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Pennsylvania State Parks
December 2023 E-Blast
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Hello ๐ December! How are you here SO SOON?!
With this edition of our Educator E-blast, we seek to provide you with some quick & easy winter / holiday teaching activities (also FREE STUFF!), ideas for carving out peaceful moments ๐งโโ๏ธ, PA State Park outdoor programming to help you get outside to de-stress ๐ฅพ, & fun ways to earn Act 48 hours.
Do you teach about birds ๐ฆ & observe birds with your students? Apply for a Celestron Grant to obtain 10 FREE BINOCULARS ๐ญ for your class! HURRY! Applications close on December 10, 2023 (the application is very easy & quick).
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๏ปฟLooking for a Job with the Commonwealth or a PAID Internship? Come work with us at the Department of Conservation & Natural Resources (DCNR) - PA State Parks! There are upcoming opening positions for all types of skills in PA State Parks all over the state -- DCNR Rangers + Ranger Trainees (openings live from 12/7/23 - 12/21/23), Environmental Educators, Clerical Assistants, Park Resource Rangers, Maintenance & Trades, Lifeguards (openings posted through 6/30/24), Food Service, & more!
Apply for all positions (including Internships, posted through 2/16/24) at employment.pa.gov (click on "Open Jobs" then "Open to the Public" then either view all open positions throughout the Commonwealth or click on "Filter" & choose "Department" & "DCNR)." Need assistance? Check out the FAQ. Note - many positions are seasonal permanent.
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Winter โ is here! Check out PA State Park's WinterโActivity Report before you head to a PA State Park this winter. This weekly report lists snow & ice conditions (including snow & lake ice thickness) for all PA State Parks. The report is searchable by park and by winter outdoor recreation activity ๐ฟ๐ทโธ๐ฃ . | |
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E-Blast Contents:
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Section 1: Winter โ & Holiday Teaching Ideas + FREE STUFF!
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Section 2: In-Person & Virtual Educator Professional Development Workshops
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Section 3: Explore the Outdoors! First Day Hikes!
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Section 4: Conferences, Webinars, Grants, & Awards
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Section 5: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) - December Holidays
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Capstone: PA State Park Updates
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Celebrate the Winter โ Solstice and find some time to relax ๐งโโ๏ธ
Winter Music for Yoga, Meditation, & Relaxation - features beautiful winter scenes with music (35:45 min.) Play it as your students enter your classroom or do work.
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Section 1:
โ Winter & Holiday๐ฒTeaching Ideas, Lessons, & FREE Stuff!
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Holiday & Winter Teaching Ideas & Lessons
So many great nature-based ideas from Little Pine Learners - Make Your Own...
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Join Project FeederWatch! Turn your students' love of feeding birds ๐ฆ into scientific discoveries! FeederWatch runs annually from November 1 - April 29. FeederWatch count days are 2-consecutive days when you count the birds at your feeders.
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Check out the WinterโSalt๐งWatch Program from the Izaak Walton League! Science is much more relevant when it is local. When winter weather hits, we need our roads to be safe, but many of PA's 86,000 miles of streams ๐ฆ are suffering from excessive road salt application. Thanks to the โ Winter Salt Watch, you can quickly perform STEM-based community science with your students or volunteers this winter by monitoring road salt in streams via testing Chloride levels. The Izaak Walton League will even send you the materials for free! They have also recently upgraded their free data hub. Check out the FAQ & the Winter Salt Watch StoryMap. A great way to study winter-based Phenomena! ๐จ
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Our world's leaders recently gathered for COP28 to discuss our planet's future. Use this moment to teach about environmental stewardship with your students. SubjectToClimate offers free, curated resources / lessons that are age-appropriate & engaging on weather, the water ๐ฆ cycle, drought, sea level rise, climate adaptations, climate change, & more for K-5th, 6th-8th, & 9th-12th grade students. Searchable lessons.
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Did you know? Pennsylvania is a Great Lakes ๐ฆ State! Our state has 76.6-miles of Lake Erie shoreline including the 3,200-acre Presque Isle State Park and the 3,719-acre Presque Isle Bay.
The Great Lakes Literacy education exploration (GLLee) offers a collection of resources (grades 4-12) to help educators explore Great Lakes Literacy with youth through place-based education & stewardship opportunities in their schools & communities. Don't live in the Great Lakes Basin? GLLee topics are applicable & adaptable to other PA watersheds!
What is a GLLee?
