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 each month’s publication!
In This Issue:
USEE News
Community Corner
Environmental Education News
Educator’s Corner
EE Jobs, Internships and Volunteer Opportunities
USEE News
Upcoming Events
USEE “Green Bag” Lunchtime Series
RSVP by July 13, 2007 (THIS FRIDAY)
July 17, 2007 ~ Salt Lake City REI (in the Wasatch Room) 12:00-1:30pm
Clear your lunchtime schedule and join Environmental Advisor to the Mayor, Jordan Gates, for an enlightening discussion on the sustainability efforts of Salt Lake City! Find out more about Salt Lake City’s sustainable operations, take a look at the current efforts of Mayor Anderson and his administration being undertaken in making the city more sustainable throughout the next 6 months, and come discuss the goals being set to ensure a more sustainable future for Salt Lake. This workshop will be especially helpful for those who are enrolled or are planning to enroll in the Utah EE Certification Program. Cost: $5.00/USEE Members & $10.00/Nonmembers (Lunch Provided). To RSVP, or for questions, email Adrienne Cachelin director@usee.org or call (801) 328-1549.
USEE’s Annual Conference ~ Call for Proposals!
Submission Deadline: August 10, 2007
Be a part of our 18th Annual Utah Environmental Education Conference, “Building Connections: People, Place, & Culture” at the Moab Arts & Recreation Center in Moab, Utah on October 26-27! If you are interested in presenting or exhibiting at this year's conference, please download a copy of the Call for Proposals Link to Call for Proposals & Exh. Registration 2007 screen quality.pdf or contact Marie Kay at marie@usee.org or (801) 328-1549. Stay tuned for additional information and online registration details! Visit http://www.usee.org/services/conference.html for the latest conference details.
News
Teacher Resource Center Library-Online & User Friendly
USEE’s Teacher Resource Center (TRC) Library has been recently updated to be more user friendly by including author, publication date, and other descriptive information for each resource. To see what kinds of materials the library offers, visit http://www.usee.org/database.html and use the keyword search. If you are an educator, we have a number of resources and teaching aids available for checkout for your students! Let your students set their sights on some local wildlife with a set of binoculars, examine the intricacies of animal skulls, study the lifelines of tree rings, or even do some hands-on water testing!
Community Corner
Upcoming Events
An Evening with Richard Louv
July 12, 2007 @ 6pm ~ (Santy Auditorium, 1255 Park Avenue, Park City, UT)
The Trust for Public Land and Kennecott Land invite you to be a guest for an evening with Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods. Richard Louv will discuss nature-deficit disorder and the growing gap between children and access to nature. This event is free and open to the public. RSVP online: http://www.tpl.org/tier3_cd.cfm?content_item_id=21471&folder_id=675.
Soar with Summer Camps ~ Tracy Aviary
Weekdays (June 1 - August 31)
Join the Tracy Aviary this summer for camps that are full of fun and discovery! They are hosting a wide range of camps that give a "bird’s eye view" on life. Camps include science, art, games, and live bird explorations for children ranging from 4-12 years. Visit www.tracyaviary.org for more on this camp eggs-travaganza! Limited scholarships are available! For more information call (801) 596-8500.
People's Market
Sunday’s through October 21, 2007 ~ Salt Lake City, UT
Buy local first! The People's Market is held every Sunday throughout the summer at Jordan Park's International Peace Gardens, 1060 South 900 West. The Sunday People's Market offers fresh produce, arts and crafts, music, and booths for local businesses and non-profits. Don't miss out! Visit http://www.slcpeoplesmarket.org/ for details.
For a list of local Farmer’s Market events, visit http://www.slowfoodutah.org/main_markets.html.
Red Butter Garden – Kid’s Camps
Check out the different camps Red Butte Garden has to offer this summer. Some available summer camp options include Wild About Weather; Amazing Animals for Little Biologists; Turquoise Trees and Fantastic Flowers, Art at Red Butte; The Nature of Engineering; and various Partner Camps. For details, visit http://redbuttegarden.org/Classes_and_Events/?c=Kids_Camps.inc.
Summer Activities at the Ogden Nature Center (ONC)
This summer, the ONC has a variety of opportunities for all ages! Some activities include Backstage with Mother Nature and Preschool Nature Camps, Summer Concert Events, the Expressions of Nature photography exhibit, and a free introduction to birding activity! For more information, call (801) 621-7595 or visit www.ogdennaturecenter.org.
No Child Left Inside! Out for the Summer
Get out and enjoy the outdoors with your family! This fun, new, free program offered by the Ogden Nature Center encourages families to spend time together outside. To participate, pick up a copy of the free guide filled with activities for recreation, exploration, and investigation. Upon completion, participants will receive a grand prize and certificate. Take this great outdoor opportunity with your family to hunt insects, look for animal eyes at night, gaze at the stars, swim, fish, camp, track animals, learn to use compass, set up a rain gauge and more! For details, call (801) 621-7595.
