Energy Action Month is coming up in October!

What will you do to work with your students on energy next month?

• Will you assign your students to complete the Energy Scavenger Hunt? 

• Will you check out a KEEP energy kit? 

• Will you choose one of KEEP’s professional development opportunities to attend? 

• Will you recognize a colleague’s amazing energy education... or your own? 

The possibilities are endless! Read on for more information about each of these opportunities and many more, so you can celebrate energy action next month and every month.

Illuminate the Future – Nominate an Educator for KEEP’s Wisconsin Energy Educator of the Year Award!

Are you ready to amp up the excitement and give a volt of recognition to those extraordinary educators who are currently making waves in the world of energy education? It’s time to shine a spotlight on the brightest stars in our teaching community with KEEP’s Energy Educator of the Year award!

We’re on the lookout for educators who are electrifying the minds of students and community members across the state. Whether they're enlightening young minds in a classroom, sparking curiosity through innovative workshops or leading the effort in building energy upgrades and efficiencies, we want to highlight their efforts.

Why Nominate?

• ⚡Shockingly Good Prize⚡:: Awardees will receive $1,000 to power up their energy education projects.

• 🌟Glow in the Spotlight 🌟 :: Winners will be celebrated at the Wisconsin Association for Environmental Education’s Celebration of Excellence Awards Ceremony on May 3, 2025.

• 🔋Energize the Future 🔋:: By nominating, you’re not just recognizing their efforts—you’re helping them further their passion and expand their impact on a brighter, greener future.

Who Can be Nominated?

If you know a formal or non-formal K-12 educator who turns energy education into an electrifying experience, they’re eligible! And if you’re the one making sparks fly, self-nominations are absolutely acceptable.

How to Nominate

It’s as simple as flipping a switch! Visit our nomination page, fill in the details on the nomination form, include letters of support and hit submit. But don’t let time power down - nominations close on October 25, 2024. 

Nominate today and help us find the next KEEP Energy Educator of the Year!

KidWind – Challenge your students’ engineering skills!

See below for our KidWind Educator Workshops, then put together a team to compete in Madison on March 1, 2025. Student teams design and build small-scale wind turbines at home or school and bring them to competitions to measure their power output and present them in front of expert judges. The Wisconsin KidWind Challenge is open to 3rd-12th grade students and educators across the state. High scoring teams are invited to enter the World KidWind Challenge.  

MeterHero is an AP Environmental Science enhancement that will thrill your students by empowering them to experiment with their own utility data. You’ll get everything you need, including graphics organizers, slides, guest speakers, and software access for you and every student.

Join Nate Conroy for a 30-minute informational webinar Thursday, Sept. 5 at 4:30 p.m. or Friday, Sept. 6 at 12:15 p.m to learn more.

Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities

Green & Healthy Schools - Celebrate Sustainability!

Hands-on Energy Kits! You want 'em. We got 'em.

Remembering Steve Knudsen

It is with great sadness that we at KEEP and the Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education recognize the passing of Stephen Knudsen, former KEEP adjunct instructor and 2012 Energy Educator of the year.

As a KEEP adjunct, Steve taught energy education courses to hundreds of Wisconsin teachers. He also conducted energy education workshops at the Midwest Renewable Energy Association’s Energy Fair and other venues. His background in electrical engineering and physical science helped form the foundation of many early KEEP lessons, a number of which are still in use today.

During his time at Newman Catholic High School in Wausau and Pacelli Catholic High School in Stevens Point, he provided strong science, math and energy education to his students.

Above all Steve Knudsen was an incredibly intelligent and kind human being.

Thank you Stephen Knudsen for all you did to increase energy literacy in Wisconsin students!

Our thoughts are with Claire and the entire Knudsen family as they grieve their tremendous loss.

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The KEEP program is funded with generous support by Alliant Energy, Madison Gas and Electric, We Energies, Wisconsin Public Service, WPPI Energy, and Xcel Energy. 

Published September 2024