Spring is coming! You can feel it through the smells in the air, the flowers popping up, and seeing Red-Winged Blackbirds & others back from migration. The Vernal Equinox is March 20^th which tells us Spring 🌷 will really be here soon! Stretch into Spring 🧘‍♀️ with Spring Equinox Yoga Learning Poses - from All Natural Adventures

Did you & your students participate in last month's "Great Backyard Bird 🐦Count?! More than 600,000 people from 209 countries/regions were out birding February 16-19, & found 7,842 species! See full results (you can also find the results near you). Did you submit a picture 📸? Check out some of the favorite photos in this GBBC thank-you video. See Section 1 below for more bird teaching ideas + a free poster!

March is Women's 💃 History Month - get inspired with this short video What is a Woman? Women's History Month and visit Section 4 for lessons & resources.

E-Blast Contents -

• Section 1: Teaching Ideas - Solar Eclipse, St. Patrick's Day, FREE Stuff, & more
• Section 2: In-Person & Virtual Educator Professional Development Workshops
• Section 3: Webinars & Conferences
• Section 4: Explore the Outdoors! - LNT Series Part 3
• Section 5: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) - Women's History Month & more
• Capstone: PA State Park Info. & Updates

Section 1: Teaching Ideas

Celebrate ☘ St. Patrick's Day, Teach about the Solar 🌒 Eclipse, FREE stuff, & more!

• 4 nature inspired St. Patrick’s Day activities - Make a Leprechaun fort, Make Your Own Shamrock ☘, & more!
• St. Patrick's Day☘Science Activities - 24 creative activities & lessons to incorporate March 17^th into the different core subject areas. 
• St. Patrick's Day Scavenger Hunt Ideas - from Run Wild My Child

The Total Solar Eclipse is coming - Monday, April 8, 2024! 🌒 https://eclipse2024.org/

During the solar eclipse, the moon 🌑 will pass between Earth 🌎 and the sun ☀, blocking the sun’s light. The path of the eclipse will cross through a portion of northwest Pennsylvania, including Erie, Crawford, Warren, & Mercer counties. For nearly 4 minutes, the afternoon sky will go dark.

To see the sun totally eclipsed by the moon you must be in the path. Most of Pennsylvania lies within the 90% coverage range, so there will be excellent viewing across the state, weather permitting, even outside the path of totality (see map above & Interactive Map: 2024 Solar Eclipse Across US | NASA).

• Check out DCNR's Eclipse Info.
• Total solar eclipse - Info. about the Great North American Eclipse | eclipse2024.org
• Learn about the Eclipse & how to safely view it with PA State Park Educators - FREE in-person programs can be found all over PA + many virtual programs.

Protect Your Eyes While Viewing an Eclipse! Throughout most of the eclipse, it is not safe to look directly at the sun with the naked eye or any kind of standard sunglasses 😎.

Protect your eyes by:

• Using eclipse glasses or a handheld solar viewer during the partial eclipse phases before and after totality
• Using solar viewers that comply with the ISO 12312-2 international standard
• Suppliers of Safe Solar Filters & Viewers

Kids’ Books

• "A Few Beautiful Minutes: Experiencing a Solar Eclipse" by Kate Allen Fox 
• "Total Solar Eclipse: A Stellar Friendship Story" by Jayme Sandberg 

FREE Eclipse Teaching Resource!

Observing the sky is a part of being human, and eclipses are no exception. Every culture that has seen an eclipse has developed an understanding & knowledge around them. These tellings have been entrusted to us, so let us honor the cultures who have shared them. Check out Ways of Knowing: Eclipses Around the World - a FREE card set & slide deck that focuses on world cultures, & how they interact with eclipses. Includes tips from experts on engaging your audience & cultural sensitivity. - from NASA's Night Sky Network

Utilize Digital Tools to Connect Your Students to Wildlife!

Project Learning Tree (PLT) created a great list of apps & other digital resources to connect, educate, & inspire older students to learn about wildlife conservation. Have students use their phones & Apps such as Merlin Bird ID, Audubon Bird Guide, & more to observe & track birds 🐦. Check out iNaturalist & other projects to start adding schoolyard data to community science. 🔭

It's National Bird Feeding Month!