REI Kids Passport to Adventure Program
May through August
This program, for youth ages 5-12 and their parents, gets families out on three kid-size, family-friendly hikes and bike rides. Children are provided with an Adventure Journal to take field notes, attach photos, create drawings, and play games. Details describing each of the hikes and bikes are available at REI. Upon completion, participants can get their passport stamped and receive a free water bottle and certificate, as well as be entered in a drawing. For details, visit www.rei.com.
Community News
Utah Moms for Clean Air
Have you heard about the Utah Moms for Clean Air? Moved by the efforts of the Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment, another group was born. Motivated by concern for their children, Utah moms joined forces to raise awareness on Utah’s air quality. With a website filled with information regarding facts, stories, “take action” steps, and the latest news on the issue, Utah Moms for Clean Air is clearly geared toward “Using the power of moms to clean up Utah’s dirty air.” Learn more at http://www.utahmomsforcleanair.org/.
Did You Know..?
According to the Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment (UPHE):
Salt Lake, Provo, and Logan consistently rank in the top 10 U.S. cities for worst acute spikes in air pollution.- Air pollution causes and aggravates many serious illnesses, and shortens the life span of Wasatch Front residents about 2 years.
- Air pollution’s effects are analogous to tobacco’s effects, causing a systemic inflammatory response in the arterial system that affects all organs and accelerates atherosclerosis.
- 4-8% of all deaths are attributable to air pollution (~1000 premature deaths along the Wasatch Front annually).
- Air pollution limits the growth of lung capacity in children, thus reducing lung function as an adult.
- Air pollution exacerbates existing asthma in adults and children and causes asthma / respiratory infections in those who are not otherwise predisposed.
- Air pollution increases the incidence of SIDS, low birth weight syndrome, premature birth, and infant mortality.
- Air pollution increases the incidence of the most common forms of childhood cancers, especially leukemia.
- Air pollution increases genetic damage in newborns, which may lead to increased morbidities as an adult including heart disease, diabetes, and cancers.
- Mercury, a contaminant of coal combustion, is the chief suspect in the neurobehavioral disorders, including autism. Coal power plants are the largest source of environmental mercury.
- Air pollution is not evenly distributed through the community. Hot spots persist along traffic corridors and near industrial sites.
(Sources: Utah Moms for Clean Air - http://www.utahmomsforcleanair.org)
For more information on these issues, or to learn what you can do to reduce your impact, visit:
- AirNow - http://airnow.gov/
- American Lung Association - http://www.lungusa.org
- U.S. EPA - http://www.epa.gov/air/caa/
- Utah Department of Environmental Quality - http://www.deq.utah.gov/
Environmental Education News & Events
Local
Utah Master Naturalist Program “Aquatic and Wetland Systems Module”
Registration Deadline: July 17, 2007
The mission of the Utah Master Naturalist Program is to develop a corps of well-informed volunteers and professionals who provide education, outreach, and service promoting citizen stewardship of natural and cultural resources within their communities. The program will consist of 40 hours of instruction, including eight three-hour classroom sessions and two eight-hour field trips. For more information, visit http://utahbotanicalcenter.org/htm/education/adults/utahmasternaturalist or email Mark Larese-Casanova at marklc@usu.edu.
Eating Local Challenge!
Kick-off Party: August 18th (Please RSVP!)
Challenge yourself this summer to eat locally by only consuming food produced no more than 250 miles from your home! Not only does sustainable eating support your local economy, but it also reduces your carbon footprint. The challenge begins August 19th, but is preceded by a kick-off party the day before. Visit your local Farmer’s Market, sign up for a CSA, plant a garden, and enjoy the challenge! For more information on how to get involved, please email heidina@comcast.net.
Bug ID & Pest Management
August 21, 2007 ~ SLC, UT (Grateful Tomato Garden)
Good Bug? Bad Bug? Find answers to these questions and more at this interactive workshop. Learn effective organic methods to rid your garden of bad bugs without harming the good bugs.
For details, visit www.wasatchgardens.org.
Bioneers Conference
October 19-21, 2007 ~ Logan and Salt Lake City (Westminster College), UT
Join Bioneers for their 18th Annual Conference to connect ideas, issues, people, and networks in a “globalocal” movement. For more information, visit www.bioneers.org. Each city hosting the conference has a different focus, as well as various local sessions. For details on the Bioneers conferences in Utah, visit www.westminstercollege.edu/bioneers and http://extension.usu.edu/bioneers/.
Regional
NSTA 2007 Western Area Conference in Denver
November 8-10, 2007 ~ Denver, CO
Make Denver your destination for “Peak Experiences in Science.” All science educators are invited to attend this great professional development opportunity filled with workshops, day-long professional development institutes, research dissemination conferences, knowledgeable and inspirational speakers, field trips, and more. For further conference details, visit http://www.nsta.org/conferences/2007den/.
