Recent Posts

  • Cornell University’s Civic Ecology Lab offers online professional development series related to environmental education, civic awareness, and climate education.  As someone who has personally participated in these opportunities, it is a great experience to learn research-based information about relevant environmental topics and network with colleagues from across the globe.  The workshops are open to any…

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  • With more youth and families accessing information online, there is a greater need for digital literacy and safety skills for children, parents, and teachers.  Common Sense has existed as a non-profit organization since 2003. Common Sense is the nation’s leading non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of all kids and families by providing the…

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  • “All education is environmental education.  By what is included or excluded, students are taught that they are part of or apart from the natural world,” (Orr, 2004, p. 12).  David Orr’s Earth in Mind challenged me to reflect upon my calling as an environmental educator, and, in particular, how I plan, implement, and evaluate my…

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  • A simulation is a research or teaching technique that reproduces actual events and processes under test conditions.  We use simulations all the time in our teaching techniques.  One of my favorites is the “Oh Deer!” game from Project WILD, allowing participants to become part of a deer population and watch the population fluctuate under various…

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  • The 2020 National 4-H STEM Challenge (formerly National Youth Science Day) will be celebrated in October.  The 2020 Challenge, Mars Base Camp, is designed for youth ages 8-14 and develops STEM skills such as mechanical engineering, physics, computer science, and agriculture.  NEW this year!  National 4-H Council is offering two ways to purchase the STEM…

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  • Extension programming during the COVID-19 pandemic provides the opportunity for innovative and non-traditional delivery methods.  As a response to provide educational STEM opportunities to youth during this time, the Georgia 4-H Zoom into Science webinar series allows youth to directly engage from natural science experts in their respective fields using a virtual platform.  Not only…

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  • Owls are incredibly fascinating creatures. With over 200 species worldwide, owls are found in most ecosystems – forests, plains, mountains, deserts, and even the tundra.  Growing up, I remember seeing various birds of prey at Dauset Trails during field trips and family visits, including owls.  In the 4th grade, we read Mrs. Frisby and the…

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  • Is it just me or can you spend hours on the Internet? Somehow you click on something, that leads you something else, and then poof! There goes two hours of your life. While I like to be neat and tidy, my iPhone and iPad always have lots of tabs open – mainly resources I want…

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  • Mondays can be rough. I appreciate those who tackle the start of the week with eagerness and optimism. I have to ease back into the workweek, usually with a few cups of coffee or tea. However, I’m encouraged by something that hits my inbox every Monday morning – an e-newsletter from The Science House. I’m…

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  • I’m always looking for great resources. What are my standards for determining if a resource is great? There’s not a magical formula, but some things I consider include: the content of the information: Is the information research-based? Who developed the resource? What was their purpose in developing the resource? Is the “science” behind the activity…

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