Educators would you like a FREE Copy of Season III of Iowa Outdoors?

Iowa Public Television has created yet another outstanding season of Iowa Outdoors.  Iowa Outdoors explores ways Iowans are not only enjoying but also working to protect the state’s natural resources. Iowa Outdoors is a six-part series focusing on Iowa's natural resources, conservation efforts, outdoor recreation activities, and natural beauty  that can help your students better understand environmental science, geology, conservation, and many other concepts. 

IPTV now has DVDs of Season III available free to interested Iowa educators. Please tell your educator friends that they can go to the link below to request one: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1mJrnWkxN-TKpJxHas75L45UYX-zs5mNZTwYZG2BKTKQ/viewform

Upcoming Project-based Natural Resources Trainings

Implementing Standards Through Site Based Projects (K-12 Educators)
June 24 & 25, 2014 (100% attendance is required for credit - Assignments due by July 23, 2014)
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Prairie Heritage Center (4931 Yellow Ave., Peterson, IA 51047)

Educators will be introduced to a variety of nationally-developed resources that support authentic learning as well the Projects WILD, WILD Aquatic and Learning Tree (secondary modules). Trainers will work with educators to incorporate activities from the Projects into inquiry-based learning cycles and develop real field investigations with their students. Educators will be encouraged to develop site based projects to study and/or improve their local natural resources. This can include service learning opportunities like Trees for Kids, IOWATER, NatureMapping, Wildlife Diversity monitoring efforts, development of outdoor learning areas or habitats, and more.

Participants are encouraged to bring information about their school site or a nearby natural area for use with workshop activities. Teaching partners/groups are encouraged to facilitate planning/implementation of projects.

You must register online. Registration deadline is June 10, 2014. Registration fees include course materials and 1 license renewal credit for $85.

Exploring Iowa’s Natural Resources On-line Course (K-12 Educators)
September 8 – December 21, 2014

“This course has provided me with information and resources to make lessons more relevant and engaging. The focus on inquiry, sense of place, and many other important aspects of teaching have been beneficial in terms of planning lessons and remembering to keep students and student activities at the core of what I do. It’s not just about the content and this course helped rejuvenate my interest in making lessons more student centered.”

Learn how to utilize local natural resources as unifying themes to implement a STEM-based approach in your curriculum. You will work in small groups and individually to create a network of contacts and resources to teach natural resource concepts. Group and individual assignments will build on each other throughout the course.

Each week a new course module focusing on a specific environmental education topic, strategy or skill will be available (time requirement 4-5 hours per week). You should be comfortable navigating web pages, have access to internet and a computer on a daily basis, and possess basic computer skills.

Registration deadline is August 29, 2014 - you must register electronically. Registration fee includes materials and 3 license renewal credit for $225. This course is being offered by AEA PD Online, a joint initiative by all of Iowa's Area Education Agencies. This course therefore uses AEA PD Online's alternative fee schedule for license renewal credit. Transcripts and credit will be issued by AEA PD Online instead of Heartland AEA.

Winter Fun

Cold temperatures and snowy school yards make it more of a challenge to get kids outside during the winter months. However, there are many engaging activities to get students out the door exploring and connecting with nature!

Winter Nature Walks

Take a winter walk around your schoolyard or a local park. Ideas for your walk: conduct a wildlife or tree inventory, take a listening walk, measure snow fall, look for and record animal tracks and signs, take your art class outside and sketch the winter landscape, have each student write about their winter walk, or come up with your own winter nature study based on your current curriculum!

Winter Study Ideas

Conduct a study as a class or break into small groups. Have a brainstorming session to decide what the students would like to investigate about winter. Some ideas are temperature, snowfall/precipitation, wind, plant growth/dormancy, wildlife behavior (migration, hibernation, survival, etc…), art or literature classes could study winter landscapes in art, or naturalists writings on winter. Have students design and conduct an experiment or study. Have them present their findings to the class upon completion.

 

The family of Craig Tufts, Family Summits, Inc. and National Wildlife Federation announces the 5th Annual Craig Tufts Educational Scholarship Award, which is given to a young person between the ages of 8 and 18 to attend a week-long, summer outdoor educational adventure camp with a parent or guardian. The Craig Tufts Educational Scholarship Fund was established in memory of Craig Tufts, Chief Naturalist of National Wildlife Federation.

Each year the Fund grants an award to one youth to attend a Family Nature Summit. The Fund provides travel, room and board and program fees for the award winner and an accompanying parent or guardian.

The contest is for anyone between the ages of 8 – 18 years old.  Applicants must submit an original essay about their favorite outdoor or nature-related activities describing how nature-related activities and experiences have impacted them.

To view the full details of the scholarship award and to apply for the award visit:

The National Wildlife Federation Website - Craig Tufts’ Educational Scholarship Fund & Family Nature Summit

http://www.nwf.org/What-We-Do/Kids-and-Nature/Programs/Craig-Tufts-Scholarship.aspx?s_email_id=20140207_BOT_ENG_Newsletter_February_Edition|STBot