EGLE Classroom Newsletter – January 2022

Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy sent this bulletin at 01/26/2022 08:30 AM EST

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JANUARY 2022 NEWSLETTER

Earth Day 2022 Announcements

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) celebrates Earth Day every year in April.

The Michigan Earth Day Poster Contest is for students in kindergarten through 5th grade. The submitted posters will be judged based on the "Michigan Native" theme and should include plants, wildlife, or ecosystems native to Michigan. The artwork can be drawn by hand or digitally created. Each school hosts its own contest for the students and submits the top three posters for each grade. The Earth Day Poster Contest committee selects the top two first and second place winners from each grade.

The Michigan Earth Day Environmental Service Award (ESA) competition is for students in 6th through 12th grade. Schools are invited to nominate a student or group of students to be recognized for completion of a school-sanctioned, environment-based project that has tangible results. The project should provide a benefit for plants, wildlife, or ecosystems native to Michigan. Schools confirm the validity of each project and outcome. The Earth Day ESA committee selects the top two projects from each category.

The deadline for both contests to submit entries is February 25, 2022. The winners from both contests will be notified by March 11, and their work will be posted on the Michigan Earth Day webpage.

Meet EGLE’s New Environmental Education Coordinator

Eileen Boekestein recently joined EGLE as its environmental education coordinator. Eileen has been an environmental educator for 15 years, working in formal and non-formal educational settings including nature centers, colleges, nonprofits, and local government positions. Her work focuses on environmental education for people of all ages! The goal is to facilitate environmental literacy - an ability to understand environmental issues and have the skills and motivations needed to make responsible decisions around environmental use, protection, and conservation. Eileen is looking forward to both supporting the environmental education efforts already underway at EGLE as well as expanding the statewide reach of our educational programs. Eileen is particularly interested in working on
(1) expanding equitable access to environmental education and environmental careers for K-12 and college students, (2) providing additional programs and resources to support young people in developing stewardship action projects, and (3) increasing support for K-12 educators working to include environmental education in their classrooms. You can contact Eileen at BoekesteinE@Michigan.gov.

Michigan Green Schools program transitions to EGLE Stewardship

The Michigan Green Schools program has transitioned from a nonprofit to EGLE. Educators and students will continue receiving the same high-quality support for environmental stewardship education for Michigan teachers and students. The current 2021-22 application form and current information can be found on the Michigan Green Schools webpage. The contact information for county coordinators has also been updated and is available. The process for 2021-22 will remain the same. As a reminder, the Michigan Green Schools application deadline is March 1, 2022, and forms must be returned to county coordinators by that date.

Environmental Education Resource
Lending Station Launch

Michigan teachers and students now have available to them -- for the first time -- resources for the classroom that will focus on Great Lakes watersheds and ecosystems. Funding for the materials comes from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. Educators will be able to use the Lending Station materials - EnviroScape models, groundwater models, water testing backpack kits with replacement parts - in the classroom, school fairs, or for environmental education programs. The Lending Station items will help teachers educate students about the Great Lakes, their ecosystems, stewardship, conservation, and restoration of these natural resources. Educators may request lending stations by filling out the form on the EGLE Classroom website.

Highlighted #EGLEclassroom Videos

Radon Awareness
In this video you will learn about what radon is, where it comes from, health effects, testing for radon, what is involved in fixing your home, and other helpful resources. There are simple steps that you can take to test for radon and fix your home if necessary.

What are PFAS?
You've probably heard about PFAS in the news, but what are they and where do they come from? PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of man-made chemicals used in making things like firefighting foam, stain repellants, and non-stick cookware. PFAS can't break down easily in the environment and some PFAS can build-up in our bodies, which can lead to health risks. For more information, visit our website at Michigan.gov/PFASResponse.

Community Water Supply
Got a minute? Learn how water travels from a local community water supply through a home and to its faucets. Got a few minutes? Check out Michigan.gov/EGLECommunityWater to learn more about Michigan’s Safe Drinking Water Act and how the community water supply program helps protect over 1,400 community public water supplies in Michigan.

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