- Free, asynchronous short courses that can be accessed virtually anytime
- Google Classroom modules designed for educators to support youth engagement
- Great Lakes focused issues &/or topics, career explorations with scientists, classroom resources, stewardship, & hands-on learning opportunities
- Connections with other educators in a virtual community of practice
Current GLLee Topics:
- Climate Literacy
- Aquatic Invasive Species
- Coastal Erosion
- Marine Debris
- Urban Water Cycle
- Vernal Pools
These programs are open to all, but registration is required for educators to gain access to each Google Classroom & connected content. Learn more & Register NOW. You will need a personal Gmail address (i.e. not your school address) to access course materials.
Educators will receive a certificate representing 3 contact hours of study after completing a GLLee course along with a digital notebook with all resources. For any questions, accessibility concerns, or issues with this virtual resource, contact admin@cgll.education. This program is provided by The Center for Great Lakes Literacy, PA Sea Grant, & NOAA/B-WET.
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Project WET Virtual Climate, Water, & Resilience Educators Workshop with a MWEE Flair
Tuesday, January 23, 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm EST
Virtual on Zoom
Act 48: 2 hrs.
Free: Free! Pre-Registration is required.
Project WETโs award-winning Climate, Water, & Resilience (CWR) Curriculum provides the tools for educators to teach their middle & high school students about climate, climate change, and sustainability utilizing interactive, objective, science-based activities that are student-centered.
This virtual workshop is open to all educators who work with students in grades 6-12, from formal teachers & pre-service teachers to naturalists, scout leaders, & more! Participants will receive a download code for Project WETโs Climate, Water, & Resilience Educator Guide, free one-month access to Project WETโs new WELL Portal for Educators, & more!
This training will also feature an introduction to the Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience (MWEE) Framework, and it will define how this framework connects to WETโs CWR curriculum & the new PA STEELS Academic Standards. Register NOW! Questions? Contact Kim Lott, Project WET Coordinator at klott@pa.gov or 717-778-2316.
Project๐ปWILD Educator Workshop
Saturday, January 27, 9:30 am - 2:30 pm
In-Person at Lackawanna State Park, 1839 Abington Rd., North Abington Township, PA 18414
Act 48: 4.5 hrs.
Fee: $15.00 payable in advance; pre-registration is required.
Project WILD is an interdisciplinary environmental education curriculum which focuses on wildlife. This workshop is open to all educators who work with students from grades K-12, from formal teachers to naturalists, scout leaders, & others! Experience hands-on activities related to wildlife that help develop awareness, skills, & knowledge resulting in informed decisions and responsible behavior regarding wildlife & the environment. Participants will receive the updated Project WILD K-12 Curriculum & Activity Guide which now offers STEM activity extensions, field investigations, a WILD WORK career section, & Outdoor Components. Registration for this workshop is required by Wednesday, January 19, 2024. Register NOW! Questions? Contact Tony DeSantis, EES at antdesanti@pa.gov or 570-945-7110.
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Project Learning Tree (PLT) Educator Workshop ๐ฒ ๐
Wednesday, February 7, 8:30 am - 2:30 pm EST3
In-Person at Kinzua Bridge State Park, 296 Viaduct Road, Kane, PA 16735
Act 48: 6 hrs.
Free: $20; Pre-Registration is required.
Are you interested in nature? Project Learning Tree (PLT) is a forest themed Environmental Education curriculum for K-8th grades. Used by both formal & non-formal educators, activities align to state & national standards & include subjects such as math, science, history, & art. Participants attending this workshop will receive the NEW PLT Explore Your Environment K-8 Activity Guide & other resources. Call the Park Office to register (814) 778-5467.
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Teacher Workshop - Aldo Leopold Education Project
Saturday, March 9 & Saturday, March 23, 8:00 am - 4:00 pm Must attend both days.
In-Person at Ohiopyle State Park, 124 Main Street, Ohiopyle, PA 15470
Act 48: 30 hrs. or 1 Intermediate Unit (IU) Credit
Fee: $140.00 payable in advance to Intermediate Unit One (IU 1)
This two-day for credit workshop is intended for formal educators from K-12. The Leopold Education Project is a series of lessons based on Aldo Leopoldโs master work The Sand County Almanac. This book chronicles a year at Leopoldโs shack in Sand County, Wisconsin. Lessons are based on his experiences at the shack & his development of a Land Ethic. All of the lessons are hands-on & most are outside. Participants will be required to complete both workshop days & homework. Register NOW. Questions? Contact Barbara Wallace, EES at bawallace@pa.gov.
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More Educator Professional Development Trainings are scheduled.
