Greetings from SEEK!
As the school year winds down and the weather warms up, it's a great time to bring your students outside to learn and explore. The month of May is full of environmental celebrations including Arbor Month, Asthma Awareness Month, Composting Awareness Week, International Migratory Bird Day and more. Below you will find resources and ideas for your classroom and EE programs.
Don't forget to check SEEK's Jobs, Internships, and Volunteer pages
In this issue:
 Headwaters Science Center was founded in 1994 and belongs to the Bemidji community and Northwestern Minnesota. We strive to offer unique learning experiences and stimulate curiosity in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). HSC is a 501(c)3 organization with a mission "to provide intellectual stimulation and enjoyment children, adults, and educational organizations in northern Minnesota using hands-on science and technology exhibits and programs." HSC features a 7,500 sq. ft exhibit floor with over 40 interactive exhibit features and live animals. We use interactive exhibits, engaging activities, and dynamic presentations to introduce visitors to basic science concepts.
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Mini Eco Experience coming from the State Fair to Bemidji's Headwaters Science Center
Exhibits
from the Minnesota State Fair's Eco Experience are currently visiting the
Headwaters Science Center in Bemidji through June 15. A small set
of exhibits dubbed "Climate, Energy and Community: What we can do"
provide interactive opportunities to explore home energy use and
Minnesota's changing climate. The exhibits are geared for adults and
children to learn together. The event is free for Science Center members
and free with admission to the museum.
May
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May: Arbor Month
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May: Asthma Awareness Month
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May 3-9: International Compost Awareness Week - Be Loyal to Your Soil: Compost!
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May 6: National Bike to School Day
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May 9: 2015 International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD): Restore Habitat, Restore Birds
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May 9: Big Day Birdathon will be held in Richfield
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May 9-August 15: Online Course: Nature Education
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May 13: Presentation: A Sip of Sceince – Water Bar: Creating Open Spaces for Conversations and Connections will be held in Minneapolis
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May 14: Workshop: Design Your Rain Garden will be held in Maplewood
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May 15: Minnesota Master Naturalist Advanced Training - ADV Invasive Blitz will be held in Grand Rapids
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May 15-17: Conference: Minnesota Master Naturalist will be held in Grand Rapids
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May 16: ArtStarts EcoArts Festival will be held in Saint Paul
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May 16: Minnesota Renewable Energy Society (MRES) Solar Regatta will be held in Eden Prairie
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May 16: Class: Organic Gardening - Master Gardeners will be held in Oakdale
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May 18-23: Course: Minnesota Master Naturalist: Big Woods, Big River will be held in Maple Lake
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May 18-23: Training: Minnesota Master Naturalist Volunteer Training, Big Woods Big River will be held in Maple Lake
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May 20-23: National Science Teachers Association's STEM Forum and Expo will be held in Minneapolis
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May 23: Science Saturday will be held at Soudan Underground Mine State Park
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May 23: Workshop: Yardscaping with Fruit: Apples, Berries, Cherries, and More! will be held in Maplewood
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May 27-31: Course: Leave No Trace Master Educator Course will be held at Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center
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May 29-31: MinnAqua Beginners Fly-Fishing Weekend for Youth-Adult Pairs will be held at Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center
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May 30: Field Experience - Science Institute for Educators: Awakening the Next Generation of Scientists and Engineers will be held in Duluth
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May 30: Waterfest, "A Water Wonderland" will be held in St. Paul
Visit the SEEK Calendar for more information about these events.
Environmental Education in the City
This article written by Erin Hendel for Do It Green! Minnesota highlights the variety and depth of environmental education events in the Twin Cities. She writes, "There exist many well-hidden green spaces where you can join other area residents on a full moon canoeing excursion, feed wildlife, help biologists with animal field studies, take a class on Giant Cecropia Moths, or learn about gardening with native plants. These activities comprise just a brief sample of the environmental education events going on around the Twin Cities in a single month. Along with a dynamic science museum, our area boasts over seventeen Environmental Learning Centers (ELCs), where staff and volunteer naturalists lead excursions and teach classes."
Sustainable Forestry Teachers' Tours Offer Educators Hands-On Opportunities in 2015
This summer educators have the opportunity to head into the forest and receive hands on learning through sustainable forestry Teachers' Tours. The tours will provide teachers with information and experiences that can be passed on to students of all ages and inspire positive change. Teachers will be provided with the opportunity to learn about natural resources, forest products, ecosystem management, biomass and watersheds. The 2015 Teachers' Tours are offered in locations including South Carolina, Idaho, Oregon, Florida, Connecticut, Minnesota, New Brunswick, Ontario and more.
