Angler Education and Fishing for Dinner – Angler R3 Instructor Training Workshop
The current workshop schedule is as follows:
- October 12, Camp Timber-lee in East Troy
- November 2, Camp Upham Woods near Wisconsin Dells
- November 9, Urban Ecology Center – Washington Park Branch in Milwaukee
- March 19, DNR office in Spooner
Details and registration forms are found in this link.
We are also open to scheduling other training workshops if none of these locations suit you.
R3 Grants now open!
Applications and guidance for Angler R3 and Hunter R3 grants were recently posted on the DNR’s website.
Application deadline is December 1, 2019 for both.
Other dates to remember:
- Free Fishing Weekends: January 18-19 & June 6-7, 2020.
Nature-Based Early Learning Forum
https://campus.uwplatt.edu/continuing/nature-based-early-learning-forum
Saturday, October 26, 2019, 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
Umhoefer Building, UW-Platteville Baraboo Sauk County campus
1006 Connie Road, Baraboo, WI 53913
Join the Wonder Guides from the Wisconsin Nature Action Collaborative for Children and learn nature-based learning activities for your work with young children.
The day will be an exercise in learning outdoors so that we can successfully bring the wonder and joy of the natural world to the children and families we serve. Please dress and prepare for the weather.
During this 6-hour workshop, there will be sessions that highlight the interconnectedness of nature and foster the development of perspective taking and empathy; explore ways that natural materials can inspire students’ creativity; learn how to use the unique resources of your site to inspire joy, wonder, and learning for the children in your care.
The seminar is worth 0.6 CEUs or six hours of continuing education training in Early Childhood Education.
Registration is $69, includes all materials, continental breakfast, lunch and beverages. To register, or to learn more about the Wonder Guides and the day’s events, please go to: https://campus.uwplatt.edu/continuing/nature-based-early-learning-forum
NatureStart Professional Development
Friday, November 15, 2019
9am-noon Cost:$60
From lying on their backs and looking up at clouds to squatting low to watch an ant scurry home, children show their interest in the world around them. Books and stories about nature can also capture young children’s sense of wonder, interest, and curiosity about the world around them.
Hawthorn Hollow Nature Sanctuary and Arboretum will host the Chicago Zoological Society/Brookfield Zoo’s NatureStart™ Professional Development Program mini-conference focusing on young children. Join us for this special experience.
We’ll follow a story trail and experience how nature play and literacy offer multiple touchpoints for STEAM learning in early childhood. Using hands-on exploration and take-home materials, you will have many opportunities to create, imagine, and be inspired by nature through themes from children’s stories.
Plan to attend this workshop at the beautiful Hawthorn Hollow Nature Sanctuary and Arboretum to explore, play, and learn together! As a participant you will:
• Develop authentic learning experiences using nature and natural elements that connect with topics in books for young children
• Gain skills and understanding enabling you to enhance your curriculum to extend a child’s creative thinking, problem-solving, and language development
• Identify early learning goals and standards that are supported by nature play
• Experience learning though hands-on activities in a nature-based setting
• Receive resources and handouts to take with you
• HAVE FUN!
For more information contact Marilyn.Brink@CZS.org or click here
Wisconsin KidWind Events
These events will take place at the Wisconsin Energy Institute (1552 University Ave, Madison).
KidWind Educator Workshop – Saturday, October 26th, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
This free workshop will provide you with all you need to know to serve as a coach in the 2020 KidWind Challenge. We’ll dive into hands-on activities you can bring back to your classroom or use to guide your team to success at the Challenge in March. Register soon! The first 10 to register will receive a free Wind Turbine Kit to get your team started. Materials are geared for middle and high school students2020
Wisconsin KidWind Challenge – Saturday, March 7th, 9:00 am – 2:00 pm
The KidWind Challenge is a hands-on student wind turbine design competition that engages middle and high school students in STEM through the lens of wind energy. Student teams design and construct small wind turbines that they test in a wind tunnel, and present their design process and demonstrate their contextual knowledge of wind energy in front of a panel of judges. Read more about the Wisconsin KidWind challenge (now in its third year) here and check out our 2019 photo album here.
Although KidWind is still young in Wisconsin, the students involved are ever raising the bar. Last year the top two Wisconsin teams competed in the National KidWind Challenge in Houston, TX finishing in the top 5 out of 60 middle school teams.
We are super excited about all the partnerships and collaboration involved in making the Wisconsin KidWind Challenge possible.
The Power of Place: A Walk Through Time
October 17-18, 2019
Join Green Schools National Network and 2017 Best of Green Schools award recipient Prairie Crossing Charter School for a two-day exploration of the Power of Place: A Walk Through Time.
