Bioblitz Teacher Workshop Registration Reminder

Bioblitz Teacher Workshop Registration Deadline Approaching!

A reminder to any teachers interesting in participating in the Bioblitz Teacher Workshop at the Catamount Institute on May 2nd or May 3rd, the registration deadline (4/25) is quickly approaching! Follow the link for more information!

Colorado Springs Historic Map Explorer

Colorado Springs Historic Map Explorer Website Launch

Tierra Plan LLC has launched an interactive map site called the Colorado Springs Historic Map Explorer. They have assembled a collection of twenty-four historic maps provided by the City of Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum and put them online. These fascinating maps are now available in an easy-to-use website for anyone who wants to explore the history and landscapes of the Colorado Springs region.

Here’s how it works

• Open the map: http://digitaldeepmap.com/cos/
• A timeline with historical map links is at the bottom. Drag the timeline left and right to see the map collection. 
• Click a map link on the timeline you are interested in. Try the 1885 Manitou Springs map, it’s really cool.
• The historic map will appear, and an information window will open at the left.
• Zoom in and pan to observe details in the map.  Zoom by double clicking the center of the map, or use the plus/minus control at the upper right.
• Use the transparency slider to compare the historic map to the modern map underneath.
• Click Change Historic Map to re-open the timeline and select another map. Or use the tab with the green arrow.
• Change the base map to satellite imagery using the selector at the upper right.

You can read more about the project here or by contacting Tierra Plan or The Pioneers Museum. 

Bear Creek Nature Center Job Opening

Job Opening for Nature Center Supervisor
Bear Creek Nature Center
El Paso County Parks, Colorado Springs, CO

Opening Date: 04/17/16
Closing Date: 05/18/16 5:00 PM
Department: Community Services, Parks
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 16135
Salary: $50,445 Annually / Depends on qualifications

For more information and to apply:

http://adm.elpasoco.com/EmploymentBenefitsMedicalServices/Employment/Pages/OpenPositions.aspx

Oklahoma Geography 101 Course

National Geographic's Network of Alliances:
Invitation to Oklahoma's Geography 101 Course

The Oklahoma Geographic Alliance is hosting their summer Geography 101 Course from June 12-15, 2016 at U of O in Norman, and are also accepting applications from out-of-state educators.  The course is open to all teachers from all grade levels and all subjects who teach Geography, whether it is a stand-alone course or integrated with other subjects! 

The registration fee is $100 per participant (nonrefundable).

Lodging, meals, and training materials are made possible by a grant from the National Geographic Education Foundation and the Oklahoma Geography Education Fund.

Please contact Kelly Curtright at kelly.s.curtright-1@ou.edu for more information, or register here.

South Carolina Summer Institute

National Geographic's Network of Alliances:
Invitation to South Carolina's Summer Institute

The South Carolina Geographic Alliance is hosting their summer institute from June 19-25, 2016 in Columbia, and are accepting applications from teachers in other states. In past years they've had educators from Florida, Pennsylvania, Arizona, and Tennessee.  More information about registering (by May 1, 2016) can be found here.

BSCS Student Assessment

BSCS Student Pilot Test Assessment

High school teachers have the opportunity to win a $200 Amazon gift card by helping BSCS with a student pilot test assessment.

• The Assessment: Students will answer online multiple choice questions about photosynthesis and cellular respiration or attitudes about science. The survey will take approximately 45 minutes to complete and is anonymous.
• To Participate: Please register and confirm that students will have access to computers for the survey.The surveys will be available Tuesday, April 19 and must be completed by Monday, May 2.
• Gift Card: Teachers whose students complete the survey will be entered in a drawing to win the gift card. The winner will be notified by email.
• Teachers who are participating in the Digging Deeper Professional Development field test are not eligible to participate.

To learn more, visit the BSCS Website.

NCGE Cuba Trip

VISIT CUBA WITH NCGE!
July 19-26, 2016

Join NGCE on an 8-day trip to see, experience, and learn about Cuba.  Get to know Havana, and also take excursions to other notable sites in western Cuba.  Activities and excursions will focus on different aspects of geography, including historical, cultural, urban, economic, and physical geography, the geography of agriculture and food, and US-Cuba relations.  On a broader level, the field trip will provide field-based learning for geography educators, develop educational resources for teachers, and demonstrate the importance of experimental learning.  You can find the trip itinerary, application form, and additional information here.  

