Teacher Field Days in Vinton County highlights forest insects and diseases, Project Learning Tree

Forest Health: Insects and Diseases
June 10, 2014

Project Learning Tree
June 11, 2014
Vinton Furnace State Forest
Vinton County, OH

Registration required: first come, first served basis with limited space. Priority given to new attendees. Lunch provided both days. Call 740-774-1596 (extension 0) to register. $20 registration fee required to attend, all or part of Teacher Field Days. To attend the PLT workshop day on June 11th, one must also attend the June 10th program day.

Event webpage and Event agenda

Day 1 (June 10): Vinton Furnace State Forest; Insects and diseases of concern to Ohio’s woodlands. Current critters of concern and their anatomy, life cycles, hosts and habitats, how they get around, why they are a problem, and the strategies being used to monitor and control populations. EAB, ALB, gypsy moth, hemlock wooly adelgid, and common oak moth are some of the agents of doom we will examine. Presenters include: Dr. Joe Boggs, Ohio State University Extension Specialist Dave Apsley, Ohio State University Forestry Extension Specialist Tom Macy, ODNR Division of Forestry Forest Health Forester William Borovicka, USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station

Day 2 (June 11): Project Learning Tree PreK-12 Educator Workshop for all teachers and youth leaders! Workshop will build on the invasives theme and use PLT activity lessons to explore the topic and help give you tools to take students further into understanding forest issues better.

Both days will include outside observations and lessons, so please dress for changing weather and walking conditions. There will be a Field trip with monitoring activities, tree identification, and forest management practices. Ohio University optional 1 semester graduate credit available by completing the program.and course requirements; $136 for 1 semester hour, is handled and paid separate from the workshop, though all info will be made available at the workshop. OU certificate of completion available for professional development credit hours.

 

Applications for Graduate Courses in Global Conservation Due January 28

Applications are now being accepted for Project Dragonfly/Earth Expeditions 2014 field courses and the Global Field Program master’s, which offer groundbreaking courses in 13 countries throughout Africa, Asia, Australia and the Americas. New for 2014 is a course in India.

Earth Expeditions graduate courses and the Global Field Program (GFP) master’s degree bring together graduate students, scientists, educators and community leaders at critical conservation sites worldwide. Sites for 2014 include the Amazon, Australia, Baja, Belize, Borneo, Costa Rica, Guyana, Hawai’i, India, Kenya, Mongolia, Namibia and Thailand.

Tuition for seven graduate credits and all basic in-country expenses are covered in the course costs, which are reduced because of support from Miami University. Accepted students are responsible for airfare.

Earth Expeditions and the GFP can be completed part-time from anywhere in the United States or abroad. They are open to educators and other professionals who hold a bachelor’s degree from any discipline. For information and to apply, please visit the Earth Expeditions  and Miami University’s Global Field Program websites.

Applicants may be interested in Dragonfly’s additional master’s degree, the Advanced Inquiry Program (AIP), co-delivered with premier learning institutions in select U.S. cities. Current AIP sites are located in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Chicago, Denver, Phoenix, San Diego, New York and Seattle.

Project Dragonfly reaches millions of people each year through inquiry-driven learning media, public exhibits and graduate programs worldwide. Dragonfly is housed at Miami University, a state university in Oxford, Ohio, established in 1809 and listed as one of the eight original Public Ivies. For additional information, contact Mary Jo Lahrmann at lahrmamj@miamioh.edu

 

 

Applications for Green Ribbon Schools Competition Due November 15

Ohio will be nominating four schools to represent the state in the U.S. Department of Education’s Green Ribbon Schools competition, which recognizes schools that are “exemplary in reducing environmental impact and costs, improving the health and wellness of students and staff, and providing effective environmental and sustainability education, which incorporates STEM, civic skills and green career pathways.” For application information, visit the Ohio Green Ribbon Schools webpage on the Ohio Department of Education website.

Ohio Department of Education Media Release

Water Quality Monitoring Training This Summer and Fall

Ohio Environmental Protection Agency Water Quality Monitoring Credible Data Program, Level 1 Training

August 14, 2012
Scioto Soil and Water Conservation District

September 6, 2012
Shelby Soil and Water Conservation District

October 3
Cleveland Metroparks

All training will be hands-on with all participants getting in the water to learn techniques for biological, physical and chemical water quality monitoring. Please bring with you: waders or shoes you don’t mind getting wet, a brown bag lunch / drink, and wear old clothing. This is an entry level training intended for participants who desire basic water quality information. Level 1 was designed with educators in mind and may be appropriate for Soil & Water Conservation Districts, Park Districts, Health Departments, or anyone with an interest in Ohio water quality. The purpose of Level 1 is primarily to promote public awareness and education about surface waters of the state. After completion of the training, applicants can apply to the Ohio EPA Director for approval as a Level 1 QDC.

To register, e-mail Dennis Clement at dennis.clement@epa.state.oh.us. For additional training or workshop information e-mail or call Dennis at 614-644-2048.