Visit the DCNR Events Calendar- Teacher Workshops to find additional training opportunities! Click the arrows to see upcoming months.
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Section 3:
๏ปฟExplore the Outdoors! Destress!
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Pennsylvania's First Day Hikes ๐ฅพ๐โ๐ฒ
Kick off the New Year with fun, fresh air, and scenic views by participating in a First Day Hike. These guided hikes are organized annually as part of the National First Day Hike Initiative encouraging individuals & families to start the year on the right foot -- by getting outside and connecting with nature. This January 1, 2024, consider joining one of the guided hikes that are scheduled at one of the 46 participating Pennsylvania State Parks & Forests. For more information about the scheduled guided First Day Hikes visit the DCNR Calendar of Events.
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Are you interested in birding & contributing to community science? Consider signing up to participate in Audubon's 124th Christmas Bird Count (CBC). Volunteers will collaborate in observing & reporting birding data (within 15-mile circles) across the globe beginning on December 14th - January 5th. Data collected helps inform ornithologists & conservation biologists about how the birds of the Americas are faring over time. Learn more about Audubon's Christmas Bird Count & how to get involved!
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As winter's snow & ice arrive, planning ahead & preparing for your outdoor adventures is critical. As picturesque as outdoor ice skating โธ seems, it's no fun when you're out for a walk & start sliding. One item to consider investing in this winter are Crampons (think of lighter versions of tire chains but for your winter boots). There are a variety of options to consider, & it all depends on your level of winter adventures. Discover & Learn more - from www.Section Hiker.com
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Section 4:
Conferences๏ปฟ, Webinars, Grants, & Awards
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The PAEE Annual Conference is an opportunity to celebrate and grow in the fantastic environmental education field in Pennsylvania! Register for the Conference NOW!
Full Conference Scholarships ๐ฐ are available for Environmental Educators, Classroom Teachers, & School Administrators (includes a 1-year membership to PAEE)
Apply NOW! Deadline: December 15, 2023 Priority given to teachers or school administrators that serve Title I schools, marginalized communities, or otherwise work to grow DEI & environmental justice.
Conference Schedule-at-a-Glance
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โMarch 17 โ Pre Conference workshops, Dinner for all, & Evening Activities
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March 18 โ Breakfast, Conference Workshops, Lunch, Keynote Speaker, Dinner, Awards Ceremony, PAEE Annual Board Meeting, & Evening Activities
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March 19 โ Breakfast, Conference Workshops, Lunch, Silent Auction Winners, & Closing
AWARDS! Be a Winner! Nominate someone for a 2024 PAEE๐ฅAward! Learn More & Submit a Nomination NOW!
Nominate yourself, your nature center, or someone else for a PA MWEE ๐ฆ Award! There are two PA MWEE Awards:
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Nominate your nature center or another EE Program Provider for the 2024 MWEE Partner of Excellence Award - Submit a MWEE Partner Award๐ฅNomination NOW!
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Nominate a PreK-12 formal educational institution (e.g., individual schools, entire school districts) for the 2024 MWEE School of Excellence Award - Submit a MWEE School of Excellent Award๐ฅNomination NOW!
Deadline for all awards: December 15, 2023 - Questions? Email stacey@paee.net
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Upcoming MWEE๐ฆPractitioner Webinars from the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office
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Performance Assessments & MWEEs in Elementary -- Thursday, December 14, 2-3 PM EST ๐ฆ
Performance Assessments (PA) measure students ability to apply the skills & knowledge learned from a unit of study typically through creating a product or answering a question. In some states like Virginia, PAs are required at various points in a student's K-12 career. During this webinar learn about how PAs can be used to also meet the MWEE approach by exploring an example developed by the Virginia Dept. of Education. Register NOW!
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Climate Resources for Supporting MWEEs -- Monday, January 8, 11 AM-12 PM EST ๐ฆ
This webinar will feature a number of resources for developing & implementing a climate-focused MWEE, including a brand new Environmental Literacy Model (ELM) that can be used or adapted to your local context. Register NOW!
- PWCPS District Envi. Literacy Plan -- Tuesday, February 6, 2-3 PM
Join leaders from Prince William County Public Schools to learn about how they created their district environmental literacy plan, whatโs included in their plan, & their lessons learned for others wanting to create a district EL plan. Register NOW!
๏ปฟ๐ฆ ๐ฆ ๐ฆ ๐ฆ ๐ฆ ๐ฆ ๐ฆ ๐ฆ๏ปฟ๐ฆ ๐ฆ ๐ฆ ๐ฆ๏ปฟ๐ฆ ๐ฆ ๐ฆ ๐ฆ๏ปฟ๐ฆ ๐ฆ ๐ฆ
The 2024 NOAA Bay-Watershed Education & Training (B-WET) Grant Round is NOW OPEN!
