Go Maryland!

If you haven’t heard, USEE has been hard at work on creating an environmental literacy plan to be implemented in Utah’s schools. A recent article posted by the Maryland No Child Left Inside Coalition shows that Utah is not the only state that shares this passion and driving force for environmental literacy. Maryland has recently become the first state to require that each student be environmentally literate before he or she graduates high school. This is the first state to pass an environmental literacy graduation requirement.

Through the board vote, now any state with a strong environmental literacy plan has the potential to receive federal funding. The No Child Left Inside Act, which is to soon be reintroduced in Congress will additionally provide some federal funding and help states obtain resources for staff training in environmental education.

Schools tend to fall behind in the environmental movement because they are so focused on hard science and math test scores. However, studies show that environmental education has a a strong positive impact on student achievement in science, math, reading, and social studies. It is no surprise that students with a base of environmental knowledge will lead healthier lives. Maryland’s Governor O’Malley states, “Only through exposure to nature and education about our fragile ecosystem can we create the next generation of stewards.”

Congratulations to the state of Maryland and may we be not far behind!!

Get the full article here

Scribbles from the Mommy Intern - Homemade Compass

Hey it's Crystal here with Scribbles from the Mommy Intern.

I am always looking for ways to impress my kids or the other kids at the park or in my neighborhood, especially when it has nothing to do with technology or the numerous plastic toys that seem to multiply on their own. I always revert back to my childhood when climbing the trees, make-believing and simple things kept us playing throughout the long summer days. I found this compass that anyone can do with a stick, some rocks and the sun over on the blog Outside Mom, which is an amazing blog that helps you remember how awesome the outdoors are!

Check out her series called “30ish Ways to Use a Stick” where she will add more uses throughout the year and inspire you to love the outdoors even more!

Outside Mom is run by former USEE staff Lindsey Wilson. Thanks for the great work Lindsey!

Spinning the Old "Road Trip"

With the Clear the Air Challenge in full swing, many Utahans have been cutting down on their gas miles by replacing their traditional car runs with biking. Overall, biking has increased in popularity in the United States. Now standing as the seventh most popular recreational activity, people are realizing the physical, environmental, and economical benefits of biking for recreation and transportation.

This increased popularity has generated an effort to build a cross country biking 'highway'. The U.S. Bicycle Route System (USBRS) was actually started in the early 1980's with routes planned from Maine to Florida and Virginia to Oregon, however, the hype of this project was lost soon after and the routes were never finished.

Recently, however, the Association of Transportation Officials (AASHTO) has picked up this project again and approved six new routes in the states of Maine, New Hampshire, Michigan, and Alaska. They have also created a map of "prioritized corridors" to be developed as soon as other states get on board. The goal is to have a network of connected routes spanning the U.S. That could give a whole new meaning for the classic American cross country road trip!

In Utah, volunteers from the Utah Bike Coalition are working with the Utah Department of Transportation to develop routes to link with neighboring states. For more information or to volunteer for the project in Utah visit the UDOT Walking and Biking website.

From the (e)Mailbox Reminder: Ogden Summer Concert Series

Looking for something to do this week? Check out Ogden Nature Center's Summer Concert Series.

Matt Flinner Trio
Thursday, June 30 at 7 pm
Cost: $17 adults / $10 children (12 and under)
Matt Flinner has made a career out of playing acoustic music in new ways. Starting out as a banjo prodigy who was playing bluegrass festivals before he entered his teens, Flinner later took up the mandolin, won the National Banjo Competition in Winfield, KS in 1990, and won the mandolin award there the following year. Matt moved to Nashville in 1999 and is now widely considered one of the hottest and most creative mandolin players on the acoustic scene. He actively tours in the Matt Flinner Trio. Much of their music has been written with the backdrop of the Rockies as inspiration. The Matt Flinner Trio sets a new standard for the bluegrass trio configuration. For tickets and information visit www.ogdennaturecenter.org or call 801-621-7595.

