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Fall has finally arrived and the first quarter of school is over. We have seen so many great examples of Green School activities in person and on our social media! Whether your school is engaging students in environmental education lessons, cleaning up along a stream bank, or working with a Green Center, please keep sharing your ideas so that other schools can learn from what you are doing!
I cannot believe that fall is flying by and have a hard time believing it is the middle of November! I know though that when amazing things are happening it is hard to keep track of the time and MAEOE has had many great things occurring! In October, we helped to launch the School Grounds for Learning information webpage on the Bay Backpack. The site contains resources to support using your school and its grounds as learning spaces. Check out the "Resources for Educators" below to learn more! Also this fall, we have been planting pollinator gardens along with our partners, National Wildlife Federation and Blue Water Baltimore, at Baltimore City Schools. Teachers and facilities attended multiple workshops to learn about design and maintenance as well as lessons on how use the gardens. MAEOE has also continued our work with Air Quality Environmental Education with our partners Lorna Rosenberg, EPA Region 3 and Rebecca Davis, Clean Air Partners. We presented our Air Quality workshop at the NSTA Conference in Baltimore. Lastly, MAEOE has also been offering workshops on Project Learning Tree's Carbon and Climate E-Unit. Check out all of the PD opportunities in this Newsletter as well as energy tips and resources for teachers.
Lastly, I am excited for the upcoming MAEOE conference, February 1 - 4, Ocean City, Maryland. I can't wait to hear our 2018 Conference Keynote Speaker, Juan Martinez, the Children and Nature Network's Director of Leadership Development and the Natural Leaders Network. This year's conference's theme, "Expand Your Influence, Empowering Action for the Environment" will promote inclusion, diversity, and environmental action. This theme highlights our organizational mission: MAEOE encourages, engages and empowers the community to understand, responsibly use and promote the natural world, and reflects our hopes and goals for the future. If you have never been to the conference, we would love to see you there! To learn more, check out the scholarship information below.
I hope you have a great holiday season,
Christina Gladmon
Associate Director
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December 16, 2017: Deadline for the Intent to Apply Form and Fee
February 1-4, 2018: MAEOE Conference (Professional Development Opportunity)
March 17, 2018: Application Deadline
May 31, 2018: MAEOE Youth Summit and Green School Awards Ceremony |
Want to learn more about the Maryland Green School Application?
Check out one of our Green School Application Information Sessions
Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education (MAEOE) presents the 2017-2018 Green Schools program! We are offering two different type of sessions that you can choose from, an in-person workshop or a two-part webinar. These information sessions will provide an introduction and overview of the Maryland Green Schools program and the application process. You will also be provided with examples of successful applications and tips to take back to your school. If you are planning on submitting an application to become a new Maryland Green School, these are important. If you re-certified or certified during the 2013-2014 school year, your school is scheduled to re-certify year. We will go through the application which has had several updates in the last 4 years, and we will share new examples that can help you to organize and present your on-line application.
The webinar is a two hour presentation.
Date: December 7, 3:30 - 5:30
Note: Webinar information will be emailed to participants.
In-person information session, January 3, 4:30-7:30, light snacks will be provided. This session will also include a live demonstration on Weebly and Prezi.
Location: MAEOE office, 10015 Old Columbia Road, B-215, Columbia, 21046
Registration is required. Please click here to register. Members: $10/Non-members: $15
Want to create a Weebly or Prezi for your Green School application but do not know how to get started?
Join MAEOE for a webinar focusing on the web programs and how to use them.
December 12, 4:00-5:00 PM.
The webinar is an hour long presentation. Webinar information will be emailed to participants. There is no cost associated with this workshop however registration is required. Please click here to register.
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MAEOE Professional Development
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The Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education (MAEOE) is offering workshops throughout the fall. These session do count towards Green School Application Objective 1.2, 10% of School Staff have Environmental Education Professional Development.