Online Course Offering

Online Summer Course: Teaching Geography in the 21st Century

This course is designed to build geographic concepts, perspectives, and skills for those teaching Geography, as well as to those teaching other disciplines who seek to use geographic principles.  It will also help educators and their students to understand why and how geography is relevant to 21st Century life.  The course will include population, land use, urban, economic, health, natural hazards, and other themes.  Running throughout the course will be a focus on scale, systems thinking (such as climate, watersheds, and energy systems), critical thinking, time and space, and place, through an inquiry-driven, hands-on, problem-based format.  The course includes pedagogical strategies and technological tools to teach conceptual foundations, skills, and geographic perspectives.  The course will begin May 25th, and last 5 weeks. For additional information and course registration, click here. 

Upon completion, you will receive a certificate for 30 continuing education units. Two graduate hours from Adams State University can be purchased for an additional $110 paid directly to ASU.  For additional questions, please contact Joseph Kerski at jkerski@esri.com or Carolyn Gardner at carolyngardner@enetlearning.org.

RET Program

The Colorado Bioscience Institute
Research Experience for Teachers (RET) Program



The Colorado BioScience Institute (the Institute) is now welcoming applications from 6th-12th grade science teachers from Poudre, Greeley-Evans or Weld County School Districts for the summer Research Experience for Teachers (RET) program.  Application deadline is April 15, 2016.
The program runs Monday-Fri day from Friday, June 10-Friday, July 8, 2016 with an additional professional development day on Saturday, October 1, 2016.  You must be able to participate and attend ALL dates to qualify for the program.

To learn more about The Colorado BioScience Institute (the Institute) and the RET Program, check out the website here.

In order to be eligible to apply to the Institute's Research Experience for Teachers (RET) Program, you must meet these minimum requirements: Be currently employed, full-time, and employed in the same or similar capacity next year as a grade 6-12 science teacher with Poudre, Greeley-Evans or Weld County School Districts.  Note: We regret that we cannot accept applications from part-time, substitute, or pre-service teachers or teaching assistants. Nor can we accept application from those teaching outside of one of these districts. Be willing to make a 4 week summer commitment to the program, including 5 PD days (4 in the summer and 1 Saturday in the fall). Highly qualified science teacher (CO Teaching License. Completed 24 credit hours in undergraduate/graduate science course work) Be willing to embed your summer experiences to create, modify or adapt student learning experiences (i.e. labs, demos or lessons) in your classroom the following fall and beyond. Participants can expect to receive a $3000 stipend for their 4 weeks of internship work in the summer and active participation in the 5 PD days. This stipend would again be available to those teachers selected for year two of the program for a total of $6,000 for completion of a two year commitment (for those selected). Year two requires additional mentoring responsibilities. $2500 will be paid at the end of the 4 week summer externship, including attendance at all 4 PD days. (June 10 - July 8, 2016) $250 to be paid after final PD day in the fall. Remaining $250 after conference presentation and completion of student/teacher evaluations. The Institute's RET Program deadline for applications for the 2016 summer start date is April 15, 2016.  Applicants will be notified of acceptance or denial the beginning of May 2016.  Follow this link to apply online.

To apply, you will need:  A current resume Letter of support from your building administrator One Science Lesson (Along with the lesson, please plan to explain your approach to teaching science (i.e. core components you include in teaching science and why?). Answer a series of questions

Bioblitz Teacher Workshop

May 2 @ 3:30 pm - 6:30 pm

Get paid for learning about your local Colorado ecosystems and become eligible for grant money to host a BioBlitz at your school.

Join us on Monday 5/2 or Tuesday 5/3 from 3:30-6:30 for a crash course in ecosystems. We’ll focus on learning the most common local birds, mammals, insects, and plants using take and try lessons, games, books, and professional scientific tools you can take home to your classrooms.

Walk away with $ 75 in cash, resources, eligibility to apply for $250 in grant money for a Bioblitz at your school.

Earn an additional $100 in cash if you sign up to help teach at Catamount Institute’s BioBlitz event in Sondermann Park on Saturday 5/7 from 9AM to 2PM

Space is limited so RSVP early for this incredible professional development opportunity.

Click on this link for more information and to register.