DEC Teacher and Educator Summer Newsletter

In this issue:

• Billion Oyster Project
• Accessibility Resource Spotlight: Birdability
• Sustainability Resource Spotlight: Tree-Plenish
• Research and News Incorporating Nature into Learning Practices 
• DEC's Summer Teacher Institutes
• Planning Ahead: New York State Outdoor Education Association Conference

Summer Greetings, Educators!

Eighteen months and we are moving out of restrictions, and soon we will be welcoming students back into a different classroom. Below you will find inspiration in the Billion Oyster Project using restoration, hands-on activities, and nature to educate youth and the public. Don’t worry, even if you don’t live in New York City to utilize all the Project’s in-person resources, the curriculum and activities pack a punch for students all over New York State and farther away! There is also a free program through Tree-Plenish to help offset paper use at schools with tree plantings and helping high school students take ownership of these tree planting events.

Learn about a high school teacher’s efforts to use citizen science to engage students and how nature has mental health benefits for you and your students in the Research & News section.

Don’t forget about in-person educator professional development in the Hudson Valley and Western New York later this summer.

Enjoy the rest of your summer and take some time for you and your family before we move into that time we don’t speak of in July (returning to school).

DEC Environmental Education Staff

Billion Oyster Project

Billion Oyster Project is a nonprofit organization on a mission to restore oyster reefs to New York Harbor through public education initiatives. Why oysters? Their reefs provide habitat for many marine species, have the ability to filter water, protect water quality, and help shield New York City shorelines from storm damage. Founded on the belief that restoration without education is temporary, and observing that learning outcomes improve when students have the opportunity to work on real restoration projects, Billion Oyster Project collaborates with public schools. The crew designs STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math) curriculum for NYC schools through the lens of oyster restoration, and engages Urban Assembly New York Harbor School students in large-scale restoration projects. The project also collects discarded oyster shells from 75 NYC restaurants, and engages the local community in restoration and public education. The project has planted 47 million oysters across 12 acres and 15 reef sites, with the help of more than 8,000 students and 10,000 volunteers. Educators can check out the resources correlated to NYC Science Scope & Sequence. These resources include lesson plans for grades 4-12, information on class engagement including hosting a classroom oyster tank, hands on curriculum, and field trips. 

If you live outside of NYC, there are several ways you can share this incredible project with your students while making local connections. Don’t forget, the Hudson River flows from the Adirondacks all the way to New York Harbor! You can watch a video on Billion Oyster Project. Or, explore the biodiversity of New York by downloading the free NY Harbor Species Identification Guide (PDF). And, engage your students with Ecosystems Engineers curriculum (PDF) for grades 4-10, developed by Billion Oyster Project.

Accessibility Resources in the Outdoors

Birdability advocates and promotes a welcoming, safe, and inclusive atmosphere in the birding community for people of all abilities. Their vision is “birding truly is for everybody and every body, regardless of disability or other health concerns”. There are many resources on the site including a Birdability map, documents to facilitate inclusion including information on welcoming and inclusive birders, adaptive birding equipment information, and even upcoming event listings. Two resources available in the “More Resources” section worth further reading are Mindful Birding (great to use with students) and Racism in Birding (provides understanding to issues people experience).

Sustainability Resources for Schools

Tree-Plenish works with high school students in schools throughout the country to plant trees. The trees planted offset the paper used throughout the year in the school. Visit their website to find out how you can work with this organization to plan a tree planting event at your school and tree-plenish your paper usage!

Research and News Incorporating Nature into Learning Practices

Sparking Interest in Biology by Focusing on Conservation

Robin Dawson, the high school teacher who wrote the article, Sparking Interest in Biology by Focusing on Conservation, incorporated citizen science into her virtual classroom by interpreting data from camera traps, also called game cameras. The data used in this activity is available online from a National Park in Tanzania, Africa. Before interpreting the data, the students learned about the region they would be studying and human-wildlife relationships in the area. They discussed local wildlife-human conflicts faced by the residents, their attempts at mitigating the problems, and the importance of the camera traps in the process. Students were then given images from the project cameras to study and locate wildlife. Dawson found that not only were more students engaged in the activity, but several had gone beyond the assignment to review additional photos on their own time and/or with family. The article, Sparking Interest in Biology by Focusing on Conservation, along with the resources used to obtain camera trap data, was published on Edutopia.

Restoring Peace: Six Ways Nature in Our Lives Can Reduce the Violence in Our World

Richard Louv, author of bestselling books Last Child in the Woods and The Nature Principle, takes a look at some way nature may positively impact human mental health and relationships with others. Think of the last time you took a walk on a trail or in a nearby park. How did you feel afterwards? Scientific research shows that exercising in the outdoors improves mental health, just as it does physical health. Just think what a walk in the park could do for students!