This site seminar will provide an opportunity for teachers and school leaders to see place-based, project-based, and problem-based learning in action. Prairie Crossing Charter School, a K-8 school just north of Chicago, was founded in 1999, with an environmental and sustainability lens to match the surrounding conservation neighborhood. Teaching and learning at Prairie Crossing are not restricted to the four walls of a classroom or pages in a book. Instead, teaching and learning are informed by the history of the school and grounds and how best to empower students to become Natural Leaders through place-, project-, and problem-based learning while preparing them for high school and beyond.
Click here for more information and to register.
Minnesota is proud to be hosting this year’s Midwest Environmental Education Conference at the Science Museum in St. Paul on October 3-5! This year’s conference theme “Access Nature: Promoting Inclusion and Diversity in Environmental Education” will explore barriers that prevent educators and learners from accessing natural areas and having valuable learning experiences in the outdoors.
We are looking for environmental educators like you to join us!
MAEE has put together a promotional toolkit for the upcoming event, the 2019 Midwest Environmental Education Conference.
Looking forward to seeing you there!
Arboretum Classes – Fall 2019
Saturday, November 2, 2–4 p.m.
Credit – Bob Jaeger
All about Owls – Learn about Wisconsin’s twelve owl species, focusing on the three that nest in Madison, and how to identify these elusive birds of prey. Habitat, calls, courtship, and adaptations to acquire food will be discussed. Indoor class. Instructor: Sylvia Marek, Arboretum naturalist. Fee: $20. Register by October 29.
Saturday, November 16, 1–3 p.m.
History of the Lost City – An in-depth look at the fascinating history of the failed Lake Forest development project and how the Arboretum
acquired the land. Who were the personalities involved, why didn’t the original project succeed, and what’s the status of the area?
Instructor: Kathy Miner, Arboretum naturalist. Fee: $20. Register by November 12.
Saturday, November 23, 1–3 p.m.
Wreath-making from Nature – Using natural materials found at the Arboretum, make nature-inspired wreaths just in time for the holiday season. Materials supplied. You are welcome to bring ornaments and ribbons for decoration. Instructors: Marian Farrior, Arboretum restoration work party manager, and Jane Hawley Stevens, herbalist. Fee $25. Register by November 19.
Saturday, December 14, 1–4 p.m.
Effigy Mounds – Considering the People, Culture, and Environment. For hundreds of years, earthen mounds—including effigies of animals and conical and linear shapes—were built by Native peoples in southern Wisconsin. Join us for a presentation and discussion of the environment and ways of life of the people who created them. Indoors, with an outdoor walk if weather permits. Instructor: Paul Borowsky, Arboretum naturalist. Fee: $30. Register by December 9.
How to Register: Advance registration is required. Register online with a credit card at arboretum.wisc.edu/visit/events/ or at the Visitor Center reception desk with check or cash. Please make check payable to UW–Madison Arboretum.
Coalition for Education in the Outdoors Research Symposium
Date and Time: Friday, January 17, 2020, 4:00pm to Sunday, January 19, 2020, 11:00am
Registration Deadline: Saturday, September 21, 2019, 11:59pm
Website: Coalition for Ed in the Outdoors
Call for Abstracts
From January 17-19, 2020 an international research symposium will be held at the Bradford Woods Campus of Indiana University near Martinsville, Indiana, a short drive from the Indianapolis Airport. The purpose of this gathering is to advance the empirical, conceptual, and theoretical bases of outdoor education. Like the first fourteen CEO Research Symposia, this symposium will bring together a wide array of researchers to explore current and future trends in using the outdoors for educational and therapeutic purposes. In addition to spotlighting current research, the program includes featured presentations on timely issues and ample time for both structured and informal dialogue.
The symposium is purposely small and informal to promote productive interaction. The event draws people interested in adventure education, organized camping, environmental education and interpretation, and other outdoor education contexts. Attendees’ evaluation comments about previous gatherings are testament to the atmosphere of the conference. People were pleased with the “amazing range of academics,” “being here at Bradford Woods—all of us together at a very reasonable cost,” and the “passion of all involved.” Because of the diversity of topics, the informal exchanges, and the quality of sessions, this event is a favorite of both well-established and emerging scholars in the field. It’s also affordable.
Persons wishing to present (oral and/or poster) at the symposium must submit an electronic copy of their abstract (not to exceed 2 single-spaced pages; references only may extend onto a third page; 12 pt Times New Roman preferred) addressing the background, methods, results, and discussion of the study (authors of conceptual papers may use other headings). Authors are encouraged to utilize and identify the theoretical framework for their studies. It is expected that presentations at the CEO symposium will not have been previously published or presented elsewhere. Abstracts that ask the same questions, use the same analyses, and make the same logical arguments should not be presented at CEO. Abstracts of works in progress may be submitted provided that a full report can be given at the January symposium. Abstracts are due by September 21, 2019.
