Join the intrepid student explorer Teek from planet Queloz and NOAA climate scientist Tom Di Liberto as they explore planet Earth. This fun, science-driven, five-part series is designed for students in the fourth through sixth grades. The series guides students on how the ocean influences Earth’s weather and climate; weather extremes; the technologies scientists use to gather weather data; and what this information tells us about our changing planet.

Please note that these episodes are a work in progress, and may be subject to small changes over the coming months.

The attraction at 300 Tower Road in Naples features aquariums, touch tanks with marine critters, natural history, environmental and wildlife exhibits, an art gallery, picnic area, guided walking trails, butterfly garden and a scenic overlook bridge. Special events and activities for all ages are held year-round including watercolor and photography classes, gallery nights, presentations about wildlife and conservation, birding field trips, marine science camps and more! The hours are 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. Tuesday – Saturday.  Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 4-12 and 3 and under are free.

Rookery Bay Research Reserve also offers guided boat tours or kayak adventures into the tranquil waters of Rookery Bay Reserve. Guests can choose from a variety of tours including shelling trips to deserted white sand islands, sunset tours or bird rookery excursions. Call 239-530-5972 for more information.

Rookery Bay Research Reserve Marine Science Camp

Registration is still OPEN.

A perfect camp for middle or high school students who love coastal waters, marine wildlife and want to experience hands-on marine science with biologists. Join Rookery Bay Research Reserve's flexible and fun marine science camp in June. Select 1, 2 or 3 days of camp and choose from a variety of themes like kayaking through mangroves tunnels, searching for coastal critters in the bays and beaches or get hands-on in the labs with microscopes and a real squid dissection. Don't miss out on this amazing opportunity - that also happens to look great on a college application!

Camp Dates:

Choose just 1 day, 2 days or an entire session week.

• June 4, 5 and 6
• June 11, 12 and 13
• June 18, 19 and 20
• June 25, 26 and 27

9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

$75 per day (camp scholarships are available)

Registration is required!

Watercolors & Wildlife: Painting with Jan at Rookery Bay

June 20 – Reflections on Water

$85, (includes all materials)

Registration is required!

Paint the beauty of coastal Naples and the wildlife of estuary waters in this watercolor painting class. Local artist Jan Deswik offers step-by-step simple instructions and creative support perfect for beginners or anyone inspired by the coastal environment and wants to bring it to life in a one-of a-kind painting. Each class spotlights a natural theme from shells to birdlife to local waterways. Held in classrooms at the Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center, all materials are included. Participants will complete a painted piece with matte at each session.

Essentials of Digital Photography Workshop

June 22

9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

$55

Registration is required!

If you want to get the best pictures possible and a true understanding of your camera’s features, this camera workshop is for you. The class covers the essentials of your digital camera. You will learn how to use your camera's shutter, aperture, ISO control and the drive modes to create images with impact and creativity. Sonny Saunders has over 35 years of experience in photography and instruction and is renowned for his ability to communicate to a wide variety of students. No previous camera or photography experience is necessary, just a desire to learn.

Rookery Bay Eco Kayak & Boat Tours – Get out on the water with us!

Join Rookery Bay Research Reserve for a guided boat tour or kayak adventure into the beautiful waters of Rookery Bay Research Reserve. With our kayak tours, guests paddle through beautiful mangrove tunnels, teeming mudflats and intricate oyster reefs while searching for amazing wildlife like sea stars, large snails, birds, dolphins and manatees! Our boat tours are small 6-passenger boats and offer a comfortable and informative ride. Guests can choose from different tours including a shelling trip to a deserted barrier island or a sunset tour. Call 239-530-5972 to find out more.

The Climate Mental Health Network and the National Environmental Education Foundation are seeking participants to pilot a new set of resources to address climate emotions in schools. These resources aim to prepare teachers to teach about climate change in developmentally appropriate ways and effectively respond to students’ emotional reactions to this issue. Those selected to participate in the pilot will be paid $500 upon completion of the program. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. Find out if you are eligible for participation in the program pilot and apply today.

Participating in this Teachers on the Estuary workshop (TOTE) will provide educators the opportunity to: experience research & field-based teacher training, enhance understanding of estuary environments using local examples, incorporate  of estuary & watershed topics into classroom teaching, promote student stewardship of estuaries & watersheds, receive content aligned with national education standards and/or North Carolina Essential Standards.

This opportunity is for Carteret County K-12 Teachers.

To register, contact Lori Davis (lori.c.davis@ncdenr.gov)

June 18, 2024

The topic for this Teachers on the Estuary workshop is TBD. Please check the Upcoming TOTE Workshops Webpage for additional details as they become available.

Educators are encouraged to email Sarah Nuss (mcguire@vims.edu) to register.

June 25-27, 2024     |     Audience: Middle and High School                                                  teachers, informal educators

Connecting our agricultural county to our Great Lakes!

Learn how our community’s activities on the land impacts Lake Erie. K-12 teachers are invited to learn conservation strategies for agricultural land, your own backyard, and the lake shore; wade in to study the wetland ecology, water quality, and natural resource management survey techniques; and receive education materials targeted for your students.

To register and obtain more information: contact Jennifer Bucheit (jennifer.bucheit@dnr.state.oh.us)

This workshop will explore the three rivers that give the ACE Basin its name: the Ashepoo, the Combahee and the Edisto. Part of the day will be spent in the marsh or on a boat with biologists and science educators learning how to monitor the estuary and analyze the data. The rest of the day will be spent planning how to translate that research to your students through lesson plans and educational resources. This workshop will be focused on investigating coastal environmental issues and ways to promote solutions in your classroom and school.

Register for the ACE Basin NERR workshop                                   [Photo credit: Erica Connery, ACE Basin NERR]  

In this free virtual teacher workshop, you'll hear from curriculum developer Jon Griffith and featured CIRES Scientists as they walk you through the Data Puzzles instructional framework in the context of new and exciting phenomena. Participants will engage with Data Puzzle lesson tasks from both the teacher and student perspective and leave the workshop prepared to facilitate Data Puzzle lessons in their classrooms! We'll also be joined by our good friend, Kristin Hunter-Thomson from Dataspire, who will describe different ways we can help students "muck about" with data to get comfortable with and better understand it.

NASA Spotlites are short (90 to 120 second) student-produced videos where learners actively confront and disprove science misconceptions. Student teams choose a topic area for their video (e.g., Solar Eclipses, Clouds, Land Covering, Mars, Moon, and Plant Movement); select a misconception within the topic area to debunk; and identify criteria, brainstorm ideas, select a design (e.g., experiments, animation, demonstration) to capture questions and findings, and create the video. Finally, students refine their design and share the videos on the NASA eClips website. 

Accept the Spotlite Design Challenge!

(Note: Teachers MUST register student teams on the Spotlite website to participate in the challenge and create and share videos.)

Are you curious about the origin of life on Earth and the potential for life beyond our planet? Explore the story of life in the Universe – or at least the story as we know it so far – with this series of graphic novels about the history of astrobiology.

In the latest issue, find out what it takes to become an astrobiologist. Turn the pages to learn everything from what to study in school to opportunities for starting a career as a scientist.

Designed for grades 3-8, with this engaging card game students learn about the Sun as the ultimate source of energy for most processes and living things on Earth. While playing the game, students create connections that show energy converting from one form to another so they can better comprehend the connections between fuel sources. Make complex energy concepts accessible and fun with this printable card game.

The American Climate Corps is officially opening its doors and accepting applications! More than 2,000 positions are available across 36 states, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico for those ready to fight climate change. This is a historic step towards a more sustainable and resilient future that everyone can join.