Speaking of the park, Louv mentions that researchers have found when students play in an area with more natural elements, those students showed increased creativity and imagination in their play, rather than trying to “one-up” each other on the monkey bars (an activity that can lead to bullying behavior). Does your school’s outdoor spaces have natural elements? If not, how easy is it to incorporate boulders, stumps, or shrubs?

For further inspiration, and for the other four ways nature can lead to a reduction in violence, visit Children and Nature Network's website to read Restoring Peace: Six Ways Nature in Our Lives Can Reduce the Violence in Our World.

Summer Teacher Institutes

In Western NY at Reinstein Woods
Summer Teacher Institute: STEM in the Schoolyard
Tues, August 3rd to Wed, August 4th from 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM
Fee: $25
CTLE Hours: 12
Transform any schoolyard into a NYSSLS learning laboratory using nationally recognized Project WILD activities and more. For educators of students in grades K-12. Twelve CTLE hours provided. $25 fee covers program experiences. Register online at Reinstein Woods.

In the Hudson Valley at Norrie Point Environmental Center
Community/Citizen Science: Engagement, Participation, and Joys of Discovery!
Mon, August 23rd to Wed, August 25th from 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Fee: $50
CTLE Hours: 18
Engage students in collecting, analyzing, and contributing data as part of real-world organized scientific studies. Participants will gain valuable ideas, standards-based curriculum with activities, and network with peers. This program fulfills the requirements of the National Estuarine Research Reserve Teachers on the Estuary (TOTE) program. $50 fee covers materials, lunch on Tuesday, and refreshments. 18 CTLE hours.

To register, or for more information, email 5rivers@dec.ny.gov or fill out the registration form.

Planning Ahead: Save the Date!

New York State Outdoor Education Association (NYSOEA) Annual Conference
Riding the Wave of Change in Environmental Education
November 4-6, 2021
For formal and non-formal educators alike from all over New York State and beyond. Visit NYSOEA's website for more information on this virtual/in-person hybrid conference.

School Teachers and Youth Educators, Did You Know?

Did you know there is a Grant to take youth on field trips?
The Connect-Kids-to-Parks Field Trip Grant Program (Connect Kids) is designed to connect students in New York State with nature and history. Each grant provides reimbursement of up to $40 per student (and $80 for Special Education students) for field trips to state and federal parks, education and nature centers, forests, historic sites, fish hatcheries and other outdoor recreation areas. Find out more about this innovative grant program at the Connect Kids Grant page.

Did you know there is a Kids’ Magazine your fourth-grade class can get for free all about NY's environment?
Conservationist for Kids is the nature and environment magazine for kids in New York State. Every issue contains information and activities about New York State's environment, and ways to explore outside. If you are a fourth-grade teacher in New York State and are not already receiving Conservationist for Kids for use in your classroom, you can email the editor. To see back issues, lesson plans and other activities, including Educator Resources and Family Resources, visit the Conservationist for Kids site.

Fourth Grade Teachers! Did you know NYS honors the federal Every Kid in a Park Pass?
New York State Parks will accept the National Park Service's Every-Kid-in-a Park pass upon presentation for free entry into all State Parks and for tours at Historic Sites. For more information on activities 4th graders can do at NY State Parks & Historic Sites with this pass, and how to receive it, visit the Connect Kids page.

Did you know DEC's Environmental Education Centers and Regional Programs offer school programs?

• To learn about public programs, Guided School Programs, and how to receive the Five Rivers Environmental Education Center newsletter (focused on the Albany and Capital District area), email 5rivers@dec.ny.gov or visit the Five Rivers page.
• To learn about public programs, school programs, and how to receive the Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve & Environmental Education Center newsletter (focused on the Buffalo & surrounding areas), email reinsteinwoods@dec.ny.gov or visit the Reinstein Woods page.
• To learn about school programs on Long Island, contact the LI Regional Educator at education1@dec.ny.gov or visit the LI Environmental Education page. 
  To learn about school programs in New York City, contact the NYC Regional Environmental Educator at r2ed@dec.ny.gov  or visit the NYC Environmental Education page.
• Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center in the Hudson Valley and Rogers Environmental Education Center in Central NY also still offer programing through their friends of groups. Visit Stony Kill Foundation to learn more about programs offered at Stony Kill Farm and Friends of Rogers to learn more about programs offered at Rogers.

For more info...

...About this newsletter and sharing your educator tips, research, and workshops, contact us at EdProfDevel@dec.ny.gov
...About educator workshops offered by DEC, visit the Upcoming Workshops Schedule
...About more of DEC's resources for educators, visit the Teacher Info page
...About getting youth outside, including fun activities to do, visit the Kids GO (Get Outside) page