A longstanding and as of yet unresolved question in science is whether or not other species use complex language to communicate. So far, some humans take great pride in thinking that they are the only ones who use complex language. Many approaches have been used to answer this question from trying to teach apes sign language to training dogs and pigeons to recognize hundreds and thousands of symbols and commands to recording and playing back modulated songs to birds to see their response. But as of yet, there is no conclusive evidence that other species use language as complex as say English or Chinese. Science is fairly certain that dolphins and whales know and call one another by name. Many small mammals and birds have specific warning calls that they give that identify different predators to the rest of their communities. Read More...
Join USEE and our Fabulous Partners! We provide participants with ideas and resources to integrate environmental education into the classroom, while still meeting core curriculum requirements.
Teachers can receive USOE credit for participating!
February
24-25th Environmental Education in the 7th & 8th Grade Classroom
Location: Utah Arts Alliance Register
Spring has arrived at the Ogden Nature Center! Help bring in the new season and learn how animals and plants adapt to warmer temperatures and longer days. Hit the trails looking for signs of spring. Be prepared to hear Chorus Frogs and keep an eye out for migrating birds. Please meet in the Visitor Center. http://www.ogdennaturecenter.org
Join Rockport State Park staff for a day of viewing Bald and Golden Eagles on the ice. Will be joined by Cabelas and Hawk Watch International. There will be live captive birds that you can get up close and personal with. Free hot chocolate and hot dogs! Cabelas will provide optics for viewing the wild Eagles. http://stateparks.utah.gov/park/rockport-state-park/events/eagles-ice
Tracy Aviary is open year-round, so why not take advantage of the slower season by getting to spend more quality time with the birds? Free-flight encounters are held in a beautiful, heated space as well, so be sure to check that out! http://www.tracyaviary.org/
Join BOEP for one of the best conferences in the Four Corners region for educators! Learn directly from experienced educators leading sessions on many diverse aspects of place-based learning. A diverse and exciting conference line up, with workshop topics ranging from Quilting the Insect Life Cycle to Navajo Plant Food & Medicine to Archery & Orienteering. More info can be found here: http://www.fourcornersschool.org/annual-conference
March 5-6, 2015
Location: Weber State University Shepherd Union Building
The Intermountain Sustainability Summit aims to bring together civic leaders, sustainability professionals, businesses, educators, students, and interested public together to learn, network, and develop new strategies for implementing sustainability in homes and businesses. http://www.intermountainsustainabilitysummit.com
March 24-26, 2015
Location: University of Utah Rice Eccles Stadium
The Salt Lake Valley Science & Engineering Fair (SLVSEF) is an annual science competition for students in grades 5-12 from the Canyons, Granite, Murray, Park City, Salt Lake and Tooele School Districts as well as the Salt Lake Catholic Diocese. https://slvsef.org/
Now it's time for the public to weigh in on a "blueprint" for the future of the central Wasatch Mountains. People surely will have plenty to talk about when they scrutinize the concept developed by 20 or so government agencies, ski resorts and conservation groups involved in the Mountain Accord process. Read More...
Keep track of kids reading minutes during the month of March. Starting March 30 you can go to www.kued.org/reading and
enter your minutes into the log and receive an invitation to the
SUPER READY PARTY! on April 11, 2015. USEE will be there
along with SO many other great organizations.
IT'S GONNA BE A BLAST! CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO! http://usee.org/images/SuperReaderPartyflyer.pdf
The Utah Division of Forestry, Fire & State Lands along with several partnerships holds an Annual Arbor Day Poster Contest for elementary aged children. This year's theme is sure to spark creative student ideas. Trees look different depending on your perspective, location and proximity. Various people and animals also see trees from different angles. With this theme you can even explore geometry through branch attachment angles or trees growing at different angles!
February 27, 2015 - Registration Deadline Click here to Register!
March 20, 2015 - Poster Entry Deadline Click here for more details! http://ffsl.utah.gov/index.php/forestry/urban-and-community-forestry/arbor-day-poster-contest
Theme of the Earth Day Art Contest: What message would you send to American Leaders about climate change? The Earth's climate is getting warmer. Weather patterns are changing, sea level is rising, and our oceans are becoming more acidic. As greenhouse gases build up in our atmosphere, we are likely to see more of these changes that are already affecting people, animals, and ecosystems in many ways. What would you like to say to American Leaders about this important issue?
April 10, 2015 - Entries Due
April 22, 2015 - Earth Day!
Check out the Acorn Naturalist's Online Environmental Education Resources! Find resources in the following topics and more: environmental literacy, place-based learning, teaching methodologies, EE nature journalism, energy education, EE songs, service learning, global perspectives, etc. Click here for full list of resources and topics. http://www.acornnaturalists.com/store/Environmental-Ed-C2.aspx
Is your organization looking for help advertising jobs and internships? USEE posts open positions in the field of Environmental Education on our website (www.usee.org) as well as our monthly E-Newsletter. Please send current job openings, internships and volunteer opportunities to danielle@usee.org.
Join Rockport State Park staff for a day of viewing Bald and Golden Eagles on the ice. Will be joined by Cabelas and Hawk Watch International. There will be live captive birds that you can get up close and personal with. Free hot chocolate and hot dogs! Cabelas will provide optics for viewing the wild Eagles.