NATIONAL
2007 NAAEE Annual Conference and Research Symposium
November 14-17, 2007 ~ Virginia Beach, VA
The North American Association of Environmental Education (NAAEE) will be holding its annual conference “Explore New Horizons for Environmental Education,” November 14-17, 2007 in Virginia Beach, VA. For further conference details, visit www.naaee.org.
Educator’s Corner
Professional Development/ Training Opportunities
Trail Maintenance Workshops
July 20, August 11, & September 8, 2007 ~ Mill D North Trailhead in BCC (8am-12:00pm)
The Cottonwood Canyons Foundation (CCF), in partnership with the Wasatch-Cache National Forest, is offering a series of workshops designed to train the public in trail maintenance skills. These workshops are being held in the hopes of increasing volunteer skills in maintaining and sustaining some of the best trails in the nation! For questions, or to RSVP, contact CCF at (801) 733-2337 or volunteer@cottonwoodcanyons.org.
Leadership Development in Natural Resources: Strategic Planning & Implementation
September 17-November 16, 2007~ Online Course through UW - SP
The University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point is offering its newest online course designed to assist environmental educators and natural resource professionals in learning and applying key elements of successful strategic planning. The course is also offered as a non-credit workshop. To learn more, visit www.eetap.org. To register, contact Angela Lemar at (715) 346-3854 or Angela.Lemar@uwsp.edu.
Permaculture Design Certification
September 22-October 5, 2007
This two-week intensive course provides practical skills in designing and creating sustainable systems that benefit the earth and care for people. Learn from Darren J. Doherty, one of the most experienced and engaged professionals in Permaculture Design and education. To register, call Jacob at (801) 703-4252 or email jacobhansen@yahoo.com. For details, visit www.permaculture.biz.
Northwest Environmental Training Center ~ Environmental Training Catalog
Spring & Summer 2007
The Northwest Environmental Training Center has a number of valuable training opportunities and programs for youth, teachers, and environmental professionals. To take a look at a course list calendar, visit http://www.nwetc.org/training.htm.
Teacher Resources
Resources for Environmental Literacy
Resources for Environmental Literacy will help middle and high school teachers field tough questions about the environment. Teachers will be able to use this resource as a topic foundation, adding news stories and outside experiences as appropriate for their students. This is a supplementary text that helps build students’ critical thinking and analytical skills on a current subject. The book is broken into five modules: Biodiversity; Global Climate Change; Earthquakes, Volcanoes, and Tsunamis; Genetically Modified Crops; and Radioactive Waste. For details, visit http://www.nsta.org/environment.
Grants & Awards
NAAEE Photography Contest
Deadline: July 30, 2007
In partnership with the Albert I. Pierce Foundation, NAAEE seeks photos that will inspire people to achieve environmental excellence. The winning photos will show how the visual arts can create a kinesthetic and emotional connection to the Earth. The photography contest is one element of a larger effort by NAAEE to re-invigorate the use of arts and culture in the EE field. For more information, visit
http://www.naaee.org/conference/2007-our-world-photography-contest.
PLT GreenWorks! Grants
Deadline: October 31, 2007
Have an idea for an exciting service-learning or community action project for your students but don't have enough funds to implement it? Why not apply for one of PLT's GreenWorks! grants? GreenWorks! is the service-learning, community action program of PLT that partners PLT educators, students, and communities in environmental neighborhood improvement projects. To learn more, visit www.plt.org.
EE Jobs, Internships, & Volunteer Opportunities
Invasive Weed Coordinator & Silver Lake Naturalist
Cottonwood Canyons Foundation ~ Summer Positions
The Cottonwood Canyons Foundation is looking to fill the following positions: Invasive Weed Coordinator and Silver Lake Naturalist. For more information on how to apply, please contact Patrick Nelson at pn@cottonwoodcanyons.org or visit www.cottonwoodcanyons.org.
Volunteer Program – Wasatch Community Gardens
February 24 - November 17, 2007 ~ (Alternate Saturdays, 9:00-12:00pm)
Volunteer with Wasatch Community Gardens to keep the gardens beautiful while discussing organic gardening topics! Be prepared to work in the sun - bring water and wear a hat. If you plan on coming, please call and let WCG know, but they also invite you to just arrive. Contact Laura Judd at (801) 359-2658 or youth@wasatchgardens.org for details.
Volunteer Naturalist Program
Ongoing ~ The Great Salt Lake Nature Center at Farmington Bay
The Learning Center at Farmington Bay hosts a number of training sessions for elementary educators who want to teach wetlands education in their classrooms. This training helps educators play a more active role with their classes during visits to the Center. For those wildlife enthusiasts interested in participating in the Center’s educational programs and events there will be a volunteer naturalist training. To learn more, please call (801) 476-2740.
For a list of additional environmental education job/internship opportunities visit USEE’s EE Jobs page: http://usee.org/eeinfo/jobs.html.