Celebrate by feeding hungry birds 🐦this spring - Make Feeders out of Natural & Recycled Materials with Project Learning Tree (PLT)! 14 DIY bird feeder arts & crafts that will be sure to attract plenty of feathered friends for classroom excitement & observations.

Teach about birds with these FREE Lessons from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology

• "Taking Flight - Flying & Migration" Lesson - engaging activities on why birds migrate & the obstacles they encounter. For grades 1-6.
• "Activity 6 - Flight & Migration" from Science & Nature Activities for Cooped Up Kids, students explore bird adaptations for flight & the ways flying helps birds succeed. For grades K-8. 
• "Ruby's Birds" is a wonderful book about a young girl's birding "spark moment," witnessing a migrating bird in her urban neighborhood. Check out the Educator's Guide for activities to inspire your students. For grades K-5.
• For older students, the fascinating migration technology of BirdCast includes migration maps, forecast maps, local bird migration alerts, & more.

Free Feeder Birds Poster Download!

Which birds 🐦 flock to which feeders? Birds of the U.S. & Canada are featured in this FREE! beautifully illustrated, double-sided poster (Eastern birds on one side; Western on the other).

 - from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Section 2:

In-Person & Virtual Educator

Professional Development Workshops

See ALL of the Upcoming Educator Workshops on the DCNR Calendar

Teacher Workshop: Supporting Environmental Literacy Across the Curriculum with the MWEE💦Framework

Thursday, April 4, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

In-Person at Tyler State Park, 101 Swamp Rd., Newtown, PA 18940-1151

Act 48: 6 hrs. + 8 additional optional hrs. *If participants would like to earn their MWEE Ambassador certificate, they must complete the MWEE 101 Course

Fee: FREE! Includes breakfast & a light lunch!

The environment provides endless opportunities for authentic learning experiences that support your entire curriculum. When students learn through systemic and well-designed environmental education (EE), they build background content knowledge to support literacy, experience authentic, hands-on learning that advances STEM & promotes career readiness. Recognizing the complexities of implementing student-driven, authentic, and locally relevant EE that meets academic goals, we will explore the Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience (MWEE) Framework. This well-established framework provides the structure & resources to support integrating EE in schools that aligns to PA STEELS standards, including the Environmental Literacy & Sustainability domain. This workshop is for formal & Informal educators teaching grades 3-12. It is being co-led by PA State Park Educators & the Bucks County IU. Includes an outdoor field experience 🥾. Pre-Registration required. Register NOW! Questions? Contact Events@BucksIU.org.

Hybrid Watershed💦Education Workshops

This hybrid workshop format is made up of 3 Parts (13 total training hours):

1. One 2 hr. Virtual Session (attend live or watch the recording) and
2. Homework Assignments (5 hrs. to be completed between virtual session & field day) &
3. One in-park Field Day (6 hours)

Virtual Session: Wednesday, April 10, 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM EST on Zoom

During Registration, choose ONE In-Person Field Day Date and Location: 

Jacobsburg EE Center (Northampton County) Field Day: Tuesday, June 4, 9:00 am–3:30 pm

OR

Codorus State Park (York County) Field Day: Friday, June 21, 9:00 am–3:30 pm EST

Act 48: 13 hrs.

Fee: $25.00 payable in advance (fee requested via email once registered; payable via check or money order).

Looking for a thoughtful curriculum that engages students and connects them to their local communities and environment? Join the professionals as we explore Pennsylvania's Water Basins & Watersheds. Watershed Education (WE) is an inquiry-based, interdisciplinary curriculum for students in grades 6 -12. Developed by the DCNR - Bureau of State Parks, WE helps educators utilize local natural resources as a valuable teaching tool. By blending hands-on classroom and field investigations modeled on professional research methodologies, students participate in data collection & analysis, community networking & partnerships, stewardship, and service-learning activities. WE promotes in-depth, multi-modal learning and understanding of water resources while encouraging students to examine their watershed holistically.