All abstracts and manuscripts will be critiqued and evaluated by three reviewers. Notification of acceptance will follow on or around October 25. Individuals whose abstracts are accepted will be expected to present their study at the symposium. Abstracts of all presentations will be compiled and bound for dissemination at the symposium. Previous symposia abstracts can be viewed at www.outdooredcoalition.org(link is external). Questions about the submission or review process for symposium abstracts can be directed to Kendra Liddicoat (kendra.liddicoat@uwsp.edu(link sends e-mail)) review coordinator for CEO Research Symposium 2020. Authors of accepted abstracts are strongly encouraged to submit full manuscripts to the refereed journal, Research in Outdoor Education (ROE) to be published by Cornell University Press. Contact Tim O’Connell (toconnell@brocku.ca(link sends e-mail)) for author guidelines and to submit a manuscript to ROE. Details will also be available at the symposium. Questions regarding conference logistics or registration can be directed to Charles Yaple (yaplec@cortland.edu(link sends e-mail)).
Contact Name and email:
Kendra Liddicoat kendra.liddicoat@uwsp.edu
Fall 2019 Lecture Series: Indigenous Knowledge Inspired by the Land
Where: UW-Madison Arboretum, 2880 Longenecker Drive, Madison WI
When: Four Tuesdays in October, 7–8:30 p.m.
Speakers will share research and cultural insights about Indigenous relationships with the land.
Free, no registration required. Suggested $10 donation at the door.
Tuesday, October 1
Seventh Generation and Native American Futurism. Patricia Loew, director, Center for Native American and Indigenous Research, Northwestern University. Many Indigenous communities have deep belief systems about protecting ancestral lands. The Anishinaabeg call it a Seventh Generation philosophy and it obligates people to think about their impact seven generations into the future. Loew (Mashkiiziibi Ojibwe) connects this to environmental solidarity movements as a way to think about past, present, and future.
Tuesday, October 8
Cultural Significance of Nature and Gardening to Indigenous Tribal Peoples. Diana Peterson, PhD candidate, Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, UW–Madison. To preserve wild rice (Manoomin) is to protect and restore its place in the sacred practices of Wisconsin Native cultures. Peterson’s interviews with the Menominee and Ojibwe Tribal elders highlight the cultural significance of Manoomin along with the importance of preserving a vital natural resource for future generations.
Tuesday, October 15
Our Shared Future: Learning from the Hard Truths of Our Place. Omar Poler, interim American Indian curriculum services coordinator, UW–Madison School of Education. In June, UW–Madison publicly acknowledged the nineteenth-century forced removals of Ho-Chunk people from Wisconsin, human rights violations central to the founding of our community. In this presentation, Poler will speak about the University’s “Our Shared Future” heritage marker and ongoing efforts to share this little-known story. Poler is an enrolled member of the Sokaogon Chippewa Community.
Tuesday, October 22
Using Indigenous Experience and Knowledge to Guide Sustainable Forestry in the Twenty-first Century. Michael J. Dockry, assistant professor, Forest Resources, University of Minnesota. Indigenous people have managed forests for generations using Indigenous science, values, and knowledge. Sustainable forestry began with the Menominee Nation in Wisconsin. Dockry will illustrate how Indigenous forestry is leading the way to solve some of the most complex environmental problems we face.
Click here for Fall Lecture Series Poster
Miami University’s Dragonfly Project
Miami University’s Project Dragonfly is accepting applications for 2020 Earth Expeditions graduate courses that offer extraordinary experiences in 16 countries throughout the world. http://EarthExpeditions.
Earth Expeditions can build toward the Global Field Program (GFP), a master’s degree that combines summer field courses worldwide with web learning communities so that students can complete the GFP master’s part-time from anywhere in the United States or abroad. http://GFP.MiamiOH.edu
Project Dragonfly also offers the Advanced Inquiry Program (AIP) master’s degree that combines web instruction from Miami University with experiential learning and field study through several AIP Master Institutions in the U.S. Applications for Miami’s 2020 cohorts are being accepted now with place-based experiences provided at zoos and botanical gardens in Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Denver, New York, San Diego, Seattle, and St. Louis. New for 2020: residents of the Jacksonville, Florida area can study and earn the AIP master’s through Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, AIP’s newest Master Institution. http://AIP.MiamiOH.edu
Graduate tuition for all programs is greatly reduced because of support from Miami University. 1/20/20
Trees for Tomorrow Themed Courses
Trees For Tomorrow is excited to offer our Wildlife and Careers themed course for High Schools scheduled for November 3-6 and our NEW Energy/Climate and Careers themed course scheduled for December 11-14.
