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September 2016 Newsletter
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Dead Horse Point-Lucas Zhao Photography
Get outside and explore natural Utah! Pictured: A family experiences the Great Salt Lake Shorelands Preserve. Did you know that more time spent outdoors is related to reduced rates of nearsightedness, also known as myopia, in children and adolescents (American Academy of Ophthalmology, 2011)?

E-News: September 2016

 

 Contents

  1. USEE Communicator
  2. EE Events & Opportunites
  3. Educator’s Corner
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USEE Communicator


A Big Facilitator Refresher Thank You!!!


Thank you to our wonderful sponsors for their generous donations providing EE educators with a great lunch for our Facilitator Refresher that took place on August 13. And a big thank you to Kathy McGlaughlin from Project Learning Tree for flying out from DC to help make the day a truly special and informative event. The refresher went fantastically, and we can't wait to work with all of our facilitators who are the faces of excellence in environmental education here in Utah. Thank you!
     
 

You're invited!
1st Annual Utah Green Schools Summit


USEE is hosting its first-ever Utah Green Schools Summit. We
will be sharing exciting updates to the program and will be hearing from expert and motivating guest speakers! For more information and a detailed agenda, click here.

When: Saturday, September 24, 2016, 10 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. (lunch provided)

Where: Utah's Hogle Zoo Education Room

         
Who:
  • Previous, Current & Potential Utah Green Schools
  • Partnering Organizations interested in sharing how they can support efforts for Utah Green Schools (display tables will be available)
  • Anyone interested in learning more about Utah Green Schools
Cost: Free, lunch is on us!

Please register for the summit so we can get an idea of what we need for food and display tables.
 

For more information, please contact Kris Taite at education@usee.org.
Interested in becoming a Utah Green School? Apply here, it's quick and easy!

    


Join us for our 35th Anniversary Birthday Fundraiser!


Join us for breakfast to celebrate and support 35 years of promoting high quality environmental education in Utah.

When: October 13, 2016, 8-9 A.M.
Where: Red Rock Brewery, 254 South 200 West, Salt Lake City

Please click here to RSVP.

Thank you to long-time supporter of USEE, Red Rock Brewery. It is because of tremendous support like this we are able to continue to serve Utah's educators and children.
 
 

          

 


Professional Development Workshops

Easily Integrate EE into the Classroom with Nationally Recognized and Award-Winning Curricula

Join USEE for our upcoming workshops! We provide participants with ideas and resources to integrate environmental education into the classroom, while still meeting core curriculum requirements. Most of our workshops are eligible for USOE credit/relicensure hours!

Project Learning Tree: Forest Theme (K-8)
October 1, 9:00am-3:00pm
Location: Alta Environmental Center, Alta Ski Area
Eligible for USOE Credit
Register $35

Project WET (K-12)
November 19, 9:00am-3:00pm
Location: Red Butte Garden
Eligible for USOE Credit
Register $0*
*Red Butte Garden is pleased to offer this workshop at NO COST thanks to a generous grant provided by iSEE. The workshop is valued at $35. Space is limited.

Project Learning Tree: Air Quality Theme with Breathe Utah (K-8)
January 21, 9:00am-3:00pm
Location: Natural History Museum of Utah
Eligible for USOE Credit
Register $35

Project Learning Tree: Arbor Day Theme (K-8)
April 8, 9:00am-3:00pm
Location: Red Butte Garden
Eligible for USOE Credit
Register $35

Contact us about setting up a workshop at your school or organization!
Availability may vary with time of year and location, 8 or more participants Required.

Check out our extensive list of upcoming workshops!
REGISTER HERE!


Online Project Learning Tree Workshops Now Available!


PLT now offers online training in Environmental Experiences for Early Childhood, Environmental Education for K-8, and PLT GreenSchools.
 

Early ChildhoodK-8GreenSchools
 

The Utah Environmental Education Community

Join the Facebook Group to stay in the Loop!
Post & share EE related questions, comments, photos, news, and events.

EE Events & Opportunities

 

Antelope Island State Park Utah Science Teacher Association Day

 
 Great Salt Lake from Buffalo Point on Antelope Island
 
When: Saturday, September 10, 2016, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Meet with Great Salt Lake Institute on the beach at Bridger Bay
 
10:00 a.m. Hike with Antelope Island Park Naturalist (meet at Buffalo Point Parking lot)
 
Here is what you can expect: Free entrance to Antelope Island State park. Just let them know you are a teacher. Bring your family and join us for some FUN!
 
FREE teacher resources including:
  • Water Cycle game for all ages
  • Brine Shrimp-ology with temporary tattoos.
  • Windogradsky columns (bring the lake into your classroom!)
  • Oolytic sand (aka, poolytic sand)
  • And many more free resources to use with students of all ages!
Drinks and snacks while supplies last

Enthusiastically supported by Great Salt Lake Institute at Westminster College and Utah State Division of Parks and Recreation.


Upcoming Activities at the Ogden Nature Center


The Ogden Nature Center is located at 966 W. 12th Street in Ogden, Utah.  For more information and more events, please visit www.ogdennaturecenter.org.
 
31st Annual Wildwoods BASH
Friday, September 9 at 5 pm
 
Wild Wednesday: Stinky Tales- Badgers, Otters, & Skunks
Wednesday, September 14 at 3:45 pm
 
Preschool Discovery Days: Colorful Creatures
Wednesday, September 14 or Thursday, September 15
9:30am, 11am, or 1pm
 
Illustrated Nature Journaling (2 part class)
Session 1: Thursday, September 15 from 6-8 pm
Session 2: Saturday, September 17, 10-12 pm 
 
This is Your Brain on Nature with David Strayer
Friday, September 16 from 6:30-8 pm                                           
 
Scout Saturdays 
Saturday, September 17
9 am – Native vs. Invasive
10 am – Conservation
11 am – Venomous Reptiles
More>

 

 

Upcoming Activities at the Stokes Nature Center (Logan)


The Stokes Nature Center is located at 2696 East US Highway 89, Logan, Utah.  For more information and more events, please visit logannature.org.

