The Educational Information & Resource Center (EIRC), NJ Association for School Administrators (NJASA), NJ Department of Education, and the NJ Department of Environmental Protection have collaborated to conduct a statewide sustainability conference on March 28, 2012.

The conference will run annually to support school districts in their efforts to achieve sustainability. It will focus on the following areas that are critical for schools to effectively green their facilities and curriculum:
* Leadership in a Time of Green > Superintendents, Business Administrators, BOE Members, School Leaders, Municipal Leaders, Business Leaders
* Greening a School Facility > Facilities Directors, Facilities Managers, Business Administrators
* Green Curriculum: The Pathway to Green Careers > Curriculum Directors, Career Preparation Specialists, Technical Schools, Guidance Counselors

Fees: $125 Per Individual or $400 Per Team of 4

Suggested Team Composition: Superintendent, Business Administrator, Facilities Director, BOE Member

Location: Crowne Plaza, 390 Forsgate Dr., Monroe Township, New Jersey 08831
Phone: 877-270-1393
Website: Go to the EIRC website (http://www.eirc.org/) to the "Quick Links" list for link to the Conference website

Don't know how we were so prescient, but NAAEE has picked the "in" spot in the U.S. for the 41st Annual Conference, set for October 10-13, 2012. During the first week of 2012, the New York Times released its list of "The 45 Places to Go in 2012." And the first North American location on the list was Oakland, CA. It's number five on the list after Panama, Helsinki, Myanmar, and London.

Visit the website for the Call for Presentation Proposals (CFP) coming soon and get ready to experience the appeal of this revitalized city, along with the hundreds of presentations that comprise the premier environmental education professional development experience in North America!
http://www.naaee.net/

Leaders of youth out-of-school-time programs are invited to share their program design and details with MOST-Science, a nationwide study led by researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder. MOST-Science is collecting data about the organization and practices of science, engineering and technology-focused out-of-school-time (OST) programs across the country, and is especially interested in including programs that focus on environmental science. Contribute a program to the database (and learn more) at:
http://www.colorado.edu/eer/research/outofschool.h...

The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies has released six new publications in its award-winning North American Conservation Education Strategy Tool Kit for Achieving Excellence. The new publications include Fostering Outdoor Observation Skills, Landscape Investigations Guidelines, Schoolyard Biodiversity Investigations Educator Guide, Project-Based Learning Model, Outdoor Skills Education Handbook, and Sustainable Tomorrow: Applying Systems Thinking to Environmental Education Curricula, for Grades 9-12. These and other publications are available for free download.
http://www.fishwildlife.org/index.php?section=cons...

Free, fun, and empowering climate change program for K-8 students and their families that inspires them to take simple actions to reduce their carbon emissions. Includes action coupons kids earn and a banner the school can post to show how their actions are adding up to make a difference.
http://cooltheearth.org/our-program/

NatureBridge launched this new online game for kids, teachers, and parents to teach users to reduce waste and encourage awareness of their impact on the environment and encourage community involvement. Learn more about this initiative here. Play the game: http://www.naturebridge.org/garbology

By: Sabbithry Persad
Illustrated by: Jenny Campbell
With colorful illustrations and fact-filled diagrams complementing the adventure, this picture book tells the story of how Peter and his friends help Mr. Ogilvy rediscover forgotten belongings in his shed.
https://eelinked.naaee.net/n/eelinked/posts/Operat...

The education team at the Stop Community Food Centre has just released a new Sustainable Food Systems Education Guide for elementary school teachers and community educators. The guide provides the background information used to design many of the Stop’s activities and workshops for children. While this 54-page guide was originally designed for fifth-grade classroom teachers in Ontario, it includes information on food systems that can be useful to most teachers at the elementary level and educators in community settings that are developing programs around food issues. It is divided into five short units, includes 25 suggested activities, and four personal stories that help illustrate issues around social justice. There's also list of additional resources that includes books, websites, blogs, and videos that have become popular in our programs.
http://thestop.org/grade-5-program

The NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife and the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ will conduct two 1-week residential summer sessions for motivated students to explore New Jersey's salt marsh environment at the Sedge Island Natural Resource Education Center in 2012. Session one will be held June 28-July 2, 2012 and the second session will be held July 30-August 3, 2012. Each session is open to students entering grades 7 to 9 in the fall 2012 school year.

Students will stay at the "Sedge House," which is a renovated duck-hunting lodge located in Barnegat Bay in New Jersey's only Marine Conservation Zone. Using the house as their "home base," they will use kayaks and a variety of gear and scientific equipment to study the bay's ecosystem under the guidance of Fish and Wildlife and Conserve Wildlife Foundation biologists.

