Santa Clara Valley Water District’s
Water Awareness Program
This is the electronic news update for February with links to events and opportunities coming up for you and/or your students. Please share this information with colleagues.
Adopt a Rose for Valentine’s Day
Are you looking for something special to give your loved one this Valentine’s Day? When you adopt a rose in the San Jose Heritage Rose Garden for a donation of $50, Friends of Guadalupe River Park & Gardens will place an engraved plaque in front of the rose with your personal inscription – for one full year. For more information about adopting a rose for your Valentine, call 408-298-7657.
EVENTS CALENDAR
Feb. 7, 2007 or Feb. 24, 2007 -
Waves, Wetlands, and Watersheds Educator Workshops
Receive a FREE copy of the California Coastal Commission's science activity guide, Waves, Wetlands, and Watersheds. Try some of the activities in the guide and get an overview of the other free educational resources and programs the Coastal Commission has available.
Credit from University of the Pacific is available upon completing additional work. Waves, Wetlands, and Watersheds is aligned to the California State Content Standards for science for grades 3 through 8. Professional growth credit is available from the University of the Pacific when additional work is performed.
- WEDNESDAY, FEB. 7: 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. at Tilden Nature Area, Berkeley.
Register by Feb. 2.
- SATURDAY, FEB. 24: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. at Coyote Point Museum, San Mateo.
Register by Feb. 20.
- SATURDAY, MARCH 3: Noon-2p.m. at El Dorado Nature Center, Long Beach, CA
Register by Feb. 28.
To register for a workshop please contact Annie Kohut Frankel at afrankel@coastal.ca.gov or at (415) 597-5888.
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Saturday, Feb. 10, 2007:
The 2007 UC Museum of Paleontology Short Course on Evolution IMPLICATIONS OF EVOLUTION: EVIDENCE AND APPLICATIONS
Learn about current research in evolutionary biology, including behavior and defense, primate evolution, and co-evolution and its impact on biodiversity, as well as current antievolution strategies, the intelligent design movement, and recent legal decisions concerning the teaching of evolution.
For further details and registration information, please visit the UC Museum of Paleontology website, or contact Judy Scotchmoor, jscotch@berkeley.edu
Feb. 15, 2007 - Global Warming Talk
Our City Forest & Eco-Silicon Valley present Jay McGowan, one of Al Gore's first climate change messengers. Jay will be speaking on global warming and how we can work to stop it. The event is FREE and will be held at Our City Forest's office in San José.
- When: Thursday, February 15 at 6:15p.m.
- Where: OCF Offices at 595 Park Ave. Suite 100, San Jose, CA 95110.
For more information, call (408) 998-7337 or visit: http://www.ourcityforest.org/ or http://www.ecosiliconvalley.org/
Feb. 17, 2007
NOAA's Ocean Exploration Program, in partnership with the South Carolina Aquarium, will provide a free Grade 5-12 teacher workshop on in Charleston, South Carolina.
Teachers attending this all-day workshop and a follow-up workshop in the same location on June 16, 2007 will receive a $100 stipend. website: http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov
Registration deadline is Feb. 1, 2007. Send completed registration forms electronically to Bill Thill at BThill@scaquarium.org or call Brian at (843) 579-8546.
Feb. 18, 2007 – AAAS Climate-Change Town Hal: Communicating and Learning About Global Climate Change;
An Event for Teachers, Students, and Other Communicators and Learners
Featuring top climate experts representing science, education, policy and business perspectives, this event will take place on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2007 from 1:15 – 5:30 p.m. during the AAAS Annual Meeting at Hilton San Francisco, 333 O’Farrell St, Continental Ballrooms 4-6.
This event is FREE, but you need to register online at: http://www.aaasmeeting.org / “Register Online”.
For more information, e-mail gpinhols@aaas.org. or visit: http://www.aaas.org/news/press_room/climate_change/mtg_200702.shtml
or the flyer posted on the BAESI home page at www.baesi.org
Feb. 23, 2007
Project WET in-service includes hands-on activities and lessons from the Project WET Curriculum and Activity Guide. Workshop is FREE!
Participants will also receive the curriculum and guide FREE upon completion of the workshop.
The next workshops are:
- When: Feb. 23, 8:30a.m. – 3p.m.