Participants will:

• Receive a copy of the award-winning Watershed Education Curriculum
• Receive 13 Act 48 Hours (Certified PA Teachers)
• Conduct a biological survey, measure physical stream parameters, & determine stream chemistry

REGISTER NOW Contact Chris Kemmerer at chkemmerer@pa.gov or 717-425-5330.

Educator Workshop: Focus on Endangered & Threatened Species 🐢

Thursday, April 11, 9:00am - 3:00pm

In-Person at Wildwood Park / Olewine Nature Center, 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg, PA 17110

Act 48: 5.5 hrs.

Fee: $25.00 payable in advance; morning refreshments & snacks provided

Why are some species endangered while others are flourishing? Are there different levels of endangered species? Join Wildwood Park Environmental Education staff to explore the concepts and issues surrounding threatened & endangered species, investigate “how” & “why” species become endangered & threatened, examine laws affecting them, and discover methods biologists utilize to help species recover. Workshop also includes a short hike to explore the importance of wetlands for many endangered species and to get a close-up view of the PA Endangered Great Egret. This workshop is for classroom teachers, non-formal educators, college students studying to be teachers (pre-service), school administrators, homeschoolers, & youth leaders. All participants will receive a copy of the Windows on the WILD: PA Biodiversity Guide. Register NOW

Watershed💦Education Teacher Workshop

Saturday, April 13, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm *3hrs. of pre-workshop assignments required*

In-Person at Greenwood Furnace State Park, 15795 Greenwood Rd, Huntingdon, PA 16652

Act 48: 11.5 hrs.

Fee: $20.00 payable in advance; fee can be paid over the phone via credit card - call the park office at 814-667-1800.

Watershed Education (WE) is an inquiry-based, interdisciplinary curriculum for educators teaching grades 6 -12. Developed by the DCNR - Bureau of State Parks, WE helps educators utilize local natural resources as a valuable teaching tool. By blending hands-on classroom & field investigations modeled on professional research methodologies, students participate in data collection & analysis; community networking & partnerships; stewardship & service learning activities. WE promotes in-depth, multi-modal learning and understanding of water resources while encouraging students to examine their watershed holistically.

• Hands-on Field Investigations and Interdisciplinary lessons
• Addresses Environment & Ecology, Geography, History, STEELS, & more PDE Standards
• Journaling & portfolio development

Attendees will receive the award-winning Watershed Education Curriculum & more. Register by emailing Jen Moore, EES at jennmoore@pa.gov or calling the park office at 814-667-1800.

Project Learning Tree: Trees & Me Workshop 🌳

Saturday, April 13, 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

In-Person at Laurel Hill State Park, 1454 Laurel Hill Park Rd, Somerset, PA 15501

Act 48: 2 hrs.

Fee: $10.00 payable in advance; fee can be paid over the phone via credit card - call the park office at 814-352-8649.

The Project Learning Tree (PLT) Trees & Me Guide may be used as a supplementary environmental education curricula. It was developed for use with young children focusing on nature-based experiences with a specific focused on trees. This workshop is open to all educators who work with students from Pre-K to 1^st Grade, from formal teachers to naturalists, scout leaders, and others! Participants will receive a copy of the new PLT Trees & Me Guide & other relevant resources. Registration is required. Register NOW! (click on the green "Buy Tickets" button) or call the office at 814-352-8649. Additional questions can be directed to Kimberly Peck, EES at kipeck@pa.gov or 814-352-8649.

Watershed💦Education Workshop

Saturday May 18 & Sunday, May 19; 9:00 am - 5:00 pm each day (must attend both days)

In-Person at Oil Creek State Park, 305 State Park Rd., Oil City, PA 16301

Act 48: 13.5 hrs.

Fee: $25.00 payable in advance

Looking for a thoughtful curriculum that engages students and connects them to their local communities and environment? Join the professionals as we explore the Oil Creek Watershed. This workshop is open to educators teaching grades 6 – 12. Topics included cover ecological health, cultural history, industry, land use, hydrology, & more!

