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Pennsylvania State Parks
June 2024 E-Blast
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Happy End of the School Year for teachers and Happy End of School Field Experiences for Environmental Educators! Try to take a deep breath and take a moment to dive into summer. As a class or a family, make your own "Wishes for Summer Jar."
June is Great Outdoors Month! June also includes National Trails Day (1st Saturday in June), National Fishing 🎣 & Boating Week (1st full weekend in June), National Get Outdoors Day (2nd Saturday in June), the Great American Campout (3rd Saturday in June), the Summer Solstice (June 20th; the Summer Solstice can actually fall between June 20 - 22), Juneteenth, and of course, June is PRIDE Month (checkout PA's PRIDE Events & Festivals for 2024)!
Learn more below - Lots of great educator trainings, free activities, & so much more!
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E-Blast Contents -
- Section 1: Teaching Ideas - FREE Lessons & Summer Ideas!
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Section 2: In-Person Educator Professional Development Workshops
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Section 3: Educator Grants (Free TREES!), Webinars, & Conferences
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Section 4: Explore the Outdoors - LNT Series Part 6
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Section 5: Striving Towards Inclusion - Juneteenth, National Indigenous People's Month, & more
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Capstone: PA State Park Info. & Updates
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Section 1: June Teaching Ideas - FREE! | |
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Learn About Birds 🐦 this Summer with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology - the life cycle of birds provides engaging content for students of all ages!
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Growing Up 🦊 WILD Educator Workshop
Saturday, June 22, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
In-Person at Carbon County EE Center, 151 East White Bear Drive, Summit Hill, PA 18250
Act 48: 3.5 hrs.
Fee: $20.00 payable the day of the workshop in cash or check; payment is also available through Paypal via CCEEC's website (click on the donate button).
Growing Up WILD: Exploring Nature with Young Children is an early childhood education activity guide for ages 2-7 that builds on children’s sense of wonder about nature and invites them to explore wildlife and the world around them. This guide offers activities & opportunities to develop and encourage a positive connection to our natural world while also facilitating lifelong social & cognitive skills.
During this hands-on workshop, participants will be introduced to the curriculum, guided in its use, & shown the resources available through Growing Up WILD, Bureau of State Parks, CCEEC's lending library, & more! CCEEC Ambassador educational animals will also be part of the day. To Register or Questions, contact Jeannie Carl, CCEEC Naturalist at naturalist_eec@yahoo.com or 570-645-8597.
Project Learning Tree Explore Your Environment: K-8 Educator Workshop🌳
Tuesday, June 25, 8:30 am - 3:00 pm
In-Person at Moraine State Park, State Park Region 2 Conference Room, 195 Park Road, Prospect, PA 16052
Act 48: 6hrs.
Fee: $20.00 payable in advance; fee can be paid over the phone via credit card - call the park office at 724-368-8811.
Project Learning Tree (PLT) is an award-winning environmental education program designed for educators working with students from pre-K to 8th grade. This workshop is open to all educators, from formal teachers to naturalists, scout leaders, and others! It will be very hands-on with activities such as Tree ID guided hike, paper making, and Living with Fire. Experience the sights, sounds, and smells of summer through engaging hands-on activities near the shore of Lake Arthur. Participants will explore and receive the NEW PLT Explore Your Environment: K-8 Activity Guide. Registration is required. To Register, contact EES Mike Shaffer at mishaffer@pa.gov or call the Moraine State Park office at 724-368-8811.
Project Learning Tree Explore Your Environment: K-8 Educator Workshop🌳
Friday, June 28, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
In-Person at Frances Slocum State Park, 565 Mount Olivet Road, Wyoming, PA 18644
Act 48: 5.5 hrs.
Fee: $15.00 payable in advance; fee can be paid over the phone via credit card - call the park office at 724-368-8811.
Project Learning Tree (PLT) is an award-winning national curriculum developed to help educators teach the importance of forests. This workshop is open to all educators who work with students from K - 8th grade from formal teachers to naturalists, scout leaders, and others! Earn 5.5 Act 48 hours while experiencing hands-on activities. Participants will receive the NEW PLT Explore Your Environment: K-8 Activity Guide & other relevant resources. Register NOW (by June 14th). Questions? Contact Kathy Kelchner, EES at kkelchner@pa.gov or 570-696-3525.
PA Songbirds 🐣 Educator Workshop
Friday, June 28, 8:30 am - 2:30 pm
In-Person at Yellow Creek State Park, 170 Route 259 Highway, Penn Run, PA 15765
Act 48: 5.5 hrs.
