Welcome to the Utah Society for Environmental Education (USEE) E-Newsletter! This publication exists to connect educators and our community with valuable news, information, and opportunities! Whether you are an educator,business owner, agency personnel, or a concerned citizen…we hope that you will find something useful and interesting in eachmonth’s publication! 
In This Issue:
USEE News
Community Corner
Environmental Education News
Educator’s Corner
USEE News
Call for Proposals!
USEE’s 17th Annual Utah Environmental Education Conference will be held November 9-11th 
at the Ogden Nature Center in Ogden, Utah! If you are interested in presenting or exhibiting at this year's conference, please download a copy of the Call for Proposals or contact Marie at marie@usee.org or 801.328.1549. More information and online registration are coming soon!
USEE Professional Development Series Workshops
Guidelines for Excellence in EE & EE Resource Reviewer Trainings
August 8 & 9, Salt Lake City, UT
There’s always room for improvement! Your Students deserve the opportunity to maximize and capitalize upon their learning experiences. If you desire to strive for excellence, identify high quality EE practice, and enhance your environmental education programs and materials, join us at our National Guidelines for Excellence in EE and Review Trainings workshop series at the SLC Main Library from 9:00am-5:00pm! Contact infor@usee.org or call 801.328.1549 for more information.
Donate to USEE by Recycling!
If you have any old cell phones or used print cartridges lying around your house or garage, don’t throw them away! Bring them to USEE, and we will recycle and collect a donation for each item that we send to Donations Ink! Not only will you be supporting USEE, but you’ll also be helping the environment! If you know of or work in a high-traffic location for old cell phones or ink-cartridges where USEE could place a recycling kiosk, contact Marie at marie@usee.org or 801.328.1549.
Special Thanks
USEE thanks the following organizations for joining or renewing Institutional Membership:
Mindivity
Zion Canyon Field Institute
Community Corner
Upcoming Events
Tracy Aviary ~ Ongoing Events
July – August, Tracy Aviary, SLC, UT
Soar on over to Tracy Aviary to experience some of the terrific events taking place this summer. Check out their “Birds of a Feather” show, Parrot Encounters, Migration Madness, Hot August Nights, and FREE entry on Pioneer Day! For more event information, contact the Tracy Aviary at info@tracyaviary.org, call 801-596-8500 or visit www.tracyaviary.org.
Summer Workshop for Kid’s in the Garden
July 19-21, SLC, UT
Hawkwatch International and Wasatch Community Gardens have teamed up to offer fun and interesting 3-day summer camps for kids through the continuing education program at the University of Utah. For more details, visit http://www.hawkwatch.org/upcoming_events.php.
World of the Wild Art Show
June 22 – July 28, L.S. Peery Education Center, Ogden, UT
Come enjoy some exotic wild animal art at the Ogden Nature Center! This exhibit is being sponsored by the Utah Hogle Zoo and is on loan from the Utah Arts Council. Viewing the exhibit is free with general admission to the Ogden Nature Center ($3 for adults and $1.25 for children). Visit www.ogdennaturecneter.org for more information and to check out more cool experiences like summer concerts and art classes!
Wasatch Wildflower Festival
July 28-30, Solitude, Alta, & Snowbird
Join the Cottonwood Canyons Foundation (in partnership with Alta Community Enrichment, Solitude, Alta, Snowbird) and their volunteer wildflower guides to learn about and tour the beautiful wildflowers emerging in the canyons near the end of July. For more information on times and location, please visit http://www.wasatchwildflowerfestival.org/.
Photography Class at Swaner Nature Preserve
August 5, Swaner Nature Preserve in Park City, UT
Interested in learning more about outdoor photography? Learn from an expert! Tom Till with the Utah Museum of Natural History will lead a photography class at Swaner Nature Preserve. Visit www.swanernature.org for more information.
Community News
Celebrate and Recreate—It’s Recreation and Parks Month!
Since 1985, the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) has designated the month of July as Recreation and Parks Month. Recreation facilities and parks across the country use July to celebrate the kick off of summer programming as well as pull their communities together to volunteer, get involved in the great outdoors, and advocate for parks and recreation. So, take a hike in the Wasatch Mountains, stroll through your local park, get out the climbing gear, raft down a river, or toss the ol’ Frisbee around; whatever it is, get out there and recreate! (Source: http://www.nrpa.org/)
Did You Know..?
