Environmental Education Events

Online Video Contest to Find Speaker for June Rio + 20 Meeting - 13- to 30-Year-Olds Sought To Address World Leaders On Sustainability
http://datewithhistory.com

The TckTckTck campaign and Climate Nexus today announced the launch of the “Win A Date With History” online video speech contest.
The contest encourages young people between ages 13 – 30 from around the world to submit a short video speech expressing their ideas for how to stimulate decisive action on sustainability. The winner will address decision makers and world leaders scheduled to meet in Brazil this June for Rio+20, the 20th anniversary of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro. “Throughout history, young people have been the drivers of change, transforming the socio-political landscape of the planet,” said Kelly Rigg, Executive Director of the Global Campaign for Climate Action (GCCA) which runs TckTckTck. “Today, using the power of the Internet, young people around the Earth can record and submit short speeches that we hope will urge, inspire, and ultimately move world leaders attending the Earth Summit to take immediate action on global warming and a sustainable future for all humankind.” Contest participants can upload their 2-3 minute speeches at the website above or via the Mobli™ app http://datewithhistory.com/mobli (using the category @datewithhistory). Once the submission period has closed, the most popular speeches from each region, as determined by the number of votes online, will be shortlisted as finalists. A jury made up of prominent individuals from around the world, including Severn Suzuki, whose speech as a 12 year old at the 1992 Earth Summit remains an iconic moment, will review the short list and select a winner on May 15. The winner will travel to Rio and deliver the speech in person to world leaders at the Rio +20 Earth Summit. TckTckTck and Climate Nexus will follow the winner’s journey to the Summit, creating a “behind-the-scenes” web documentary of this unique experience. For more information on the contest and how to enter, please visit the above website.

The Otesha Project 2012 Cycling and Performing Tours
May-October 2012, NB, NS & ON, Canada
http://otesha.ca/

The Otesha Project cycling tours involve groups of volunteers on bicycles, living as a sustainable community and delivering a play on environmental and social justice issues to schools and other community groups. This year's tours are:
May to June: Rising Tide Tour – Fredericton to Halifax
July: 9 Day Shift Tour – Ottawa (All ages tour)
September to October: Phenomenal Food Tour – Kitchener-Waterloo to Ottawa
September to October: Water Works Tour - Kitchener-Waterloo to Ottawa
The Otesha Project is currently putting together teams of a dozen or more motivated and energetic young volunteers, aged 18 to 30, who will share in an incredible experience living in mobile sustainable communities. If you would like to apply, please click here. First applied first considered.

Education for Environmental Stewardship an accredited graduate-level e-course
Session 2: May 8 - June 5, 2012
http://pd.tiged.org/

This course is designed to develop educators' understanding of and competencies in environmental education. Course material draws on a combination of current environmental education research and best practices from the teaching field. Using online and offline resources and tools, we will discuss the critical need for meaningful environmental education, and how to foster a sense of environmental stewardship for students through a project-based, practical approach. Organized by TakingItGlobal, this course includes weekly classes facilitated online, in real time by an experienced environmental educator, and recorded to ensure full flexibility and access; A private virtual classroom space that allows participants to connect between classes to share ideas, collaborate, and engage in meaningful dialogue; Challenging and engaging readings, assignments and projects; and An approach to learning that encourages personal reflection.

The Bombardier YouCity Innovation Contest
May 13, 2012 is the deadline to submit your proposal
http://youcity.bombardier.com/

Bombardier is inviting people to submit ideas for sustainable mobility in the urban environment. The YouCity competition seeks to identify a whole spectrum of new innovations and ideas to demonstrate what smart urban mobility will look like in the future. Ideas can be presented for projects in existing well developed cities or as theoretical projects for emerging cities of the future.
Winners will receive 2000 euro dollars (approximately $2600) and receive an all expenses paid 4-day trip to Berlin, Germany to participate in an exclusive Innovation Workcamp, the results of which will be presented on September 20th, 2012 at InnoTrans in Berlin, the world's largest trade fair focused on the rail transport industry. Ideas are posted online where people can review and comment openly. Candidates get the opportunity to receive feedback and exposure from people all over the world. The most active and valuable community participant will also be invited to join the winners in Berlin for the Innovation Workcamp. To submit ideas and for more information visit: youcity.bombardier.com

EE in Action Webinar: What in the World Triggers Asthma? What Every School Should Know
May 15, 2012, 4-5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time
http://www.epa.gov/education/eeinaction.html

Asthma is a serious, sometimes life-threatening chronic respiratory disease that affects the quality of life for almost 25 million Americans, including an estimated 7 million children. Although there is no cure for asthma yet, asthma can be controlled through medical treatment and management of environmental triggers. EPA is committed to educating all Americans about asthma so that everyone knows what asthma is, how the environment can affect asthma patients and how to manage environmental asthma triggers. Join us in this webinar to learn about asthma triggers, how to prevent or avoid them, and what resources EPA offers to educate yourself and others on how to take action to reduce asthma attacks.
Pre-registration is required. Visit https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/986638296 to register.

