For updated information on our 2013 conference on Saturday, March 2, at the Delaware Nature Society’s Ashland Nature Center, please click here.
2013 Conference Information!
October 1, 2012Where does your water shed?
April 8, 2013(via DNREC)
The Delaware Association of Conservation Districts (DACD) encourages you to think about your personal responsibility to be a good steward of Delaware’s natural resources during its annual Stewardship Week celebration. The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) has proclaimed April 28 to May 5 as Soil and Water Stewardship Week, marking the 58th year of the national event, with 2013 theme “Where Does Your Water Shed?”
The Delaware Association and its three districts are members of the NACD, which oversees the Stewardship Week program. Stewardship Week is one of the largest national annual programs to promote conservation. NACD represents the nation’s 3,000 conservation districts, which were established to encourage resource conservation across the country. Delaware’s conservation districts purchase Stewardship Week materials for distribution to local schools and church organizations as funding permits.
The “Where Does Your Water Shed” theme plays on the fact that less than 1 percent of all of the water on our planet is fresh water. The average citizen in the United States uses 70 gallons of water every day – which does not include the water it takes to manufacture the automobiles, clothing and food we depend on every day. The Delaware Districts encourage you to take time to learn about your local community water supply sources, and to volunteer for river, stream or beach clean-up days, and to realize: You can make a difference.
During the month of April, DACD President Wendy O. Baker will lead a stewardship celebration including a proclamation from Governor Jack Markell declaring this important observance in Delaware. The celebration will also recognize the recipients of the annual Governor’s Conservation Awards at a special ceremony on Wednesday, April 17 at the Delaware Agricultural Museum and Village in Dover.
Age-appropriate activity books, posters, calendars, bookmarks, activity placemats and other items are available for a very small fee through NACD to promote the Stewardship Week theme. To learn more and preview the available materials, as well as download the free educators guide, you can visit http://www.nacdnet.org/stewardship/2013/index.phtml.
For more information about Stewardship Week materials available through your local conservation district, call 302-832-3100, ext. 3 in New Castle County, 302-741-2600, ext. 3 in Kent County, or 302-856-3990 ext. 3 in Sussex County. For more information about Stewardship Week or the conservation awards, please contact Martha Pileggi, DACD administrative assistant, at 302-739-9921. For additional information about the National Association of Conservation Districts, please visit www.nacdnet.org
“Clean water is important to everyone,” said National Association of Conservation Districts President Earl Garber. “Watersheds come in all shapes and sizes. They cross county, state and national boundaries. Every inch of the land on planet Earth is part of a watershed. In the continental U.S., there are 2,100 watersheds. If we include Hawaii, Alaska and Puerto Rico, the count rises to 2,267. No matter where you are right now, you are in a watershed.”
Concurrent session lineup is released!
February 21, 2013Thinking about attending this year’s DAEE conference on March 2? This lineup should definitely convince you to join us. Registration is available here.
Delaware environmental volunteer opportunities
February 11, 2013Each year, the Delaware Nature Society introduces tens of thousands of children to the wonders of our natural environment. Be a part of our team!
Volunteer Guides work with staff to lead activities for school and scout groups throughout the year at Ashland Nature Center in Hockessin, Coverdale Farm in Greenville, and at the DuPont Environmental Education Center in downtown Wilmington. Scheduling is flexible.
Call David Pragoff, School & Public Group Team Leader, at 302-239-2334 x133 or davidp@delawarenaturesociety.org, to find out more!
The Division of Fish and Wildlife works to manage and improve wildlife populations, habitats and recreational facilities in its Wildlife Management Areas throughout the state – and you can help! Become a Wildlife Volunteer and be part of restoration efforts that will have a lasting impact for generations to come. Volunteer projects are open to the public and/or can also be scheduled for individual groups. For questions or to volunteer, contact Lynne Staub at 302-735-3600 or lynne.staub@state.de.us.
Seasonal Projects: Volunteers are needed for habitat management projects primarily in the Fall, Winter and early Spring. Year round and seasonal wildlife monitoring volunteer opportunities are also available with the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program and with Division’s environmental education programs.
Volunteer Calendar: The Division of Fish & Wildlife has an online Volunteer Calendar of Events that can be viewed on the volunteer website. Projects and events are listed monthly and provide helpful information on project details, timelines and contacts.
Volunteer Email Listserv: Interested receiving emails to learn about upcoming volunteer opportunities? Sign up for the Volunteer Email Listserv and find out about projects in advance! To sign up, click on the Listserv link on the volunteer website.
Delaware State Parks Program Announcement
February 11, 2013Summer Fair
Blue Ball Barn
Saturday, February 23, 9:30 am – 12 Noon
Discover summer’s fun local camps, educational groups, sports clubs and nearby parks and playgrounds. There will be activities, prizes, and demonstrations throughout the day. This free event is a great way to learn what adventures summer can hold! FREE EVENT. For information contact us at DNREC_WilmingtonProg@state.de.us or 302-577-7020.
