Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Academic WorldQuest for Denver Public High School Teams

ACADEMIC WORLDQUEST
Saturday, February 20, 2016
10AM-2PM
Denver Center for International Studies

A Call for DPS High School Teams!

THIS IS OPEN TO DENVER PUBLIC SCHOOL HIGH SCHOOLS ONLY THIS YEAR. We hope to open this up to other district in the near future.

WorldDenver’s Academic WorldQuest will be held on Saturday, February 20, 2016 from 10AM-2PM hosted by Denver Center for International Studies (574 W. 6th Ave., Denver).  Academic WorldQuest is a ¬flagship youth education program of the World Affairs Councils of America. It is a team competition that tests high school students knowledge of international affairs and prepares them for the challenges of a more globalized world. It is open to DPS High Schools organizing  teams of 4 students and an adult coach (max. 2 teams per school). Teams compete in Denver on February 20th.
Registration Deadline is February 6, 2016
Registration, study guide and more information is available atwww.WorldDenver.org

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

NCGE Award Nominations for 2016 Due February 1st, 2016

The National Council for Geographic Education is now accepting nominations for the 2016 awards cycle. NCGE is dedicated to recognizing educators and advocates who have made outstanding contributions to geography education. Awards are given for teaching, research, and service, and all award recipients will be honored at the 2016 National Conference on Geography Education in Tampa, Florida.

Monday, December 14, 2015

Online Courses Available for Environmental Education

EECapacity, Cornell University, and other collaborators are offering a new online course called Environmental Education: Trans-disciplinary approaches to addressing wicked problems. As a participant in this course, you will have access to short lectures, readings, and multi-media resources contributed by over 40 US and global experts in environmental education and related environmental fields. And you will join an online community of environmental professionals from over 80 countries.

Dates: February 1 – April 24, 2016 for 12-week Expert Certificate; February 1 – March 11, 2016 for five-week Achievement Certificate.

Cost: Free to participants who earn a Cornell University certificate of completion. For students wanting to earn undergraduate or graduate credits, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point is offering the course for a fee.

Course Goal: Participants gain the understanding, skills, and professional networks to work as environmental education professionals in concert with other disciplines and sectors to address environmental, sustainability, and conservation issues.

We encourage you to sign up with colleagues and form local or online groups to discuss the course materials and work together on the course project.

For more information including registration, course prospectus, list of instructors, and information about taking the course as a local or online interest group, go to: www.GlobalEE.net

To begin meeting instructors and participants, join us on the course Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/GlobalEE/.

We look forward to your participation!

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Kristin Alvarez Scholarship Application

Kristin Alvarez Scholarship Application
Dr. Kristin J. Alvarez, past president of the National Council for Geographic Education, was committed to Geographic Education for over 30 years. Selected as a Florida teacher for the National Geographic Society’s Summer Geographic Institute of 1989, Kristin became a National Geographic Teacher Consultant and active contributor to the Florida Geographic Alliance. She completed a doctorate of Geography Education at the University of Southern Mississippi, and became an Assistant and Associate Professor of Geography and Social Studies Education at Keene State University in New Hampshire. While she served as Coordinator of the New Hampshire Geographic Alliance for 5 years, she completed a graduate certificate in GIS from Eastern Michigan University in 2006. Dr. Alvarez immediately began integrating geospatial technologies into her NHGA summer institute to introduce GIS and GPS into K -12 curricula. In 2009, Dr. Alvarez was invited to join the faculty of the University of Redlands in a new initiative to develop teacher education and geospatial technology offerings, and co -designed its innovative Spatial Literacy for Educators Program. She served as NCGE President in 2010. Dr. Alvarez died at home in January, 2012. 

To continue the spirit of Dr. Alvarez’s work with hundreds of educators across the United States, the Kristin Alvarez Memorial NCG E President Scholarship will be awarded annually for the five years since 2012. The scholarship recognize s and support s an educator who demonstrates effort and interest in furthering Spatial Literacy, Geographic Education, Pre -service Teacher Education, or Geospatial Technologies such as GIS, GPS, or online geospatial teaching and learning. 

You are invited both to contribute to the Memorial NCGE President Kristin Alvarez Scholarship or to apply for the 2016 -17 scholarship. 

2016-17 Application

To continue the spirit of the work of Dr. Kristin J. Alvarez, a geographer who inspired hundreds of educators during her lifetime, the Kristi J. Alvarez Memorial Geospatial Educator Scholarship is awarded annually.

The scholarship will recognize and support an educator who demonstrates effort and interest in furthering Spatial Literacy, Geographic Education, Pre-service Teacher Education, or Geospatial Technologies such as GIS, GPS, or online geospatial teaching and learning. Awards in the amount of  $250 will be granted each year.

1.     Category:
¨     Spatial Literacy       
¨     Geographic Education   
¨     Pre-service Teacher Education
¨     Geospatial Technologies such as GIS or GPS    
¨     Online geospatial teaching and learning

2.     Name:

3.     Current Position:

4.     Email address:

5.     Mailing Address:

6.     In 300 words or less, please describe the project or activities for which you are requesting scholarship support. This document should be saved as a PDF or MS Word document.

7.     Please send:
·     this application form completed;
·     your project description, and
·     a current resume to Dr. Marsha Alibrandi: marsh@cape.com


Entries must be received by Sunday, January 31, 2016, and are peer reviewed.


The Awardee will be notified by February 15, 2016.

Tuesday, December 8, 2015

2016 Grosvenor Fellow Application Available

2016 Grosvenor Teacher Fellow Program - Call for Applications!

Applications are being accepted for the 2016 Grosvenor Teacher Fellow Program. Now in its 10th year, the program will be selecting 35 Fellows.

