|
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is committed to enhancing the natural resources stewardship ethic of all Maryland citizens. That is why we
offer a variety of services for K-12 students, teachers, and other Maryland
residents:
|
Feature Story
Rain Barrels of Fun!
Did you know that Lawn and garden watering make up nearly 40% of total household water use during the summer? A rain barrel collects and stores rain water from your roof that would otherwise be lost to runoff and diverted through storm drains to your local streams, and ultimately polluting the Chesapeake Bay. Relatively simple and inexpensive to construct, a rain barrel sits conveniently under any residential gutter down spout and can be decorated to complement any home.
A rain barrel will save most homeowners about 1,300 gallons of water during the peak summer months. Saving water not only helps to protect the environment, it saves you money and energy. Using rain barrels to disconnect impervious surface areas, like your rooftop, and slowly direct stormwater to vegetated areas is an easy way for you to help protect the Chesapeake Bay, and provides you with a free supply of water for outdoor use.
Join us for a hands-on workshop on June 19th from noon-1 at the DNR Headquarters. Pre-registration by June 10th is required.
Rain Barrel Workshop
Who: Citizens
When: June 19
Time: 12 Noon - 1 pm)
Where: Maryland DNR, Tawes State Office Building, Annapolis
Cost: $80
Contact:
Elena Takaki
etakaki@dnr.state.md.us or 410-260-8715
Learn how using a simple rain barrel can help the environment. You will receive a 50-60 gallon barrel with a mosquito net and overflow tube.
Pre-registration is required by
June 10th. Sponsored by the DNR Education Matrix Team &
Arlington Echo Outdoor Education Center
Teacher Professional
Development Opportunities
This summer the
Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (CBNERR) and its partners
will be providing 2 teacher professional development opportunities. Both
courses are designed to
provide Middle and High School Science teachers with the resources,
knowledge and experience necessary to facilitate the integration of
estuaries and their related issues into the classroom.
Data and
the Estuary, Western Shore
When: June 22-26
Where: Jug Bay (Anne Arundel and Prince Georges Counties) and Otter Point
Creek (Harford Country)
Data and the
Estuary, Eastern Shore
When: August 10-14
Where: Monie Bay/ Bishops Head (Somerset County/Dorchester County)
2009 Classroom Earth Professional Development Grants
Classroom Earth Professional Development grants are designed to support teachers new to the field of environmental education who want to increase the environmental literacy of their students. Twenty grant awardees will be chosen in June 2009. Each will receive $1,500 grants to take two graduate level courses online offered by University of Wisconsin Stevens Point’s Environmental Education and Training Partnership. One course will be taken each semester of the 2009 - 2010 school year. Visit http://www.classroomearth.org/professional-development-grant-2009 for more information.
Summer/Fall 2009 EE Online Course Offerings
Who: Formal and non-formal educators
When: Summer and Fall courses (see flyer for deadlines)
EETAP and the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point offer four online courses for professionals and students in the field of environmental education.
Courses include:
- Fundamentals of Environmental Education
- Making EE Relevant to Culturally Diverse Audiences
- Applied EE Program Evaluation
- Leadership Development in EE: Strategic Planning and Implementation
Contact: Angela Lamar at Angela.Lemar@uwsp.edu or
visit http://www.uwsp.edu/natres/eetap/index.aspx
Seize the Seasons with Environmental Concern
Who: Citizens and Educators
Springtime: June 12th from 3-4 pm
Native landscaping with Rain Gardens is a beautiful way to take responsibility for your property's runoff. Plan your rain garden then shop for your plants at our Spring Plant Sale. June 12-13. (Ages 18+) $15 members, $20 nonmembers
Summer Sun: August 14th from 2-3pm
We'll go Totally Turtles! Join us to celebrate this fabulous reptile with a turtle talk, turtle craft and live turtle fun! (Ages 6+) $5 children under 12 and $10 for adults
Autumn Musings: Sept. 19th from 12-3pm
An afternoon of Rhyming in the Reeds! Use EC's wetlands as inspiration with writing exercises as a guide to unleash your creative side. Activities will be both in the classroom and at the wetlands. (Ages 18+) $5 donation recommended
Pre registration required for all programs.
For information visit www.wetland.org or call 410-745-9620.
Mapping and Monitoring Maryland
Streams
Who: Educators
When: June 22-26
Are you interested in learning more about GIS? Want to incorporate technology
into your stream curriculum? Attend this 5-day workshop (stipend available) and
learn how to engage your students in real-data collection and analysis of local
watershed issues.
The Susquehanna Aquatic Biodiversity Network
Who: Environmental Educators & Middle and High School Teachers
When: August 3-6, 2009
Time: 9 am - 5 pm
Where: Lock Haven University
Looking for lab and filed activities that will increase understanding and
protect aquatic biodiversity? Join this unique monitoring network that will
immerse your students in important biodiversity issues and research.
Lodging is available for a limited number of out-of-town participants. Many free
materials and $500 field trip implementation grants are offered for Network
Participants.
How to Become a Maryland Green School
Who: Teachers
When: August 10-14
Cost: $150 (includes food, lodging, ferry cost and materials)
Through a partnership between MAEOE and CBF, teachers will participate in curriculum development and habitat restoration with a focus on the connection between the schoolyard and water quality in the Chesapeake Bay. Hands-on investigations of underwater grass beds, schoolyard habitats, and wetlands will serve as highlights of the week as we begin the process of becoming a Maryland Green School.
Contact: Allyson Gibson: AGibson@cbf.org or
Karen Mullin: habitatkelly@yahoo.com
Call for Presentations
Maryland Assoc. for Environmental & Outdoor Ed.
Many Paths, One Destination: From Knowledge to Action
Deadline for submission is September 4, 2009.
2010 will mark MAEOE's 25th anniversry. The annual conference will kick-off a year-long program of events designed to pay tribute to MAEOE's past, celebrate its present, and plan for its future. With the help of the University of Maryland's College of Agriculture and Frostburg State University, the conference has expanded a full day to offer focused, content-based programs that explore key topics in significant depth. These content courses are designed to complement the applied methodologies that will be explored on Friday and Saturday. The goal of environmental education is for knowledge and awareness to manifest themselves in action. Want to fool a computer? Plug in the coordinates for knowledge and action into a GPS unit and see what happens. There is no one main path, there are many. Building on the Diversity Theme of 2009, this conference aims to bring the paths together to share strategies, successes, and as always those very powerful learning experiences - roadblocks. February 4-7, 2010
Rocky Gap Lodge in Rocky Gap, Maryland
SEEKING NAMES of SCHOOL PRINCIPALS and ADMINISTRATORS who SUPPORT EE
Seeking names and contact information (email addresses preferred) of K-12 school principals/administrators who support the use of EE within their schools. Principals/administrators will be invited to participate in a research study investigating factors associated with administrator support for EE. Participation in this first phase of the study will involve a 15-minute online questionnaire.
Contact: Dr. Julie Athman Ernst, University of Minnesota Duluth, jernst@d.umn.edu
Schoolyard Habitat
Looking for a unique and creative project to do with your students? Create a
schoolyard habitat in any setting. Find out how by visiting:
www.maeoe.org/habitat
Aquatic Grants
Need funding for your aquatic education related project? Whether you need
substitute funds to attend a water-related professional development opportunity,
equipment, plants that benefit the bay, or aquatic field trips, this may be your
solution. Simple, quick application form. Visit
Aquatic Resources Education for more
details.
Contact: Cindy Etgen
Join the DNR Online email list
Updated June 05, 2009