Check out this opportunity at CU Denver

The CELL, The Denver Post & The University of Denver 

would like to extend COMPLIMENTARY TICKETS to educators for our next event:

 Can We Defeat ISIS?

featuring

Graeme Wood, Contributing Editor at The Atlantic

Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn (Ret.), Fmr. Dir. of the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA)

Samuel J. Rascoff, Faculty Director at NYU's Center on Law and Security

hosted by

U.S. Senator Cory Gardner

Wednesday, February 17, 2016 I 7PM Program 

The Newman Center, University of Denver, 2344 East Iliff Ave., Denver, CO

The $25/person cost of admission has been generously underwritten by our sponsors.

Reserve COMPLIMENTARY Tickets by Clicking HERE

For questions call 303-844-4000 x 4

Free Book Available for k-12 Science Teachers

In the footsteps of NGSS and A Framework for K-12 Science Education comes a new report highlighting the need for better professional development initiatives to teach, reinforce, and support science teachers' learning.

Science Teachers' Learning: Enhancing Opportunities, Creating Supportive Contexts Currently, many states are adopting the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) or are revising their own state standards in ways that reflect the NGSS. For students and schools, the implementation of any science standards rests with teachers. For those teachers, an evolving understanding about how best to teach science represents a significant transition in the way science is currently taught in most classrooms and it will require most science teachers to change how they teach. ... [read more]  Buy This Book Download Free PDF

National Renewable Energy Laboratory 2016 Energy Institute for Teachers

Middle and High School Educators:

NREL is excited to announce the 2016 Energy Institute for Teachers. Below you will find information about the institute and application.

Join the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in an exciting teacher opportunity. The Energy Institute blends renewable energy and energy efficiency components into existing courses that the teachers are already instructing in subjects ranging from chemistry and physics to biology and environmental science classes.

During the week long workshop, teachers participate in a variety of activities tied to NREL research including:
·       Building and testing wind turbine blades utilizing multi-meters and water pumps.
·       Testing solar panels, creating current voltage curves using rheostats and multi-meters.
·       Determining the optimum form of lighting based on the bulb's brightness, its cost and its power
requirements.
·       Chemically producing biodiesel fuel, performing quality control and viscosity tests.
·       Meeting staff scientists and touring the world class National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

Who: Middle and High School STEM Teachers
When: July 18-22 from 8:00 am-4:30pm
Where: NREL Education Center, 15013 Denver West Parkway, Golden, CO 80401

Program Information:

·       Teachers who participate will have the following options:  teachers who live over 50 miles from NREL will be offered up to 5 nights of lodging at the Denver West Marriott; local teachers will receive a $250 stipend in lieu of the lodging. Please contact Madison Martinez if you plan to use the lodging at Denver West Marriott.
        ·       $250 after implementation of lesson.
        ·       $300 follow-up funds for implementation available.
        ·       Resources: books and materials.
        ·       Credit: Graduate credit available through Colorado School of Mines.


Program Requirements:
·       Participate in the full one-week summer program.
·       Complete pre- and post- examinations to measure content knowledge gains from the institute.
·       Participate in group activities and projects during the institute.
·       Share best practice teaching ideas with other institute participants.
·       Provide documented evidence illustrating the impact of the institute on teaching and learning that may include:
o   Lesson or unit plans to incorporate energy into the courses that you teach.
o   Submit lesson and evidence of the material being taught (photos or videos, etc.)

Questions? Please contact me, Linda Lung: linda.lung@nrel.gov<mailto:linda.lung@nrel.gov> or Marcus Giron: Marcus.Giron@nrel.gov<mailto:Marcus.Giron@nrel.gov>.

Please fill out the application for NREL's Energy Institute for Teacher: http://goo.gl/forms/4uvbQ7OwcA.  Applications are due Friday, March 4, 2016.

