Earth Day - 40th Anniversary

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.

2. Cultivate your child’s green thumb – Garden with your children and encourage them to lead upkeep of the plants.

3. Play good old-fashioned games – Get nostalgic with these 8 outdoor games you’ll love.

4. Watch for feathered friends in your yard – Then share your sightings and stories online.

Reduce Your Waste

5. Talk to your kids about climate change – Help your children understand global warming and build a foundation of skills that will allow them to appreciate nature. You can calculate your carbon footprint together.

6. Conserve energy at home – Turn off lights when you’re not using them, air dry your clothes, and use small appliances over larger ones.

7. Compost your kitchen scraps – It reduces waste and makes “liquid gold” nourishment for your garden or potted plants.

8. Walk, ride your bike or carpool to school or work – Consider alternative transportation to get where you need to go.

Celebrate Environmental Education Week April 11-17 2010

Environmental Education Week is April 11-17 this year, and there are lots of ways to celebrate!

Calculate your carbon footprint and then try to reduce your daily impact during EE week and beyond! There is also a carbon footprint calculator made just for youth!

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!

Visit http://www.eeweek.org/ for more ideas and ways to connect with other people

What are YOU going to do to celebrate Environmental Education Week this year?

Attention Full-time Teachers- Travel to the Galapagos Islands with the Toyota International Teacher Program!

Toyota International Teacher Program

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!

Visit www.toyota4education.com for more details.

A Teacher's Guide to Navigating Change - Updated Curriculum available now!

The NEW Teacher's Guide to Navigating Change- a standards based, grade 4-5 curriculum is now available!

Visit: www.hawaiianatolls.org/teachers/NavChange.php to download the entire curriculum.


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.

Project Aloha ‘Aina Curriculum Workshop

Educators who are looking for creative ways to inspire Hawaii’s youth to excel in science, math, social studies and language arts standards and to care for resources within their ahupua‘a are invited to participate in the Project Aloha ‘Aina Curriculum Workshop.

The hands-on workshop is offered on the following dates:
Kaneohe, Oahu: July 17 - Workshop for teachers of grades 3-8
Hilo, Big Island: August 13-14 - Workshop for teachers of grades 3-6

The workshop will include a teacher’s guide that offers standards-based lesson plans, student activity sheets, rubrics, related media, pre-post tests designed to help measure student achievement of standards, a half-day field excursion and lunch.


The Aloha ‘Aina curriculum allows students to learn about Hawaii’s unique environment while meeting the current Hawai‘i Content and Performance Standards (HCPS III) and the Na Honua Mauli Ola guidelines.

Each grade level’s unit builds upon a foundation of culture and place-based learning while immersing students in scientific inquiry and related social studies explorations. Math and language arts skills are incorporated as a means for students to interpret and express their findings.


Shaping the future while preserving a heritage, Project Aloha ‘Aina is working to provide Hawaii’s youth with culturally relevant curricula to inspire them to embrace aloha ‘aina as a way of life. This educational project fosters foundational learning experiences that reflect Native Hawaiian culture and core values.


The Aloha ‘Aina and Kahea Loko (Hawaiian fishpond) curriculum were created by the Pacific American Foundation whose success was recognized in 2007 when it was awarded the “Partner in Excellence Award” from the Department of Education.


To register, go to http://www.thepaf.org/. For more information, contact Joylynn Paman at joy@mauifishpond.com or call 808-359-1172.

Professional Water Flow Workshop - Hydrus Hands-on Training/Workshop - February 15-17 2010

"Hydrus Hands-on Training/Workshop" at University of Hawaii at Manoa.

