Happy New Year! 🎉 This fresh beginning is a great time to set your intention to spend more time outside and in PA State Parks, enjoying & exploring the many wonders and mysteries that nature offers every day. This E-blast edition strives to provide you with tips to help you teach about winter & get outside.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day was honored on Monday, January 15^th. Volunteers across the nation contributed their day off as a National Day of Service to help others. MLK day and volunteer efforts can continue throughout the year.

Consider volunteering in your community to help those in need. Not sure where to start? Perhaps start at the AmeriCorps MLK Day of Service page or consider Volunteering at a PA State Park - Register as a DCNR Conservation Volunteer.

E-Blast Contents:

• Section 1: Winter ❄ Teaching Ideas + FREE STUFF!
• Section 2: In-Person & Virtual Educator Professional Development Workshops
• Section 3: Explore the Outdoors! - Parks Winter ❄ Activity Report
• Section 4: Webinars, Trainings, & the Junior Duck 🦆 Stamp Program
• Section 5: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) - FREE Webinars!
• Capstone: PA State Park Info. & Updates

Section 1:

❄ Winter Teaching Ideas, Lessons, & FREE Stuff!

Winter Teaching Ideas & Lessons

• Check out this amazing & FREE Winter ❄ Scavenger Hunt Teacher's Guide which is aligned to NGSS & was designed with Inquiry-Based education in mind. It includes a full lesson, an activity sheet, & excellent Google Slides - ALL FREE! Note - this guide & the Slides were created by an Oregon educator. You'll need to edit a few of the plants & switch the Cougar🐾.

• Teaching about animals in winter - Children tend to be curious about where animals go in the winter & how other animals survive the cold ❄. Use this FREE "Animals that Hibernate in Winter Scavenger Hunt" Lesson to teach what raccoons 🦝 , frogs 🐸, squirrels, turtles, & more do to survive (see the hibernating turtle 🐢 example above & learn more about Turtle's Winter Superpowers!). - from Hands On Teaching Ideas

• Tips for a great Winter Nature Walk 🥾with Kids - from Run Wild My Child

• Celebrate the "RED"🍒in the Winter Woods - Learn About the many native plants that add gorgeous colors to our snow-covered landscapes- from the DCNR Good Natured Blog

• Best STEM Strategies for Teaching About Trees & Forests - from Project Learning Tree (PLT) 🌳

• Don’t standby on wasted 💡 energy! Conduct a Free Energy Audit at YOUR SCHOOL! Download the FREE "LAUNCH Toolkit:⚡Energy Audit (6^th-12^th) - As a team, examine your desired location & determine which appliances require or do not require to be plugged in at all times. Students can create change when they see themselves as active participants in their school community - from Grades of Green

FREE Nature Journaling Guide in 6 Languages!

Download Your Quick Start Guide to Nature Journaling booklet.

Download your FREE - How to Teach Nature Journaling book 📙. Pre-printed/folded copies can also be purchased.

Provided free by John Muir Laws & the Wild Wonder Foundation.

Celebrate Squirrel Appreciation Day - Held Annually on January 21!

• 10 Nutty Facts to Make You Appreciate Squirrels - from NWF
• Celebrate & Learn About Squirrels with Squirrel Fun Facts, Favorite squirrel kids books, and squirrel-themed games, crafts, & snacks - from Run Wild My Child

Paint🎨the Pennsylvania's Wilds

Watercolor kits with Artist Julie Mader. The kits are designed for 12 & up & are appropriate for a variety of skill levels. There are currently 4 kits available, each with 2 designs inspired by the scenery of the PA Wilds region.

Each $26.00 Paint the PA Wilds Watercolor Kit includes: two 6" X 9"painting templates printed on heavy 140# watercolor paper; 1 reusable paint palette with mixing wells & watercolor pigments; a pipette; a Taklon watercolor brush; images of painting examples; painting tips, & techniques; & a DIY color exploration sampler. The kits are available for purchase on the PA Wilds Marketplace.

Current kit options include:

• PA Grand Canyon & Wood Sorrel; Dark Skies & Mountain Laurel; Monarchs & Milkweed; and Kinzua Skywalk View & Trout Lily

Section 2:

In-Person & Virtual Educator

Professional Development Workshops

See ALL of the Upcoming Educator Workshops on the DCNR Calendar

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

Bring Your Dead ☠ Online Webinar for Educators

Wednesday, January 24, 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm EST on Zoom

Fee: $15.00 suggested donation requested to benefit CCEEC; donation payable via PayPal BY the start of the webinar. CCEEC PayPal Link: paypal.me/carboneec

Act 48: 1.5 hrs. for PA-Certified Teachers

Pre-registration is required. Register NOW - https://forms.gle/XxHKGsawhNHKXjJu5 (Don’t forget to hit "Submit" at the end of the Google Form)

Good hands-on environmental education places something real in a student’s hands. Teachers may use taxidermy or plastic replicas, but expanding an education toolkit beyond yellowed skulls, random bones, and fragile mounts can be tricky. With a little bit of guidance, educators can build inexpensive yet useful natural history collections.

