Webinar Series: Learn About the National Project for Excellence in EE

Webinar Schedule and Registration Information

April 24th (4:00pm Eastern Time): Excellence in EE: Guidelines for Learning (K-12)
This webinar will guide you through Excellence in EE: Guidelines for Learning (K-12) and how you can use it as a framework for environmental literacy (K-12).  Examples of how the K-12 guidelines are being used in curriculum development will be provided along with a discussion of how the guidelines align with the Common Core Standards. To register: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/K-12guidelines

May 1st (1:00pm Eastern Time) : Guidelines for the Preparation and Professional Development of Environmental Educators
This webinar will focus on Guidelines for the Preparation and Professional Development of Environmental Educators and how they are being used in certification programs, professional development programs, environmental education research, and teacher education programs. To register: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/prepprof

May 8th (4:00pm Eastern Time): Nonformal Environmental Education Programs: Guidelines for Excellence
This webinar, focusing on Nonformal Environmental Education Programs: Guidelines for Excellence, will walk you through examples of how you can use these key characteristics of quality environmental education program development and implementation. To register: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/nonformal

June 26th (4:00pm Eastern Time): Early Childhood EE Programs: Guidelines for Excellence
This webinar focuses on our newest set of guidelines - Early Childhood Environmental Education Programs: Guidelines for Excellence. We will discuss how the guidelines are being used in early childhood environmental education program design and implementation and introduce you to a companion document, Early Childhood Environmental Education Rating Scale. To register: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ecee

Did you miss one of our earlier webinars? Access a recording at: eelinked.net/n/guidelines

Questions? Email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

CBEEN signs Memorandum of Understanding with Parks Canada

Parks Canada and the Columbia Basin Environmental Education Network have recently signed off on an Memorandum of Understanding to work in partnership on environmental education in the Columbia Basin.

Yoho, Kootenay, Mt. Revelstoke and Glacier National Parks have all signed the agreement with CBEEN, recognizing the need to work together to create the next generation of stewards.

In the photo: Duncan Whittick, CBEEN Executive Director and Deb Griffith of Parks Canada (and a CBEEN Director)

New Blog: The Friends of Kootenay National Park

The Friends of Kootenay National Park have something to Crow About!

It is their new Blog - with stories about a cougar and bighorn sheep falling from a cliff to the announcement of a newly listed endangered species. You can read the results from the resent owl survey and learn about Parks Canada’s biggest fault. Entries are always short, with photos and occasionally videos and audio clips.

Look for new posts about which flowers are blooming, notes from the past and updates about park research and monitoring.

Go to http://www.friendsofkootenay.ca/blog. Keep updated through RSS Feed or Google Reader. Subscribe on-line or simply reply to this email to receive new entries when they are posted.

Salmo Earth Day Environmental Forum: Focused on Green Economics

Wings over the Rockies: May 7-13

During the first week in May, Wings Over the Rockies is celebrated in the Upper Columbia Valley. In the words of the festival’s patron, Robert Bateman, the world-famous wildlife artist and environmentalist:

“The Wings Over the Rockies Bird Festival’ conjures up an image of all that is great about Canada… spectacular scenery, abundant nature and a warm, human spirit of getting together in a worthy cause. The world over, when people think of Canada, they think of the glory of the Rockies. When you combine this with the upper reaches of the mighty Columbia, you have an unsurpassed natural setting. The continuous wetlands along the river are perfect as breeding areas and staging places for a significant number of bird species. This and the many other habitats provide a variety of ecosystems which will bring joy to any naturalist. But the idea of this festival goes far beyond a “get-together” of serious naturalists. It is an ideal chance for everyone to learn and share the excitement of nature “in the flesh” so to speak.”

This ecosystem grows in value every day as other places like it disappear. A celebration of its wonder and beauty must respect its fragility and ensure that its natural values are protected for the future. Wings Over the Rockies is a festival that contributes to a long-term vision of sustainability for our communities - balancing the needs of human and natural systems.

This annual festival enhances community spirit and cooperation as volunteers, local businesses, naturalists, conservancy groups and special guests work together to provide activities that educate and instill an appreciation of nature. Visitors who come to the valley for this festival make a positive economic impact on our local businesses.

Since 1999, Wings Over the Rockies has been involved in education through the Wild Voices for Kids Program which has successfully delivered environmental education programs to students in the Rocky Mountain School District. This innovative program is now being implemented throughout the East and West Kootenays and Wings has transferred control to the Columbia Basin Environmental Education network (CBEEN). The program continues to support students in the local Rocky Mountain School District throughout the school year and during the Festival, with Wings speakers giving presentations in our local schools.

Wings also awards a scholarship to a local graduating high school student pursuing a career in environmental or natural sciences.

Visit the Wings Over the Rockies website for more information.