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Pennsylvania State Parks
Educator E-Blast
🌷 April 2025 Edition 🌷
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Happy Earth 🌎 Day! April 22nd!
The theme for 2025 is Our Power, Our Planet! See Section 1 below for teaching ideas & more. Earth Day is a call to action for us to advocate for our planet all year round – to make Earth Day, every day.
Aim to spend more time outside - Try the NatureDose App! It uses your phone’s location to track how much time you spend outside each week. It offers reminders & challenges to encourage you & to help you notice how it affects your well-being.
You can also celebrate with PA State Parks! Join one of our expert Environmental Educators for an Earth Day program.
Have you ever brought your students to the PA Department of Agriculture's PA Farm City Day? This year, it is scheduled for 5/7 & 5/8 at the Farm Show Complex & at Fox Chase Farm 5/14/2025. Students will work their way through various learning stations that focus on all aspects of agriculture. They will learn about where their food comes from & the many career opportunities that exist in agriculture.
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PA State Parks Educator E-Blast Contents -
- Section 1: Earth 🌎 Day & Spring Teaching Ideas + FREE STUFF!
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Section 2: In-Person Educator PD Workshops
- Section 3: Conferences & PD Webinars
- Section 4: Explore the Outdoors!
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Section 5: Striving Towards Inclusion - Autism Awareness Month!
- Capstone: PA State Park Info. & Updates
| | Section 1: Earth Day & Spring Teaching Ideas! | | |
STEM Activity: Dissecting Daffodils & Tulips🌷with Kids - from Run Wild My Child
SubjectToClimate’s 2025 Earth 🌎 Day Teacher Guide is packed with engaging, grade-appropriate resources that make it easy to teach about environmental issues, from ecosystems to renewable energy. Earth Day activities & worksheets are divided into grade level bundles!
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To help celebrate Earth 🌎 Day, utilize these great, educational videos for students from Into the Outdoors Education Network.
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It's Sally 🦎Time! Salamanders are awake & are making their way across the landscape to Vernal Pools. Teach about salamander migrations utilizing this free Salamander🦎crossing activity!
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Migratory birds are taking flight across the globe!
Check out this amazing animation, based on real bird observations, offers a beautifully detailed glimpse into one of nature’s most inspiring phenomena.
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Level Up Warbler ID with this FREE photo guide from The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, just in time for spring migration!
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Celebrate & Participate in Pennsylvania's Remake Learning Days from May 1 - May 23, 2025!
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!
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Dive Even Deeper: Watershed Literacy & Tree Plantings Workshop
Monday, April, 28, 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM
Tuesday, April 29, 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
In-Person at SE Agricultural Research, 1446 Auction Rd, Manheim, PA 17545
Act 48: Up to 18 hrs. available for participants who complete both days & the free, online MWEE 101 course
Fee: $15 pre-registration required; includes light refreshments & lunch each day.
Join Penn State Extension, the Ag and Environment Center, & PA Sea Grant for two days of immersive, hands-on watershed learning through the Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience (MWEE) curricular framework. This workshop is an extension of Penn State Extension’s award-winning Dive Deeper Water Educators Summit. It is designed to further enhance your understanding with a PA-Certified MWEE Ambassador workshop, an interactive session on tree species/planting protocols, & a comprehensive checklist for planning successful planting projects.
Participants may attend one or both days for the same cost. Those who complete both days of in-person instruction + the online MWEE 101 course will be fully certified as PA MWEE Ambassadors. They will also receive materials on tree ID & planting procedures to ensure the success of youth-led tree planting projects. Register NOW!
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Project WET💧Teacher Workshop
Wednesday, May 7, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
In-Person at Canoe Creek State Park, Wentz Education Center, 160 Marsh Rd., Hollidaysburg, PA 16648
Act 48: 6.0 hrs.
Fee: free; pre-registration required
Project WET - Water Education Today is a national curriculum that strives to educate, empower, & activate students in grades K-12. This 6-hour workshop, designed for K-12 teachers & non-formal educators alike, will help you teach about water resources through hands-on, investigative, & easy-to-use activities. All participants will receive the Project WET 2.0 Educator Guide and access to Project WET's online resources. Optional 1.5 hour kayak tour of Canoe Lake follows the workshop. Bring your own lunch. Pre-registration required. To register, contact Heidi Mullendore, EES at hmullendor@pa.gov or 814-696-6025.