For who: These courses are for groups of students (2-15 students per group) and at least 1 teacher from your school.
Why Trees For Tomorrow?
- We do the teaching! Our professional Environmental Science Teachers have formal classroom experience, Master’s Degrees, and a variety of experience teaching in environmental education settings.
- We have updated curriculum aligned with Next Generation Science Standards.
- We are an accredited school! Our goal is to be an extension of your classroom. Relevant and fun!
- Our curriculum incorporates natural resources careers to help you meet some of your ACP requirements!
- Only $65 per person for all courses, 3 nights lodging, all meals, and transportation to off-campus field sites.
Contact Cheryl today for more information and to schedule your natural resource field experience for you and your students!
Preparing today’s youth to be tomorrow’s stewards of our natural world.
Academy of Natural Resources (ANR)
Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is a great place to study fish and wildlife management in a vast wilderness setting. The Michigan DNR recently expanded their Academy of Natural Resources (ANR) into the UP and Wisconsin educators are invited. The ANR program celebrates its 11th consecutive year of offering professional development to educators from Michigan and the Midwest. ANR North includes tagging along with the largest predator/prey study in North America, learning Native American management methods, boarding a lake Superior fisheries research vessel and more. To check out ANR North and the “original”, ANR Classic, go to www.michigan/gov/anr
The Urban Ecology Center Institute
The Urban Ecology Center is fortunate to receive inquiries from people all over the world who are interested in the UEC model. The UEC Institute formed to meet that demand. In 2019, the Institute offers a focus workshop series as well as a 4-day summer Intensive.
In 2019, the Urban Ecology Center will host two-day workshops that dive into pivotal topics of the Center’s model. Staff professionals will facilitate in-depth, experiential lessons. Topics include:
- Nature-Based Early Childhood Education
- From Transactional to Transformational for Fundraisers
- Urban Land Stewardship Community Engaged Habitat Restoration
- Community Science Supporting Urban Collaborative Spaces
The Center’s second training Intensive for civic and community leaders from cities around the world is slated for July 22 – 26. Attendees will learn about the unique urban environmental education and community center model that the Urban Ecology Center has been running in Milwaukee for over 25 years.
Rather than travelling to other cities, the Urban Ecology Center is bringing interested groups to Milwaukee. 2018 participants hailed from Guadalajara, Mexico; Tiberias, Israel; Medellín, Columbia; and US cities in North Carolina, Missouri, Georgia, Philadelphia, Louisiana, and Texas.
More engaging than a seminar, more interactive than a workshop, only a little more serious than summer camp, this intensive is quite simply, more! Registration opens February 1.
Backyard Science Education
Great information for kids on the environment.
- What Is Environmental Education?
- About EE and Why it Matters
- What Is Environmental Education?
- How to Teach Respect for Wildlife
- Watch Out for Wildlife Activity Fun Book (PDF)
- Teach Your Kids About Wildlife Conservation
- Conservation Education Activity Guide
- Five Fun Activities for Teaching Kids About Conservation
- Build a Watershed
- In Your Watershed
- Drainage Basins and Watersheds
- Kids Make Great Citizen Scientists
- Kids Can Be Citizen Scientists: Here’s How
- Five Pro Tips for Talking to Kids About Climate Change (Without Freaking Them Out)
- Just for Kids: What’s Climate Change? And What Can I Do?
- Talking Climate Change With Kids
- How to Teach Kids About Sustainability
- Four Tips for Teaching Kids About Sustainable Living
(Site suggested by Hannah Ainsworth’s elementary science class – Jane, Michelle and Sam)
FREE- SCIENCE RESOURCES
Titled: “Bringing the Universe to America’s Classroom!” produced by WGBH- PBS LEARNING MEDIA. There are some great lessons dealing with climate, weather, and the solary energy from the sun… just to mention a few!
https://wpt.pbslearningmedia.org/collection/universe/
Each topical collection listed below includes a lesson plan and supplementary resources that feature a range of innovative media. Some of the media-rich education resources featured in these lessons include: IMAGES, INTERACTIVES, GAMES, VIDEOS, and DATA VISUALIZATIONS. Flexible support materials aid instructional use and integration into the classroom. The material contained in this product is based upon work supported by NASA.
There are units for all grades K-12.
K-2: Waves (light), Space, Earth’s Systems, and Weather/Climate
3-5: Space, Earth’s System
6-8: Space, Earth’s System, Weather/Climate
9-12: Space, Weather/Climate
Prairie Wetlands Learning Center