Native Plant Master Program Announces Expanded 2016 Class Schedule

Native Plant Master Program Announces Expanded 2016 Class Schedule

The Native Plant Master^® Program in the Metro to Mountain area has announced a significantly expanded schedule of 31 offerings for 2016. Make this the year to learn more about Colorado’s beautiful wildflowers. Get inspired through outdoor experiences such as the new Discover! classes where you will learn about natives in their natural habitats. Delve deeper in an indoor class or field seminar on a wide range of plant-related topics such as wildflower identification, invasive weeds, and native plant landscaping. Set yourself up for success in your botanical explorations by taking a Basic Botany class.

See http://npm.eventbrite.com for more information or to register.  Register soon as offerings fill quickly. All those completing three NPM curriculum courses are awarded a Colorado Flora Certificate with no volunteer requirement.  Interested in educating others by becoming a certified Native Plant Master volunteer? Learn more athttp://M2Mnativeplantmaster.org.

For Native Plant Master offerings in other locations across the state, seehttp://www.extension.colostate.edu/jefferson/npm/npm-state.shtml. For research-based information on more than 1,000 Colorado plants, see the Colorado Plant Database at http://coloradoplants.jeffco.us.

Jefferson County CSU Extension empowers county citizens and enhances their quality of life through education, innovation and excellence in service. Learn more at http://jeffcoextension.org.

Extension programs are available to all without discrimination. 

G-Camp for Teachers 2016

G-Camp for Teachers 2016 is an opportunity for 5th-12th grade science teachers, district science coordinators, and TRC science project directors to experience and learn the principles of geology and Earth and environmental sciences in the field. During the two weeks, participants will explore the landscapes of Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado, including volcanoes, mountains, sand dunes, faults, glacial features, streams, landslides, K-T Boundary, energy and mineral resource, and other exciting features.

Participants will travel by commercial bus to each field location and stay in motels. There are two participants per room. Unfortunately single rooms cannot be provided. Participants will receive a stipend to cover meals. Participants are responsible for getting themselves to College Station by departure time and getting themselves home after arrival back in College Station; other than that, participant expenses are covered.

Participants must be able to walk a couple of miles during the day, so being in good shape is a requirement. This walking is different than walking on the sidewalk or an athletic track. It is sometimes up and down steep inclines. It is on unpaved trails and many of the sites are at higher elevations than any location in Texas.

G-Camp 2016 will depart from College Station very early on Monday, June 27, and return in the late afternoon or early evening on Sunday, July 10.

The G-Camp application must be submitted by January 30, 2016. Thirty-two participants will be chosen by a selection committee, and applicants will be notified soon after selections are made.

If you have questions, contact Dr. Rick Giardino at rickg@tamu.edu or Dr. Carolyn Schroeder at cschroeder@science.tamu.edu.

Environmental Experiences for Early Childhood

Share experiences, and talk about them, then read about them, and follow up with a tasty thematic snack or craft that reinforces the same concepts. Make memories while helping your preschooler get ready for kindergarten and beyond with critical, developmentally appropriate experiences in your own yard or local park. This workshop provides simple and fun ideas and activities that use home-made toys and tools that provide practice with talking and listening, counting, sorting, matching, colors, sounds, shapes, and seasons-all with a nature theme.

Our easy-to-use activity guide book and music CD is filled with great ideas on how to engage three to six year-olds in outdoor exploration and play, while building critical vocabulary and conversation skills. Take home a toolkit of ready-to-use materials!

Call 303-278-8822 for more information or to register by check.
For registration help or other information, email: pltcolorado@gmail.com

For more information about Early Childhood Experiences (ECE) click here.

Check out this cool opportunity in Boulder with editors from National Geographic and Outside Magazines

See link below for an incredible workshop opportunity coming up at the end of February for those of you interested in nature photography and travel writing:

http://creativeconferences.com/category/2016-conferences/

February 27, 2016; The photography workshop will be led by photo editors for National Geographic and Outside Magazines.

February 28, 2016: The writing workshop will be led by some of the best in the industry including writers for Backpacker, National Geographic, Travel + Leisure, 5280, and Alaska Magazines.

Both workshops will be held at the Chautauqua Park Grand Assembly in Boulder, Colorado.