- Where: Santa Clara Valley Water District Headquarters Building. 5750 Almaden Expwy., San Jose, CA 95118
To sign up for this Project WET workshop, please contact:
Kathy Machado at (408) 265-2607, ext. 2331, or
Terri Fagundes at (408) 265-2607, ext. 2945
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UPCOMING EVENTS
March 10, 2007
Flushing Toilets. Where does it go?
This workshop offers an overview of sewage treatment plants - their purpose and value - by focusing on the San Jose/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant. Hands-on activities will demonstrate the modern miracle of sewage treatment that makes water reusable for people and wildlife.
Learn about efforts to protect the wetlands habitat surrounding the plant. Free curriculum materials are included. Bring a bag lunch. A bonus, optional field trip to the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge begins after lunch (1 - 2:30 p.m.).
- Who: 6th - 8th grade teachers
- When: March 10, 2007 from 8:30a.m. – 12:30p.m.
- Where: RAFT (click here to link to workshop information)
- Target audience: 6th - 8th grade teachers
- Cost: Thanks to the partnership between the City of San Jose Environmental Services Dept and RAFT, there is no charge for this workshop. A $20 deposit, returned at the end of the class or if you cancel at least 1 week in advance, is required to hold a spot
Contact: Claire Boswell, Policy and Planning (408) 975-2585
Saturday, March 24, 2007
WOW! The Wonders of Wetlands
WOW features over 50 multidisciplinary activities correlated to National Science Standards. Leave this workshop with activities you can do with your students to better their understanding of the ecological function and value of wetlands, and ways to promote informed decision-making regarding wetlands.
- When: Saturday, March 24th, 2007 from 9:00a.m. – 4:00p.m.
- Where: California Science Center's Amgen Center for Science Learning Los Angeles, CA
- How: Cost of $45 includes WOW! curriculum guides and all course materials.
Contact: Anna Gaiter at agaiter@cscmail.org or call 213-774-7455 for more information or to register.
March 31 and April 1, 2007
Phil Stoffer of the United States Geological Survey has agreed to lead a field trip to the new Coyote Lake-Harvey Bear Ranch County Park located near Gilroy. Highlights will include great exposure of the Calaveras Rift, volcanic rocks, a large, active slump, and rock collecting on the gravel bars along Coyote Creek.
The trip will take place all day on Saturday, March 31 and part of Sunday, April 1. You may choose to attend Saturday only (which can be combined with any other full-day Saturday workshop or field trip for 1 unit of Geology 104 for $44) or opt to attend both days to earn 1 unit for the trip.
If you would like to participate in the field trip, please contact Ellen P. Metzger Professor and Co-Director, Bay Area Earth Science Institute Department of Geology San Jose State University San Jose, CA 95192-0102; (408) 924-5048; Fax 408-924-5053.
April 1, 2007
Write On! Wetlands Challenge 2007
Environmental Concern presents its 3rd Annual International competition. Help bring wetlands to life and create a children’s book, written and illustrated by kids, for kids.
Here’s how it works: Part I – a call goes out to students in grades 7-9 to write a manuscript. Part II – after the winning manuscript is chosen, students K – 6th grade illustrate the story. All entries must be submitted by April 1, 2007.
For more information or questions please contact Jodi Carr at youth.edu@wetland.org .
April 14-15, 2007 – Santa Clara County Gem and Mineral Society’s Gem and Mineral Show
Would you like to bring your class to a Gem and Mineral Show where they can learn about rocks, minerals, the rock cycle, geology and more? For more information, visit: www.baesi.org
- When: Kids area open from 10:30a.m. - 4:30p.m. Show is from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Where: SCVGMS 52nd Annual Gem and Mineral Show Kids Area at Santa Clara County Fairgrounds, 344 Tully Rd. San Jose
- Admission: Free for children under 12. $6 for adults
GRANTS AND FUNDING
US Fish and Wildlife Service’s Endanger Species Program is now accepting grant proposals until Feb. 14, 2007 for the 2007 Private Stewardship Grants Program funding period.
The Private Stewardship Program provides grants and other assistance on a competitive basis to individuals and groups engaged in local, private, and voluntary conservation efforts that benefit federally listed, proposed, or candidate species, or other at-risk species.