2011/12 GreenLearning Canada Solar Oven Challenge
Registration now open (entries due June 8, 2012), Canada-wide
http://www.greenlearning.ca/node/399

Registration is now open for the 2011/12 Solar Oven Challenge. GreenLearning Canada hosts this popular renewable energy challenge for Canadian classes every year. Students build, test and bake with solar ovens using the solar oven construction plan provided at re-energy.ca, or using plans of their own design. In the past, participants have ranged from grade 3 through to grade 12, and from science classes to environmental clubs. The Solar Oven Challenge is open to all Canadian students. To participate: 1) Teachers, register your class by sending an email with your name, school, grade, address, and phone number to Kathy Worobec at GreenLearning Canada. She will send you a copy of the Teacher's Guide; 2) Build, test and bake with solar ovens!; 3) Email us photos and descriptions of your creations by June 8, 2012 to be eligible to win prizes; 4) See your recipes and photos showcased at re-energy.ca - GreenLearning's renewable energy website. To see our Showcase of past winners and submissions and learn more about the Solar Oven Challenge, visit http://www.re-energy.ca/solar-oven-challenge.

The CLASSY Awards is the largest philanthropic awards ceremony in the country, celebrating the greatest charitable achievements by nonprofit organizations, socially conscious businesses, and individuals worldwide. In 2011, nearly 2,000 organizations and volunteers were nominated for a CLASSY Award, and their collective efforts impacted the lives of more than 200,000,000 people in 71 countries worldwide. Charities, socially conscious businesses, volunteers, and college students over the age of 18 can submit Achievements for the CLASSY Awards until June 14, 2012.

2012 Minnesota Association for Environmental Education Conference
June 21-22, 2012, Itasca, MN
http://www.minnesotaee.org/2012

Journey to the headwaters of the Mississippi River in Itasca State Park to network and learn with fellow environmental educators in Minnesota. Through the theme "Rec*reate, Re*create," explore how play and creativity can enhance work and professional life. Award-winning storyteller Mike Mann will share his thoughts about the main attributes of creative environments, indoor and outdoor, while playing with ways to spark individual creativity. Enjoy natural history field trips in the park, 20 current sessions, and a folk dance on Thursday night. Come recreate with us!

The world is changing at an extremely rapid pace, affecting the essence of how we learn, interact, and work. As educators, can we create learning experiences to equip our students for a future that is constantly changing? This week-long course is designed for educators working in formal and informal settings, within institutions and in grassroots community contexts. The Earth Charter will be presented and discussed as a unique educational framework for helping build a more sustainable, peaceful and just global community. For more information, please visit the website, or contact the Centre Director, Mohit Mukherjee at mohit <at> upeace.org.

Teacher's Workshop at the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre
July 1-5th, 2012, Bamfield, BC
http://www.bms.bc.ca/pubed.html

This workshop is open to teachers of all grades and will emphasize the importance of learning environmental and ocean sciences through outdoor education and hands-on learning. A portion of the workshop will be devoted to field trips, allowing teachers to gain new teaching skills and knowledge of the natural world, while other activities include classroom-based labs using live animals and fascinating science demos. Participants will also be supplied with curriculum specific learning materials that have been tried and tested in classrooms throughout Canada. For more information, visit the website or contact summer@bms.bc.ca
Registration deadline is June 1st, 2012

2012 Family Nature Summit at YMCA of the Rockies
July 7-13, 2012, Estes Park, CO
http://www.familysummits.org/

Family Summits, Inc. was created by a group of National Wildlife Federation member families and Summit participants. This week-long outdoor discovery program appeals to families, singles, and anyone who wants to explore unique natural areas, increase their environmental awareness, and learn from a variety of classes, hikes, field trips, workshops, crafts, lectures, and outfitted adventures…each geared toward their specific age group. Knowledgeable naturalists and dedicated educators bring the surroundings to life, and families have fun while building a lasting foundation of outdoor knowledge and environmental awareness. There are scholarships available for both teachers and students to take advantage of this opportunity. For more information and to register, please visit the website.