Summer Teacher Workshop on Sustainable Energy in Columbus June 18-20

Sustainable Energy Workshop for middle school and high school teachers
June 18-20, 2012
Ohio State University
Cost: $10 (most of the cost is covered by a grant from the US Dept of energy)
Application deadline April 30
Sustainability Workshop 2012 flier

Each teacher who completes the workshop will receive a set of Thames & Kosmos Power House experiment kits for his or her classroom, and a certification of attendance. Lunch will be provided.

Topics
Module 1: Basics of electric power
Introduces safety, the electric power system structure, and how the electricity is generated, transmitted, and distributed. The lab will demonstrate electric field phenomena under high voltage, and use a 1 MV impulse generator that simulates lightning and a 5MV Tesla transformer.
Module 2: Basics of Smart Grid
Presents the smart grid concept and related key technologies. The lab demonstration includes the Virtual Smart Grid test platform at OSU and real Smart Grid facilities at American Electric Power (AEP).
Module 3: The power from the sun
Focuses on photovoltaic-related technologies. The lab has circuit level demos, such as power output with and without advanced conditioning circuitry, and a tour of Nanotech, OSU’s Ohio Wright Center for Photovoltaics Innovation and Commercialization.
Module 4: Smart lighting
Introduces smart light concepts for energy conservation. Lab includes tour and demonstration of the OSU smart lighting lab.
Module 5: Future power grid
Introduction to future power grid concepts, such as the zero emission home and the DC network. We’ll start from the AC/DC war between Edison and Tesla, go through one hundred years of power engineering, and finally present the need for a new breed of power engineers in the near future. The lab demonstration will be at research labs in OSU and AEP.

Enrollment is limited to 30 teachers. To apply, please download the application at http://ece.osu.edu/sustainableworkshop2012
Questions? Contact Wendolyn Flores at floresw@ece.osu.edu

Registration Open for Project WILD Facilitator Training at Mohican State Park March 28-29

Ohio Project WILD Facilitator Training
Mohican State Park Lodge and Conference Center
March 28-29, 2012
Registration begins at 9:30 am on Wednesday. Workshop ends at 3:00 pm on Thursday.
Cost: $90—covers food, lodging, materials and take-home items.
You must be able to attend the entire two-day workshop.

Project WILD, Aquatic Project WILD and Growing Up WILD are international programs that provide interdisciplinary conservation and environmental education materials focusing on wildlife. They are designed for Pre-K thru 12 classrooms, youth groups, nature centers and more.

As a volunteer facilitator, you will become one of a network of over 350 formal and non-formal education professionals across the state that provide training to other educators in Project WILD materials and programs. You will also be part of one of the best environmental education networks in the country!

If you are interested in participating, please fill out the registration form.

Contact Jen Dennison, Wildlife Education Coordinator, at outdoor.education@dnr.state.oh.us or 1-800-WILDLIFE for questions or additional information.

Project WILD Facilitator Training Registration Packet

Applications for Earth Expeditions Graduate Courses in Global Conservation Due January 28

Earth Expeditions is accepting applications for 2012 field courses offering international studies in 11 countries throughout Africa, Asia, Australia and the Americas.

Miami University offers these graduate-credit courses at a fraction of actual costs to engage a diverse group of educators and other professionals in global leadership, inquiry and environmental stewardship. The $1,290 course cost includes all basic in-country expenses and tuition for seven graduate credit hours. Accepted students are responsible for airfare.

More than 1,100 people have participated in these extraordinary graduate learning opportunities from Miami’s Project Dragonfly and conservation partners worldwide. Course sites for 2012 include the Amazon, Australia, Baja, Belize, Borneo, Costa Rica, Kenya, Mongolia, Namibia and Thailand.

Earth Expeditions courses are designed for educators and other professionals from all disciplines and settings interested in making a difference in human and ecological communities. Applicants can be from anywhere in the United States or abroad. To learn more and apply, visit http://EarthExpeditions.org.

Project Dragonfly reaches millions of people each year through inquiry-driven learning media, public exhibits and graduate programs worldwide. Dragonfly is based at Miami University, a state university in Oxford, Ohio, established in 1809 and listed as one of the eight original Public Ivies.

Become a Trainer for Four ODNR Programs in Columbus on June 10

The Science Education Council of Ohio is hosting a jumbo “train-the-trainer” event for four ODNR environmental education programs (Science and Civics, Project Wild, Project Aquatic Wild, and Growing Up Wild) on June 10 from 8am-5pm in Columbus. Contact SECO President Tracy Cindric at tlkcap@yahoo.com for more info.

Applications for Classroom Earth Scholarships for Online Wildlife Conservation Society Courses due February 1

Interested in enhancing your understanding of the living world and learning to teach about wildlife conservation in your subject areas?

Classroom Earth is supporting middle and high school teachers around the country who want to make wildlife conservation part of their curriculum. Classroom Earth’s 2010 Professional Development Grants will enable applicants to take one six-week online course offered by the Wildlife Conservation Society to create a strong foundation in wildlife conservation. Participating teachers will be better equipped to bring wildlife conservation education into the classroom, facilitate scientific learning, and connect students with their natural surroundings. The Classroom Earth grant opportunity will also support teachers to earn graduate level credit.

Deadline is February 1, 2011. Visit http://www.classroomearth.org for more information