Its Earth Week!

Earth🌏Day is Friday, April 22! All kinds of Earth Day teaching ideas can be found below. You can also celebrate with PA State Parks! Join one of our expert Environmental Educators for an Earth Day program - from walks to Earth Day cleanups to celebrations and more (click calendar arrows to find programming on other days).

This week (April 16-22) also includes National Bat🦇Appreciation Week and National Volunteer Week (check out all of the upcoming Volunteer opportunities in PA State Parks). April also offers the Lyrids Meteor Shower (peaking 4/22/2023) and Friday, April 28 is both Save the Frogs🐸Day and National Arbor🌳Day!

E-Blast Contents:

• Section 1: Celebrate Earth Day & Beyond: Trending Teaching Ideas, Activities, & Lessons
• Section 2: In-Person & Hybrid Educator Professional Development Workshops
• Section 3: Trainings for Educators
• Section 4: Explore the Outdoors!
• Section 5: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI)
• Capstone: PA State Park Updates

Section 1:

🌎 Teaching Ideas, Activities, & Lessons 🌎

Celebrate Earth Day!

Embrace the Mud! Mud Activities for Kids: 7 Creative Ways to Have Fun with Mud! Mud is an abundant and attractive medium for creation, exploration, & adventure. Paint with mud! Slide in it! Make sculptures! And so much more! - from Run Wild My Child

23 Free Outdoor Scavenger Hunts for Kids! A great way to get kids outside with some structure. - from Run Wild My Child



There are so many amazing owls 🦉 around the globe! Enjoy learning about their world with this FREE! downloadable poster with beautiful illustrations from Bartels Science Illustrator, Liz Wahid - from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology

April is National Poetry 📝 Month - The PA Parks & Recreation Society (PRPS) invites you to submit a poem or haiku about your experience(s) with PA parks & recreation. Submit your poems to goodforpa@gmail.com for posting consideration on their social media & newsletter. Plus, a chance to win TWO free t-shirts. All ages welcome. Please include name, email, age, & local park most visited. Deadline: April 30.

Celebrate & Participate in Pennsylvania's Remake Learning Days 

from April 20 - June 3, 2023!

A variety of organizations — such as PA State Parks, schools, libraries, nonprofits, businesses, & more have come together to provide virtual & in-person STEM-based innovative learning experiences & career exposure events! There are over 1000 events happening across Pennsylvania 🤩.

Find a FREE Remake Learning Day Event Near You!

·    Find Northeastern PA Remake Learning Day Events

·    Find Southeastern PA Remake Learning Day Events

·    Find Central PA Remake Learning Day Events

·    Find South Central PA Remake Learning Day Events

·    Find Northwestern PA Remake Learning Day Events

Find Southwestern PA Remake Learning Day Events 

Section 2:

May & June In-Person & Hybrid

Educator Professional Development Workshops

Go to the DCNR Calendar for ALL Upcoming Educator Workshops

COVID safety protocols will be followed for all in-person workshops.

PLANT 🌿 CAMP for EDUCATORS!

Tuesday, August 1 - Thursday, August 3, Registrants must attend all 3 days.

In-Person in & around Pymatuning State Park, 2660 Williamsfield Rd, Jamestown, PA 16134

Act 48: 25 hrs.

Fee: $100.00 payable in advance; includes cabin accommodations, meals, & transportation to all field visits.

Apply NOW! Applications are due by May 1, 2023!

Join skilled facilitators for a unique 3-day, hands-on educator workshop which will explore a variety of water resources in Northwestern Pennsylvania. During the 3-days, participants will be immersed in aquatic ecology lab & field experiences. This workshop is based at Pymatuning State Park and is designed for those educators (formal & non-formal) teaching high school students in 9^th-12^th grades. Participants will receive the PA Biodiversity Educators Guide as part of the workshop. The $100 workshop fee for each teacher selected to attend includes cabin accommodations, meals, and transportation to all field sites. Questions? Contact Emily Borcz, EES at eborcz@pa.gov or 724-932-3142 ext. 106. 

Get Outdoors: Recreation 101 Educator Workshop

Friday, May 5, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

In-Person at Kings Gap Envi. Education Center, 500 Kings Gap Rd., Carlisle, PA 17105

Act 48: 3hrs.

