A1 The Business of Environmental Education: A Roundtable Discussion
This roundtable is an opportunity for participants to share their experience in the business of environmental education. Panelists and participants will discuss topics including: defining non-profit board and staff roles and relationships, creating a common vision, leading and following, making values-based decisions, determining pay and benefits, and allocating limited resources.
A2 Building Bridges Through the Envirothon
Excite your students with Envirothon! This national program is a state- and nation-wide environmental competition where high school students test their knowledge of natural resources and current environmental issues and is an exciting way to let our Future Environmental Leaders become inspired about learning to do "out of the box" thinking. See first hand how this can be done! If you are already involved with Envirothon, come and share ideas from various New England states and how we can further develop this program.
A3 Clean Air Zone Projects: A Community-Based Social Marketing Case Study
This workshop will explore how school teams and community groups have been using community-based social marketing techniques which work toward changing personal behaviors in people in their community for environmental and health reasons. Maine's Clean Air Zone partners will describe projects that have been facilitated by a collaborative effort between DEP, MEEP, American Lung Association, Sierra Club, the Maine Council of Churches and local community or school teams. We will share with participants the strategies and tools being used in various Maine communities that focus on changing peoples' vehicle idling behaviors. (Limit 25)
A4 The ABCs of Ecology: Live & Unplugged!
This is an introduction to the unique, proven ABCs of Ecology teaching methodologies and Narrative Education techniques used at Ferry Beach Ecology School. Be Educated, Entertained, and Inspired by FBES ecology educators. Move beyond the walls of a typical indoor classroom and discover the amazing stories nature has to tell. Workshop time is allotted for applying the methods learned in the workshop, collaborating with colleagues and creating new ideas & activities. Find answers for how to meet and assess your state learning goals using a new interdisciplinary, place-based curriculum. Guaranteed fun and great new ideas!
A5 The New Hampshire Carbon Challenge: Engagement through Empowerment
The New Hampshire Carbon Challenge asks residents to reduce their household's carbon dioxide emissions by 10,000 pounds per year. Explore how this University-based initiative has engaged citizens through grassroots empowerment. Potential discussion topics include: the creation of community action groups, working with schools, and university partnerships. (Limit 20)
A6 Place-Based Watershed Education
The Wachusett Watershed Education Project is a good example of how to develop a place-based program using a school district's curriculum, a teacher workshop, a series of in-school lessons and a culminating, day-long field trip within the students' own watershed. The Project covers language arts, science, math, history and social studies.
A7 Harvard Forest Long Term Environmental Research Program
Scientists at Harvard Forest and the Harvard Forest Schoolyard Coordinator have developed scientific protocol that teachers can use with students in the school yard. In this workshop, you will learn how to have students measure climate change through tree phenology, monitor vernal pools throughout the year and collect data on the woolly adelgid. Appropriate for grades 3-12. (Limit 30)
A8 Environmental Responsibility and the Story
of the Wind Bird
This reflective session will enable participants to better consider ways of exploring & sharing the idea that actions have consequences and that human actions affect the world around us, often in unforeseen ways. Participants will use the children's book, Wind Bird: Gift of the Mists, to learn the story of Wocawson and how he and the Passamaquoddy people came to live in balance with the earth. Participants will discuss how this environmental history relates to current environmental impacts from human action and find ways to teach and create change by fostering responsible actions and stewardship.
A9 Biomimicry In Action!
After NEEEA's stimulating conference keynote presentation on Biomimicry last year, Colleen began researching how to teach young children (6-12yrs) about this topic. Now, a year later, having completed a 20 week program piloting this curriculum and revising the plans plus adding in the children's ideas and feedback, she's ready to share it all with other educators! Included in the sharing is curriculum content, games, activities, crafts, outdoor explorations, community connections, service activities and a slide show of students in action. The curriculum covers patterns, designs, and systems in nature and how to use this knowledge to solve human problems. (Limit 20)
A10 How to Leave No Child Inside
Children's outdoor play cultivates health, creativity and learning. Yet research documented in Richard Louv's book, Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder, reveals a growing gap between kids and the amount of time they spend in nature. Marilyn will share how Louv's seminal book has ignited a national dialogue about effective solutions. We'll explore the challenges to getting children outdoors, how to overcome these perceived barriers, and what success will look like. Come with your ideas and experiences to share in a discussion about this crucial topic.
A11 Predators: The Balance of Nature
What are some commonly held myths about predators and what problems do they face? During our slide show, activities, and discussions, participants will see predators in the context of food webs and natural cycles. They will explore attitudes toward predators and reasons for their decline throughout history due to habitat loss and human interference. Discussion of current events will emphasize the importance of predators in maintaining the world's ecological balance. Participants will have the opportunity to study Chewonki's mounted coyote, in addition to seeing three live non-releasable predators. We will follow up with a discussion of how best to use presentations like this one in your educational setting. (Limit 30)
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