All concerts begin at 7 pm with gates opening at 6 pm. Concerts are general admission lawn seating. Low-rise chairs, picnics, beverages and blankets are welcome All concerts will be held rain or shine and tickets are nonrefundable.

Tickets are available online at www.ogdennaturecenter.org , by phone at 801-621-7595 or in person at 966 W. 12th Street, Ogden.

Plane, Train, Energy Gain?

This month's Clear the Air Challenge has got many Utahans thinking about energy efficient transportation. At the USEE office, many of us have been biking or long boarding to work and carpooling to events.

When your destination isn't in biking distance, however, you have to battle with other forms of mass transportation such as buses and planes. Ever wonder how these other forms of transportation measure up? Check out this graphic from GOOD.is.


It compares the efficiency of transportation modes in terms of energy per mile per passenger and fuel consumption.

So how will you be getting to grandma's house??

More Local than "Local"

Can't help but feel excited and giddy about the Downtown Farmer's Market opening? Or how about local farmers markets in Murray or Sugar House coming up in the summer months? I know I look forward to shopping for the healthiest fresh produce and get a humbled feeling knowing that it came from right here in Utah.

Here's an idea if you too love the idea of local food. Why not start your own garden? What could be more local than that? Not only would you know EXACTLY where your food came from, but you could also have control over what and how much you want to grow. In the article "Messy Gardening for Food and Fun", Julia Parslow, an educator, working mom, gardener and knitter living and working in southern Utah, explains that the important thing is having a garden that fits you and your family, not how exact the rows are. For her, having a garden means having the freedom to plant as much or as little of any kind of food her and her family desire! That seems like a sweet deal to me.

How's that for playing with your food?

No Impact

Hello All,

I wanted to share with you my excitement for my new summer read that is not only entertaining but honestly life changing. The book is called "No Impact Man-The adventures of a guilty liberal who attempts to save the planet and the discoveries he makes about himself and our way of life in the process" by Colin Beavan.

The book is about Beavan's project to live a year with no environmental impact. He goes through the year in stages by eliminating waste, motorized transportation, non-seasonal or local food, and electricity. Oh and I forgot to mention that he lives in the middle of NYC! To most of us in the western world, a project like this seems impossible and not very attractive, however, the things Beavan learns about himself, his family, and our culture, surprisingly or not so surprisingly, bring a sort of happiness that can not even size up to receiving this years newest gadgets.

There is an irreplaceable happiness that comes from spending time with family and friends, exercising, eating well, and knowing that you are helping the world around you. This book explains the hardships that Beavan and his family have to work through and he admits that it isn't always easy, but the intimacy that he finds with his family and new people he meets seems to make the project well worth it.

During the project Beavan started his blog. Here, you can look through the archives to see the challenges he and his family faced and how the project has impacted his life in the long run. There's also tips of little things you can do to decrease your environmental impact and even links for educators for an Environmental Education program!

There are also links on the website to try the experiment yourself for just one week! I know our lives are busy and we live for the conveniences such as bottled water, imported food, and of course how would we life without electricity?! However, I think it would be more than worth it to give up one week of our entire lives to try to live impact free. You can view the short, inspiring video clip here.

Truly just reading the book has given me a different perspective on how much we use and waste in a day. I take a second to think about how many times I throw something in the trash can or flip the switch to turn a light on. I hope you'll take a look at the blog, read the book, or watch the movie. I think it's a great perspective for everyone to be aware of, especially in our wasteful society. I hope it changes your outlook like it did mine and might inspire you to try it for a week on your own! Let us know!