For information, visit:
http://www.fws.gov/endangered/grants/private_stewardship/index.html
Red White & Green Climate Change Grant (US applicants ONLY)
Youth Service America and the Civil Society Institute are excited to announce the second round of the Red, White & Green Climate Change Grant. This opportunity offers $500 to young people in the United States between the ages of 15-25 and to organizations that engage youth ages 15-25.
Applicants are expected to develop and implement a service-learning project about climate change that engages their community, policy-makers and candidates running for election in 2007 and 2008. We welcome projects where youth work in partnership with adults (parents, coaches, teachers, youth leaders, etc.): but the projects
should be youth-led, and must take place between May 1 and Oct. 31, 2007.
For more information, visit: http://www.ysa.org/awards/
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GOOD TO KNOW
MAKE THIS YEAR A GLOBAL YEAR! My Wonderful World is a National Geographic-led campaign—backed by a coalition of major national partners—to expand geographic learning in school, at home, and in the community. Geography is more than places on a map. It’s global connections and incredible creatures. It's people and cultures, economics and politics. And it's essential to understanding our interconnected world. We want to give our kids the power of global knowledge. Visit: www.mywonderfulworld.org to get involved!
Educators can log on to the CREEC (California Regional Environmental Education Community) Nework website – http://www.creec.org/region5/ – to meet their regional CREEC Network Coordinator or find hundreds of environmental education (EE) resources to strengthen instruction and motivate learning across the curriculum. Search the online resource directory, join online EE discussion group, and/or find funding for EE projects.
EE providers can also log on to find professional support, enhance program effectiveness, and reach new audiences.
Applications for membership in the Content Working Group (CWG) and the Education Working Group (EWG) are being requested for California’s Education and the Environment Initiative (EEI). The San Luis Obispo County Office of Education is seeking both highly-qualified technical experts in science, history/social science and environmental science to join the CWG and highly-qualified educators to join the EWG for California’s EEI.
Members of the CWG will participate in the review of the technical accuracy of the draft instructional materials being developed as part of the EEI Model Curriculum. Members of the EWG will participate in the review of education-related aspects of the draft instructional materials being developed as part of the EEI Model Curriculum.
For more information and question regarding this application, please contact: eei@seer.org.
Spring 2007
- Healthy Living Classes in the Guadalupe River Park & Gardens
Get 2007 off to a healthy start with fitness classes in a "gym" as big as all outdoors - the beautiful Guadalupe River Park. Fitness and equipment professionals will provide the basic instruction you need to start and keep to a fitness routine, for much less than the cost of a gym membership!
Thanks to a generous grant from Kaiser Permanente San Jose, each class (including all sessions) is only $25 a person. But, hurry there are only 25 spots available for each class! Pre-registration is required and participants must be 18 years of age or older. All classes will begin at the GRPG Visitor & Education Center, 438 Coleman Avenue.
For more information contact: Kary Houle, Education Coordinator, (408) 298-7657.
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BAY NATURE magazine has set up a brand new online calendar that will make it easier for you to find out what is going on and also to get out the word about your organization's upcoming events! Just go to: http://www.baynature.com/calendar.html to preview the calendar.
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Each month the EPA's National Service Center for Environmental Publications (NSCEP) produces a list of new titles available from the Center. We have established an electronic list serve for people who want to keep abreast of new EPA publications.
To receive this listing by e-mail, click on this link: <mailto:nscepnew@one.net?Subject=Subscribe> and write “I would like to subscribe to the NSCEP New EPA Publications List Serve. Or send an e-mail with a subject line of “Subscribe to nscepnew@one.net.” Subscriptions can also be taken by phone at 800-490-9198.
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JOB ANNOUNCEMENT
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District – Open Space Planner II
Salary: $5,190 - $6,660/month (Open until filled)
About the Position: This position is responsible for coordinating the design and management of complex capital improvement projects. Typical capital improvement projects may include design and construction of parking areas, restrooms, interpretive or other recreational facilities; construction and repair of staff facilities including barns, field offices, or employee residences; and resource-based projects including design, construction or repair of unpaved roads, trails, bridges and other stream crossing improvements.
For more information and application, visit www.openspace.org or call the District office at (650) 691-1200.
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