8 Ways to Get Outside, Reduce Your Waste and Have Fun!
This year marks the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day (April 22nd). It’s a time to support the environment and this year’s theme of “a billion acts of green.” You don’t have to be an eco-guru to care about nature. Start with a few simple “green” activities, including spending more time outdoors to jump start your spring!
Get Outside
1. Help to get 100,000 kids outside – Join the Be Out There™ movement and sign the pledge to spend time outside with the kids in your life. Get started with the activities listed below and then find more at the Be Out There website.
Online Environmental Education Courses offered through the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Environmental Education and Training Partnership (EETAP) and the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point offer four online courses for students and professionals in the field of environmental education.
Registration deadline for Summer 2010 courses is May 1st. For registration details, including tuition rates, visit: www.uwsp.edu/natres/eetap/index.aspx
Making EE Relevant for Culturally Diverse Audiences This course is designed to provide participants with the basic knowledge and skills needed to make EE relevant to culturally diverse audiences. Through this course you will broaden your perspective of EE to encompass interests and issues of concern to culturally diverse audiences, assess barriers to participation among these audiences, and appraise the role and significance of building relationships and partnerships with members of an audience you intend to work with in the future. As part of this course you will adapt a component of your program to make it more relevant for a culturally diverse audience of your choice.
Leadership Development in Natural Resources: Strategic Planning and Implementation Learn how to develop successful strategic planning and implementation models, processes and techniques. Emphasis will be placed on managing the strategic planning process to build the capacity of organizations to provide effective environmental education programs. Course participants will also have an opportunity for individual consultation time with the course instructor to discuss specific issues/questions they might have regarding strategic planning. This new course has been designed for environmental educators, natural resource professionals and graduate students who are currently involved in a strategic planning process or may become involved in one in the future.
Fundamentals of Environmental Education Gain a foundational knowledge of environmental education and learn how to incorporate quality EE into your instruction. Participants discuss the history and goals of EE, develop an understanding of the professional roles and instructional methods of environmental educators, and interact with other educators from across the country.
Applied Environmental Education Program Evaluation Learn to evaluate environmental education and outreach programs by designing evaluation tools such as questionnaires, observation forms, and interview and focus group guides. This course was designed for environmental educators, natural resource professionals, and graduate students who can apply the tools they develop to a specific
education program or research study.
Certification The Fundamentals of EE and the Applied EE Program Evaluation online courses have been designed to address the competencies for professional environmental educators identified by the North American Association for Environmental Education. To find out more information about how these courses can provide the professional development needed by those seeking certification, click here.
Course Structure All of EETAP's online courses are semi-synchronous. Semi-synchronous refers to the course structure, as each course is offered 100% online. Students start, end and progress through the course together. However, there are no designated times that students must be logged into the course. There are specific deadlines on assignments within each section, but students are able to work on the assignments any time before the due dates.
To register for summer 2010 courses please contact Jessica Tomaszewski: jtomasze@uwsp.edu or 715-346-3854.
Make a nature journal to record your observations about your surroundings.
Take photographs of your local environment and the plants and animals that live there.
If you are a teacher, integrate some environmental lessons into your classes. Create posters about the importance of taking care of our local environment, do a nature craft like leaf rubbings, or research local plants and animals. Photo: Maui teachers engaged in a hands-on EE lessonIf you are a parent, take your kids outside to explore! Observe your backyard or a nearby park, create an experiment, go on a nature scavenger hunt, or sit outside and read a book about nature. There are so many ways to learn about the environment!
The Toyota International Teacher Program, administered by the Institute of International Education, is offering U.S. secondary school educators a unique opportunity to travel to the Galapagos Islands from November 20 through December 4, 2010.
The program aims to advance environmental stewardship and global connectedness in U.S. schools and communities through creative, interdisciplinary, and solution-based teaching methods.
