Community Calendar

May through August iNaturalist bioblitz

Diana fritillary (Speyeria diana) aka (Argynnis diana) is the Arkansas state butterfly since 2007 after the U.S. Forest Service deemed it “a species of conservation concern throughout its range” in 2006. The species is now considered endangered by the Xerces Society on the “red list” and Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission says she is an “imperiled species of special concern”. It has never been officially sited and reported to iNaturalist in Northwest Arkansas although the region is part of the species historic range. Is it truly endangered? Is it gone from this area? “The Diana Project” hopes to provide scientific quality data from this bioblitz to identify the existence and numbers of the species, or lack of same, anywhere north of I-40 in Arkansas from May 1 through August 1, 2023.

Arkansas, north of I-40 preferred

Registration: Registration and participation is through iNaturalist and is free
www.inaturalist.org/projects/the-diana-project-2023?tab=about

Contact:

Shawn Hunter

citizensciencenwa@gmail.com

479.238.3195

SAVE THE DATE

Join AEEA and the Arkansas Master Naturalists for two days of interactive, interesting, and fun professional development. More details coming soon.

For more details and registration, see the conference page.

With Authors, Elder Albert D. Marshall and Louise Zimanyi

Elder Albert D. Marshall is an Honorary Doctor of Letters and Mi’kmaw Spiritual Leader from the Moose Clan of the Mi’kmaq Nation in Eskasoni, Unama’ki (Cape Breton, Nova Scotia). He has been working to advance the concept of Two-Eyed Seeing and is a respected and influential environmental voice in Unama’ki.

Louise Zimanyi, who is of French-Canadian and Hungarian descent, lives as a guest in Tkaronto/Toronto, Treaty 13 territory.  As a professor and researcher, she is co-learning from and with the Land and wise teachers, co-transforming early childhood pedagogy and practice. They co-wrote ‘Walking Together”, an innovative picture book that introduces readers to the concept of Etuaptmumk – or Two-Eyed Seeing, the gift of multiple perspectives in the Mi’kmaw language – as it follows a group of young children connecting to nature as their teacher.

Elder Albert and Louise will read from and talk about the book, sharing how braiding the strengths of Indigenous and non-Indigenous perspectives together can inspire everyone to nurture respectful, reciprocal, responsible relationships with the Land and Water, plant-life, animals and other-than-human beings for the benefit of all.

REGISTER HERE

This year marks the 30th Anniversary of Arkansas’s Teacher Conservation Tour (TCT). The Arkansas Forestry Association Education Foundation (AFAEF), along with partners from our forestry community including forestry professionals, timber producers and forest products manufacturers from across the state have been providing this professional development workshop for educators since 1993. The TCT has become one of the premier professional development opportunities for licensed educators and the only forestry-specific workshop in the state.

Ever wonder what kind of tree that is… How tall a tree is… How old a tree is… or How many trees there are per acre?

Join Project Learning Tree for this fun, hands-on, interactive 2-day STEM workshop focusing on tree ID, basic forestry techniques, sustainable forestry practices, tree pests and disease, and age and growth analysis – plus so much more!!! This workshop is for anyone interested in learning about – or taking a refresher on – basic tree and forestry knowledge.

Click HERE to see the flyer for more information and a link to register.

Please contact Rob Beadel at rbeadel@arkforests.org with any questions.

With Educators Charlotte Soles, Bridget O’Malley and Publisher Qwultultun – Robert Goldsmith

Join educators Charlotte and Bridget as they share how they utilise puppets including Indigenous designed finger puppets to animate outdoor learning in their teaching practice. Also joining us is Qwultultun – Robert from Strong Nations, an Indigenous owned and operated publishing house, Robert will introduce the workshop and share about why Indigenous resources are so vital to land-based learning.

This workshop will be full of animal facts and fun that will have you lining up to produce your own in class puppet show!

All registrants will be entered to win some great draw prizes! Following the workshop, you will receive a discount link to the resources shared, the recording, and access to your Certificate of Attendance.