The shortcourse instructor: Dr. Jirka Šimunek , Dept. of Environmental Sciences, University of California, Riverside (CA)

Course scope: The course begins with a detailed conceptual and mathematical description of water flow and solute transport processes in the vadose zone, followed by an brief overview of the use of finite element techniques for solving the governing flow and transport equations. Special attention is given to the highly nonlinear nature of the governing flow equation. Alternative methods for describing and modeling the hydraulic functions of unsaturated porous media are also described. "Hands-on" computer sessions will provide participants an opportunity to become familiar with the Windows-based HYDRUS-1D and HYDRUS (2D/3D) software packages. Emphasis will be on the preparation of input data for a variety of applications, including flow and transport in a vadose zone, subsurface drip irrigation, flow and transport to a tile drain, and two-dimensional leachate migration from a landfill through the unsaturated zone into groundwater. Calibration will be discussed and demonstrated by means of a one-dimensional inverse problem.

When: February 15-17 2010

Where: University of Hawaii-Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii

For additional information about registration fees and other details: http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/Faresa/workshop.htm

Announcing 2010 Project Learning Tree Environmental Education workshops on Oahu and Maui!

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!

For more information about the workshops and to register, visit www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/dofaw/PLT/2010.

For more about Project Learning Tree, visit www.plt.org

PLT workshops in Hawaii are sponsored by the Department of Land and Natural Resources - Division of Forestry and Wildlife, in cooperation with Hawaii Nature Center, the US Forest Service, the American Forest Foundation and other partners.

Hawai'i Science Teachers Association Fall Conference

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.

After the Science Teacher's conference, OCEANIA Marine Educators Association (which also serves as the HaSTA Marine Science Section) met for their Marine Education Fall Conference. 

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!

Earth Science Week

A weeklong event sponsored by the American Geological Institute, Earth Science Week is October 11-17, 2009.

The purpose of this weeklong celebration is to "encourage people everywhere to explore the natural world and learn about the geosciences. 'Understanding Climate,' the theme of Earth Science Week 2009, will promote scientific understanding of a timely, vital topic: Earth’s climate." -www.earthsciweek.org

Throughout the week, NASA, the National Park Service, US Geological Survey and other geoscience groups will be releasing educational videos, holding webcasts, providing materials to teachers, and keeping interactive websites updated to promote understanding of our earth.

Visit www.earthsciweek.org for more information about how to get involved!

Free Environmental Education Workshop in Hawaii - 2009

Announcing 2009 Project Learning Tree Environmental Education workshops in Hawaii!

 Project Learning Tree 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, participate in interactive lessons while learning how to use the PLT activity guide.

The Project Learning Tree (PLT) Pre K-8 Guide

Participants will receive the PLT Pre K-8 curriculum guide, which contains 96 lessons and activities and is correlated to National Content Standards. During the workshops, facilitators highlight connections with Hawaii-specific resources, including the Ohia Project.

Several lessons will be correlated with Hawaii State Science Standards and Benchmarks. Participants will also learn about grant opportunities and will receive free teaching materials.


Complimentary lunch and snacks for PLT workshops throughout the islands provided by various generous sponsors including Costco Oahu and Kauai, Stretch Island Fruit, Larabar, and Whole Foods Honolulu. 


2009 Workshop details:
Hawaii Island: (CLOSED) September 19, 2009 from 8:30am-3:30pm at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Featuring an interpretive hike provided by HAVO ranger, special guest speakers, and more!
Maui: (CLOSED) June 13, 2009 from 9am – 3:30pm at the Hawaii Nature Center in Iao Valley. Optional guided hike after the workshop led by Hawaii Nature Center Staff.
Kauai: (CLOSED) June 19, 2009 from 11am – 4pm meet at the Kokee Lodge. Optional free overnight accommodations on the 19th for those who want to participate in our service trip on the 20th.
Oahu: (CLOSED) June 27, 2009 from 9am – 3:30pm at the Hawaii Nature Center in Makiki. Optional guided hike after the workshop led by Hawaii Nature Center Staff.

PLT workshops in Hawaii are sponsored by the Department of Land and Natural Resources - Division of Forestry and Wildlife, in cooperation with Hawaii Nature Center, the US Forest Service, the American Forest Foundation and other partners.