 2015: The Year of the Child in Nature - St. Paul to Open Nations First Nature Library
2015 year is shaping up to be a breakthrough year for the children and nature movement. In April, attendees at the Children & Nature Network Conference set the agenda for the coming decade on a number of issues including technology, parks, education, health care, cities and the law. April also marked the tenth anniversary of the first publication of "Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder" by Richard Louv, which led to the creation of the Children & Nature Network. Closer to home, it's expected that a model Nature Library for the nation will be opened in St. Paul in June. Sun Ray Library has been designed from the ground up to incorporate nature inside and outside the library, as a model for the rest of the country.
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Rain Barrel and Compost Bin Distribution Events Are Back
Each spring, the Recycling Association of Minnesota (RAM) offers residents inexpensive compost bins and rain barrels through Sale Events. This year RAM is offering several products to help residents better manage their kitchen waste and to enhance their gardening, they include Compost Bins, Rain Barrels, Plastic Kitchen Pails, and Stainless Steel Half Gallon Kitchen Pail. These events begin in April and run through June and are in the Twin Cities, St. Cloud, and Mankato.
Educational Resources Available to Help you Celebrate International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW): May 3-9
ICAW is an international celebration of the benefits of recycling organic waste. It is a multi-media publicity and education event that showcases composting and compost products. It features everything from composting in your backyard to large-scale commercial composting facilities and businesses serving entire communities. This year’s theme is Compost: Be Loyal to Your Soil. Free composting resources for teachers and students are available for download.
 Apply to be a Minnesota GreenCorps Host Site - Deadline: May 4
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is accepting applications from organizations interested in participating as a host site for the 2015 - 2016 year of the Minnesota GreenCorps program. Minnesota GreenCorps is an environmentally focused AmeriCorps program, which places AmeriCorps members with organizations around the state to spend a year of service addressing critical environmental issues, while gaining experience and learning valuable job skills.
2015-2016 Minnesota GreenCorp Member Applications Accepted Through June 12
The MPCA is also accepting applications from individuals interested in AmeriCorps service with Minnesota GreenCorps during the 2015-2016 program year. Up to 40 full-time members will be placed for 11 months of service with local governments, nonprofit organizations and educational institutions statewide to serve on environmental projects addressing 1. Air Quality 2. Waste Prevention and Recycling 3. Green Infrastructure or 4. Living Green Outreach.
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Every Kids in a Park: Five Questions about the New White House Initiative
In February, President Obama announced the "Every Kid in a Park" initiative. This initiative, which begins in September, is an ambitious plan to provide all fourth-grade students and their families with free admission to National Parks and other federal lands and waters. This won't be a one-time-only pass. Children, their families, adult chaperones, and their schools will be able to use the pass for multiple visits over the course of an entire year. The initiative was launched in anticipation of the 100th birthday of the National Park Service in 2016.
 Celebrate 2015 International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD): Restore Habitat, Restore Birds on May 9
Environment for the Americas fosters bird conservation education and celebrates and brings attention to bird migration through International Migratory Bird Day. IMBD 2015 shares the many ways in which birds matter to the earth, to ecosystems, and to us. Environment for the Americas has developed many educational and promotional materials related to this year’s theme. We invite you to use these materials to support your events and programs.
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For the love of water, become a volunteer monitor today
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is seeking volunteers for its Citizen Stream and Citizen Lake Monitoring Programs. These programs give Minnesotans the opportunity to participate in the long-term protection of lakes and streams by collecting valuable information the state will use to make decisions to maintain and improve the health of our waters. As part of the program, volunteers are asked to perform a short and simple water clarity test at their favorite lake or stream, once per week throughout the summer. Equipment and training are provided and no experience is necessary.
Summer Trips for Environmental Educators offered at a Discount - Registration Deadline: June 1
Global Exploration for Educators Organization is offering travel programs to 32 countries in 2015. Programs that would be particularity interesting to environmental educators include: Belize/Guatemala, Morocco, Zambia/Botswana/Namibia/South Africa, New Zealand, Costa Rica, Peruvian Amazon, and The Galapagos Islands. The trips are 8 to 21 days and are designed and discounted to be interesting and affordable for teachers.