Indigenous Finger Puppets, designed by Indigenous artist, Bill Helin (Tsimshian (Ts’msysen); Tlingit) that will be featured in the workshop, you can get yours here:

Indigenous Finger Puppet Animal Set

REGISTER HERE

Learn how water impacts the world through these hands-on activities. Nationally acclaimed for providing quality formal and non-formal education experiences for youth, Project WET resources help cultivate an awareness of conservation education in fun and easy science lessons.

Participants will receive curriculum guide with activities.

Project WET
Inspire students to respect our precious water resources and to understand the importance of sound water management and their personal commitment to environmental protection.

This workshop qualifies for sixt hours of ADE-approved professional development.

Workshop will be 8:30 am – 3:30 pm

Cost: $50

Registration

Receive training on two nationally recognized environmental education programs in one day and get six hours of professional development. Participants receive two curriculum guides full of hundreds of hands-on activities correlated to education frameworks.

Project WILD – bring the wonders of wildlife into your classroom while teaching students about Arkansas’s natural environment. Project WILD is an international award-winning program for educators, designed to teach students of all ages about wildlife and the environment.

Project WET – Inspire students to respect our precious water resources and to understand the importance of sound water management and their personal commitment to environmental protection.

Arkansas Department of Education approved 6 hour professional development training.

The workshop is free but per-registration is required.

About the Location:

Wilson Water Treatment Plant
338 Pleasant Valley Drive
Little Rock, AR

REGISTER HERE

Cancellation Policies
You must cancel your registration before Wednesday, June 21 at 8:30 am.

This year marks the 30th Anniversary of Arkansas’s Teacher Conservation Tour (TCT). The Arkansas Forestry Association Education Foundation (AFAEF), along with partners from the forestry community including forestry professionals, timber producers and forest products manufacturers from across the state have been providing this professional development workshop for educators since 1993. The TCT has become one of the premier professional development opportunities for licensed educators and the only forestry-specific workshop in the state.

Urban forests help filter air and water, control storm water, conserve energy, and provide animal habitat and shade. They add beauty, form, and structure to urban design. By reducing noise and providing places to recreate, urban forests strengthen social cohesion, spur community revitalization, and add economic value to our communities.

Join Project Learning Tree for this fun, hands-on, interactive 2-day STEM workshop focusing on urban forests, tree health, green infrastructure, and the benefits these unique ecosystems provide to us and our communities.

Click HERE to see the flyer for more information and a link to register.

Please contact Rob Beadel at rbeadel@arkforests.org with any questions.

May through August iNaturalist bioblitz

Diana fritillary (Speyeria diana) aka (Argynnis diana) is the Arkansas state butterfly since 2007 after the U.S. Forest Service deemed it “a species of conservation concern throughout its range” in 2006. The species is now considered endangered by the Xerces Society on the “red list” and Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission says she is an “imperiled species of special concern”. It has never been officially sited and reported to iNaturalist in Northwest Arkansas although the region is part of the species historic range. Is it truly endangered? Is it gone from this area? “The Diana Project” hopes to provide scientific quality data from this bioblitz to identify the existence and numbers of the species, or lack of same, anywhere north of I-40 in Arkansas from May 1 through August 1, 2023.

Arkansas, north of I-40 preferred

Registration: Registration and participation is through iNaturalist and is free
www.inaturalist.org/projects/the-diana-project-2023?tab=about

Contact:

Shawn Hunter

citizensciencenwa@gmail.com

479.238.3195

Receive training on three nationally recognized environmental education programs that focus on hands-on activities connecting children to nature and increasing their awareness and knowledge about our natural world. Teachers and non-formal educators can easily integrate these activities into their classrooms and educational programs. Participants will receive three activity guides and six hours of ADE-approved professional development.

Project WILD
Bring the wonders of wildlife into your classroom while teaching students about Arkansas’s natural environment. Project WILD is an international award-winning program for educators, designed
to teach students of all ages about wildlife and the environment.

Project Learning Tree
Help your students learn about natural and created environment, and understand their roles and responsibilities.

