In the great words of Taylor "August slipped away into a moment in time. 'Cause it was never mine..."

What happened to August? We're sure that you were just as busy as we were. Plus, your inbox was most likely filled to the brim mid-August. We didn't want to get lost in your very full inbox for BACK-to-SCHOOL! We have curated lots of GOOD, FREE STUFF to help you out this new year!

For all who are STILL on the last vestiges of summer break (& for those thinking fondly of it), enjoy "The 7 Stages of Summer Break for Teachers" - from BoredTeachers (5:42 min.)

PA State Parks Educator E-Blast Contents -

• Section 1: Back-to-School Teaching Ideas!
• Section 2: In-Person Educator Professional Development Workshops
• Section 3: DEP EE Grants & Upcoming Conferences
• Section 4: Explore the Outdoors
• Section 5: Striving Towards Inclusion - Take the SCORP Survey! Free School Assemblies!
• Capstone: PA State Park Info. & Updates

Take the Environmental Literacy Survey

The Environmental Literacy Indicator Tool (ELIT) is a federally-directed effort to collect information from all public school districts in the Mid-Atlantic region every two years to monitor the status of environmental literacy efforts at a district level. The results help the Chesapeake Bay Program Education Workgroup to most effectively support local efforts to improve students’ environmental literacy. 

An invitation to complete the ELIT was recently sent to your district level staff. We request that you encourage your district level staff to complete the ELIT by November 30, 2024. Only one person per district should complete the ELIT. The best respondent is someone who works at the district-level and is most familiar with environmental education activities across the district. View a preview of the ELIT questions (PDF).  

If your district participated in the ELIT in the past, you can review those responses by searching for documents labeled “PA: Response Summaries” via -https://www.chesapeakebay.net/who/publications-archive/education_workgroup

Thank you for encouraging your district’s participation in the ELIT!

Section 1: Back-to-School Teaching Ideas!

• FREE! Hummingbird Poster! With their gorgeous, shining feathers, it's no wonder so many hummingbirds are named after gemstones! 💎 Explore the diversity of gem-named hummingbirds with this free downloadable poster. - from The Cornell Lab of Ornithology

• While the leaves🍃are still green, make Chlorophyll Leaf Prints in 5 Easy Steps! The art of leaf printing has been around for 100's of years, with the 1^st example in 1,228 CE! Check out the step-by-step guide!

• Nature Inspired STEAM Activity Ideas - from Run WILD My Child

• Saturday, September 14^th is ‘International Observe the Moon moon🌝Night!' NASA created resources for all things Moon 🌚 including lessons, webinars, photography tips, & more. 

• Early Childhood Educator & Avid PA State Park's E-blast reader, Lindsey Brown is offering us her nature-based Fall🍁PreK-K lesson plans for FREE! Each nature-focused lesson includes 5-day week units with literacy, numbers, art 🎨, science, fine motor skills, outside play, & more! Each unit also includes meal suggestions with pictures! Click on the link at the bottom of the unit doc for even more fall lessons & activities such as fall hedgehog craft, fall 🍂 letter tracing, acorn math, & more! These resources are found on Teachers-Pay-Teachers.

• Kick off the school year with a focus on sustainability using SubjectToClimate's FREE Carbon Footprint Calculator!👣This interactive tool helps students understand their impact on the environment & learn ways to reduce it. Grades 3-12. Includes standards alignments & teaching tips!

FREE! Facilitate Authentic Science Investigations with Students as Scientists!

Student-led STEM investigations are a great way to spark curiosity & interest in science. Students as Scientists: Nature-based Inquiry Units guide your students through the full range of science practices, from asking their own questions to designing & carrying out studies to answer them. Choose the unit for your grade-band (K-5 or 6-12) & immediately gain access to 6 lessons & supporting resources + editable Google Slideshows/Docs. - from The Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Also, check out Cornell Lab's wonderful FREE 2024 Educator Webinars - one/month -

• September 18^th Soar to new Heights with Children’s Books: 📚Using Stories to Teach Science in Elementary Schools Webinar
• October 16^th – Building A Bird🐦Club Webinar & more scheduled!