The shallow water surrounding Sedge Island serves as a nursery for abundant marine life including invertebrates, blue claw crabs, hard clams, and fish. The island also provides nesting and resting sites for many species of birds, and is located within the Atlantic Flyway ensuring exciting birding year-round. Students will see and examine much of this wildlife, as they literally immerse themselves in their environment.

Students will also learn about sustainability, stewardship and the history of the region during their field experience by participating in traditional Barnegat Bay activities such as fishing, crabbing and clamming. Living this conservation lifestyle provides a unique perspective and understanding of NJ's natural resources and issues affecting the bay.

The cost is $425 and includes all meals, equipment and instruction. Space is limited and applicants will go through a competitive application process. Applications are due by March 31.

For more information about the Sedge Island Summer Field Experience and how to apply visit http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/sedge.htm or contact Karen Leskie at 609-748-4347 or karen.leskie@dep.state.nj.us .

Click HERE.

Based on the literature review, Dr. Marouli argues that worldviews of marginalized people have been underrepresented in EE and that “our understanding of environmental issues and the proposed solutions are culturally limited to and by the perceptions of the dominant group.”
Marouli, C. (2002). Multicultural environmental education: theory and practice. Canadian Journal of Environmental Education, 7(1), 26-42.
http://eelinked.naaee.net/n/eeresearch/posts/Multi...

Dr. Cutter-Mackenzie has explored learning outcomes of a school gardening program in Melbourne, an Australian city, in 2006-2007. The research program involved 70 students – recent immigrants, 6-12-year-old – in designing, construction and implementation of a gardening program along with teachers, parents and community volunteers.
Cutter-Mackenzie, A. (2009). Multicultural school gardens: creating engaging garden spaces in learning about language, culture, and environment. Canadian Journal of Environmental Education, 14, 122-135.
http://eelinked.naaee.net/n/eeresearch/posts/Multi...

The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point 2012 online courses include:

Environmental Education Theory & Practice
Gain foundational knowledge of environmental education (EE) and learn how to incorporate quality EE into your instruction. Discuss the history and goals of EE and develop an understanding of the professional roles and instructional methods of environmental educators.

Applied Environmental Education Program Evaluation
Environmental educators, natural resource professionals, and graduate students will design evaluation tools such as questionnaires, observation forms, and inter­view and focus group guides that can be applied in evaluations of environmental education and outreach.

Natural Resources Policy & the Legislative Process
This course examines the legislative process with regard to natural resources, including power, limitations, and balances in the policy making process; natural resources advocacy; and the political behavior of voters and policy makers.

Advanced Oral Interpretation Methods
This course explores the communication process as the foundation of interpretation and discusses why understanding communication theories can improve interpretation effectiveness. Participants will gain skills to help create quality interpretive talks, guided walks and tours, and illustrated talks, beginning with the interpretive planning process and ending with the evaluation of an interpretive program. The goal of this course is to provide participants with a set of tools they can use to communicate an oral interpretive message to an audience effectively.

Scholarships are being offered for several of the courses! Download the flyer >
http://eelinked.naaee.net/n/eelinked/posts/Online-...

Does what you eat really have impact on our planet? Could mealtime choices actually help promote clean drinking water? What’s On Your Fork? is a new, free downloadable action guide and collection of supplementary educational tools from EarthEcho International designed to help educators and students explore the environmental and community impact of daily food choices. This new resource is part of EarthEcho’s Water Planet Challenge, a Web-based interactive program exploring a myriad of topics that engage and empower middle and high school-aged youth to design, create, and implement service-learning projects in their communities. Rich in academic connections, the What’s On Your Fork? step-by-step action guide includes stimulating content, student organizers for discussions and planning, and examples of youth taking action.

Visit the Web site to learn more about NEA Foundation Water Planet Challenge educator grants and an upcoming What’s On Your Fork? Webinar hosted by Philippe Cousteau, Jr.
http://www.WaterPlanetChallenge.org

"Survival" is a free, quick-fire mobile game to raise awareness about the world’s most endangered animals. Immersive, interactive, and educational, "Survival" is a great way to encourage children's curiosity for the natural world. At home, in the classroom or on-the-go, kids and adults alike will have a whale of a time as they race against the clock to tap, pinch, drag, scroll, and swipe their way through a series of mini-games whilst learning about the world’s endangered species
http://www.arkive.org/apps/survival