Project WET
Inspire students to respect our precious water resources and to understand the importance of sound water management and their personal commitment to environmental protection.

This workshop qualifies for six hours of ADE-approved professional development.

Cost: $30 materials fee for general public or $25 for AEEA members.

See the Ozark Natural Science Center website for details and registration.

This collaborative session between the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission, Arkansas Forestry Association Education Foundation, and the Arkansas Environmental Education Association will bring you an overview of each of these outstanding outdoor education programs. You will enhance your teaching skills and become comfortable teaching outdoors. Learn how to help your students make sense of the natural world through hands-on experiences they will remember. Participants in the Project WET, Project Learning Tree, and Project WILD professional development sessions will receive valuable teaching resources and materials. Grades K – 12 

Participants will receive curriculum guides with over 200 lessons.

Project WILD
Bring the wonders of wildlife into your classroom while teaching students about Arkansas’s natural environment. Project WILD is an international award-winning program for educators, designed
to teach students of all ages about wildlife and the environment.

Project Learning Tree
Help your students learn about natural and created environment, and understand their roles and responsibilities.

Project WET
Inspire students to respect our precious water resources and to understand the importance of sound water management and their personal commitment to environmental protection.

This workshop qualifies for six hours of ADE-approved professional development.

Registration

Project Learning Tree, Project Wet, and Project WILD are environmental education programs for anyone who teaches grades K-8. Children learn how to think, but not what to think, about our complex environment, discover how subjects and skills taught in the classroom relate to the world around them, develop skills in creative problem solving, critical thinking, evaluation, and research, and have fun while learning.

Participants will receive curriculum guides with over 200 lessons.

Project WILD
Bring the wonders of wildlife into your classroom while teaching students about Arkansas’s natural environment. Project WILD is an international award-winning program for educators, designed
to teach students of all ages about wildlife and the environment.

Project Learning Tree
Help your students learn about natural and created environment, and understand their roles and responsibilities.

Project WET
Inspire students to respect our precious water resources and to understand the importance of sound water management and their personal commitment to environmental protection.

This workshop qualifies for six hours of ADE-approved professional development.

Cost: $0

Registration

Project WET’s hands-on, science-based Climate, Water & Resilience curriculum helps educators feel confident addressing climate change in the classroom and beyond. Aligned with Common Core and NGSS standards, this program guides teachers and students through nine engaging activities that empower them to combat climate change and build a more resilient future. The curriculum covers a wide variety of phenomena encompassed by climate change, including weather vs. climate, the greenhouse effect, sea-level rise, ocean acidification, soil moisture and agriculture, freeze-thaw cycles, aquatic invasive species, shared water resources, and waterborne disease.

Participants will receive curriculum guide with activities.

Project WET
Inspire students to respect our precious water resources and to understand the importance of sound water management and their personal commitment to environmental protection.

This workshop qualifies for three hours of ADE-approved professional development.

Workshop will be 8:30 – 11:30 am.

Cost: $0

Registration

May through August iNaturalist bioblitz

Diana fritillary (Speyeria diana) aka (Argynnis diana) is the Arkansas state butterfly since 2007 after the U.S. Forest Service deemed it “a species of conservation concern throughout its range” in 2006. The species is now considered endangered by the Xerces Society on the “red list” and Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission says she is an “imperiled species of special concern”. It has never been officially sited and reported to iNaturalist in Northwest Arkansas although the region is part of the species historic range. Is it truly endangered? Is it gone from this area? “The Diana Project” hopes to provide scientific quality data from this bioblitz to identify the existence and numbers of the species, or lack of same, anywhere north of I-40 in Arkansas from May 1 through August 1, 2023.

Arkansas, north of I-40 preferred

Registration: Registration and participation is through iNaturalist and is free
www.inaturalist.org/projects/the-diana-project-2023?tab=about

Contact:

Shawn Hunter

citizensciencenwa@gmail.com

479.238.3195

More conference details in the coming weeks and months. Visit the ARC website www.recycleark.org  for updates.

For questions contact Cherie O’Mary at mail@recycleark.org