Section 2:

In-Person Educator Professional Development Workshops

See ALL of the Upcoming Educator Workshops on the DCNR Calendar

Project WILD Educator Workshop: WILD About🦋Pollinators

 Saturday, September 14, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm

In-person at Laurel Hill State Park, 1454 Laurel Hill Park Road, Somerset, PA 15501

Act 48: 4.5 hrs.

Fee: FREE! Pre-registration required.

Project WILD is a curriculum designed for students K-12. This workshop will focus on activities from the curriculum related to pollinators & their habitat. All participants will receive the Project WILD: K-12 Curriculum & Activity Guide with lesson plans and resources for offering wildlife related experiences for students. This workshop is designed for formal, non-formal, & pre-service teachers. Register NOW. 🦋

Project Learning Tree:🌳Trees & Me Workshop

Saturday, September 21, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

In-Person at Norristown Farm Park, 2500 Upper Farm Road, Norristown, PA 19403

Act 48: 2 hrs.

Fee: $15.00 upon arrival (cash or check)

The Project Learning Tree (PLT) Trees & Me Guide was developed for use with young children focusing on nature-based experiences with a specific focus on trees. This workshop is open to all educators who work with students from Pre-K to 1^st Grade, from formal teachers to naturalists, scout leaders, & others! Participants will receive a copy of the new PLT Trees & Me Guide. Register NOW. Questions? Contact Rebecca at rebecca.blacketter@montgomerycountypa.gov.  

Growing Up WILD🦊Educator Workshop

Saturday, September 21, 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

In-Person at Norristown Farm Park, 2500 Upper Farm Road, Norristown, PA 19403

Act 48: 2 hrs.

Fee: $15.00 upon arrival (cash or check)

Growing Up WILD (GUW): Exploring Nature with Young Children is an early childhood education activity guide (ages 2-7) that builds on children’s sense of wonder about nature and invites them to explore wildlife & the world around them. Through a wide range of activities, it provides a foundation for developing positive impressions about nature while also building lifelong social & cognitive skills. In this hands-on workshop, participants will be introduced to the curriculum, guided in its use, and shown the resources available through GUW, Project WILD, Bureau of State Parks, & Montgomery County. Register NOW. Questions? Contact Rebecca at rebecca.blacketter@montgomerycountypa.gov. 

WOW! The Wonders of Wetlands💦Educator Workshop

Friday, September 27, 9:00 am - 2:30 pm

In-Person at Black Moshannon State Park, 4216 Beaver Rd, Philipsburg, PA 16866

Act 48: 5 hrs.

Fee: $20.00 payable in advance; pre-registration is required.

Wetlands are diverse habitats that are great tools for teaching about Pennsylvania’s aquatic spaces. This workshop will introduce a curriculum of environmental education activities that are hands-on, fun, & easy to use. Participants will receive the WOW! The Wonders of Wetlands guide, which is filled with 49 interdisciplinary lessons covering wetland definitions; wetland plants & animals; and water quality, plus 6 chapters of background information for educators with an appendix that provides instructions for planning & developing a schoolyard wetland habitat. We will also take a hike to explore the bog in Black Moshannon State Park and identify the many unique plants found there. The workshop is open to classroom teachers, naturalists, & other educators working with students in grades K-12. Pre-registration required. Register NOW. Questions? Contact Michelle McCloskey at mmccloske@pa.gov

PA Songbirds🐦Educator Workshop

Saturday, September 28, 8:00 am - 1:30 pm

In-Person at Lackawanna State Park, 1839 Abington Road, N. Abington Township, PA 18414

Act 48: 5 hrs.

Fee: $15.00 payable in advance; pre-registration is required.

Pennsylvania Songbirds is a hands-on, interdisciplinary K-8 teachers’ resource and activity guide developed by DCNR’s Bureau of State Parks & Audubon Mid-Atlantic. Participants will have the opportunity to earn 5 Act 48 hours while they enhance their knowledge on observation & ID of songbirds, bird biology, habitat, migration, & much more! This workshop is open to classroom teachers and non-formal educators including pre-service teachers, homeschool parents, naturalists, & scout leaders. Participants will receive the newly updated PA Songbirds K-8 Teacher’s Guide, & they will also have the opportunity to see a bird banding demo & go on a birding walk. Registration required by 9/20/24. Register NOW. Questions? Contact Tony DeSantis, EES at antdesanti@pa.gov or 570-945-7110.