Virtually join Carissa Longo, DCNR - PA State Parks & Susan Gallagher, Carbon County EE Center (CCEEC), for an engaging webinar to gain the skills needed to safely & legally curate, preserve, and care for natural history items in your educator’s toolkit. Discover the magic of using simple household items to preserve specimens, learn about embedding items in acrylic, hear tips on cleaning feathers & bones 🦴, & much more.

This webinar is open to all educators including classroom teachers, naturalists, youth group leaders, homeschoolers, & pre-service teachers. It includes innovative ideas for putting collections to use in inquiry-based teaching and making natural phenomena come to life. The session will not include making any of your own specimens, but all attendees will receive access to a comprehensive Google Drive folder filled with extensive files & resources. Questions? Contact Carissa Longo, NRPS at calongo@pa.gov or 717-772-1807.

Project🐻WILD 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.

GO Teach: Snowshoeing ❄ Teacher Workshop

Saturday, January 27, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

In-Person at Raccoon State Park, 3000 State Route 18, Hookstown, PA 15050

Act 48: 5.5 hrs.

Fee: $10.00 payable in advance; pre-registration is required.

Winter is a great time to get outdoors and explore the natural world on snowshoes. Learn how to motivate your students to get active during the winter through an interdisciplinary set of lessons created by the PA Bureau of State Parks. Lessons focus on health, fitness & preparedness; snow, weather, climate, & history. The workshop covers 5.5 hours of ACT 48 addressing Physical Education & Health; History; and Science & Technology Standards. Ideal for PE teachers, the workshop is also open to anyone teaching or interested in snowshoeing. Register NOW! Questions? Contact Patrick Adams, EES at paadams@pa.gov or 724-899-2200.

Growing Up Wild Educator Workshop

Saturday, February 3, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm EST

In-Person at Pennypack Ecological restoration Trust, 2955 Edge Hill Rd., Huntington Valley, PA 19006

Act 48: 3 hrs.

Fee: $15.00; Pre-Registration is required.

Growing Up WILD: Exploring Nature with Young Children is an early childhood education activity guide (ages 3-7) that builds on children’s sense of wonder about nature and invites them to explore wildlife and the world around them. Through a wide range of activities, it provides a foundation for developing positive impressions about nature while also building lifelong social & cognitive skills. In this hands-on workshop, which includes outdoor activities, participants will be introduced to the curriculum, guided in its use, & shown the resources available through Growing Up WILD, Project WILD, the PA Bureau of State Parks, & the Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust to help you implement GUW with your students. You will receive the award-winning Growing up WILD book. Register NOW. Questions? Contact Kevin Roth at kroth@pennypacktrust.org or 215-657-0830. Register by January 30^th.

Project Learning Tree (PLT) Educator Workshop

Wednesday, February 7, 8:30 am - 2:30 pm EST

In-Person at Kinzua Bridge State Park, 296 Viaduct Road, Kane, PA 16735

Act 48: 6 hrs.

Fee: $10.00; Pre-Registration is required.

Are you interested in nature? Project Learning Tree (PLT) is a forest themed Environmental Education curriculum for K-8^th 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.

GO Teach: Hiking 101 Educator Workshop

Saturday, February 17, 9:00 am - 3:00pm EST

In-Person at Raccoon Creek State Park, 3000 State Route 18, Hookstown, PA 15050

Act 48: 5.5 hrs.

Fee: $10.00; Pre-Registration is required.

Hiking can open the door to many educational opportunities. Join us and explore the possibilities of using hiking to modernize your curriculum and remake learning in your classroom. This workshop is focused on teachers & educators who teach science, geography, or physical education. Outdoor group leaders are welcome as well. Lessons focus on health, fitness, trip planning, map & compass, finding local trails, forest ecology, and nature journaling. Register NOW! Questions? Contact Patrick Adams, EES at paadams@pa.gov or 724-899-2200.

Project Learning Tree (PLT) Educator Workshop

Saturday, February 24, 9:00am - 3:30 pm EST

In-Person at Tiadaghton State Forest, 10 Lower Pine Bottom Rd, Waterville, PA 17776

Act 48: 6 hrs.

Fee: $10.00; Pre-Registration & pre-payment are required.

Project Learning Tree (PLT) is an award-winning environmental education curriculum designed for students in preschool through12^th grade. This workshop will focus on the PLT Explore your Environment K-8 Activity Guide and is geared towards both formal & informal (homeschool parents, scout leaders, 4H leaders, etc.) educators, as well as pre-service teachers, who work with students in grades K-8. All participants will receive the newest edition of the PLT Explore Your Environment K-8 Activity Guide and formal educators can earn six Act 48 hours. Register NOW! Questions? Contact Vinny Curtis, EES at vicurtis@pa.gov.