Full-time grade 6-12 teachers and teacher librarians in the U.S. who have at least three years of teaching experience are encouraged to apply. While in the country, participants will meet with biologists and conservationists, explore the natural wonders of the Galapagos Islands, and work on interdisciplinary lesson plans together with educators from the Galapagos Islands.
The application deadline is May 26, 2010. Visit the program’s website to learn more about this opportunity and submit an online application. There are quite a few steps involved in the application process, so if you are interested, check out the website as soon as possible!
The Teacher's Guide to Navigating Change is a five part, Hawaii DOE Standards (HCPS 3) aligned curriculum for grades 4-5. The guide includes five units that are designed to help students explore their relationships to the environment and ways that they can “navigate change” in their own communities.
The instructional activities focus on Hawaii DOE science, social studies, and language arts standards as well as Na Honua Mauli Ola, guidelines for culturally healthy and responsive learning environments in Hawaii that were develoed by the Native Hawaiian Education Council in partnership with the Ka Haka `Ula O Ke`elikolani, College of Hawaiian Language, UH-Hilo.
If you've never been to Kaena Point, this post will be a great way to get to know the area a bit, and maybe inspire you to make the trip out to the Northwestern tip of Oahu someday!
Sometimes you can see huge waves along the shoreline, especially in the winter months.
Have you ever wondered what an albatross bolus is, or what a dancing albatross looks like? See below for answers to both of these strange questions!
A bolus (see photo at left) is the regurgitated mass composed of undigestable items. Recently, rather than squid beaks and other natural food items, plastic has made up a large portion of the contents of many albatross boluses, reflecting the growing problem of plastics in the marine environment. Photo (left) by Forest and Kim Starr.
See video below to see a dancing Laysan Albatross!
The hike to Kaena Point is relatively flat, with no noticable elevation gain. The road is bumpy and there are many potholes created by 4 wheel drive vehicles. The hike is 6 miles, roundtrip, and the area is usually hot and dry. Be prepared and bring plenty of water, a hat, sunscreen, and wear good walking shoes. You'll begin your hike in the Kaena Point State Park area. make sure to pay attention to posted signs and warnings.
You may run into the Kaena Point Ambassedor along the way, in which case you can feel free to ask any questions you may have, and learn a bit more about the area and what makes it so special.
Above: A group of middle-schoolers engaged in a cultural lesson shared by the Kaena Point Ambassedor.
The Natural Area Reserve boundary is marked with a boulder barracade that prevents any vehicle traffic from going any further. Once you make your way through the "gate," depending on the time of year, you may begin to see Laysan albatross flying overhead.
Remember to stay on the path and you'll be rewarded with the sight of many native plants that thrive in the Kaena Point coastal ecosystem.
Naupaka kahakai - "Naupaka by the sea":
'Ohai (Sesbania tomentosa):
Pa'u o Hi'iaka (Jacquemontia ovalifolia):
Once you reach the point, look out toward the tidepools and the edge of the water and you may see monk seals resting on the shore. They can be hard to see at first:
Can you see the seals in the above photo?
A closer photo of two monk seals at the point.
Make sure to give the seals some room and stay at least 100 feet away from them. A great way to see them closer is to remember to bring a pair of binoculars. Or just use the zoom function on your camera.
Depending on the time of year, you may see adult Laysan albatross:
Or maybe even a newly hatched Laysan albatross chick:
For more information about hiking to Kaena Point, or about the plants and animals that call it home, click here.
Announcing 2010 Project Learning Tree Environmental Education workshops on Oahu and Maui!
Project Learning Tree(PLT) is an award-winning, multi-disciplinary Environmental Education program. These FREE professional development opportunities will provide educators with the chance to meet and share ideas with other teachers and participate in interactive lessons while learning how to use the PLT activity guide.