Fee: $30.00 must be paid in advance; snacks & beverages provided
Join us for an amazing new educator workshop all about PA Songbirds! The newly revised PA Songbirds Curriculum & Activity Guide comes with 40+ activities for K-8 teachers, pre-service teachers, homeschool educators, scout leaders, youth leaders, & non formal educators who want to engage children & teens in science and environment through the wonderful world of birds! It is designed to use birds as a lens to introduce science and ecology concepts and to investigate environmental issues. Activities help educators to introduce birds and habitat, observe & classify birds, explore migration, & research topics. Register NOW! Questions? Contact Lisa Meadows, EES at limeadows@pa.gov.
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Aquatic💦WILD Teacher Workshop
Friday, July 12, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
In-Person at Ohiopyle State Park, 124 Main St, Ohiopyle, PA 15470
Act 48: 6 hrs.
Fee: $15.00 payable in advance
Formal educators can join us for this day-long teacher workshop. Participants will receive a copy of the new Aquatic WILD curriculum. During this interactive teacher workshop educators will explore lessons and determine how it can be used in their classrooms. Register NOW! Questions? Contact Barb Wallace, EES at bawallace@pa.gov.
Growing 🦊 Up WILD + Project Learning Tree - Nature for Little Learners Educator Workshop🌳
Friday, July 26, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
In-Person at Ricketts Glen State Park, 695 state Route 487, Benton, PA 17814
Act 48: 5.5 hrs.
Fee: $20.00 payable in advance; fee can be paid over the phone via credit card - call the park office at 570-477-7780.
Growing Up WILD and Project Learning Tree's (PLT) Trees & Me are environmental education curricula developed for use with young children. This workshop is open to all educators who work with students from Pre-K to 1st Grade, from formal teachers to naturalists, scout leaders, & others! Earn 5.5 Act 48 hours while experiencing hands-on activities related to forests and wildlife. Participants will receive BOTH the NEW Growing Up WILD and PLT Trees & Me Activity Guides and other relevant resources. Registration required by 7/19/24. For more information, contact Rhiannon Summers, EES at rhsummers@pa.gov or 570-477-7780.
Project Learning Tree Explore Your Environment: K-8 Educator Workshop🌳
Monday, July 29, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
In-Person at Lackawanna State Park, 1839 Abington Rd., North Abington Twp., PA 18414
Act 48: 4.5 hrs.
Fee: $15.00 payable in advance; fee can be paid over the phone via credit card - call the park office at570-945-7110.
Project Learning Tree is an award-winning environmental education program designed for teachers & other educators working with youth from K - grade 8. Focused on trees and forests, this curriculum provides engaging, hands-on activities to connect students to our woods & nature.
This workshop will introduce you to Project Learning Tree and it's resources through indoor & outdoor activities and networking opportunities. It is open to classroom teachers and non-formal educators, including pre-service teachers, homeschool parents, naturalists, & scout leaders. All participants will receive Project Learning Tree's Explore Your Environment K-8 Activity Guide.
Registration is required. Register NOW! Questions? Contact Tony DeSantis, EES at 570-945-7110 or antdesanti@pa.gov.
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Aquatic WILD Educator Workshop
Tuesday, August 6, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
In-Person at Wildwood Park & Olewine Nature Center, 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg, PA 17110
Act 48: 5.5 hrs.
Fee: $25.00 per participant
Water covers over 70% of the Earth! In Pennsylvania alone, there are over 86,000 miles of streams & rivers! Join educators from Wildwood Park and DCNR- PA State Parks to explore water habitats from wetlands to streams to oceans. Discover aquatic plant & animal adaptations, get wet examining aquatic organisms, determine the importance of riparian zones, & investigate real-world issues affecting earth’s water systems. Participants will receive the updated Aquatic WILD K-12 Curriculum & Activity Guide with 40+ hands-on activities that incorporate place-based, STEAM activities about wildlife, people, & the aquatic environment.
This workshop is for any educator interested in teaching about aquatic wildlife & ecology such as classroom teachers, non-formal educators, college students studying to be teachers (pre-service), school administrators, homeschool teachers, & youth leaders. Morning refreshments & snacks provided. Register NOW! Questions? Contact Theresa Alberici at 717-221-0292 Ext 4358
talberici@dauphincounty.gov.
Project WET and MWEE💦Teacher Workshop
Tuesday, August 6, 8:30 am - 3:30 pm
In-Person at Boyertown Middle School East, 2020 Big Rd., Gilbertsville, PA 19525
Act 48: 6 hrs.
Fee: Free!
No Stream in Sight: How to Teach Your Students About Watersheds Without Easy Access to Water
Have you heard about the MWEE (Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience)? The MWEE is a framework that focuses on student-led investigations into local, place based, environmental issues and challenges students to increase their environmental literacy though an action project. This framework is an excellent way for students to engage with the new PA STEELS Environmental Literacy & Sustainability standards.
