Native Wildlife: Brood X Periodical Cicadas

This year, an exciting phenomenon is occurring in the eastern United States: the emergence of Brood X periodical cicadas. Brood X is also known as the Great Eastern Brood and is one of 15 broods of periodical cicadas that appear regularly throughout the eastern United States. This brood has the largest range and concentration of any of the periodical cicadas. It is made up of three different species of Magicicada. Check out our article above for more information about these amazing creatures. Read more.

Credit: Eleanor Henry

At-Home Learning

The department offers a variety of learning activities that can be done from home. Below you will find a list of websites and programs that our units have put together for educators. 

• Aquatic Education at-home learning page

• Wildlife Education at-home learning page

• Virtual Ranger videos

• Forestry at-home learning page

Give the Gift of Trees this Summer! Celebrate life's special moments – anniversaries, birthdays, holidays, retirements, or weddings – or honor the memory of family and friends with a native tree planting. Your Gift of Trees order is actually three gifts – one for someone you care for, one for future generations, and one for the environment. Newly planted trees will attract wildlife, add beauty to the surroundings, enhance air and water quality, reduce soil erosion, and ultimately improve quality of life for all. Trees are generally planted in the county of the recipient.

Professional Development Opportunities

Earn your Environmental Educator Certification in Five days!

The Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education partners with the Notre Dame University of Maryland to offer this week-long workshop focused on interdisciplinary, hands-on learning. Each day focuses on engaging projects using guides from and presentations by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Participants will gain an in-depth understanding of biodiversity studies and Meaningful Watershed Education Experiences (MWEE) that they can apply to their education sites. Check out the flyer for more information. 

July 5–9, 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Location: Online

COST:

• $1,450 for 3 graduate credits, optional Maryland Environmental Educator Certification available for additional $125
• $610 (no registration fee) for 1 graduate credit plus Maryland Environmental Educator Certification

CONTACT: Dr. Juliann Dupuis, jdupuis@ndm.edu for registration information

Teachers on the Estuary: Scientific Inquiry in the Field

July 26 - July 30

How can we make the curriculum come alive with real-time data? Learn to integrate local and national environmental data into the classroom through cross-disciplinary, hands-on field activities from the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Chesapeake Exploration and Estuaries 101 curricula. How can we make the curriculum come alive with real data collected by both students and environmental science professionals from throughout the watershed and address real questions?

Length & Location: This dynamic online course will ask you to take your learning outside to conduct investigations of your local environment. Investigations will be supported/facilitated by community leaders, scientists, and educators from NOAA and Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. This course is designed to model a Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience (MWEE) through participant-driven field experiences and authentic research. A $200 MWEE implementation support fund is available to each participant upon completion of all course requirements, and Maryland teachers are eligible for 3 MSDE Continuing Professional Development credits. Register online.

Contact Coreen.Weilminster@Maryland.gov for more information.

Mid-Atlantic Climate Change Education Conference The Mid-Atlantic Climate Change Education (MACCE) Conference is a unique convening of formal and non-formal educators to share and learn about the latest trends in climate change education. Due to uncertainties around COVID-19, the MACCE Conference will be hosted virtually again this year on June 28 - July 1, 2021. Registration for the full event is $20 and is now open! Register online. New this year – A Student Track! The MACCE Conference is excited to offer a brand-new student track on the first day of the conference this year (June 28). The track will be geared towards middle school and high school students that are passionate about tackling climate change. Throughout the day students will have the opportunity to connect with and hear from other students engaged in climate solutions through a series of networking activities and presentations on the topics of climate science, justice, and action. Registration is FREE.   Students are also welcome to attend the entire conference if they so choose – just let us know when you register.  Contact Coreen.Weilminster@maryland.gov for more information.

Celebrate National Pollinator Week with the Department of Natural Resources! 

Three cheers for pollinators that help feed us and other organisms! Learn more about Maryland’s pollinators and participate in some pollinator-focused activities for National Pollinator Week. Check out the Wild Acres public events page for more information.