EE stuff from our Alaskan Neighbours

Summer Education Programs in Cordova - The Prince William Sound Science Center is pleased to announce our 2008 Summer Education Program schedule. Programs include summer camps and field courses based in beautiful Cordova, surrounded by the rich ecosystems of the Copper River Delta and Prince William Sound. Program offerings include: From the Forest to the Sea Science Camp I, *June 9-13*, ages 12-15, $425; Science Day Camp, *June 16-20*, ages 8-11, $175; Oceanography of the Prince William Sound, *June 23-July 2*, minimum age 15, $995 + optional undergraduate credits; Natural History of the Copper River Watershed, *July 16-22*, adults & teachers, $2,165 + optional Continuing Education credits; Science Camp II, *August 4-8*, ages 10-12, $350. Please visit our webpage at http://www.pwssc.org for program details and descriptions. For more information or to register,

please contact Lindsay at (907) 424-5800 x231 or lindsay@pwssc.org

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Science Courses at University of Alaska Fairbanks Summer Sessions. Experience the natural beauty of Alaska, enjoy the midnight sun in Alaska's Interior, and explore unique educational opportunities. For further information, please go to: http://www.uaf.edu/summer ____

National Environmental Education Week

National Environmental Education Week, April 13-19, 2008, offers a full week of educational preparation, learning, and activities in K-12 classrooms, nature centers, zoos, museums, and aquariums; the week’s theme is Carbon Footprints. The website includes a participant toolkit, teaching resources, nature journaling blog, and much more. Become a formal partner by registering on the home page.

http://www.eeweek.org/

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Web Site: A Global Map of Human Impacts to Marine Ecosystems

This analysis of human impacts to marine ecosystems shows that over 40% of the world's oceans are heavily affected by human activities and few if any areas remain untouched. The article is available for downloading from the website, which includes the world map along with the different data layers and additional information. While on the website, check out the link to Kids Do Ecology, an educational, participatory, bilingual website, supporting an inquiry-based approach to science for 5th grade classes to design and conduct scientific experiments in ecology. http://www.nceas.ucsb.edu/GlobalMarine

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Biodidac digital images, video, and animations

Biodidac is a bank of digital images, video, and animations that can be used and adapted for teaching biology. They have black and white illustrations that are free for educators; registration is required. Illustrations are included from Eubacteria, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, Animalia, Human Biology, and Histology. The website is available in French and English.

http://biodidac.bio.uottawa.ca/

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Ice Stories: Dispatches from Polar Scientists

The Exploratorium celebrates the International Polar Year 2007-2008 by giving cameras to a group of penguin biologists, glaciologists, cosmologists, geologists, and marine scientists working in AntarcticaArctic. Visitors can learn about the thoughts and experiences of the scientists working in these two regions. Check out the archived materials, upcoming webcasts, and more. http://www.exploratorium.edu/poles/index.php

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Polar Sciences Special Collection

Teachers' Domain offers their Polar Sciences Special Collection, funded by the National Science Foundation, with 20 new resources about the Arctic and the Antarctic, plus resources from existing collections, a lesson plan, and more.

http://www.teachersdomain.org/exhibits/ipy07-ex/index.html

Natural Resources Canada’s Energy and the Environment Art Contest

Natural Resources Canada’s Energy and the Environment Art Contest is on again. The theme for this year’s contest is Save Energy! Save nature! Have the kids in your class participate, what better way to teach about energy use and its relationship with environmental problems such as smog and climate change. All students ages 6-13 will receive a participation prize and winners of the contest will receive an exciting prize package.

For more details about the contest, visit the website at www.kidsclub.nrcan.gc.ca. Note there is a May 1 deadline.