Maui educators participating in the PLT activity "Tree Factory"
Oahu PLT Workshop Location: Hawaii Nature Center Date: February 20th 2010 Time: 9-3:30pm Details: Join us at the Hawaii Nature Center in Makiki to learn how the Project Learning Tree (PLT) curriculum can be integrated into 7th and 8th grade science classrooms. We will be offering PDE credits through the Department of Education to DOE teachers of 7th and 8th grade science that complete additional requirements. If this is of interest to you, please ask for more details prior to registering. Educators of other grades and subjects are encouraged to attend, and may adapt materials for their own use. Lunch will be provided by Whole Foods Honolulu, and participants will receive the PLT activity guide with 96 interactive lessons as well as other educational resources. For more information, visit www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/dofaw/PLT/2010
Maui PLT Workshop Location: Hawaii Nature Center in Iao Valley Date: March 20th 2010 Time: 9-3:30pm Details: Meet at the beautiful Hawaii Nature Center in Iao Valley and learn how to use the Project Learning Tree (PLT) Activity Guide with your students. This interactive workshop will demonstrate several hands-on activities from PLT as well as Ohia Project and Hoike o Haleakala - two valuable Hawaii-specific environmental education resources. Lunch and snacks will be provided, and participants will receive free educational resources in addition to the PLT Activity Guide which contains 96 interactive lesson plans.
The Project Learning Tree (PLT) Pre K-8 Guide
Kauai and Hawaii Island PLT Workshops Details to be determined. If you are interested in attending a workshop on Kauai or Hawaii Island in 2010, please ask for more info!
The following information comes from the Hawaii Conservation Alliance webpage:
For the past three years the My Hawai'i Story Project, a middle school environmental writing contest, has touched the lives of nearly 2,000 students throughout the state. The 25 poems, essays, and stories published in each year's anthology engage the reader with inspiring, thoughtful, and diverse narratives.
Now entering its fourth year, this unique statewide outreach program has provided students the opportunity to develop their writing skills while also fostering environmental literacy in those who will be responsible for the future stewardship of these islands.
"My Hawai'i is a perfect venue for students to express their knowledge and pride in their homeland, the aina..."
"...Students write with an awareness and truth that paints vivid pictures in the minds of readers..."
"...As a teacher, I am thrilled to be able to provide a real life writing situation that interests my students." -Marcia Huber, English Teacher Grades 7 & 8, Le Jardin Academy
Deadline for entries: March 11, 5 PM
Winners will be announced May 3
For more information about the 2010 My Hawai'i Story Project, including the online entry form and guidelines, please check out the My Hawai'i page on the Hawaii Conservation Alliance website.
This writing contest is sponsored by the Hawai'i Conservation Alliance and the Pacific Writers' Connection."
Koloa maoli, the Hawaiian duck, (Anas wyvilliana) can now be seen making vertical flights that indicate the onset of mating. Courting pairs fly virtually straight up from ground level to an altitude of one hundred feet and chase one another in tight circles. Sometimes a second male joins the chase, trying to approach the female, but is ritually driven off. Courtship resumes on the ground, where eventually as many as ten eggs will be laid and hatched in a large, well-concealed nest. Koloa appear to mate throughout the year, but their main breeding period begins in December.
Once plentiful on most of the main islands, koloa is now an endangered species, and is fighting for survival against threats like predation by foreign animals, draining and filling of marshes, and breeding with feral and domesticated mallards.
Koloa maoli means "indigenous duck," distinguishing this native from six North American species that visit the islands in the winter. The only other native duck is a resident of Laysan, toward the northwest end of the archipelago.
To learn more about koloa maoli, visit the Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy koloa fact sheet.
Lessons from the Environment: Test Your Environmental Knowledge!
An environmental awareness quiz, brought to you by the National Environmental Education Foundation. This quiz covers issues that have been discussed in the media. The questions are designed to illustrate how much accurate information people are getting from television, newspapers, magazines, and other sources. Write down your answers and compare them to the correct answers below.