40 billion glass containers are made each year! Glass can be reused an infinite number of times, so don’t throw it away, recycle! Glass is an incredible energy-saver. Recycled glass cuts down on mining waste and requires 50% less energy than virgin glass; one container could power a 100-watt light bulb for 4 hours! (Source: www.epa.gov)
Visit http://utah.earth911.org/master.asp?s=ls&type=1&state=UT&city= to find out the nearest recycling center to you, and how to recycle your glass!
Environmental Education News & Events
Local
Energy Efficiency Forum’s National Lifetime Achievement Award
Recently, Ed Dalton was presented with the National Lifetime Achievement Award from the annual Energy Efficiency Forum in Washington D.C. Dalton, a retired science teacher from Tooele High School, is on the Board of Education and is up for reelection in November. For the past 20 years, Dalton has led the National Energy Foundation, a Salt Lake City based charity, where he spent his time creating educational materials that promote their mission of an “energy literate society.” Well done Ed!
Regional
2006 Regional Children's Environmental Health Summit
September 19-21, Vail Cascade Resort and Spa, Vail, CO
The 4th Annual Regional Children's Environmental Health Summit’s theme this year is "Children's Health and Their Environments: Making The Connection". Goals of the conference include providing further education to health, environment, and education professionals; sharing and encouraging the spread of information on children’s environmental health issues; and identifying actions and strategies aimed to protect children from environmental health threats. Please visit http://www.epa.gov/region8/humanhealth/children/ for details.
National
And the Award Goes to…
On June 19th, Oil City Elementary Magnet School in Oil City, Louisiana, a model Project Learning Tree (PLT) certified school, was presented with the "National School Change Award" in recognition of its significant improvement. The American Association of School Administrators, New York's Fordham University Graduate School of Education, and Pearson Education present this award to six schools throughout the nation each year. Five years ago, the school almost closed down. At the same time, Oil City Elementary Magnet School trained all of their educators in using Project Learning Tree in the classrooms. Now, the school can boast a tremendous improvement in fourth grade standardized test scores, from 38% scoring in the basic and proficient level in 2001 to 62% scoring at that level or above in 2005. Visit http://www.plt.org/cms/pages/31_40_0.html for more information.
“No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act” to Expire in 2007, What Next..?
At the 2006 National Education Association Annual Meeting and Representative Assembly, delegates met to discuss the controversial NCLB Act, which seeks to guarantee equal opportunities for success in school for every child. An agreement was reached stating that changes need to be made to the Act, especially in the areas of funding opportunities, strategy, and standardized testing. They also approved a comprehensive, multi-pronged strategy, which puts educators at the forefront of improving public education.
(Source: http://www.nea.org/esea/more.html)
NAAEE 35th Annual Conference
October 10th – 14th (conference), October 14th (breakout sessions), St. Paul, MN
Join the NAAEE for their annual conference, "Gathering at the Headwaters: Building EE in Society," this October to examine how the role of EE can be integrated into facing challenges found in our education systems and natural resource conservation. Not only can you enjoy the benefits of the conference, but you can also attend specific breakout sessions to discover fresh ideas, update teaching skills, explore ways to address state and national standards through practical sessions and take-home tools, receive teaching resources, listen to keynote speaker Will Steger, and network with other educators. To register, visit www.naaee.org.
Educator’s Corner
Professional Development/ Training Opportunities
Project Learning Tree – Secondary Module Workshops
July 12-13 & 18-19, Denver, CO
PLT Secondary Module Workshops are being held for 6-12 grade educators.
- Risk Management and Municipal Solid Waste-July 12-13, 8:30-5pm; EPA Denver Office.
- Exploring Environmental Issues in Places We Live-July 18-19, 8:30-5pm; Denver Federal Center, USGS bldg 8100.
The cost is free, and it includes lunch and 3 activity guides. Contact Shawna Crocker 303.202.4662 or scrocker@lamar.colostate.edu for more information.