Project WILD🦊Educator Workshop

Thursday, October 3, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

In-Person at Memorial Lake State Park, 18 Boundary Rd., Grantville, PA 17028

Act 48: 6.5 hrs. (includes 1 hr. of pre-work)

Fee: $15.00 payable in advance; pre-registration is required.

Project WILD is an interdisciplinary conservation & environmental education curriculum that focuses on wildlife & habitat for students K-12. Lessons seek to develop awareness, knowledge, skills, & commitment to promote informed decisions, responsible behavior, & constructive actions concerning the environment. This workshop is open to both formal & non-formal educators, including pre-service teachers (those still working toward their degree), homeschoolers, & scout leaders. We will pay particular focus on hands-on activities and how to incorporate them into the new STEELS standards. Attendees will receive the award-winning Project WILD K-12 Curriculum & Activity Guide. This workshop includes 1 hour of pre-work that will be emailed to participants. Register NOW! Questions? Contact Quinn Heist, EES at qheist@pa.gov or 717-865-6470.

Project Learning Tree:🌳Trees & Me Workshop

Wednesday, October 9, 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm

In-Person at Pine Grove Furnace State Park, 1100 Pine Grove Road, Gardeners, PA 17324

Act 48: 3 hrs.

Fee: $15.00 upon arrival (cash or check)

Project Learning tree is an award-winning environmental education program designed for students K-8th Grade. This workshop will introduce you to Project Learning Tree and it's resources through indoor and outdoor activities and networking opportunities. Teachers can earn 3 Act 48 hours.

It is open to classroom teachers and non-formal educators, including pre-service teachers, homeschool parents, naturalists, 4-H leaders, and scout leaders. All participants will receive Project Learning Tree's Explore Your Environment K-8 Activity Guide. Snacks and light refreshments will be provided, courtesy of the Friends of Pine Grove Furnace. Registration is required, as space is limited. To register, click on the Buy Tickets button. This workshop fee is $15. Payment details will be included in your registration confirmation email. Questions? Contact the park at 717-486-7174 or PineGroveFurnaceEEPrograms@pa.gov

Project WILD Educator Workshop: Creatures of the Night! 🦇 🦉

Saturday, October 12, 9:30 am - 3:30 pm

In-Person at the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium, 7370 Baker St Pittsburgh, PA 15206

Act 48: 5 hrs.

Fee: $40.00 (includes Zoo admission, lunch, tours, & more)

Join Allegheny Land Trust (ALT) Senior Director of Education Julie Travaglini for a Project WILD educator workshop presented in partnership with the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium. This WILD workshop will focus on creatures of the night! It will be highly participatory & hands-on with Zoo exploration time included along with guided activities. It is open to formal & non-formal educators. All attendees will receive their own copy of the award-winning Project WILD K-12 Curriculum & Activity Guide. Workshop fee includes zoo admission for the day, lunch, behind the scenes zoo tours, & animal encounters! Register NOW! Questions? Contact Julie Travaglini at julie@alleghenylandtrust.org or 412-783-0757.

PA Songbirds🐦Educator Workshop

Wednesday, October 30, 9:00 am - 3:30 pm

In-Person at Nescopeck State Park, 1137 Honey Hole Road, Drums, PA 18222

Act 48: 6 hrs.

Fee: $25.00 payable in advance; pre-registration is required.

Are you a college student, pre-service teacher, classroom teacher, environmental educator, or homeschool provider seeking lessons & skill-building to engage students (K-8) in nature? Pennsylvania Songbirds is a hands-on, interdisciplinary K-8 teachers’ resource & activity guide developed by DCNR’s Bureau of State Parks & Audubon Mid-Atlantic. Join trained Environmental Educators at Nescopeck State Park to enhance your knowledge on observation & ID of songbirds, bird biology, habitat, migration, & much more! Attendees will receive the newly updated Pennsylvania Songbirds K-8 Teacher’s Guide with 43 field-tested lessons, experience a sampling of activities from the guide, and learn tips & tricks for working with students outdoors. Register NOW! Questions? Contact Andy Fedor, EES at anfedor@pa.gov or 610 746-2801.