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Project Learning Tree: Carbon and Climate E-Unit
This 3 hour in-person course will give educators the information and resources necessary to communicate carbon and climate issues through hands-on and engaging activities that help teach students how – not what – to think about the environment and their place within it. The e-unit is aligned with NGSS standards and is organized around the 5E Instructional Model, which fosters science learning through a planned sequence of instruction. The e-unit is geared towards 6-8 grade standards, however, the e-units include resources for customizing the lessons for younger (fifth grade) or older (high school) students. Educators will take home the online material, plus local connections to the bay region. To learn more about the unit, please check out the Carbon-Climate-Overview.
Dates:
November 18th: Nanjemoy Creek Environmental Education Center, Nanjemoy, MD, 9:30 - 12:30 PM
December 12th: Ward Museum, Salisbury, MD, 4:30 - 7:30 PM
Cost: Member—$25, Non-Member—$35 |
Professional Development Opportunities From Our Partners
The requirement for the Green School Application states that 10% of all your teachers need to have professional development. The requirement for the Green Center Application is that 50% of the staff have professional development.
More opportunities from our partners:
- Techniques of Tracking and Nature Observation: November 18, 9 - 3 PM
- PAXCON: December 6, 8:30 - 3 PM
- Make a Date With Data!: December 2, 10:00 - 3:30 PM
- POW! The Planning of Wetlands: December 13, 10 - 4 PM
- Implementing Citizen Science in Your Outdoor Classroom: December 14, 10 - 4 PM
To see more opportunities and to learn more information about the above events check out the MAEOE calendar by clicking here!
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Registration is now open for the 2018 MAEOE Conference!
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This year's conference highlights include:
- Juan Martinez as the Keynote Speaker
- Expand Your Influence, Reaching Non-traditional Audiences and Communities Panel
- Fun Field Experiences like Duck Carving at the Ward Museum, Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park Tour, Dairy Farm Operation Tour, plus many others
- Over 65 workshops
and so much more!
Click here to learn more!
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Scholarships are available for first time conference attendees.
Learn more about conference scholarships. |
 Bay Backpack
The School Grounds for Learning initiative was funded by a NOAA-BWET grant, led by the Maryland Association for Environmental & Outdoor Education (MAEOE), and supported by a partnership of national & regional organizations and topical experts. Designed to be used throughout the Bay watershed, it provides comprehensive project resources aligned with U.S. Green Ribbon Schools pillars & application requirements, and Eco-Schools USA Sustainability Pathways, to enable schools to effectively plan, utilize & sustain a variety of school greening projects. Learn more about clean water projects, projects to conserve resources, projects for a healthy school environment, projects to encourage outdoor play and learning, and wildlife habitat project. http://baybackpack.com/schoolyard_projects
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| Teaching Climate Change to Adolescents: Reading, Writing, and Making a Difference
This is an online book with educational lessons that provide teachers with extensive resources related to teaching about climate change. Learn more: http://climatechangeela.pbworks.com/
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Scholarship & Grant $ for Amazon Rainforest PD Workshop
K-16 Educators are you ready for a life changing adventure?
Join us in the Amazon for an experience that will feed your soul, expand your professional toolkit for inquiry based science, anchor your global perspective, and change your definition of professional development. Specialized programming for elementary, middle school, high school and university level educators. PD Hours, Grad Credit Hours, and Scholarships available!
What: 2018 Educator Academy in the Amazon Professional Development
When: July 1-11, 2018
Grant: $1500 Vernier Software & Technology Grant for HS/AP Environmental Science Educators
Scholarships: $1100 Amazon Workshops Scholarships for K-12 formal/informal educators
Application Deadline: February 1, 2018
Get more info: http://amazonworkshops.com/educator-academy/
Get the details and download a syllabus and scholarship application at: http://amazonworkshops.com/educator-academy/
Contact program director, Christa Dillabaugh at christa@amazonworkshops.com or 1-800-431-2624 for more information.