The NOAA Chesapeake Bay Program is excited to announce the availability of up to $1.4 million in funding for new NOAA Bay-Watershed Education & Training (B-WET) Grants in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.
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There are two funding opportunities are available ๐ฆ -
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School District Programming - Funding will support projects to help school districts deliver Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs) to students, provide PD for teachers, &/or build environmental literacy capacity in school districts. Applicants may address climate change special interest area. Up to $900,000 in total funding.
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Statewide K-12 Environmental Literacy Capacity Building - This funding will support state-wide efforts to build capacity to deliver Environmental Education.
Free, Informational webinars for potential applicants ๐ฆ
- December 12 at 11:00 am EST
- December 18 at 3:00 pm EST
Register for these webinars & learn more, visit NOAA Chesapeake Bay. Applications due: February 16, 2024. Questions? Contact Elise Trelegan at elise.trelegan@noaa.gov.
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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has $2 billion of funding available through its Environmental & Climate Justice Community Change Grants to support community-driven projects that deploy clean energy, strengthen climate resilience, & build community capacity to respond to environmental & climate justice challenges.
Eligible organizations include partnerships between community-based organizations & local governments, such as school districts. The Notice of Funding Opportunity will be open for a year (due by 11/21/2024) and reviewed on a rolling basis, with dedicated technical assistance available. These grants are a part of the Inflation Reduction Act.๏ปฟ
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Happy Holidays! December is FILLED with special days from around the World! Be inclusive in your classroom or nature center this year. Consider focusing on the Winter Solstice / Yule, Animals in Winter, Saturnalia, etc. Or, expand your celebrations to include many or even all of the December holidays! Check out this excellent "Teacher's Guide to December Holidays." - from the Teaching Channel.
๏ปฟWe've compiled a SMALL SAMPLER of vetted multicultural holiday resources for you below. There are so many more! We could devote an entire e-blast edition to December holidays. Enjoy!
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Wishing those of the Buddhist faith a peaceful Bodhi Day which is a Buddhist holiday that is held annually on or around December 8th. It commemorates the day the Buddha achieved spiritual awakening or enlightenment under the Bodhi tree.
Perhaps because of the austere nature of the Buddha's quest for enlightenment, Bodhi Day is observed quietly, without parades or fanfare with extended Meditation.
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New Year's Eve Omisoka & New Year's Oshลgatsu are the most important traditional holidays celebrated in Japan. Years are traditionally viewed as completely separate, with each new year providing a fresh start. All duties are supposed to be completed by the end of the year, while Bonenkai parties ("year forgetting parties") are held to leave the old year's worries & troubles behind. Homes & entrance gates are decorated, & everything is cleaned.
January 1 is started by viewing the New Year's sunrise (Hatsu-hinode). The day is supposed to be full of joy and free of stress & anger with no work being done. Read one person's account of Japanese New Year traditions with discussion questions.
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PA State Parks are YOURS! | |
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Go Green โป this holiday season! This season brings an increase in energy use & household waste. Each year, from Thanksgiving to New Yearโs Day, U.S. household waste increases by more than 25%! This year, try to go homemade, use a timer or remote on your outdoor lights, & be choosy with your tree. Learn more "Conservation Tips" in the DCNR Resource Newsletter (sign up to receive the DCNR Resource).
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 ALL๐
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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, and review regulations here: Find A Park
- Take care of & respect the resource. Park, hike, hunt, & more only in designated areas.
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Check the weather before you depart, wear layers, proper footwear, and bring water. Wear orange if hiking in designated hunting areas. Please clean up after pets ๐.
- Do not litter ๐ฎ.
- 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 ๐ก
- Bring a bag and either carry out your trash or dispose of it properly
- Continue to practice social distancing (stay >6' apart), take hand sanitizer with you and use it
- If you are sick or have been exposed to someone who is sick, stay home
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โ Happy Holidays! โ
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Carissa Longo, Natural Resource Program Specialist
(Coordinating Project WILD for PA & DCNR's Watershed Education curriculum for PA State Parks)
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Christine Ticehurst, Natural Resource Program Specialist
(Coordinating PLT & DCNR's GO Teach Curriculum for PA State Parks)
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Kim Lott, Natural Resource Program Specialist
(Coordinating Project WET & DCNR's PA Land Choices Curriculum for PA State Parks)
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