More Educator Professional Development Trainings are scheduled.

Visit the DCNR Events Calendar- Teacher Workshops to find additional training opportunities! Choose 12-months to see all upcoming workshops.

FREE! Educator Professional Development from the Penn State Center for Science & the Schools (CSATS)

Buzzing Buddies: Exploring the World of Pollinators🦋Workshop

Saturday, September 14, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

In-Person at PSU, 118 Chambers Building, University Park, PA 16802

Act 48: ~5.5 hrs.

Fee: FREE! Includes breakfast, lunch, parking pass, & MORE!!

Target Audience: Middle School Educators (Science & Technology)

This workshop will guide educators through a newly piloted student-led online short course that focuses on pollinator preferences and the crucial relationship between pollinators & plant growth—key topics in agricultural science. Perfect for educators passionate about integrating agricultural sciences into their STEM curriculum. This hands-on workshop will provide the tools & insights needed to engage your students in real-world data analysis & critical thinking. Register NOW. Questions? Email Stephanie Klixbull.

You STEAM, I STEAM, We All STEAM for Ice Cream! The Science Behind Ice Cream🍦Workshop

Saturday, October 12^th Target Audience: Elementary Educators (2^nd-5^th Grade) and Saturday, November 16^th Target Audience: Science Secondary Educators (6^th-12^th Grade)

9:00 am - 3:00 pm

In-Person at PSU, Classroom 252, Rodney A. Erickson Food Science Building, University Park, PA 16802

Act 48: ~5.5 hrs.

Fee: FREE! Includes breakfast, lunch, parking pass, & MORE!!

Explore the science behind ice cream, with hands-on experience in understanding the science, math, & technology involved in ice cream production. Participants will not only learn how ice cream is made but also delve into the scientific principles & concepts behind it. The workshop will equip educators with the tools to connect these concepts to the classroom. Register NOW for either workshop! Questions? Email Stephanie Klixbull.

Section 3:

Grants & Conferences for Educators

DEP’s Environmental Education (EE) Grants Program is accepting applications through November 15, 2024 

Projects must be implemented during the period July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026. Funding priority will be given to EE projects that engage people living, working, &/or attending school within Environmental Justice (EJ) areas in topics related to Climate Change &/or Water. Use the DEP's PennEnviroScreen to determine if your project will engage audiences within designated EJ areas.  Funding provided via reimbursement.

Learn more during the Free DEP EE Grants Program Webinar!

October 10, 2024, 11:30 am - 1:00 pm

DEP staff will provide proposal tips & instructions for completing required application forms + a Q&A session. Register by 9/30/2024: 2025 EE Grants Program Webinar Registration.

DEP EE Grant Funding Levels

• Mini-Grants awarded up to $5,000 for local projects.
• General Grants Level I awarded up to $30,000 for regional or statewide initiatives. 
• General Grant Level II may be awarded up to $65,000. Requirements - engage students & teachers from at least 60 Pennsylvania counties at three levels (local, state, & national); AND at least 30% of the audience lives, works, or attends school within an EJ area.

Download the 2025 Environmental Education Grants Manual. Check out the list of 2024 EE Grant Awards for proposal ideas. Questions? Contact RA‑epEEgrants@pa.gov

North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE)

53^rd Annual Conference: Building Bridges

November 6-9, 2024, Pittsburgh, PA

This year's NAAEE conference is in Pennsylvania! Drawing inspiration from Pittsburgh’s iconic bridges, celebrate their symbolic significance and address challenges & successes in the EE landscape. Environmental Educators play a pivotal role in working collaboratively across borders, dismantling barriers in communities, nurturing innovative partnerships, & amplifying program impact. This conference is open to ALL Educators - classroom Teachers, Environmental Educators, Youth Group Leaders, Pre-Service Teachers, College Students, & more! Learn More Now!

