewed at www.va.nrcs.usda.gov/news/Publications.htm To order contact: Patricia A. Paul at (804)287-1681
Living In Your Watershed" Activity Book
This activity book can be personalized for your locality. To obtain additional information and a free sample contact: Daniel Bowman at 434-384-3710 or email BowEnvSer@aol.com
New Watershed Course- Online
The first in a series of free online courses relating weather to the environment, "Watersheds: Connecting Weather to the Environment" is an excellent primer on how weather events relate to the health of a watershed, and how the public can take simple actions to protect watershed health. Produced by the Cooperative Program for Operational Meteorology, Education & Training (COMET) and National Environmental Education & Training Foundation (NEETF).
http://www.meted.ucar.edu/broadcastmet/watershed/
Benefits of Outdoor Classrooms
Science educators have long recognized the value of school gardens in motivating students to study science. Recent studies show that school gardening programs also boost students’ scores on science achievement tests. Research at Louisiana State University and Texas A & M shows the positive impact of school gardening programs on science scores. www.nsta.org/index.html
For more information visit www.agintheclass.com/SchoolGarden/SchoolGarden.asp
New website at National Science Foundation
New resource from National Science Foundation for children and the kid in all of us, that
features special creature cams -- videos from the creature's viewpoint. The Secret Lives of Wild Animals -- modern technologies like global tracking systems and ultraminiaturized sensors now provide researchers with intimate glimpses of rarely seen behaviors of wild animals.
Check it out! http://nsf.gov/news/special_reports/animals/index.jsp
Fisheries Learning on the Web (FLOW)
Award-winning, Web-based curriculum material for grades 4-8. Each standards-based lesson features an engaging activity focusing on one of three primary areas: ecosystem, water, or fish. www.projectflow.us