Are you passionate about building a just and sustainable world through education? This online course is designed to deepen your understanding of the interconnected issues of environmental preservation, animal protection, human rights, and media & culture. It will challenge you to think creatively and critically about integrating global issues into your classrooms and communities, preparing you to enliven your teaching and add even greater depth and relevancy to your curricula - regardless of the grade you teach, the educational setting, or the subject areas in which you specialize. This program is suitable for teachers, community educators, and homeschooling parents. Explore relevant issues without the need to travel! Earn 4.5 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) through the University of Maine (45 contact hours). To Learn more and register, please visit the website.

National Children & Youth Garden Symposium
July 19-21, 2012, Greater Washington D.C. Area.
http://www.ahs.org/youth_gardening/national_youth_garden_symposium.htm

For its 20th anniversary, the American Horticultural Society’s National Children and Youth Garden Symposium returns to the Greater Washington, D.C. area to celebrate two decades of promoting teaching and learning in the garden. Located just outside of Washington, D.C., the University of Maryland will serve as home base for three dynamic days of workshops, lectures, poster sessions, and field trips. Founded in 1856 as a private agricultural college and now flagship of the state’s higher education system, the University of Maryland with its tree-lined central mall and Colonial Revival architecture is a fitting location to reflect on where we’ve been, share accomplishments, and propose for the future. For more information, or to be added to the mailing list, visit the website, email youthprograms<at>ahs.org.

The National Farm to Cafeteria Conference will bring together 900 food service professionals, farmers, educators, policy makers, representatives from government agencies and non-profits, entrepreneurs, students and others who are breaking down barriers and expanding the impact of Farm to Cafeteria. The conference is hosted by the National Farm to School Network in collaboration with the local host, Vermont Food Education Every Day (VT FEED), which is a partnership between Food Works, Shelburne Farms and the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont.
Conference registration opens May 7. Applications will be accepted until May 31.

Sustainable Living Leadership Program
August 2-26, 2012. From northeastern BC to Vancouver.
www.rivershed.com

The Rivershed Society of BC's Sustainable Living Leadership Program (SLLP) is a three-week field course that spans the entire length of the Fraser River. This is a part of British Columbia that most people will never get to see, and it will change the way you look at this province and its most spectacular river system. From Aug. 2 - 26, participants journey by foot, van, canoe and raft from the Fraser's headwaters in northeastern B.C. to where it meets the shores of Vancouver, 1,400 kilometers away.
Participants will hike part of the Goat River Trail, a historic pass through the Caribou Mountains that was travelled by First Nations traders and pioneering gold prospectors. They will raft through Hell's Gate, B.C.'s famous white water rapids in the heart of the Fraser canyon. They get to travel the most off-the-beaten-track parts of the province, with skilled facilitators to interpret the geography, biology and history of the landscape.
The program inspires and educates through hands-on experience, and opens the door to a network of community leaders in the Fraser River watershed. Participants are given the time to develop and plan projects they can implement in their own communities.
Anyone with an interest in sustainability or community development is encouraged to apply for this year's program. Participants must be 19 years of age or older and physically fit. Community volunteer experience is an asset. For more information or to apply, visit our website.
The application deadline is May 18, 2012.

Canadian enviro-film touring program
Canada-wide
http://planetinfocus.org/youth-education/for-schools/

Planet in Focus’ SCHOOL TOURING PROGRAM inspires environmental leadership and education by assisting Canadian Elementary, Middle and Secondary school teachers and their students organize their own environmental film screenings. Planet in Focus can work with you to find films that are right for your school and your curriculum. Please visit the above website or email us at touringprogram<at>planetinfocus.org to obtain more information about film titles and associated costs.

Environmental Concern POW! and WOW! Wetland Workshops for Educators
Various dates - OH, NY, NC, MD, FL, WA, KY, PA, WV, DE, NV, IN, and more
http://www.wetland.org/education_professional_dev.htm

POW! The Planning of Wetlands: Learn the step by step process for creating or enhancing a wetland on school grounds or within the community. POW! guides you through wetland design and construction with activities that allow students to participate in designing, preparing, and monitoring a schoolyard wetland, and utilizing it as an outdoor classroom.
WOW! The Wonders of Wetlands: Get an introduction to wetland ecology through a study of the three parameters of wetlands (vegetation, soils, & hydrology) as well as wetland functions and values by utilizing K-12 hands-on, inquiry-based, cross-curricular activities. Leave with over 50 hands-on multidisciplinary activities in lesson plan format, ideas for student action projects, and a wetlands resource guide.