2025 Pennsylvania Association for Environmental Educators (PAEE) Conference: Waves 🌊 of Connection

March 10 - 12, 2025 at the Bayfront Convention Center in Erie, PA

Waves of Connection – celebrates what makes PAEE so special: our collective ability as passionate environmental educators to drive change through resilience, diversity, engagement, & connections. https://www.paee.net/conference/

• Request for Session Proposals due: September 13^th
• MWEE & PAEE Award Nominations due: December 13^th
• Conference Scholarships due: December 13^th

Section 4:

Explore the Outdoors!

Section 5: Striving for Inclusion

- Learn more about DCNR's DEIB efforts-

The Pennsylvania Department of Education, Bureau of Special Education announces Mikayla’s Voice - inclusive programming for the 2024-2025 school year!



• No cost to districts – Grant funded.
• Build a positive and equitable school culture and ensure the well-being of your staff and students.

Includes all of the following:  

Two Assemblies: 2 school-wide inclusion assemblies in which the book Our Friend Mikayla is shared. One of the presenters is a student with a disability who shares their personal story. Each presentation concludes with an invitation for all students to serve as Mikayla’s “Voice.” High school students encouraged to serve as mentors to read books to the younger students & more.  

One Inclusive Art Project: Participating schools choose 1 of the 2 projects in which 24 students of all abilities work together to create a large-scale artwork to celebrate diversity & promote equity & inclusion in your school.

Wheels of Friendship®: Inspired by Mikayla & her art class, Wheels of Friendship® is an original art program that incorporates wheelchair painting & tissue paper decoupage, both mediums that offer success for children of all abilities. Together students choose the theme for their art & decide how best to represent diversity & inclusion.

Kaya’s Kaleidoscope:  Kaya’s Kaleidoscope is created when students complete their own individual canvases that work together in an interactive design.

Artwork Unveiling & Installation: Once complete, all artists unveil their collaborative artwork & share its message with the entire school community before it is permanently installed in their school as a reminder to celebrate diversity and promote equity & inclusion.

Inclusion Books: Mikayla’s Voice has published 4 children’s books written & illustrated by kids for other kids about having a friend with a disability. Two of each book provided for your elementary school library &/or for your middle/high school students to share with younger students in your district.  

Schools interested in participating can contact: Schools accepted on a first come, first serve basis. 

• Rita Cheskiewicz, Executive Director, at 570-690-7113 or rita@mikaylasvoice.org  
• Sharon Jones, Program Director, at 484-854-1355 or sharon@mikaylasvoice.org

PA State Parks are YOURS!

Book your virtual, in-person programs, and field experiences with PA State Park Educators! Find a PA State Park. Need help connecting to a PA State Park with an Educator on staff? Reach out to Carissa Longo at calongo@pa.gov.

DCNR facilities and Programs are OPEN to ALL👐

• Many Environmental Education programs require pre-registration. Explore the DCNR events calendar for details & to register.
• Plan your outing before you leave. Learn about facilities, download a park map on your phone or print it, & review regulations here: Find A Park
• Take care of & respect the resource. Park, picnic, hike, hunt, explore, & more only in designated areas.
• Check the weather before you depart, wear proper footwear, and bring water. Wear orange if hiking in designated hunting areas. Please clean up after pets 🐕.
• Do not litter 🚮.
• Alcohol is not allowed in PA State Parks.
• Make a Reservation (up to 11-months in advance) at a PA State Park Campground, Camping Cottage, Cabin, Yurt, or Pavilion.

You can help keep state parks safe for all by following these practices:

• Use the restroom before you leave your house 🏡
• Bring a bag and either carry out your trash or dispose of it properly
• Continue to practice social distancing, take hand sanitizer with you & use it
• If you are sick or have been exposed to someone who is sick, stay home

🏫 It's Here! 🏫



Carissa Longo, Natural Resource Program Specialist

(Coordinating Project WILD & Pennsylvania Songbirds Curricula for all of PA)

&

Christine Ticehurst, Natural Resource Program Specialist

(Coordinating PLT & DCNR's GO Teach Curricula for PA State Parks)

&

Kim Lott, Natural Resource Program Specialist

(Coordinating Project WET, & DCNR's Watershed Education & PA Land Choices Curricula for PA State Parks)

Visit the DCNR Events Calendar- Teacher Workshops to find additional training opportunities! Click the arrows to see upcoming months.