Announcing the 2015 Summer Science Discovery Course for Teachers
The University of Minnesota's Summer Science Discovery offers Minnesota elementary and secondary teachers a chance to spend time in the classroom and in the field with University scientists and faculty, experienced K-12 teachers, and peers. Earn graduate credit through engaging, hands-on classes in plant sciences, insect ecology, biotechnology and a range of other topics. Best of all, most courses are free and include a stipend-even room and board in some cases. You'll take away lots of great materials to use with your own students.
Find more environmental education news and updates in SEEK's News section.
 Minnesota School Gardens: A Guide to Gardening and Plant Science
This free, 272-page guide was develop by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. In addition to instructions for establishing and maintaining a school garden in Minnesota, it contains 31 plant-science based lessons that assist in achieving core curriculum concepts and K-12 standards in science, social studies, language arts, math and nutrition. The subjects of the guide - plants, gardening and food - inspire a natural curiosity in students and lead to incredible hands-on opportunities and experiential learning. It is our hope that these activities and involvement in growing a garden will cultivate an awareness and appreciation for food production and healthy food options.
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Videos: Improved Lawn Maintenance - Good Choices for Clean Water
This 3-part video series titled "Improved Lawn Maintenance: Good Choices for Clean Water" was created by the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization to help individuals understand the impacts of lawn maintenance on our waters and provide information on better practices to reduce environmental impacts. Part 1: Lawn Care Basics is 21 min. and has information about the life cycle of grass, healthy mowing, aeration, and responsible watering. Part 2: Fertilizing Your Lawn is also 21 min. and focuses on soil testing and fertilizer. Part 3: Weed Control is 16 min. and covers weed identification, how to remove weeds without herbicide, how much herbicide to use and how to safely apply it. The videos are on YouTube and are available as DVDs.
 World Forest Institute (WFI) International Fellowship Program for Forestry and Natural Resource Professionals
The WFI Fellowship brings professionals in natural resources--such as foresters, environmental educators, land managers, NGO practitioners and researchers--to conduct a practical research project at the World Forestry Center in Oregon. In addition to their specific projects, Fellows participate in weekly field trips, interviews and site visits to Northwest forestry organizations, parks, universities, public and private timberlands, trade associations, mills, and corporations. The Fellowship is a unique opportunity to learn about sustainable forestry from the Pacific Northwest forestry sector, and to work with colleagues from around the world.
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Find additional resources for your environmental education programs in SEEK's Browse Resources section.
 Xcel Energy Foundation Environment Grants - Deadline: May 4
Xcel's Environmental Grants support organizations that protect and enhance the natural environment. Priorities include 1. programs or projects that provide hands-on environmental education experiences and curricula that foster an ethic of stewardship and conservation, 2. Habitat and park partnership efforts between nonprofits and Xcel Energy that preserve, restore, conserve and improve wildlife habitat, open lands, wet lands, parks, trail systems or recreational areas and 3. Natural resource conservation projects that help protect natural resources, or build awareness for natural resource conservation, including interactive exhibits and displays at museums and other public facilities, with an emphasis on water conservation. Grant applications are accepted by invitation only.
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State Farm Good Neighbor Innovation School Grants - Deadline: May 8
Youth Service America and State Farm are looking for administrators who want to create a culture of meaningful learning through service in their school. Twenty K-12 public schools to be recognized as Good Neighbor Innovation Schools and will receive a $5,000 grant to support their efforts to authentically engage students during the 2015-2016 academic year by using YSA's school programs - including Semester of Service, Classrooms with a Cause, and Global Youth Service Day.
Legislative-Citizen Commission on MN Resources (LCCMR) Grants - Deadline: May 11
Environmental education proposals are sought as part of the LCCMR grants. The 2016 Request for Proposal for funding beginning July 1, 2016 has been issued. Approximately $46.3 million is expected to be available for projects in the following seven areas: 1. Foundational Natural Resource Data and Information 2. Water Resources 3. Environmental Education 4. Aquatic and Terrestrial Invasive Species 5. Air Quality, Climate Change, and Renewable Energy 6. Methods to Protect or Restore Land, Water, and Habitat 7. Land Acquisition for Habitat and Recreation.