According to the World Health Organization, cancer rates have doubled over the last 30 years, and increasing rates of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, autoimmune disorders, and reproduction dysfunction have also been observed. Our Daily Poison is a new documentary from Icarus Films and is divided into three distinct but interrelated sections, challenging the conventional wisdom on our agriculture and food systems.
http://www.icarusfilms.com/new2011/pois.html

This Spanish library provides a compilation of documents in Spanish for environmental educators, which include experiences, guidelines, multimedia, educational material, and other helpful information.
http://www.reambi.org/biblioteca-virtual

“It Takes a Village: Collaborations in Good Food and School Gardens,” February 24 and 25, 2012 See Website for Details and Registration: http://www.njfarmtoschool.org/
Fees: $40 (2 days) $25 (1 day) ** $10 additional for 1 year membership to NJ Farm to School NetworkDate: Saturday, February 25, 2012Starts: 8:00 am (GMT-5) Eastern Time (US)Ends: 5:00 pm (GMT-5) Eastern Time (US)

Climate change lessons created to support 5-6 minute NBC Learn videos:
http://www.windows2universe.Betting on the Planetorg/earth/changing_planet/changing_planet.html
http://nhmail2.nhnea.org/assets/img/PubThoughtAndAction/TA10AndereggR.pdf

Recommended link: http://www.climatechangehumanhealth.org/

Topical movies:
Inconvenient Truth (introduction, and for political skewing)
11th Hour (kids love this one, good for middle of semester reminder what the background topic is)
Global Warning (History channel, best one for the science of the studies, no politics involved)
Little Ice Age, Big Chill (shows the history of how humans react to climate change, and the devastating consequences)

Join us for a unique workshop The Voices from the Land project and this workshop (for teachers, pre-k to 12, naturalists and other adults) is an exploration and celebration of oral and written language… of natural science, art, performance and technology. Taught by experienced teachers, workshop participants experience all aspects of a Voices project. They learn strategies for connecting children to local landscapes… fostering a love for the natural world.

In a Voices project, participants use art concepts and skills to create art from natural materials. They use digital technologies to document and share their art. They use communication skills… both oral and written… to create, edit and publish poetry. They can layout, design and publish a fullcolor book of their art and poetry… or design full-color posters showcasing their work. Finally, they develop performance strategies to share their work. In the Voices process, students:
• Generate writing and develop communication skills across the curriculum
• Communicate, collaborate and negotiate as a member of a creative team
• Embed math and science skills and concepts in everyday experiences
• Use internet-based applications to document, lay-out and design final products
• Draw inspiration for writing and art from the land that sustains us all

Voices projects have been successfully implemented in preschool through secondary level classrooms… with students of average, gifted or special needs… in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Turkey and New Zealand. Examples of student-generated Voices books and posters, in multiple languages, will be on display at the workshop.

This workshop is co-sponsored by EIRC and the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge.
Integrating Language and Landscape, Art and Culture: Voices from the Land
March 2 & 3, 2012 – Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, Oceanville, NJ

Workshop Details
Dates: Friday March 2 and Saturday March 3, 2012
Location: Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, Oceanville, NJ (near Atlantic City)
Time: March 2 – 8:00 am to 3:30 pm; March 3 – 8:00 am to 1pm
Cost: $99.00 (Reduced fee may apply; see below)
Name / E-mail (important) / Home Address (street, city) / State / zip / Home phone / Grade/Subject taught / School Name & Address:

Grant funds are available for a limited number of people to attend this workshop at a reduced rate of $50/person. Space is limited; applications will be accepted on a first-come first-served basis. To reserve space, fax or mail this form to the address below and inquire about availability. Registration will be confirmed by e-mail. Professional Development credits are provided upon completion.
Mail forms/payment to: Voices from the Land at EIRC; 107 Gilbreth Parkway, Suite 200,
Mullica Hill, NJ 08062-4446. Fax: (856) 582-4206.

For details about the workshop: Erik Mollenhauer 856-582-7000 x128 erikm@eirc.org
For more information about this project or similar projects from Monarch Teacher Network visit: www.MonarchTeacherNetwork.org
For more information about the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge visit: http://www.fws.gov/northeast/forsythe

Click HERE.

I am pleased to let you know that The Pine Barrens: Up Close & Natural curriculum is now available online.

We hope that this inquiry-based curriculum is now able to reach even more teachers and environmental educators by being freely available on the web. Educators can still contact PPA to receive the hardcopy version, as well as the accompanying DVD documentary, at no charge.

Please feel free to share this valuable online educational resource about the New Jersey Pinelands with your colleagues. And please let us know how you are using it in your classroom!