(Source: CAEE newsletter, www.caee.org)
Online Courses Available through EETAP at the University of Wisconsin-Steven’s Point
Course lengths: September 18 – December 1 & September 11– November 17
EETAP still has enrollment space available for their two online courses this fall through the University of WI-Stevens Point: “Applied EE Program Evaluation” and “Fundamentals of Environmental Education!” To register or learn more, contact Angela Lemar (Angela.Lemar@uwsp.edu) or visit http://www.uwsp.edu/natres/rwilke/eetap/.
Professional Development Institutes Linked With NSTA Salt Lake City Conference
December 6, Salt Lake City, UT
NSTA will be presenting three one-day Professional Development Institutes (PDIs) before their conference in Salt Lake City. Any educators interested in the opportunity to learn more from nationally prominent science education experts is welcome to register. To receive the latest details on these PDIs and to learn how to register, visit http://science.nsta.org/vipresponse to sign up now.
Teacher Resources
Project Learning Tree Resources 
- Exploring Environmental Issues: Places We Live
The new Places We Live secondary module from Project Learning Tree is available through their warehouse, TASCO, for $5.00 each. - 2006 PreK-8 Environmental Education Activity Guide
Educators who have attended a PLT workshop in the past can order PLT’s new PreK-8 Environmental Education Activity Guide by mail, or through the website. Remember, state PLT programs get $6 for each order from their state! - 2007 PreK-8 Environmental Education Activity Guide
This updated version of the 2006 guide will be printed in late July and available to ship by August of 2006.
Visit http://www.plt.org for more details regarding these resources.
Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Training Center
Discover the wilderness online! The Wilderness Education Training Center has a variety of free resources (curriculum, overheads, online teaching modules for students, etc…) available for wilderness managers, educators, students, and the interested public. For information and links to these great resources, visit http://carhart.wilderness.net/index.cfm?fuse=curriculum.
The USGS and Science Education
The USGS website has an amazing variety of free online resources and scientific information available for just about anyone. These online resources are intended to not only inform those who are interested in them but also to support the teaching efforts of K-12 educators as well as university-level research. Visit http://education.usgs.gov/index.html.
Grants & Awards
Toshiba America Foundation Grants
Deadline: August 1st for grants over $5,000
The Toshiba America Foundation encourages teacher-led, K-12 classroom-based programs, projects, and activities that have the potential to improve classroom experiences in science, mathematics, and technology to apply! Please visit http://www.toshiba.com/taf/apply.html for details.
Save America’s Treasures Grants
Deadline: August 31st for grants over $5,000, all others year-round
Patagonia Save America's Treasures Grants fund innovative groups overlooked or rejected by other corporate donors who take strategic steps to protect habitat, wilderness, and biodiversity. Visit http://www.cr.nps.gov/hps/treasures/application.htm#funded#funded for details.
(Courtesy of NAAEE’s EE News)
PLT GreenWorks! Grants pic: pltsun.gif
Deadline: September 29, 2006
All pre-school to high school formal and non-formal educators trained to use Project Learning Tree in the classroom are invited to apply for the GreenWorks! grant. If you have an innovative idea for a hands-on community action or service-learning project for your students, but are unable to fund it, then apply now! Visit http://www.plt.org/cms/pages/21_22_21.html.
EE Jobs
Program Director, Cal-Wood Education Center
Cal-wood, located NW of Boulder in the foothills of the Rockies, is looking for a new program director. Some responsibilities include development, implementation, and evaluation of educational programs; staff training and supervision; scholarship funding; and acting as a professional communication resource to all Cal-Wood affiliated persons. For a full job description, visit www.calwood.org.
Americorps*VISTA Outreach and Volunteer Coordinator
Wasatch Community Gardens is hiring an Outreach and Volunteer Coordinator who will serve as a liaison with the community to reinforce our current programs and develop new avenues for service. He or she will also build program capacity by recruiting and supporting volunteers, especially in helping them establish long-term roles within our organization. For a full job description visit www.wasatchgardens.org.
For more environmental education job opportunities visit USEE’s EE Jobs page: http://usee.org/eeinfo/jobs.html