Fee: $10.00; Pre-registration required by April 28

Do you work with youth in the summer or during the year? Learn the skills to get them outdoors in this recreation workshop! This is a fun curriculum designed to aid educators with incorporating outdoor recreation into their lesson plans. Participants will learn:

• Hiking skills & trail activities
• Fire building & safety
• Campfire Cooking
• Map reading & Orienteering
• Outdoor Games & Teambuilding
• Wildlife: Catching Critters Safely

Open to formal and non-formal educators. This workshop would be helpful for: Teachers of summer youth, Scout Leaders, Camp Counselors, Homeschool Leaders, Youth Program Leaders, PE Teachers, & more. $10.00 fee Includes: Campfire Lunch, GO Teach Hiking Curriculum, Access to GO Teach Hiking Loaner Kit, & more! Questions or to Register, contact  KingsGapSP@pa.gov or 717-486-5031.

Hybrid Watershed💦Education Educator Workshop

Choose & Attend 1 Mandatory Virtual Meeting, Complete Pre-Work Assignment, & Attend Field Day Workshop

Virtual Meeting Options:

• Wednesday, May 17, 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm
• Thursday, May 25, 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
• Thursday, June 8, 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm

Field Day Workshop - Wednesday, June 28, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Hybrid & In-Person at Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center, 400 Belfast Rd, Nazareth, PA 18064

Act 48: 14 hrs. (upon completion of all requirements)

Fee: $15.00 payable in advance; pre-registration is required

Educators teaching grades 6-12 are invited to join us virtually for an intro. to the Bureau of State Parks’ Watershed Education Curriculum to discover lessons & resources that can be used to teach cross-curricular, inquiry-based lessons in the classroom that will prepare students for stream field experiences. The required homework assignment will introduce you to your local watershed through investigating its natural features & issues related to human use, and can be used as an evidence-based reasoning assignment for students. The assignment must be completed after the virtual meeting, before the in-person field day (6/28/23). The in-person field day at Jacobsburg EE Center will provide the opportunity to practice inquiry-based teaching techniques while using PA State Parks’ Watershed Education Curriculum as a guide. Teachers will receive the curriculum & supplemental materials to ensure confidence while teaching Watershed Education with an emphasis on PA STEELS! Registrants MUST complete the Pre-Work, attend 1 virtual meeting of their choosing, AND attend the Field Day to receive the DCNR Watershed Education curriculum and to be awarded their Act 48 Hours.

Register NOW for both the virtual meeting of your choice & field day separately:

Register for the Virtual Meeting (Required: choose ONE of the following):

• Wednesday, May 17th 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm
• Thursday, May 25th 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
• Thursday, June 8th 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm

Register for the In-Person Field Day (Required) - Wednesday, June 28^th

Wild about Elk🦌 Educator Workshop

Monday, June 12, 1:00 pm - 7:30 pm (optional Elk calf capture from 7:45-9:00 pm)

In Person at Elk Country Visitor Center, 950 Winslow Hill Rd Benezette, PA 15821

Fee: $10.00; included - one copy of the Wild About Elk curriculum guide, snacks, & drinks (dinner on your own).

Act 48: 6 hrs.

This hands-on workshop will explore the natural history & habitat needs of Pennsylvania Elk; historical and current management strategies; and modern research techniques used to study Elk, including an attempted elk calf research activity with the PA Game Commission. It is open to formal & non-formal educators working with students in grades K-12. Professional Educators from the PA Game Commission, the Keystone Elk Country Alliance, & PA State Parks will guide participants through educational activities from Project Wild's Wild About Elk Curriculum Guide which can easily be integrated into science, language arts, math, art, & social studies. It addresses the current standards for Environment & Ecology. Optional calf capture requires off trail hiking (i.e., hiking up & down steep hills, uneven surfaces, through fields w/limited ground visibility, & through forests). To Register - email: ConEd@KECAUS.com or call 570-398-4744 Ext. 30311; registration deadline: May 31, 2023.

WILD About Bears🐻Educator Workshop 

Thursday, June 22, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm AND Friday, June 23, 8:00 am – 12:00 pm; Must attend both days.

In-Person at the PA Game Commission Southwest Region Office, 4820 Rt. 711, Bolivar, Pa. 15923

Act 48: 11.5 hrs.