Maria

From the (e) Mailbox: Red Butte Garden Workshops

NATIVE BEES
JUNE 25, SATURDAY
9:00 AM - NOON

Native bees are highly effective pollinators for fruit trees, berry bushes, and vegetables gardens. Yields increase when they are present and are delightful to watch among the flowers. This class is an introduction to native bees and how to build a simple wood nest house. Learn about the different native bees in your neighborhood, what to grow that will attract them to your yard, and how to build a bee friendly house, and how to look after your resident bees. Instructions and materials list for building a bee house will be available, as well as few complete bee houses for sale.
REGULAR GARDEN ADMISSION/MEMBERS FREE
REGISTRATION REQUIRED
Register Now
MEMBERS, to register please call (801) 581-8454

From the (e)Mailbox: It's Chicken Week!

June 18th - June 25th is Wasatch Community Gardens' Chicken Week. Chicken Week is an opportunity for Wasatch Community Gardens and the Salt Lake City community to celebrate the joy of urban "eggriculture." Sign-up for multiple chicken week events for a week of fun, or come to one or both of the tours to see chicken keeping in action. There are discounts available for signing up for both tours.

Visit Wasatch Community Gardens website for more information about CHICKEN WEEK and to get all of the event details!

Editor's note: Are you curious what USEE's Executive Director's back yard looks like? Of course you are. If so, attend the Tour de Coops! You'll get to see Andree's 5 chickens too. :)

Scribbles from the Mommy Intern

Hi, my name is Crystal, and I am an intern with USEE. I am a mother of 2 and would like to lend a mom's perspective to the Green Fork Blog as I learn about all the great stuff going on in Utah. Watch for my posts labeled "Scribbles from the Mommy Intern."

I am always looking for something to do with my kids during the summer and when it gets us outdoors it's even better! Red Butte Garden has many summer activities to keep a family busy and outdoors but this one sparked my eye... What could be better Stars, S'mores and Camping!

Seasonal Family Fun Sunset, Stories, Stars and S'more: A Camping Adventure in the Garden
Friday, July 8 - Saturday, July 9, 5:30 pm - 8:30 am OR Friday, July 29 - Saturday, July 30, 5:30 pm - 8:30 am

Bring your tent, camping gear and a picnic dinner for an unbelievable night in the Garden! This overnight camp out will include games, storytelling, a sunset hike, s'mores and a star party with the Clark Planetarium. We'll provide a scrumptious flapjack breakfast Saturday morning for all participants.

Gates open at 5:30 pm; programming begins at 7 pm. All ages event. Registration required and space is limited to 120 participants.

MEMBERS $20/person*
NON-MEMBERS $25/person*

*Children under the age of 3 do not need a ticket to this event.

Reconnecting with Nature: Richard Louv and Friends Live Web Event June 16

Orion Magazine Presents: Reconnecting with Nature: Richard Louv and Friends Live Web Event June 16

As summer begins and thoughts turn to time spent outdoors, please plan to join Orion writers Richard Louv and David Sobel, national experts on reconnecting ourselves and kids with nature, for a discussion of Louv's The Nature Principle and Sobel's Wild Play, on June 16th at 7 p.m. (EDT). They will be joined by filmmaker Camilla Rockwell whose new documentary film, Mother Nature's Child, is opening minds regarding our powerful connection to nature developed over millennia.

What do we risk as a result of our societal disconnect with nature? What is our responsibility to our kids in this regard? Don't miss this unique opportunity to reset your assumptions about the hows and whys of immersing ourselves in the natural world, and to ask these experts your own questions.

The event will be moderated by Orion staff and is free, but registration is required.

Event Details:
DATE: Thursday June 16th, 2011
TIME: 7:00 PM EDT
DURATION: 1 Hour
Hosted By Erik Hoffner

Presenters:

Richard Louv

Richard Louv is the author of Last Child in the Woods and The Nature Principle, is founding chairman of Children & Nature Network, and recipient of the 2008 Audubon Medal. He lives in San Diego. Read his articles for Orion here, and learn more about him at http://www.richardlouv.com.


David Sobel

David Sobel is an education writer who has helped develop the philosophy of place-based education. He has written extensively on the topic, and is the author of Place-Based Education: Connecting Classrooms and Communities, a key volume in Orion's Nature Literacy Series of books. He teaches at Antioch University in Keene, NH.