Watershed Education (WE) is an inquiry-based, interdisciplinary curriculum for students in grades 6 -12. Developed by the DCNR Bureau of State Parks, WE helps educators utilize local natural resources as a valuable teaching tool. By blending hands-on classroom and field investigations modeled on professional research methodologies, students participate in data collection & analysis, community networking & partnerships, and stewardship & service-learning activities. WE promotes in-depth, multi-modal learning & understanding of water resources while encouraging students to examine their watershed holistically.

Participants will:

• Receive a copy of the award-winning DCNR Watershed Ed Curriculum
• Receive 13.5 Act 48 Hours (Certified PA Educators)
• Conduct a biological survey
• Measure physical stream parameters
• Test a variety of chemical properties of Oil Creek
• Tour Drake Well Museum & Oil Creek State Park

REGISTER NOW! For more information, contact Oil Creek Park Office at 814-676-5915.

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:

Webinars, Trainings, & Conferences

The Earth Educators’ Rendezvous (EER) 2024 conference, sponsored by the National Association of Geoscience Teachers (NAGT) & SERC, will be hosted at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA from July 15-19, 2024. This event brings together earth scientists, K-16 teachers, & researchers for talks, posters, discussions, & intensive 1-2-3-day topical workshops.

Programming is geared toward developing effective instructional strategies, addressing teaching challenges in different educational settings, developing students’ competency, supporting lesson & exercise creation, and pursuing new educational research to address our challenges. REGISTER NOW! Early bird pricing goes through May 6^th.

Enhance Student Observations with Nature Journaling Webinar 📓📝

March 19, 7:00 PM Eastern 🐦 FREE!

Nature journaling can help students to build a sense of place and creatively express their observations through note-taking, art, & poetry. Learn from teachers who have successfully created opportunities for multidisciplinary learning. See sample student journals, discover engaging prompts, & make a plan to make nature journaling a part of your practice! From the Cornell Lab of Ornithology

AG-SEEDLINGS July 2024 Educator Trainings + FREE Lesson Resources

• Virtual workshop, July 15-21, 2024, 8:30 AM-4:00 PM
• Act 48 hours provided
• Fee: FREE!
• Register NOW! Questions/Comments? Contact Stephanie Klixbull

Take advantage of AG-SEEDLINGS 🌱 lessons FREE! AG-SEEDLINGS Resources - from the Penn State Center for Science & the Schools (CSATS)!

Section 4:

Explore the Outdoors!

Learn How to Fly Fish with PA State Parks and LL Bean 🎣

Saturday, March 23, at 9:00am to 2:00pm

French Creek State Park, 843 Park Road, Elverson, PA 19520

Registration Fee: $20.00

Join park educator Jared Brandt and members from L.L. Bean for a day of fly fishing 🐡instruction! During this workshop, participants will learn how to cast a fly rod, learn essentials of fly tying and knot rigging, and learn the best practices for insect selection.

This workshop is meant for beginners and those who want to try the basics of fly fishing.

Register NOW!

Questions? Contact: Jared Brandt, EES at 610-582-9680 or jabrandt@pa.gov

Find other fishing 🎣 programs led by PA State Park Educators all over Pennsylvania!

Check out fishing events on the DCNR Calendar.

Section 5:

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion: Celebrate Women's History Month

- Learn more about DCNR's DEI efforts-

Advice from women in conservation: “No matter what your personality, be bold and confident. Step outside of your comfort zone and meet new people in positions and at organizations in which you are interested. Volunteer, join professional groups, attend job fairs, reconnect with college professors and alumni, stop by a local National Park site – you never know who you might meet, who they might know, and what connections can be formed.”

– Nichole McHenry, Relevancy, Diversity, & Inclusion Program Manager, National Park Service (featured in The Journeys of Black Professionals in Green Careers plt.org/journeys)

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, picnic, 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, take hand sanitizer with you & use it
• If you are sick or have been exposed to someone who is sick, stay home

🍀 Happy St. Patrick's Day! 🍀



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.