Quilt Documentation Project
Blue Ball Barn
March 9, 8:30 am – 3 pm
Delaware State Parks’ Fee Season is in effect.
Help capture the cultural richness of the State of Delaware by bringing your pre-1950, Delaware made quilts to be documented. A small donation to the Quilt Documentation Project will be requested to document quilts from other states. Bring your quilt, information about the quilt maker and his/her family and the history of the quilt. While you wait, trained volunteers will photograph the quilt and gather pertinent information.
The Delaware Quilt Documentation Project is a collaborative effort between the University of Delaware, and the Delaware State Division of Historic and Cultural Affairs. To register for a timed slot please contact, Fran Mayhew at mayhew@udel.edu or (302)368-8423.
Geology and Earth’s Dynamic Systems
Teacher In-Service
March 16, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
This workshop will showcase geology and earth systems (third grade through middle school) programs offered at Alapocas Run and White Clay Creek State Park. This workshop is outside and active. Lunch and transportation will be provided. Space is limited to 20 participants. For more information or to register, please contact Breanne Preisen at Breanne.Preisen@state.de.us or (302) 739-9192.
Seeking conference auction donations
February 11, 2013A primary fundraiser for DAEE is the silent auction that is held in conjunction with the DAEE annual conference. If you would like to support DAEE by donating an item to our silent auction, please fill out and return this form to::
Angel Burns
Angel.Burns @ state.de.us
425 Wedgewood Road
Newark, DE 19711
Registration is now open for DAEE 2013!
February 7, 2013Register now for DAEE’s Fourth Annual statewide conference, to be held on Saturday, March 2nd at the Ashland Nature Center in Hockessin. This year’s theme is “Immersed in Nature: The Environmental Education Experience.” Click here to view the program descriptions and to register.
This year’s keynote speaker will be Bo Hoppin, Interim Executive Director of the Friends of Young Achievers and Experiential Education Coordinator for Young Achievers Science and Math Pilot School. Bo will also lead one of the conference workshops. Young Achievers is a urban K-8 school located in Mattapan Massachusetts. The school’s mission is to provide a high quality school experience for urban youth in science, math and social justice. The school uses experiential education activities that apply core classroom curriculum to the local environment and community as a central pedagogical strategy. Bo is working to support the No Child Left Inside Coalition to pass federal legislation to support environmental education in our nation’s schools. Bo also works in collaboration with a network of environmental education organizations in Boston to advocate for increased environmental, outdoor and hands-on learning in city schools.
Here’s a sample of some of the workshops and activities that have been lined up for the conference:
- Learning the Landscape through Letterboxing
- Outdoor Woodland Classroom
- Building a K-12 Environmental Program from the Ground Up: A Strategic Approach”
- Delaware’s MOST WANTED: Understanding the First State’s Nastiest Invasive Species
- Stream Adoption
- Nature Babies
- Nature Inspiring Art
- Coverdale Farm Tour field trip
- and… MORE!
Program descriptions and registration for participants, vendors and exhibitors are now online at http://2013daeeconference.eventbrite.com.
For more information, or to volunteer to help out with the conference, please contact the chair of the Conference Planning Committee, Kathleen Logullo, at klogullo@agcharter.org.
New water cycle poster from USGS
January 25, 2013
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) have teamed up to create the most comprehensive and amusing water-cycle diagram for kids and schools anywhere.
Free Garden Educators’ Forum
January 22, 2013Public gardens have been identified as one of the most credible resources for information on climate change and the environment. There is growing need for reliable, trusted, and timely information. The public seems to be primed to make the move from skeptical to interested. Join us to hear presentations from a noted climate change expert and communication strategist to move this initiative forward in your garden.
This year’s program will be facilitated by Caroline Lewis of The CLEO Institute, and feature speakers Frank Niepold from NOAA and Celestine Maddy, founder of Wilder Quarterly. Roundtable discussions follow each speaker.
There is no fee for this program. For more information, please visit the Longwood Gardens Continuing Education website.
$5k honorariums available to local schools
January 22, 2013Now in its eighth year, the Annual Environmental Community Service Award will once again be presented by Wawa, NBC 10, and the environmental law firm Manko, Gold, Katcher & Fox, LLP (MGKF). The goal of the Environmental Community Service award is to raise awareness of environmental concerns and to recognize schools (6th grade or higher) in the Delaware Valley for their efforts in environmental service projects that enhance and improve the quality of life in their communities.
For more information, please visit this website.
DAEE’s January email newsletter is also online
January 22, 2013Each month, DAEE compiles and sends out a fantastic email newsletter chock full of great opportunities and resources for environmental educators. You can access the January newsletter here.
But more importantly, be sure to sign up for the monthly newsletter so that you won’t miss out on workshops, grants, and new lesson plans!