Adult Workshop Series
This fall we are launching our first adult workshop series, with the intention of expanding to include year-round classes! Visit logannature.org/workshops
 
Paddleboard Jousting Tournament | Sept 17th
9:00 am – 3:00 pm @ First Dam
Registration Required | Visit logannature.org/paddleboard

Canyon Jams: Juniper Junction | Sept 24
6:00 pm – 10:00 pm @ Stokes Nature Center

HALLOWEEN Journey | Oct 28th
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm @ Stokes Nature Center
All proceeds from the tickets and bake sale will benefit our wonderful nature preschool!

Canyon Jams: Hail the Harvest | Oct 29th 
6:00 pm – 10:00 pm @ Stokes Nature Center

Stokes Nature Center 19th Annual Gala | Nov 12th
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm @ Logan Country Club
Tickets Available | Visit logannature.org/gala
 

College Students Compete to Design Green Infrastructure

 
WASHINGTON – Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched its fifth annual Campus RainWorks Challenge, a competition for college and university students to design innovative solutions for our nation’s water infrastructure. Using their campuses as labs, teams develop green infrastructure systems to reduce stormwater pollution and build resilience to climate change. Since 2012, more than 420 student teams have participated in the challenge. More>

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Educators Corner

 

EE News





Eat Local Week, September 10-17, 2016!

That special time of year is coming right up…. the 9th annual Eat Local Week! Pledge to venture out of your everyday habits, and shift your diet a little (or a lot) closer to home. More>





 

Groundbreaking Event - September 8, 2016! 

The Utah Division of Natural Resources/Wildlife Resources celebrated the building of a new George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Wildlife Education Center & L.S. Skaggs Wetland Discovery Classroom with a groundbreaking event at the Robert N. Hasenyager Great Salt Lake Nature Reserve at Farmington Bay.

Speakers included: Gregory Sheehan, Director Utah Division of Wildlife Resources; Representative Stephen G. Handy, Utah House of Representatives; P. Bret Millburn, Commissioner Davis County; Stephanie Povey, Teacher Morgan Elementary School; Stephen Swindle, Chairman Utah Wildlife and Conservation Foundation; Spencer F. Eccles, Chairman & CEO George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation; and Ronny L. Cutshall, President ALSAM Foundation.

Congratulations to Marni Lee of DWR for organizing such a great and successful event!
 
    
Pictured left to right: Stephen Handy, Stephen Swindle, Spencer Eccles, Lisa Eccles, and Gregory Sheehan. Patricia Engel and Altair.

PLT GreenWorks Grants Available!

GreenWorks! is the service-learning component of PLT that provides grants to PLT trained educators for students to implement environmental improvement projects. By blending community service with the academic curriculum, students are "learning by doing."

The deadline to apply for a PLT GreenWorks! grant is September 30, 2016. Since 1992, PLT has distributed over $1 million to fund more than 1,000 environmental projects in communities across the country.

GreenWorks! action projects make a difference in young people's sense of responsibility toward their communities, and their understanding of their relationship to the environment. Some examples of past projects include habitat restoration, watershed improvement, school gardens, outdoor classrooms, recycling and energy conservation. More>


Spotlight: Wasatch Community Gardens

Our Mission
To empower people of all ages and incomes to grow and eat healthy, organic, local food.

Who We Are
Wasatch Community Gardens has served Wasatch Front residents since 1989 with the belief that the quality of a community is directly related to the quality of its food. We offer garden space, educational programs, and community events to empower people to grow, harvest, preserve, and prepare fresh, healthy food. We execute our mission through four main programs: Community Garden, Youth Garden, School Garden, and Community Education.

Our Core Values
Community: To practice inclusion and cultivate connections between diverse people around a shared Wasatch Community Gardens mission-related purpose.
Sharing: To recognize that everyone has knowledge and experience to contribute that enlivens and strengthens our mission and community.
Stewardship: To value the human, natural and financial resources that have been entrusted to us.

Our Vision
We envision an inclusive, robust and vibrant community that is nourished by healthy and affordable food.  

Wasatch Community Gardens September Events

Aug 15-Sep 15, 2016
Tomato Days Dine-Around 
Visit some of the best eateries in the valley.

Sep 10, 2016
Tomato Sandwich Party
Saturday, September 10 from 11-2:00 pm
Graceful Tomato Garden, 800 S 600 E, SLC

Sep 17, 2016 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm


Sep 20, 2016 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm


Sep 21, 2016 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm


Sep 22, 2016 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm


Sep 22, 2016 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm

 
Contact Info:
Wasatch Community Gardens
824 South 400 West, Suite B127 · Salt Lake City, Utah 84101
Phone: 801.359.2658
https://wasatchgardens.org
 


EE Video of the Month


Celebrating 50 years of Environmental Education
The Outdoor and Environmental Education Program at Montgomery County Public School in Maryland helps students nurture awareness, appreciation, and stewardship for the natural environment, and has been going strong for 50 years now.


EE Inspirational Book of the Month


Desert Solitaire
by Edward Abbey





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Utah Society for Environmental Education · PO Box 721 · Salt Lake City, Utah 84110 · USA