Fee: Free! Pre-registration is required.

Join PA Game Commission (PGC) educators and biologists for an in-depth and up-close educational experience with Black Bears! You will receive your own copy of the award-winning Project WILD K-12 Curriculum & Activity Guide as well as lessons & activities to integrate bear🐻lessons into your teaching. You'll learn about Black bear physiology, biology, & management in Pennsylvania. How the PGC handles nuisance bears and research trapping efforts will be discussed as well as the reasons for tagging and relocating Black Bears in the Commonwealth.

Although not guaranteed, all efforts will be made to have at least one live Black Bear on site to be safely processed and tagged. Day 2 of the workshop includes a field trip to nearby PGC game lands to demonstrate trapping and snaring techniques. This workshop is targeted to grade levels 3-12. Register NOW by contacting Seth Mesoras, Information & Education Supervisor at smesoras@pa.gov or 1-888-PGC HUNT/1-888-PGC-WILD ext. 20208. Register by: 4:00 pm on Friday, June 16, 2023. 

Project WILD🦊Educator Workshop

Friday, June 23, 9:00 am- 3:00 pm

In-Person at Mount Pisgah State Park, 28 Entrance Road, Troy, PA 18214

Act 48: 5.5 hrs.

Fee: $10.00, pre- registration is required

Participants who attend this Project Wild Educator Workshop will receive the award-winning Project WILD K-12 Curriculum & Activity Guide along with other great materials. The guide is filled with a variety of hands-on, interdisciplinary lessons. The workshop is open to both formal & non-formal educators. The training agenda includes both classroom & outdoor activities. Professional Facilitators from DCNR State Parks will lead the training. Pre- Registration is required. To register for the workshop please contact Mt. Pisgah State Park at 570-297-2734 or Email: mt.pisgahsp@pa.gov

Section 3:

Trainings for Educators

Section 4:

Explore the Outdoors!

Section 5:

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

- Learn more about DCNR's DEI efforts-

Celebrating National Deaf History Month

April 1 - April 30 per

National Association of the Deaf

Pennsylvania State Parks has partnered with the amazing staff at CorpsTHAT to offer a series of American Sign Language (ASL) courses to a small group of our environmental educators. While we may not be fluent, we are trying our best! One way to stay sharp is by practicing.

We are looking to sharpen our ASL signing skills to create more enjoyable experiences for the Deaf and hard of hearing community in the outdoors. Reach out to Christine Ticehurst via cticehurst@pa.gov for more information.

In the meantime, check out this fantastic video series created in partnership between CorpsTHAT & Leave No Trace. Watch & learn as CorpsTHAT signs The 7 Principles of Leave No Trace.

Book your virtual, in-person programs, and field experiences with PA State Park Educators now! Find a PA State Park. Need help connecting to a PA State Park with an Educator on staff? Reach out to Carissa Longo at calongo@pa.gov.

DCNR facilities and Programs are OPEN to ALL👐

• Many Environmental Education programs require pre-registration. Explore the DCNR events calendar for details and to register.
• Plan your outing before you leave. Learn about facilities, download on your phone or print a park map, and review regulations here: Find A Park
• Take care of & respect the resource. Park, hike, hunt, & more only in designated areas.
• Check the weather before you depart, wear layers & proper footwear, and bring water. Wear orange if hiking in designated hunting areas.
• Please do not litter 🚮.
• Alcohol is not allowed in PA State Parks.
• Make a reservation at a PA State Park Campground, Camping Cottage, Cabin, Yurt, or Pavilion. Reservations can be made up to 11 months in advance.

You can help keep state parks safe for all by following these practices:

• Use the restroom before you leave your house 🏡
• Bring a bag and either carry out your trash or dispose of it properly
• Stay on marked trails
• Clean up after pets 🐕

• Continue to practice social distancing (stay >6' apart)
• Take hand sanitizer with you and use it regularly
•  Avoid touching your face, eyes, and nose
• If you are sick or have been exposed to someone who is sick, stay home

Happy Earth 🌎 Day!

Carissa Longo, Environmental Education Program Coordinator

&

Christine Ticehurst, Recreation and Interpretation Coordinator

Visit the DCNR Events Calendar- Teacher Workshops to find additional training opportunities! Click the arrows to see upcoming months.