Virtual Project Growing Up WILD🦊(GUW) Educator Workshop

Thursday, March 7

Virtual on MS Teams by Presque Isle State Park

Act 48: 2.5 hrs.

Fee: FREE!

Virtual professional development opportunity for formal and non-formal educators of students in preschool to 3rd grade. Growing Up WILD: Exploring Nature with Young Children is an early childhood education activity guide (ages 3-7) that builds on children’s sense of wonder about nature and invites them to explore wildlife and the world around them. You will receive the award-winning Growing up WILD guide. Register NOW. Questions? Contact Ray Bierbower, EES edbierbowe@pa.gov or 814-833-0793.

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 Leopold’s master work The Sand County Almanac. This book chronicles a year at Leopold’s 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.

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.

Section 3:

Explore the Outdoors! Destress!

Section 4:

Webinars, Trainings, & the Junior Duck Stamp Program

Calling all teachers and friends of the outdoors! Nature Health Benefits LIVE is on its way! This is a four-part YouTube video series that will explore how being outdoors makes us healthier! Explore the benefits of nature on your physical health & mental health. Tune in on the Natural Inquirer’s YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/2-fKYBV1GHc. Send in questions by commenting on the videos - live Q&A on February 23^rd! 

PENNSYLVANIA EDUCATORS – Apply Today for a Spot Aboard the US EPA’S Research Vessel, Lake Guardian 🛥 , for a hands-on scientific Exploration of Lake Erie 

15 formal & non-formal educators teaching grades 5^th-12^th will be selected to embark on their Lake Erie scientific journey from July 7-13, 2024. Participating educators also receive a stipend.

Online application deadline is Monday, February 19, 2024 11:59 PM EST. 

Spend a week aboard the US EPA’s Research Vessel, Lake Guardian for the 2024 Shipboard Science Workshop. Scientific exploration of Lake Erie will provide educators with a hands-on opportunity to explore microplastics, phytoplankton, benthic organisms, sediment, & other Lake Erie-specific topics 🦐 alongside scientists and researchers working on these important issues. 

The annual expedition, rotating amongst the 5 Great Lakes, takes educators on a week-long voyage to explore & promote Great Lakes science. For more information & application materials for the 2024 Shipboard Science Workshop, visit the Center for Great Lakes Literacy website. 

The opportunity is organized by the Center for Great Lakes Literacy (CGLL) through a partnership with the US EPA Great Lakes National Program Office, with funding from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative through the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and hosted locally this year by the Pennsylvania Sea Grant & Ohio Sea Grant Programs.  

 CGLL is a collaborative effort led by Sea Grant educators throughout the U.S. Great Lakes watershed. CGLL fosters informed & responsible decisions that advance basin-wide stewardship by providing hands-on experiences, educational resources, & networking opportunities promoting Great Lakes literacy among an engaged community of educators, scientists, & youth. 

The Federal Junior Duck 🦆 Stamp Art Contest invites Pennsylvania K-12 students to create a 2-D work of art depicting a native duck, goose, or swan, while learning about the importance of conservation.

Entries are judged at the state level (culminating in an awards ceremony with prizes!) with the Best in Show from each state advancing to the national contest. 

Contest is FREE to enter! Entries are due by March 15, 2024. Entry forms, drawing paper, & curriculum guides are available for educators! Contact Wingyi at Wingyi_Kung@fws.gov. Learn more about the Federal Jr. Duck Stamp Contest.

Section 5:

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

- Learn more about DCNR's DEI efforts-

WEBINAR - Unearthing Joy: Using Multicultural Literature in Nature Education

Tuesday, January 23, 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm EST

FREE!

Participants will explore:

• Recommended books for various nature topics
• Suggested materials to encourage play for each book
• Activities that compliment each book

Register NOW! If you have any questions at all, please do not hesitate to reach out to Ashley.

PA State Parks are YOURS!

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👐

• Many Environmental Education programs require pre-registration. Explore the DCNR events calendar for details & to register.
• 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.
• 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 🐕.
• Do not litter 🚮.
• Alcohol is not allowed in PA State Parks.
• 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 (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

🎉 Happy New Year! 🎉



Carissa Longo, Natural Resource Program Specialist

(Coordinating Project WILD for PA & DCNR's Watershed Education curriculum for PA State Parks)

&

Christine Ticehurst, Natural Resource Program Specialist

(Coordinating PLT & DCNR's GO Teach Curriculum for PA State Parks)

&

Kim Lott, Natural Resource Program Specialist

(Coordinating Project WET & DCNR's PA Land Choices Curriculum for PA State Parks)

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