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| Maryland Green Centers |
When is the last time you said "Hello!" to your local Green Center? Green Centers have resources for your school like materials, professional development, programming that supports your curriculum, and the list goes on! Check out what some of our Green Centers are doing:
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Marshy Point Nature Center, Baltimore County
In late August, Marshy Point Nature Center hosted its 4th Annual Baltimore County Public School Summit. During the day, teachers could choose to learn about Project Road Salt, Worm Composting, MDE's Waste Free Challenge, and Priming for Pollinators. This professional day allowed teachers to gain resources for their classroom and to learn from peers on implementing programs in the schools. |
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Audubon Naturalist Society,
Montgomery County and Prince George's County
Educators are working with students to conduct stream studies with elementary school. Students learned about water quality through macroinvertebrate study. This helps with the Green School requirement 1.1, Environmental Issue Instruction. |
| Click here to find your local Green Center! |
Below is information about events and "Green" holidays coming up. If your school plans a school wide activity for one of the Green holidays you can use this for your MD Green School application under section 1.4. Look for ** for events to use on your MD Green School application.
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Youth Making Ripples Film Festival and Competition
On January 25, 2018, the Youth Making Ripples Film Festival and Competition, an ocean conservation-inspired event, will take place at the Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, Florida. Youth Making Ripples is seeking submission for the Film Competition, which challenges K-12 students to produce short ocean documentaries about problems that face the ocean, and possible solutions to these issues.
A portion of the festival will focus specifically on plastic pollution and feature a new exhibit called "Sea Debris: Awareness through Art." See the filmmaker resources page for tips and examples of submissions. Students can win small scholarships and participate on an annual shark tagging expedition, and finalists will become part of the traveling film festival debuting to audiences around the country.
The deadline for submission is December 5.
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| Interested in joining a cohort for this program? Email: kchambliss@northbayadventure.org |
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America Recycles Day**
AMERICA RECYCLES DAY, a national initiative of Keep America Beautiful, is the only nationally-recognized day dedicated to promoting and celebrating recycling in the United States.
November 15th
https://americarecyclesday.org
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The World of 7 Billion Student Contest
Back by popular demand, the World of 7 Billion student video contest helps you bring technology and creativity into your middle and high school classes. The contest challenges your students to create a short video connecting world population growth and one of three global challenges: Advancing Women and Girls, Feeding 10 Billion, or Preventing Pollution. Students can win up to $1,000 and participating teachers will receive free curriculum resources. The contest deadline is February 22, 2018 – use this lesson plan to get started now! Full contest guidelines, resources for research, past winners, and more can be found at https://www.worldof7billion.org/student-video-contest/.
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High School Teachers Spread the Word to Your Students:
Natural Resources Careers Camp (NRCC)
Join high school students from across Maryland at this week-long camp in Garrett County to explore careers and college studies in natural resources. This partnership with Allegany College of Maryland and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources-Forest Service offers high school students a co-educational opportunity to learn from industry professionals and develop contacts that could lead to future employment and a career in natural resources. Scholarships are available.
http://www.marylandforestryboards.org/nrcc.cfm
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Thanks to our sponsors for their generosity:
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In This Issue
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2017-2018 Green School Dates
Green School Information Sessions
School Tip: Saving Energy
Professional Development Opportunities
MAEOE Conference
Did you know? Resources for Teachers
Grant Opportunities
Upcoming Events
Follow MAEOE
Follow our Facebook and Twitter accounts as well as our blog for the latest information about professional development opportunities, job announcements, and Green Schools deadlines.
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Tip of the Month: Improve Your Energy Consumption Over Breaks
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1. Close the blinds or shades. Make sure windows are tightly closed and secure.
2. Make sure to turn off power stripes to reduce your phantom energy usage on appliances in your classroom.
3. Check faucets for drips or leaks. Make sure that they are turned all the way off.
4. Compete in county wide energy challenge.
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| MEMBER CORNER |
Robert Finton Outdoor Educator of the Year Award:
Nominations are Now Open
This award recognizes an individual who demonstrates leadership and innovation in environmental and outdoor education. Robert Finton personified enthusiasm, innovation and excellence in the field of environmental education. This award honors his memory by rewarding the efforts of those who strive for these qualities.
Recognition should be given to an individual who is a non-formal practitioner of outdoor education and works “in the trenches” as Bob did.
The nominee can be a representative, either paid or unpaid, of a Maryland outdoor education center, non-profit organization, service organization, resource agency, education-related business, or other organization whose mission is environmental education. (Classroom teachers are not eligible for this award.)