Camilla Rockwell

Camilla Rockwell worked with filmmaker Ken Burns on nine of his PBS programs and series from The Shakers: Hand to Work, Hearts to God (1983) to Thomas Jefferson (co-producer, 1997). She directed and co-produced Mother Nature's Child, a film that author Tom Wessels has said "all parents and educators should see."

Clear the Air Challenge

Hey all, Isaac here.

In case you haven't heard, I thought I'd let you know about the Clear the Air Challenge.

The Clear the Air Challenge is a month long challenge that gives participants a chance to see how much they can reduce their vehicle emissions by utilizing other travel options such as walking, biking, carpooling, and public transit.

It started yesterday, Monday June 13th, but don't worry you can join in any time throughout the challenge. Oh, and did I mention there are prizes for the biggest reducers? So go on and check it out. You can register as an individual, a team, or a company. You can bet that USEE is in! And remember, if you don't get the chance to register, you can still reduce your emissions by giving other types of transportation a chance. Who knows, you might find that biking or walking to work is really enjoyable!

Looking for something to do with Dad...

Check out this Garden Adventure at Red Butte Garden this weekend...


Nature Dads
Saturday, June 18
10 - 11:30 am
June 19th is Father’s Day! Help us celebrate this important holiday as we learn about male birds, mammals and plants that play an important role in caring for their young. Feel free to bring your dad to the class for some special bonding time of your own!
Register Now

Garden Adventures are Saturday kids’ classes held semimonthly. Classes start promptly at 10am in Em’s Sprout House and registration is required. Ages 4-12 are welcome with a caregiver. Limit one caregiver per participant (registration not required for caregiver). No infants please.

Members: $7
Non-Members: $9

Register on Red Butte's website or by calling (801) 581-8454. Space is limited to 25 participants.

All You Can't Eat

USEE strives to be zero-waste at all of our events and workshops. We recently discovered a wonderful company called EcoScraps. Read on below...


Ever wonder what happens to all the food that you can't eat at an all-you-can-eat buffet? American's generate 30 million tons of food waste each year. This troubling information inspired Daniel Blake and his partners to start dumpster diving behind Provo restaurants to save food waste and turn it into organic (and eatable!) compost. Their efforts have grown and facilitated the creation of EcoScraps, a company aimed at creating and selling organic compost while maintaining a mission of environmental responsibility.


EcoScraps collects raw materials from grocers, produce wholesalers, and waste hauling companies. Workers sort the material, add a mixture minerals and other ingredients and cook it together to create organic compost. EcoScraps has facilities in Provo, and Salt Lake City and has already expanded into Arizona and Oregon after only a year of operation. At the Salt Lake facility 10 to 15 tons of produce waste is processed each day! Blake estimates that one bag of compost is equal to the carbon offset of parking your car for a whole week.

Check out more about EcoScraps at www.ecoscraps.net

(Adapted from "Rot Me Baby" by Tiffin Brough in edible Wasatch)

No Child Left Inside Week

If you've been following our Face Book and Twitter, you'd know that this week is officially No Child Left Inside Week as declared by Governor Herbert. Check out the pictures at the declaration signing below as well as the actual declaration itself. Click here for a pdf.

Governor Herbert signing the Declaration with a group of kids looking on.

Governor Herbert and a group of folks in Utah who work to forward
Environmental Education and getting kids outside!

A big thanks to Jack Green, Sadie Enright and Brad Armstrong of the Cache Valley No Child Left Inside Coalition as well as Representative Jack Draxler for pushing this through!

From the (e)Mailbox: Bee Keeping and Pollinators Workshop

Date & Time: 6/11/11 - 10:00am - 12:00pm
Click here to register now!
Location:
Day Riverside Library
1575 W 1000 N, SLC

Have you been wanting to attract more pollinators to your yard? Have you been interested in bee keeping, but don't know where to start? Then celebrate National Pollinator Month with Wasatch Community Gardens, Tree Utah, and Annette and Aaron Hansen from Hansen Hives by attending an exciting workshop all about pollinators. Learn the basics of pollinator attracting, bee keeping and honey harvesting, and why bees and pollinators are important parts of every garden's ecosystem.