Mike Hunninghake
Director of Education & Communications
Pinelands Preservation Alliance
17 Pemberton Road, Southampton, NJ 08088
Ph: 609 859-8860 x24
Follow PPA on Facebook
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Check out the 2011 State of the Pinelands Report
Become a PPA Member

Looking for new way to start off the New Year in a positive way?  Concerned about the environment?  Would you like to give something back to your community but can't find a meaningful way to do that?

 Consider joining the 2012 class of Rutgers Cooperative Extension's Environmental Steward training which will be offered in Atlantic, Warren, and  Somerset counties, from January to June.

               The curriculum is designed to introduce non-scientists to the science underlying key environmental issues in the Garden State. Leading authorities from academia are joined by colleagues from government and the non-profit sector to share understanding and insights with the students. “Students do not only receive facts, but also are introduced to a network of expert individuals and organizations who can be of service to them in the future as they wrestle with solving local environmental problems” said Bruce Barbour, Extension Agent with Rutgers Cooperative Extension, the programs originator.

                Recruitment has begun for the Rutgers Environmental Steward Class of 2012. To learn how you can become a Rutgers Environmental Steward contact the appropriate coordinator for your region.

                Training is regional. Please direct any questions about registration or schedules to the coordinator of the region in which you expect to attend classes:

Warren/North

Training Location: RCE of Warren County, 165 Rt 519 South, Belvidere, NJ 07823
Normal Class Time: Thursdays, January to May, 2011; 9:30 to 12:30 pm. Cost: $300
Contact: Milly Rice, marnavy@hotmail.com , Ag and Resource Mgmt. Secretary, (908) 475-6505

Warren application form

Central/Duke

Training Location: Duke Farms, Hillsborough, NJ
Normal Class Time: Tuesdays, January to May, 2008; 9:30 am to 12:30 pm. Cost: $325
Contact: Rosalie Kelly, rkelly@ddcf.org , Duke Farms Foundation, 80 Route 206, Hillsborough, New Jersey 08844 (908) 243-3602

Duke application form

Coastal Region

Training Location: Atlantic County Utility Authority, 6700 Delilah Road, Egg Harbor Twp NJ
Normal Class Time: Wednesdays, 9:30 am to 12:30 pm. Cost: $250
Contact: Amy Menzel, amenzel@acua.com, PO Box 996 Pleasantville, NJ 08232, 609.272.6950 ext 6934

==================================================
Bruce Barbour                         Voice: 908-475-6505
Ag & Resource Management Agent        Fax: 908-475-6514
Rutgers Cooperative Extension         Mobile: 908-309-7660
RCE of Warren County
165 Route 519 South
Belvidere, N.J. 07823-1949   Internet: Barbour@Aesop.Rutgers.Edu
=====================================================
Learn more about the Rutgers Environmental Stewards at http://envirostewards.rutgers.edu/

Alexandria, VA – What would you do without your cell phone and computer? How about your car? Could you function in modern society without these contemporary devices? All of these technological marvels require no fewer than 60 different elements to function, and these elements come from a finite supply of mineral commodities. These critical minerals are defined by their dollar value, the availability of substitutes, and their ever increasing demand. In a new EarthNote, the American Geosciences Institute (AGI) outlines what makes a mineral “critical” and how the sudden loss of these resources could impact both the U.S. and global economy.

With increasing globalization, countries are relying on technology for economic, social, and military purposes more than ever before. Green technologies such as wind turbines and electric cars, communications technologies such as computers and cell phones, and cutting-edge military systems all depend on critical minerals to function efficiently and effectively. How would you be affected by a shortage of these commodities? Learn more in the Critical Minerals EarthNote, available online now at http://www.agiweb.org/environment/earthnotes/note.html?PublicID=8.

To read more EarthNotes please visit http://www.agiweb.org/environment/earthnotes/.

Learn how the latest Earth science issues will influence your life with EarthNotes. EarthNotes are summaries of timely information about geoscience issues that inform the public about how geoscience affects society. The reports are contributed by knowledgeable geoscientists on a wide range of topics. For more information, visit http://www.agiweb.org/environment/earthnotes/.
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The American Geosciences Institute is a nonprofit federation of 50 geoscientific and professional associations that represents more than 250,000 geologists, geophysicists and other earth scientists. Founded in 1948, AGI provides information services to geoscientists, serves as a voice of shared interests in the profession, plays a major role in strengthening geoscience education, and strives to increase public awareness of the vital role the geosciences play in society's use of resources, resiliency to natural hazards, and interaction with the environment.