Nominations due by December 8th by 5 PM. |
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Member News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, Nov. 9, 2017
MAEOE member participates in global program
Maryland Association of Environmental and Outdoor Educators member Kathryn Fuller took part in graduate studies in Baja this past summer through Miami University's Project Dragonfly. Fuller of Baltimore, MD, studied desert and marine landscapes through ecological and social field methods.
Fuller is a graduate student with Miami University’s Earth Expeditions, a global program offering graduate courses to people from all disciplines. The program combines web-based learning with field experiences in 16 countries throughout the world. Inspired by her work in Baja, Fuller is now conducting a semester-long research project.
Since the program began 12 years ago, Project Dragonfly has engaged more than 2,100 people in firsthand educational and scientific research at critical conservation field sites in Africa, Australia, Asia and the Americas. Dragonfly is located in the department of biology at Miami University, a state university in Oxford, Ohio. Miami was established in 1809 and is listed as one of the eight original Public Ivies.
Like Project Dragonfly on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/PrjDragonfly.
The deadline to apply for 2018 courses is Jan. 28, 2018, at https://www.earthexpeditions.org/17-18_News
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Eco - Schools USA
National Wildlife Federation has undergone a website renovation. When visiting Eco-Schools USA you will immediately see the difference. While there are many changes, a lot of the content remains the same. Please take some time to familiarize yourself with our new layout.
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Green Leaders Training
Are you interested in assisting a school or more with Sustainable Schools activities or helping a school build a green team?
Do you have experience putting together a green school application? Sign-up to be a Green Leader! Explore the Green Leader Page here.
Consider attending "Train the Trainer: A Green Leader Training". The training will go into depth on key parts of the application and how to introduce the Green School program components to schools.
December 15, 9:30 - 1:30, signup here!
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PLT Corner
Fall is a great time to teach young students about the changing seasons and the science of leaves. As we watch the green leaves turn to various shades of orange, red, and yellow, your students are likely curious about how and why leaves change color. And, it’s still warm enough that you can spend time outside on a nature walk without having to worry about hats and mittens.
To help you get started creating a lesson plan related to leaves, we’ve compiled over 50 ideas and activities appropriate for preschool through 2nd grade. We’ve taken a multi-disciplinary approach to this topic – incorporating activities for science, math, art, and literature to engage students in many levels of learning.
https://www.plt.org/educator-tips/leaf-activities-young-learners/
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| Grant Opportunities |
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Chesapeake Bay Trust: Mini Grant
The Chesapeake Bay Trust Mini Grant Program was established to provide accessible funds to schools, organizations, and agencies for pre-K-12 Environmental Education to educate students about their local watersheds and how they can become environmental stewards and make a difference in watershed health. To accomplish this goal the program supports meaningful outdoor learning experiences around a watershed issue investigation including field trips, fieldwork, student-led action projects and schoolyard habitat projects as well as building teacher capacity to implement environmental education including professional development trainings and programs to advance environmental literacy in the Chesapeake Bay region. Deadline: January 12, 2018. http://bit.ly/2jlduJY
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NOAA Planet Stewards 2018 Stewardship Community
The NOAA Planet Stewards Education Project (PSEP) provides formal and informal educators working with elementary through university age students with sustained professional development, collaborative tools, and support to build a scientifically-literate public actively engaged in environmental stewardship that conserves, restores, and protects human communities and natural resources related to NOAA’s mission.
If you join the Stewardship Community, you are committing to:
- Develop a stewardship project as defined by NOAA Planet Stewards (definition below)
- Participate in/view monthly PSEP Web seminars
- View and reflect on five archived PSEP webinar videos (2017 or earlier. ~1hour/video)
- Participate in a Stewardship Project Peer Review Group - 1 meeting/month
- Use the PSEP Wiki to post your stewardship project plans, progress updates, share resources, and comments with other PSEP educators.
- Participate in PSEP evaluation efforts i.e. online surveys.
Deadline: November 27, 2017 http://bit.ly/2hxUW97
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Clif Bar Family Foundation
Clif Bar Family Foundation Small Grants support programs with measurable goals that strengthen food systems and communities, enhance public health, and safeguard the environment and natural resources.
Deadline: February 1, 2018
http://bit.ly/2b8ZADL
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