But what can you do if you don't have a stream or pond in your school yard? How can you teach about watersheds without water? In this workshop you will join professionals from the BCIU & DCNR for a hands-on exploration of your schoolyard as a watershed. Participants will be introduced to the MWEE framework, explore the new PA STEELS standards, & participate in activities from the Project WET curriculum that showcase ways to use a typical schoolyard as an outdoor classroom for watershed investigation - even if the school doesn't have a stream or pond on site. All participants will receive a copy of the Project WET 2.0 Curriculum & Activity Guide that is filled with water & watershed-based lessons; plus free online access to the Project WET Portal.
Participants who attend this workshop & complete the MWEE 101 course online, will also earn MWEE Ambassador certification. Register NOW through the Frontline Education portal (You must sign up for a free Frontline Education account if you are from outside of Berks County (or if you are a non-formal educator)). Questions? Contact Sarah Presogna at spresogna@pa.gov.
PLT Trees & Me Educator Workshop
Saturday, August 24, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
In-Person at Lackawanna State Park, 1839 Abington Rd, North Abington Twp, PA 18414
Act 48: 2 hrs.
Fee: $10.00 paid in advance
Trees & Me is Project Learning Tree’s (PLT) latest resource for families & teachers to use with children ages 1 - 6. Focused on trees and forests, this curriculum provides fun, hands-on activities to connect young children to nature. This workshop is open to all formal and non-formal educators including pre-service teachers, homeschool parents, naturalists, & scout leaders. All participants will receive the Trees & Me: Activities for Exploring Nature with Young Children Guide. Register NOW! Questions? Contact Tony DeSantis at antdesanti@pa.gov.
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More Educator Professional Development Trainings are scheduled.
Visit the DCNR Events Calendar- Teacher Workshops to find additional training opportunities! Click the arrows to see upcoming months.
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Section 3:
Webinars, Conferences, & Grants!
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Apply to Get FREE 🌳 TREES with The Giant Company's 2024 Healing the Planet Grant Program!
This grant aims to invest in tree plantings across The GIANT Company’s operating areas in Pennsylvania. Trees provide numerous benefits to the environment, water, & air quality as well as health benefits & an enhanced overall quality of life for all Pennsylvanians. Applications accepted up to $4,000. All trees planted must be native to Pennsylvania.
The 2024 application is open June 1 - July 1, 2024 at 4:00 PM EST. APPLY NOW!
FREE! Climate Change Teaching Tips Asynchronous Online Course
Free; enroll anytime; from SubjectToClimate
The course includes 9 modules, including reasons for teaching about climate change, how to incorporate climate change into the curriculum, & ways to address misinformation.
5th Annual Mid-Atlantic Climate Change Education Conference - Virtual
June 25, 26, & 27, 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Fee: $20.00 Registration is currently open - Register NOW!
The goal of this conference is to gather formal & non-formal educators from across the Mid-Atlantic to share ideas, resources, & inspiration for advancing education for climate action.
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Section 4:
Explore the Outdoors!
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Leave No Trace Series -
Principle 6: Respect Wildlife 🐻
According to Leave No Trace (LNT), the 6th principle of Leave No Trace recommends to... Respect Wildlife. While out and exploring the great outdoors it's important to remember that we share this space. The LNT "Basics" recommend observing wildlife from a distance. Never feed animals, control pets at all time, & avoid wildlife during sensitive times. To learn more about Principle 6: Respect Wildlife, visit here!
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On June 19, 1865, Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas with the news that the more than 250,000 enslaved Black people in the state were free. This day came to be known as #Juneteenth, now officially a federal holiday.
Celebrate with @NMAAHC - nmaach.si.edu/Juneteenth
Pennsylvania Juneteenth events (this is not an exhaustive list):
Join PA State Park's Washington Crossing Historic Park in honoring Juneteenth on June 23, 2024. Learn about the Black soldiers during the Revolutionary and the Civil War and hear some incredible music from The Quake Band!
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June is National Indigenous History month. The Outdoor Learning School & Store has compiled a list of resource recommended by Indigenous advisors, staff, and partners. To learn more, visit here! | |
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PA State Parks are YOURS!
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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👐
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Many Environmental Education programs require pre-registration. Explore the DCNR events calendar for details & to register.
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Plan your outing before you leave. Learn about facilities, download a park map on your phone or print it, and review regulations here: Find A Park
- Take care of & respect the resource. Park, picnic, hike, hunt, & more only in designated areas.
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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.
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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
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Enjoy Summer Days! Thank you for reading & sharing!
Carissa Longo, Natural Resource Program Specialist
(Coordinating Project WILD & Pennsylvania Songbirds Curricula for all of PA)
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Christine Ticehurst, Natural Resource Program Specialist
(Coordinating PLT & DCNR's GO Teach Curricula for PA State Parks)
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Kim Lott, Natural Resource Program Specialist
(Coordinating Project WET, DCNR's Watershed Education, & DCNR's PA Land Choices Curricula for PA State Parks)
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