Registration Required.

Hunger Has No Summer Break

1 in 7 Utah children are at risk of hunger. Many children rely on breakfast and lunch programs that are available during the school year, but only about 20% of the 16 million children who receive free or reduce priced school lunches receive any food services during the summer months.

The Summer Food Service Program provides free, nutritious meals and snacks to children in need throughout the summer. The program is targeted to low-income children who aren't receiving adequate nutrition when school is not in session. The Summer Food Service Program is aimed at offering nutritionally balanced, high quality meals. It has been on the rise since it's creation as part of a larger pilot program in 1968. Now administered by the Food and Nutrition Service agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Summer Food Service Program has achieved in providing more than 2.2 million children with nutritious meals during the summer.

The Summer Food Service Program provides opportunities to volunteer, sponsor a program, or become a vendor, but apart from all of that they need help to spread the word to organizations in the community, congressional representatives, and local government authorities. For more information, visit summerfood.usda.gov or call 703-305-2286.


(Adapted from "Summer Solutions to Child Hunger by Alison Einerson in edible Wasatch).

15th Annual Benefit Bash

USEE is putting on it's 15th annual Benefit Bash! Held at the Ladies' Literary Club on September 23 from 6-9, it's sure to be a good time. The theme.... the Autumnal Equinox. The Benefit Bash is held each year to to celebrate environmental education and to bring together USEE board and staff with members of the community to further promote and recognize the importance of environmental education. Funds

generated will ensure that USEE is able to continue it's ongoing push for high-quality environmental education in Utah. Festivities at the bash include a silent auction, live auction, good food, live music, and mingling with lots of interesting people. Items auctioned are donated from various local business including Red Butte Garden, Momentum Climbing Gym, Acorn Naturalists and much much more. Don't miss it!

From the (e)Mailbox: 15 years of EE support

USEE, as well as many state organizations throughout North America, have benefited from the work of The Environmental Education and Training Partnership. Check out the stats below and then read more about USEE's involvement in the formal article here.

The Environmental Education and Training Partnership (EETAP) achieved impressive numbers: between 1995 and 2011, EETAP programs reached 2.5 million education professionals and over 31 million individuals across the country. By any measure, it’s an enormous accomplishment, and there’s no question that EETAP’s influence on the EE profession has been felt far and wide.

Within those numbers—beyond the outcomes and outputs listed on the logic models —are many incredible stories of change and growth. These stories reflect EETAP’s success in cultivating leadership, reaching new people, providing training and resources, and literally changing lives.

Look back at EETAP’s tenure through the lens of individuals and organizations that benefited from EETAP-sponsored programs. Some took unexpected journeys, dramatically changing the way they teach or stepping into new leadership roles. Others found resources to support their movement along a planned path, perhaps to diversifying their audiences or increasing their capacity to serve their memberships. All were part of a carefully conceived strategy that has changed the field of environmental education in profound and exciting ways.

Read the full article here.

2011 Environmental Education Conference - Preliminary Survey

Preparations are underway for the 22nd Annual Environmental Education Conference, so mark your calendars for October 6-8, 2011 and come join us at the Ogden Nature Centerin Ogden, UT. To make the conference everything you could dream and more, USEE is looking for your input, so please, follow the link and answer a few questions so that we can assess your desires at this year's conference. It takes less than five minutes and it's important to us that the conference meets your needs and reflects your
interests.

To sweeten the deal, all participants who take the survey will be entered into a drawing for free registration at the conference. The closing date for this drawing is Friday, June 10th, so be sure to submit it by then.

For more information about the conference, go check out the conference page of the website.

Click to take the survey

for your chance to win