Green Partners Environmental Education Program - Deadline: May 15
The Green Partners Environmental Education Program supports organizations to actively educate and engage Hennepin County residents in making positive environmental changes in their daily lives. Three levels of funding are offered: 1. Seed Group: Receive free field trip transportation and activity supplies, 2. Root Group: Up to $8,000 to implement a project based on existing resources, 3. Branch Group: Up to $15,000 to implement an innovative project. Eligible organizations include private and public schools, non-profits, community and youth groups, multicultural organizations, congregations, and park districts.
 Brower Youth Awards – Deadline: May 18
The Brower Youth Awards has launched the prize search for outstanding grassroots environmental leaders across North America. We celebrate eco-activists, ages 13-22, leading the way to a green, just future. Six Brower Youth Award recipients will receive a $3,000 cash prize, a professionally produced short film about their work, and flight and lodging accommodations for a week-long trip to the San Francisco Bay Area.
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EPA Fellowships For Greater Research Opportunities for Undergraduates in Environmental Studies - Deadline: May 19
The EPA invites applications for the Greater Research Opportunities Fellowships for undergraduate environmentally-related study for bachelor’s level students. Up to 34 fellowships will be awarded in the summer of 2015. Eligible students will receive support for their junior and senior years of undergraduate study and for an internship at an EPA facility during the summer of their junior year. The fellowship provides up to $20,700 per academic year of support and $8,600 of support for a three-month summer internship for a combined total of up to $50,000 over the life of the fellowship.
National Wildlife Refuge Friends Grant Program - Deadline: May 21
This grant program funds projects that assist organizations in being effective co-stewards of natural resources within the National Wildlife Refuge System. The program's goals are to assist refuge Friends organizations in developing projects, expanding and increasing their capacity and skills, meeting local refuge conservation challenges and gaining and building community recognition. Competitive grants ($1,500 - $10,000) are provided to creative and innovative proposals that seek to increase the number and effectiveness of organizations interested in assisting the Refuge System nationwide.
 National Education Association (NEA) Student Achievement Grants - Deadline: June 1
The NEA Foundation provides grants to improve the academic achievement of students in U.S. public schools and public higher education institutions in any subject area(s). The proposed work should engage students in critical thinking and problem solving that deepen their knowledge of standards-based subject matter. The work should also improve students' habits of inquiry, self-directed learning, and critical reflection. Proposals for work resulting in low-income and minority student success with honors, advanced placement, or other challenging curricula are particularly encouraged. Grant amount is $5,000.
NEA's Learning & Leadership Grants - Deadline: June 1
These grants support public school teachers, support professionals, and/or faculty and staff in public institutions of higher education for one of the following two purposes: Grants to individuals fund participation in high-quality professional development experiences, such as summer institutes or action research; or Grants to groups fund collegial study, including study groups, action research, lesson study, or mentoring experiences for faculty or staff new to an assignment. The grant amount is $2,000 for individuals and $5,000 for groups.
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RGK Foundation Grants for Education, Community and Medicine/Health – Deadline: June 12
Grants up to $25,000 are available for nonprofits in the focus areas of Education, Community and Health/Medicine. The Education category includes programs that focus on formal K-12 education (particularly mathematics, science, and reading), teacher development, literacy, and higher education. The Foundation is also interested in programs that attract female and minority students into the fields of mathematics, science, and technology.
Recycling Association of MN Bin Grants – Deadline: June 15
The Recycling Association of Minnesota (RAM) is accepting applications for the 2015 John Maattala bin grant. Applications must be submitted by a RAM member (you can join RAM) to be eligible to receive a grant. RAM is offering four types of recycling bins this year: Bottle bins, ClearStream Binsx2, and Plastic Corrugated Bins, and Cardboard Desk Side Bins. RAM also offers free downloadable recycling signs for your bins.
Rainbarrel Grants - Deadline: ongoing based on funds
The Vadnais Lake Area Water Management Organization (VLAWMO) has a cost share program to assist the community in purchasing rainbarrels. Through this program, you may purchase up to two rainbarrels and your property must be located within VLAWMO boundaries. VLAWMO will reimburse 50 percent of the cost, up to $125 for each rainbarrel up to $250. Reimbursement will come on a first come, first serve basis until the annual funds are exhausted.
Find additional funding resources for your environmental education programs in SEEK's Browse Resources section.
SEEK stands for Sharing
Environmental Education Knowledge and is the online home of Minnesota's
environmental education resources.
For further information visit
the SEEK website or Facebook page or contact Colleen Schoenecker,
SEEK Coordinator, at seek.pca@state.mn.us or 651.757.2700 or
800.657.3864
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