At our next Planet Stewards book club we’ll discuss Engage, Connect, and Protect: Empowering Diverse Youth as Environmental Leaders.

While concern about the state of our land, air, and water continues to grow, there is widespread belief that environmental issues are primarily of interest to wealthy white communities. Engage, Connect, Protect explodes this myth, revealing the deep and abiding interest that African American, Latino, and Native American communities ― many of whom live in degraded and polluted parts of the country – have in our collective environment.

This book is part eye-opening critique of the cultural divide in environ-mentalism, part biography of a leading social entrepreneur, and part practical toolkit for engaging diverse youth. Engage, Connect, Protect is a wake-up call for businesses, activists, educators, and policymakers to recognize the work of grassroots activists in diverse communities and create opportunities for engaging with diverse youth as the next generation of environmental stewards.

And remember...

• For details on all Book Club meeting days, times, selections, and how to log in, go to our Upcoming Events Page.
• Sign up to receive reminder announcements on our mailing list!
• See previously selected books and discussion questions in our Book Club Archive.

Aquatic invasive species are an environmental threat throughout our entire continent. Read how Spencer Cody, and his students in a landlocked, rural South Dakota school district found themselves at the forefront of the struggle against zebra mussels - and what they did about it. Through their project, middle and high school students made tremendous knowledge gains and experienced substantial attitudinal changes about the issue. While working to mitigate zebra mussels in their community presented many logistical problems, they navigated them successfully, achieving their stewardship goals, resulting in a remarkable learning experience for both students and teachers alike.

Get inspired to take action! Check out all the amazing projects carried out by NOAA Planet Stewards Educators and Students on our What Success Looks Like Web page.

Klaudia Janek, a school librarian at the International Academy High School in Bloomfield Hills, MI invited her students to participate in a reading challenge using the NOAA Planet Stewards Book Club reading list. Students at the school have an option to take an Environmental Systems and Societies  class. They can use Planet Stewards Book Club selections as a starting point for a World Studies Extended Essay and many choose an environmental issue to investigate. These book selections support several UN Sustainable Development Goals that many teachers at the school integrate into their curriculums also. Plus, it's a way for the school library to make these books easily available to students and teachers. There is also a reading challenge that adds a bit of competition for students, which is a great partnership between the school library and the science department!

Check out the Planet Stewards Reading Challenge page. Have questions? Contact Janek!

The Biden-Harris Administration is hard at work preparing to launch the first cohort of the American Climate Corps by summer 2024. There will be hundreds of paid opportunities to tackle the climate crisis and advance environmental justice.

As they gear up for a successful launch, they want to hear directly from you! The White House is hosting virtual listening sessions to hear your ideas about how to shape this historic, groundbreaking initiative. Each listening session will last roughly 90 minutes.

Register for a listening session that is right for you:

• January 25^th 6pm ET // Register here
• February 1^st 10am ET // Register here 

Given the level of anticipated interest, they are asking everyone to limit their comments to 3 minutes or less. If you’re unable to join the live conversations, or have more to share send your thoughts, comments, and ideas by January 31^st, 2024. As the Biden-Harris Administration continues building the American Climate Corps, here are some opportunities that are available right now that might be of interest to you:

• AmeriCorps Forest Corps
• AmeriCorps Opportunities
• The Corps Network Opportunities

Every year, the United Nations brings together representatives from across the globe to address the climate crisis. Member states’ negotiators assess the latest information and science about the climate crisis and craft global goals aimed at slowing climate change and mitigating the worst of its impacts. At this month’s Climate Conversation, National Academies panelists will discuss what the conference outcomes actually mean, how countries will embrace the final agreements, and what climate actions we should expect.

Register and learn more about the webinar. 

This year, the Explorer-in-Training Program will feature two paid internship options:

• 2 to 4-week expedition-based ocean mapping opportunities on the Okeanos Explorer (priority deadline: January 31, 2024; applications accepted on a rolling basis)
• 10-week spring and summertime opportunities (application deadline: January 31, 2024)

The 10-week internships give participants an experiential learning opportunity to develop their skills and knowledge through long-term projects supported by NOAA Ocean Exploration mentors. The expedition-based internships provide support for specific NOAA Ocean Exploration expeditions, giving participants the chance to contribute to mission efforts while gaining tangible skills that benefit their future pursuits.