This is a professional development opportunity made possible by a partnership between National Geographic Education and Lindblad Expeditions. The program gives current K-12 classroom teachers and informal educators from the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Canada the opportunity to extend Gil Grosvenor's legacy of excellence in geographic education. Exemplary educators are recognized for their commitment to geographic education and given the opportunity to travel aboard the Lindblad-National Geographic fleet. Through this experience, they bring new geographic awareness back into their learning environments and communities.

For the online application and more information, see www.natgeoed.org/gtf. The application deadline is January 3, 2016.

Monday, November 30, 2015

Colorado High School Science Bowl Coming Up this February

Colorado High School Science Bowl
Event Date: February 20, 2016
Registration is now open
Location: Dakota Ridge High School
 
 
What is the High School Science Bowl? 
It is a statewide, fast-paced academic competition where two teams face ofto answer science and math questions quickly using anelectronic buzzer system.
 The Colorado Science Bowis a great way for students to showcase theirtalent in science and mathematics and get the recognition they deserve fortheir academic achievement. All you need is a group of 5 students that areinterested in science and mathematics.
 
There are many resourceavailable at the National Science Bowl website to helteams prepare.
·  Competition Rules
·  Strategies for Success
·  Sample Science Bowl Questions
·  Videos of Past Competitions

  
 For more information please contact the education group at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
303-275-3047

Friday, November 27, 2015

Upcoming Webinar by Esri

Upcoming NCGE Webinar: Join Geographer Joseph Kerski (Esri's Education Manager), for this partnered, FREE webinar! Esri's StoryMaps platform allows you to easily and powerfully embed and combine dynamic web maps with audio, video, photographs, sketches, and text in a compelling framework. Teach with existing StoryMaps in the online library, or have students create their own for their own projects, including local fieldwork. Use them as communication tools, assessment tools, and lesson activities.

Thursday, November 26, 2015

Bike Planner Position

Big Step for bikes! Bike Planner position advertised.

The City of Colorado Springs has put up a job listing for a Senior Bike Planner. We have been working with partners to get this very important position moved to the top of the priority list, to forward the goals of making Colorado Springs a more bike-friendly community.
Mayor Suthers promised to hire a bike planner before he was elected. We are grateful to him and to his staff, and to everyone who has been working hard behind the scenes to move this forward.Together we are going to make a tremendous difference for Colorado Springs!

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Fresh Air Friday

Free admission on Black Friday
Get some fresh air with us on Black Friday. Thanks to Great Outdoors Colorado, visitors will receive free admission to Colorado's state parks on November 27. Get out and share your experience with #FreshAirFriday.
Fine a park near you here.

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Amazon Rainforest Workshop Opportunities


Educator Academy in the Amazon Rainforest + Machu Picchu



 Get your explorer on and apply for a scholarship to explore the Amazon rainforest next summer! The July 1-11, 2016 Educator Academy in the Amazon Rainforest of Peru is a cross-curricular professional development workshop for K-12 formal and informal educators to learn and use:

  • 21st Century Instruction:  5E Lesson Design ~ Inquiry-Based Exploration ~ STEM
  • Inquiry Protocols & Resources:  Project Learning Tree ~ Cornell Lab of Ornithology ~ & More!
  • Global and Cultural Perspectives:  Service Learning ~ Sustainability ~ Global Education
$1,000 scholarship deadline February 1, 2016.  Space is limited. Register early to secure your spot! 

For more information contact christa@amazonworkshops.com or 1-800-431-2624.

Monday, November 23, 2015

Beaver Ponds Environmental Education Center Director of Development Position

Beaver Ponds Environmental Education Center is seeking a Director of Development to lead the development, marketing and fundraising activities for the organization. Beaver Ponds is located in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, 45 minutes south of Breckenridge. This new position will be responsible for building the development function and significantly contributing to the financial growth of the organization. It will require a dynamic, self-starter who is results oriented.  To apply and view a complete job description see, visit BeaverPonds.org.

Position
 
Beaver Ponds is looking for a dynamic, results-oriented individual who is a self-starter.  The person will develop and spearhead all the development, marketing and fundraising activities for the organization.  The person will report to and work in partnership with the President. The Director of Development will also work closely with and coordinate activities with the Executive Director and the Board of Directors. A new position in the organization, the Director of Development will build the development function. The Director of Development will be expected to significantly contribute to the organization’s financial growth and ensure that all fundraising events and initiatives have well-articulated goals and measures of success and are in alignment with the organization’s mission. The Director of Development goals would be to raise from new sources, a minimum of 20% of the operating budget in their first year, 35% in their second year, and 50% in their third year.
 
Responsibilities
·         Develop and execute Beaver Pond’s annual fundraising plan
·         Secure financial support from individuals, foundations and corporations
·         Develop and maintain ongoing relationships with major donors
·         Manage the Beaver Ponds contact database and its use
·         Develop marketing materials        
o   Oversee production of print and electronic public relations and marketing materials, including newsletters, updates, and annual reports.
o   Direct the maintenance and upgrades to the organization’s website and public information communications.
·         Develop and oversee special events
o   Establish goals and metrics for special events
·         Develop and track proposals and reports for all fundraising activities
·         Work with Executive Director to create volunteer activities and assist in recruiting and managing volunteers
·         Other activities which will further Beaver Pond’s mission and meet its financial needs
 
Qualifications
·         BA (required)
·         3-5 years minimum  experience in development, fundraising and marketing
·         Demonstrated excellence in organizational and managerial skills, and verbal and written communication
·         Capable of using all common relevant software tools
·         Familiar with using social media to obtain desired results
·         Proven excellent people skills


Please submit a letter of interest, along with examples of previous work, such as a grant or solicitation letter or marketing material. Submit letter of interest or other inquiries to:
 
Al Hershey
President
Beaver Ponds Environmental Education Center