Connecting Classrooms to Community Action: MWEEs & PA STEELS Standards Workshop
Friday, May 9, 2025, 9:00 AM - 3:40 PM
In-Person at Presque Isle State Park, Rotary Pav., 301 Peninsula Dr, Erie, PA 16505
Act 48: 5.75 hrs.
Fee: FREE! Includes lunch!
Join us for an engaging professional development workshop hosted by Northwest Tri-County Intermediate Unit (IU5) in partnership with Environmental Educators (EE) from Presque Isle State Park. Learn how to implement Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs) to address the new PA STEELS standards while empowering students to take action in their communities through clean-ups & other impactful projects. Discover how to leverage local EE partners to enhance MWEEs & provide real-world learning experiences. Participants will receive a tabletop hydroponics unit for their classroom & exciting giveaways. Register NOW! Questions? Contact Judy Baker at judy_baker@iu5.org or 814-734-8389.
PA Songbirds🐦Educator Workshop
Saturday, May 10, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
In-Person at Susquehannock State Park, 1880 State Park Drive, Drumore, PA 17518
Act 48: 5.5 hrs.
Fee: $15.00 payable in advance; pre-registration required
Join us for a fun-filled workshop that focuses on teaching environmental science through birds! PA Songbirds contains dozens of lessons that include music, art, math, science, social studies, & more. Lessons support STEELS standards. Participants will receive the Pennsylvania Songbirds K-8 Teacher’s Guide. Register NOW! Questions? Contact Kelly Ford, EES at kelford@pa.gov or 717-252-1134. Payment can be made by calling 717-252- 1134, M-F 8 AM–4 PM.
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PA Songbirds 🐦 Educator Workshop
Saturday, June 7, 9:00 am – 2:30 pm
In-Person at Pymatuning State Park, 2660 Williamsfield Rd., Jamestown, PA 16134
Act 48: 5 hrs.
Fee: FREE!
College students, pre-service teachers, classroom teachers, environmental educators, and homeschool parents are invited. Participants will receive a PA Songbirds K-8 Teacher’s guide with 43- field tested lessons & experience a sampling of activities from the guide. Join professional state park environmental educators as they guide you through the curriculum with hands-on inside & outside activities. This includes a pontoon boat ride while learning how to identify songbirds, visiting active bird nests, & more! Register by contacting Stacey Marendt at smarendt@pa.gov or 724-932-3142. Register by: 5/30/2025.
WILD About Elk🦌Educator Workshop
Monday, June 9, 1:00 PM - 7:30 PM (optional calf capture afterwards)
In-Person at Elk Country Visitor Center, 950 Winslow Hill Rd Benezette, PA 15821
Act 48: 6 hrs.
Fee: $10.00 Snacks & drinks included (dinner on your own).
This hands-on workshop will explore the natural history & habitat needs of Pennsylvania elk, historical & current management strategies, & research techniques including an attempted elk calf research activity with the PA Game Commission (PGC). Staff from PA Game Commission, Keystone Elk Country Alliance, and PA State Parks will guide participants through hands-on educational activities which can easily be integrated into science, language arts, math, art, & social studies curricula. & address standards. Targeted grade levels: Grades K-12. Pre-register by: 6/2/2025. To register, call 814-787-5173 or ConEdSp@KECAUS.com.
Project Learning Tree (PLT)🌳Explore Your Environment: K-8 Educator Workshop
Friday, June 13, 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM
In-Person at Presque Isle State Park, 301 Peninsula Drive, Suite 1, Erie, PA 16505
Act 48: 5.5 hrs.
Fee: $15 pre-registration required; includes snacks
Using the Forest as a window to the world, join park educators for an engaging teacher workshop! We will hike through the PLT Explore Your Environment K-8 Activity Guide. Experience fun, hands-on activities that engage students in learning about trees, forestry, & the environment. Each participant will receive of PLT's Explore Your Environment K-8 Activity Guide. Registration required by: 6/13/2025. Register NOW or call 814-833-7424.
PA Songbirds🐦Educator Workshop
Wednesday, June 25, 2025 8:30am to 2pm
In-Person at Raccoon Creek State Park, 3000 State Rt. 18, Hookstown, PA 15050
Act 48: 5 hrs.
Fee: $15 pre-registration required
PA Songbirds is an activity guide designed for K-8 classroom teachers, homeschool educators, scout leaders, outdoor educators, & any adult who wishes to engage children in hands-on science & environmental learning through the world of birds. Participants will receive the newly updated PA Songbirds guide. Register NOW!