For those of you already familiar with the Energy and the Environment Art Contest, we are excited to announce that we are taking a new fun approach. The new initiative is called the Energy and the Environment Kids Club and in keeping with today’s realities to be more economical and have less of an environmental impact, the winning artwork will be published in a classroom poster that will be distributed to schools across the country. Along with the poster, we will publish a teachers’ resource book, featuring activities, games and quizzes that we hope will assist in teaching the subject of energy conservation in the classroom. These will replace the previously published calendar. Do not hesitate to contact Nathalie Émond at nemond@nrcan.gc.ca if you have any questions or comments.

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Le concours de dessins L’énergie et l’environnement de Ressources naturelles Canada est de retour! Cette année, le thème du concours de dessins est Économisons l’énergie! Sauvons la nature! Invitez vos élèves à participer : il s’agit là d’un excellent moyen de les aider à comprendre le lien entre l’utilisation de l’énergie et les problèmes environnementaux, comme le smog et les changements climatiques. Tous les élèves de 6 à 13 ans recevront un prix de participation; les gagnants du concours se recevront une trousse de prix intéressante. Pour de plus amples renseignements sur le concours de dessins, prière de visiter le site Web www.clubdesjeunes.nrcan.gc.ca.

Pour ceux et celles qui connaissent déjà le concours de dessins L’énergie et l’environnement, nous sommes heureux d’annoncer que nous avons adopté une nouvelle approche amusante. La nouvelle initiative s’intitule Club des Jeunes pour l’énergie et l’environnement, et compte tenu des réalités contemporaines d’économie et de réduction des répercussions sur l’environnement, le dessin gagnant sera illustré sur une affiche de salle de classe qui sera distribuée dans toutes les écoles du pays. En plus de l’affiche, nous distribuerons un guide de ressources à l’intention des enseignants qui comporte des activités, des jeux et des questionnaires qui devraient aider les enseignants à parler de la conservation de l’énergie dans la salle de classe. Ce guide remplacera le calendrier antérieur. Si vous avez des questions ou des commentaires, n’hésitez pas à communiquer avec Nathalie Émond, par courriel nemond@nrcan.gc.ca.

Survey: state of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in Canada

As the Co-Chairs of the National Education for Sustainable Development Expert Council we are contacting you to complete a survey questionnaire related to your organization’s programs and activities regarding education for sustainable development. This survey is being carried out to determine the state of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in Canada. The ten-year period of 2005 through 2014 has been designated the International Decade for Education for Sustainable Development (DESD) by the United Nations General Assembly. The overall goal of the DESD is to integrate the principles, values, and practices of sustainable development into all aspects of education and learning. * * *_English version:_* http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=HKm_2fsJ98dPfe82_2bODf1SsA_3d_3d *_French version:_* http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=N_2b4X7TzZ8gTvjV43b6iLpA_3d_3d * * *Who is conducting the survey?* Several organizations have collaborated in the design and delivery of this survey: · The National Education for Sustainable Development Expert Council * Learning for a Sustainable Future (http://www.lsf-lst.ca/) * Toronto Regional Centre of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development (http://www.toronto.ca/esd), * The Provincial and Territorial ESD Working Groups in BC, AB, SK, MB, ON, NB, NS and NU. * The Centre for Environment at University of Toronto * * *Who should complete the survey?* This survey is relevant to all organizations that provide learning opportunities, formally or informally, that foster understanding and action towards sustainable development. * * *How will the survey results be used?* The information collected through this survey will be housed by LSF, and used for program planning purposes by the National ESD Expert Council, the Provincial and Territorial ESD Working Groups and the Regional Centres of Expertise on ESD. The information you have submitted will also be added to existing national, regional and provincial ESD program databases managed by the partners listed above. It is the intention of the National ESD Expert Council to create a searchable database that will be accessible to stakeholders such as you, thereby improving ESD networking and empowering the ESD community to work together to share resources and strengthen programs. At the end of the survey you will have the opportunity to indicate if you'd prefer your personal contact information to be kept confidential. For more information please contact Pam Schwartzberg at pams@yorku.ca Thank you very much for participating in the survey. Best regards, Mary Ferguson and David Bell Co-Chairs, National ESD Expert Council