1. There are many different kinds of animals and plants, and they live in many different types of environments. What is the word used to describe this idea? Is it: a. Multiplicity b. Biodiversity c. Socio-economics d. Evolution e. Don't know
2. Carbon monoxide is a major contributor to air pollution in the U.S. Which of the following is the biggest source of carbon monoxide? Is it… a. Factories and businesses b. People breathing c. Motor vehicles d. Trees e. Don't know
3. How is most of the electricity in the U.S. generated? Is it… a. By burning oil, coal, and wood b. With nuclear power c. Through solar energy d. At hydro-electric power plants e. Don't know
4. What is the most common cause of pollution of streams, rivers, and oceans? Is it… a. Dumping of garbage by cities b. Surface water running off yards, city streets, paved lots, and farm fields c. Trash washed into the ocean from beaches d. Waste dumped by factories e. Don't know
5. Which of the following is a renewable resource? Is it… a. Oil b. Iron ore c. Trees d. Coal e. Don't know
6. Ozone forms a protective layer in the earth's upper atmosphere. What does ozone protect us from? Is it … a. Acid rain b. Global warming c. Sudden changes in temperature d. Harmful, cancer-causing sunlight e. Don't know
7. Where does most of the garbage in the U.S. end up? Is it in… a. Oceans b. Incinerators c. Recycling centers d. Landfills e. Don't know
8. What is the name of the primary federal agency that works to protect the environment? Is it the… a. Environmental Protection Agency (the EPA) b. Department of Health, Environment, and Safety (the DHES) c. National Environmental Agency (the NEA) d. Federal Pollution Control Agency (the FPCA) e. Don't know
9. Which of the following household wastes is considered hazardous waste? Is it… a. Plastic packaging b. Glass c. Batteries d. Spoiled food e. Don't know
10. What is the most common reason that an animal species becomes extinct? Is it because… a. Pesticides are killing them b. Their habitats are being destroyed by humans c. There is too much hunting d. There are climate changes that affect them e. Don't know
11. Scientists have not determined the best solution for disposing of nuclear waste. In the U.S., what do we do with it now? Do we… a. Use it as nuclear fuel b. Sell it to other countries c. Dump it in landfills d. Store and monitor the waste e. Don't know
12. What is the primary benefit of wetlands? Do they… a. Promote flooding b. Help clean the water before it enters lakes, streams, rivers, or oceans c. Help keep the number of undesirable plants and animals low, d. Provide good sites for landfills e. Don't know
Click here to compare your responses to the responses of a random survey of Americans. Click here for a report card on Americans' environmental knowledge.
(Answers: 1. b, 2. c, 3. a, 4. b, 5. c 6. d, 7. d, 8. a, 9. c, 10. b, 11. d, 12.b)
Get outdoors! Try out a new Na Ala Hele trail, visit a forest or spend some time in your neighborhood park. Appreciate what's out there, and spread your enthusiasm to others.
Before and after your hike, make sure to clean your shoes and pant legs. Seeds from invasive plants can stick to the bottoms of your shoes and pants, which can spread to native areas. Help the native forest by keeping it free of weeds!
Plant some native vegetation. For a list of native plants, and tips for how and where to plant them, visit pages 6, 7 and 9 of the Backyard Conservation publication distributed this year on Oahu. Did you get your copy in your newspaper? If not, you can utilize this informative online resource right on your computer! While you're browsing through the booklet, learn about xeriscaping, compost, and water conservation.
Keep the environment free of litter. Make sure your trash goes into the trash can, and join beach and park clean-ups. Visit the Keep America Beautiful webpage for a list of community organizations working to keep Hawaii beautiful. If there are no clean-ups in your neighborhood or at your favorite beach, get friends and family together to start one!
Like spending time at the beach? Volunteer with the NOAA Hawaiian Islands Humpback Ocean Count program. Each winter when the humpback whales stop off in the islands during their annual migration, volunteers post up at beaches on Oahu, Hawaii and Kauai to watch for whales, and monitor their behavior. This information is then reported back to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration by location team leaders. For more details about dates, locations and registering to help, visit the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale webpage.