For more information and to for the complete state-by-state schedule, please visit the website.

TerraCycle "Trash to Cash" Brigade programs for schools and non-profits
Canada-wide
http://www.terracycle.ca/

TerraCycle’s Brigade programs are free fundraisers that pay schools and non-profits to collect a range of non-recyclable products and packaging including drink pouches, chocolate wrappers, sandwich bags or yogurt cups. For each piece of “waste” returned, TerraCycle pays two cents to the school or a charity of the collector’s choice. Schools that are not already in the TerraCycle program can sign up for the Brigade at www.terracycle.ca.

Francophone School Twinning Project in Canada
Begins January 1, 2011, Quebec and various other locations in Canada
http://www.aqpere.qc.ca/

To celebrate their 20th anniversary, AQPERE (i.e. the Quebec association for environmental education) is launching an ambitious school twinning program on the theme of Eco-Citizenship on January 1, 2011. The program will twin Quebec schools with francophone schools elsewhere in Canada to promote eco-citizenship. As well, students in partner schools will have opportunities learn about each other, improve their writing skills and graphic design capabilities, and share their school greening ideas and accomplishments. For more information, contact Robert Litzler, the JEFCA-Québec project coordinator at aqpere <at> videotron.ca or visit the website.

Zerofootprint Challenge - Compete to reduce your school's ecological footprint
http://www.zerofootprint.net/

Is your school green? Prove it. This year, students take climate change into their own hands by competing to reduce their environmental impact. Join to see what your footprint is, then challenge another school to a race to reduce! The school that achieves the highest percentage reduction wins! For more information on signing your school up, please visit one of the websites above.

Eco-Schools is an internationally acclaimed program that provides a framework to help educators integrate sustainable principles throughout their schools and curriculum. The Eco-Schools program strives to model environmentally-sound practices, provides support towards greening the curriculum and supports science and academic achievement. Additionally it works to foster a greater sense of environmental stewardship among youth. Through school-based action teams of students, administrators, educators and community volunteers, Eco-Schools combines effective "green" management of the school grounds, facilities and the curriculum. Schools that are certified in the program undergo a thorough application process and succeed in organizing and implementing a comprehensive assessment of their school. Visit the website for more details on how your school can become an Eco-School!

A “BioBlitz” is an event that engages people with biodiversity, inviting them to get directly involved in surveying and monitoring their surrounding wildlife. The target age group is 7-11 year olds, but any age group can take part. The Bristol Natural History Consortium encourages schools to get outdoors and see what wildlife is living in their grounds by holding their very own event. A BioBlitz can provide a creative and stimulating link to your school’s learning in Science, Geography, Math and English. There are three different ways you might choose to structure your BioBlitz: contribute to a national nature survey; invite a wildlife expert to run a BioBlitz at your school; or organize your own BioBlitz challenge. Although the BNHC is located in the UK, they will put you in touch with wildlife organizations that can assist you, regardless of what country you live in, and provide as much help and support as possible. For more information please see take a look at the PDF accessible at the URL above, or contact us by email: schools <at> bioblitzuk.org.uk.

Journey North Annual Global Wildlife Study -- Register now!
http://www.learner.org/jnorth/

Teachers and students in K-12 classrooms are invited to sign up now for Journey North's 16th annual global study of wildlife migration and seasonal change. An Internet-based citizen science project, Journey North enables students in more than 18000 schools to watch the wave of spring unfold. Students share observations with classmates worldwide and look for patterns. Participants are prepared to explore how climate and other factors affect living things.

Cool the Earth Elementary School Climate Change Awareness Program
Registration currently open, North America-wide
http://www.cooltheearth.org/

Cool the Earth is currently enrolling elementary schools in its free Climate Change awareness program. The program, which educates students about climate change and gives them the tools to get the whole family engaged in taking action to reduce their carbon emissions at home, is available to any elementary school in North America. Run by a teacher or parent volunteer, the program launches with a school-wide assembly featuring an age-appropriate play, which educates children about global warming and empowers them to take action. Students then go home with a coupon book which lists 20 low or no-cost actions they can take with their parents to reduce their energy use at home. Once the children taken an action they bring the completed coupons back to school and the results are tallied and celebrated on a visible banner. Cool the Earth is a non-profit organization which has already motivated over 50,000 kids and their families to take over 115,000 actions to reduce their carbon emissions, eliminating 90 million pounds of global warming gases from the air. The program is run outside of classroom time and is led by a parent or teacher-volunteer. Typically, kids are asked to take action within 6-8 weeks of program launch. For more information and to register your school, please visit the website.