WILD About Black Bears🐻Educator Workshop
Thursday, June 26, 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM
In-person at PGC Northcentral Regional Office, 1566 Rt 44 Hwy, Jersey Shore, PA
Act 48: 6 hrs.
Fee: Free! Pre-registration Required.
Join the PA Game Commission for an immersive Project WILD professional development opportunity! Both formal & non-formal educators are invited to participate and receive a copy of the award-winning Project WILD K-12 Curriculum & Activity Guide which offers wildlife & conservation-themed lesson plans with 3-D learning activities. Although not guaranteed, efforts will be made to have a live Black Bear on site to be temporarily tranquilized, safely evaluated, & tagged! Register NOW! Questions? Contact Jake Smith at smjaco@pa.gov or 717-676-3086.
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Section 3:
Conferences & Trainings for Educators
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"Learning Without Walls" Conference!
June 10, 9:00 AM - 3:30 AM
Waynesburg University, 51 West College St., Waynesburg, PA 15370
FREE! Includes breakfast & lunch!
The Southwest PA Environmental Literacy Hub is excited to announce the Western PA Environmental Education Summit: "Learning Without Walls" Conference! The conference seeks to empower educators of Southwest PA & contiguous West Virginia counties with the knowledge, tools, & inspiration they need to integrate environmental literacy, sustainability, & outdoor learning experiences into their curricula and teaching practices. Register by: 5/23/2025. Register NOW!
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Section 4:
Explore the Outdoors!
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Celebrate Earth 🌎 Day Across Pennsylvania with the Next Generation of Conservation Leaders
Join members from DCNR’s NextGen Advisory Council, Governor’s Youth Council for Hunting, Fishing, & Conservation, the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Next Generation Engagement, and the PA Outdoor Corps at the following regional Earth Day Volunteer events:
- South Central: Earth Day Volunteer Trash Pick-up, Gifford Pinchot State Park (York County) – April 26th, 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
- Northeast: Spring into Action, Hickory Run State Park (Carbon County) – April 26th, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- Southeast: Volunteer Trail Day, Fort Washington State Park (Montgomery County) – April 26th, 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Register for any of these events on DCNR’s event page. Learn more.
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Earth Month 2025
Join Leave No Trace & DCNR in celebrating April as Earth Month. Visit lnt.org to discover earth-friendly ways to participate. Learn more!
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April is Autism Awareness Month! Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by differences in social communication, sensory processing, & behavior patterns. The word spectrum is often used because autism can present in many different ways.
Stepping into the world of autism terminology is like learning a new language that unlocks doors to empathy, understanding, & meaningful support. This complex neurodevelopmental condition affects millions of individuals worldwide, shaping their experiences & interactions with the world around them. As our understanding of ASD continues to evolve, so does the language we use to describe it. NeuroLaunch, a free online mental health library, offers a helpful introduction to autism terminology and a great starting point for those wanting to learn more.
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PA State Parks are YOURS!
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Book your virtual, in-person programs, and field experiences with PA State Park Educators! 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👐
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Many Environmental Education programs require pre-registration. Explore the DCNR events calendar for details & to register.
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Plan your outing before you leave. Learn about facilities, download a park map on your phone or print it, & review regulations here: Find A Park
- Take care of & respect the resource. Park, hike, hunt, explore, & more only in designated areas.
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Check the weather before you depart, wear proper footwear, & bring water. Wear orange if hiking in designated hunting areas. Please clean up after pets 🐕.
- Do not litter 🚮.
- Alcohol is not allowed in PA State Parks.
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Make a Reservation (up to 11-months in advance) at a PA State Park Campground, Camping Cottage, Cabin, Yurt, or Pavilion.
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
- Continue to practice social distancing, take hand sanitizer with you & use it
- If you are sick or have been exposed to someone who is sick, stay home
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🌎 Happy Earth Day! 🌎
Carissa Longo, Natural Resource Program Specialist
(Coordinating Project WILD & Pennsylvania Songbirds Curricula for all of PA)
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Christine Ticehurst, Natural Resource Program Specialist
(Coordinating PLT & DCNR's GO Teach Curricula for PA State Parks)
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Kim Lott, Natural Resource Program Specialist
(Coordinating DCNR's Watershed Education, PA Land Choices, & Project WET curricula for PA State Parks)
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