What else can you do to help Hawaii's environment? Leave your ideas in a comment below!
Click here to see the other pages to the fun and educational Endangered Animals of Hawaii coloring book available free to educators of all kinds. Simply print out the pages and have fun!
Check out the Forest Jewels of Hawaii coloring book online too. Learn about pueo (sample page above), 'i'iwi, 'amakihi and more of the unique and beautiful birds that call Hawai'i home.
Now in it's 2nd year, No Child Left Inside (NCLI) Day was created by the American Geological Institute as part of its annual Earth Science Week. Earth Science week celebrates the geosciences, and NCLI Day was created to promote Earth Science Education.
For ideas about how to celebrate NCLI Day, visit the No Child Left Inside Day webpage. Here you'll find tips for organizing an effective and safe event for your class or for your family. Examples of lessons and activities include: "Look up! Observing Weather," "Be a Paleontologist!" and "Dig into Soil."
For a less structured NCLI day, simply take a walk to your neighborhood park, or spend some time looking closely at a patch of soil. Lay in a field and look at the clouds, or go for a hike. Spend a little bit of extra time enjoying the outdoors, and you never know, you may end up celebrating No Child Left Inside Day everyday!
DOFAW outreach staff attended the HaSTA Fall conference on October 3rd, 2009 to share information and resources with teachers.
Science teachers met at Punahou School to network with other educators, explore new classroom ideas, collect resources and participate in workshops. DOFAW provided posters, teacher guides, coloring books, backyard conservation guides, and more. (Click on links for info)
The Hawai'i Science Teachers Association Fall conference featured Tony Wagner, education expert and author of The Global Achievement Gap: Why Even Our Best Schools Don't Teach The New Survival Skills Our Children Need--And What We Can Do About It, as the keynote speaker.
As if the day was not full enough already, many teachers and marine educators headed down to the Educator's Evening from 6:30-9 at the Waikiki Aquarium to learn about the NOAA Ocean Explorers Program, and other marine education resources.
It was a fun and productive day for all who participated. Thanks to all the teachers who stopped by the DOFAW booth to ask questions, stock up on posters and share resource ideas!
Hawai`i contains unique natural resources, such as geological and volcanological features and distinctive marine and terrestrial plants and animals, many of which occur nowhere else in the world. These resources are highly vulnerable to loss by the growth of population and technology.
Ka'ena Point, Oahu
In 1970, the Hawai`i State Legislature expressed the need to protect and preserve these unique natural assets, both for the enjoyment of future generations, and to provide base lines against which changes which are being made in the environments of Hawai`i can be measured.
Mt. Ka'ala, Oahu
To accomplish these purposes, the legislature decided that the present system of preserves, sanctuaries and refuges must be strengthened, and additional areas of land and shoreline suitable for preservation should be set aside and administered solely and specifically for the aforesaid purposes.
'Āhihi kīna'u NAR, Maui
Thus, the statewide Natural Area Reserves System (NARS) was established to preserve in perpetuity specific land and water areas which support communities, as relatively unmodified as possible, of the natural flora and fauna, as well as geological sites, of Hawai`i.
Hono O Na Pali NAR, Kauai
The system presently consists of 19 reserves on five islands, encompassing more than 109,000 acres of the State's most unique ecosystems. The diverse areas found in the NARS range from marine and coastal environments to lava flows, tropical rainforests, and even an alpine desert. Within these areas one can find rare endemic plants and animals, many of which are on the edge of extinction. The reserves also protect some of the major watershed areas which provide our vital sources of fresh water.
Mauna Kea Ice Age NAR, Hawai'i Island
The Natural Area Reserves System is administered by the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife. Currently, management teams are working to control the encroachment of non-native plants and animals which threaten the existence of the natural biota on the reserves.