To learn more and apply for available opportunities in 2024, visit the Explorer-in-Training website.

The goal of the Planet Media Call for Pitches is to generate creative ideas for short-form content to support children ages 8-12 in understanding the four essential climate principles focused on hope, humor, and solutions. Ideas will incorporate key climate messages through a variety of creative approaches, including animation, live action, music and more. Selected finalists will pitch before a panel of reviewers in March at the annual Aspen Ideas: Climate Miami Beach. There, a final round of pitches will be identified to work with a production team to make the content. Creatives with selected pitches will receive advice and support from a production company, and a guaranteed minimum budget of $15,000 to execute their creative concepts.

Who?

Students in grades 6 to 12 living in the United States (including the District of Columbia and U.S. Territories) or Canada and enrolled in a public, private, cyber, religious, charter school, or who attend a home school pro­gram can participate.

What?

Learn about Dr. Hilleman, and write a 500- to 1,000-word essay that responds to this prompt: “Dr. Hilleman made his impact on the world through the development of vaccines. What scientific issue would you take on if given the chance and why?” The essay should be written in English for U.S. submissions and English or French for Canadian submissions using complete sentences and appropriate grammar. One entry per person. See “Official Rules” for complete details.

Winners will receive:

• Cash prize: 1st place US $500; 2nd place US $250
• Winner certificate
• Recognition at a virtual award event on May, 2024. The event will be hosted by Dr. Paul Offit - VEC director, vaccine inventor and Hilleman biographer. The event will include special guests and student winners reading their essays.

Find out more information about the contest, how to enter, and examples of winning essays from past years here.

Explore the Submission Requirements to learn more about the Categories

Developed as part of the University College London Institute of Education’s Youth Equity+STEM project, the Equity Compass is a tool to help formal and informal science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) educators and others adopt a social justice mindset when developing K–college STEM programs, policies, and practices. The tool provides a framework and guiding questions for evaluating equity issues within K–college STEM programs, policies, and practices and addresses eight multiple dimensions of equity. The goal is to help users ensure that their STEM programs and policies move STEM from being a destination for an elite few to a vehicle that serves and belongs to the whole community.

Monterey Bay Aquarium’s FREE multimedia online course for grades 3–6 introduces students to different types of scientists and what they do (ask questions, work with models, investigate, analyze and interpret data, use math, explain and design, argue based on evidence...) Students also conduct hands-on activities practicing key science skills, such as observation, data collection, and scientific illustration. The course also presents information about different kinds of scientists (e.g., zoologist, marine ecologist) and provides activities that teach students what it might be like if they had a career in that field. The course concludes with a reflection activity in which students produce a creative project (digital book, song, game, stop-motion video, etc.) that summarizes what they learned.

The Explorer Classroom’s live interactive YouTube show connects your students with scientists and storytellers to hear behind-the-scenes stories about their work and ask questions in real time. This month your class will have the opportunity to learn from photojournalists, scientists and storytellers whose innovation is protecting the wonder of our world.

All sessions are free and include an instructional guide to help your class get the most out of the experience, plus Spanish-language events are included! There will also be time for a Q&A, so come prepared with questions.

Explorer Classroom January Events:

Monkeys, Poop & Forest Conservation | Federico Pardo: January 23, 2024 | 11:30 AM ET

Join Colombian biologist and photographer Federico Pardo who is working to protect Colombia's most endangered monkeys and help restore their home, the tropical rainforest. Recommended for ages 8-17. This event will be in Spanish! Register now.

Mapping Critical Habitats | Sera Tolgay: January 25, 2024 | 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM

Sera Tolgay is an urban planner and cartographer who uses maps to identify critical habitats in need of protection. Join to learn why mapmaking is important and how Sera creates them using open source data, drones, and satellite imagery! Recommended for ages 8-14. Register now.