MEEC’s boundaries consist of the High Desert portion of San Bernardino County, the Palo Verde Valley of Riverside County and the High Desert region of North Los Angeles County, including the cities of Lancaster and Palmdale.

Scholarship(s) will be awarded to five qualifying graduating high school senior(s) in the amount of $1,000.00 each. Recipient must attend a high school located within MEEC’s boundaries as described above. Eligible students must declare a major in Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, or other closely related Science or Engineering field.

The mission of the Mojave Environmental Education Consortium (MEEC) is to improve the environmental literacy of students, teachers and Mojave Desert communities by actively providing quality educational resources. MEEC was founded in 2001 and is the High Desert zone of the California Regional Environmental Education Community (CREEC) Network, a project of the California Department of Education.
Application Requirements
Applicants are required to provide the following:
1. A completed application form (attached)
2. Transcripts and SAT/ACT scores (unofficial copies accepted)
3. 500 word personal essay on – “My Career Goals and Why I would like a Career in the Environment, Science, or Engineering field ”
4. Application packages must be received no later than 5 PM, on April 6, 2012. Applicant packet may be mailed or dropped off at: MEEC-ATTN: Scholarship Committee, 14306 Park Ave, Victorville, CA 92392

Click Environmental Science High School Scholarship Announcement to download an application. For more information, please contact Violette Roberts, MEEC Executive Chair at (760) 245-1661 ext 6104 or email: vroberts@mdaqmd.ca.gov

This award recognizes one full-time teacher from kindergarten to eighth grade, or the U.K. equivalent, for leadership and innovation in Earth science education. The winner will receive a $2,500 prize and a travel grant of $1,000 to attend the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) Annual Conference in March 2011 to accept the award. To enter the 2012 competition, applications must be postmarked by January 10, 2012.

This award is named in honor of Dr. Edward C. Roy, Jr., a past president of AGI, who was a strong and dedicated supporter of Earth science education. To learn more, teachers should visit “Awards”.

NGWA Offers Sprinkling of Ground Water Education
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Besides advancing the expertise of ground water professionals, the National Ground Water Association (NGWA), an Earth Science Week partner, is dedicated to furthering ground water awareness and protection. NGWA offers short courses on ground water, several conferences each year, an annual ground water expo, and ground water webinars.

Check out “Ground Water Adventures,” a web site providing activities for young people in grade bands K-3, 4-8, and 9-12. Find fun facts about ground water, quizzes, and other information. Also featured are classroom experiments, an online ground water newsletter, pictures, and stories. For more information, visit “Ground Water Adventures” .

Explore ‘Evolving Worlds’ Like Earth With NASA
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NASA’s December topic for the Year of the Solar System is “Evolving Worlds.” The topic closely relates to the theme of Earth Science Week 2011, “Our Ever-Changing Earth.”

Like people, planets grow old. Over billions of years, they change. Planets can lose their atmospheres and oceans. They often gather craters. Planets cool and shrink, becoming denser as they move into their senior years.

To find events and information related to this month’s topic, as well as a wealth of classroom activities and other educational resources, visit “NASA”

AEG Promotes Environmental And Engineering Geology
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The Association of Environmental and Engineering Geologists (AEG), an AGI member society, not only provides leadership, advocacy, and applied research in environmental and engineering geology – the association also encourages educators to join and make use of its abundant resources.

Resources for members include technical publications, section and chapter meetings, and special educator sessions at the annual meeting. Opportunities for professional geologists to speak to classes are also available to members, as well as resume writing workshops and scholarships for students.

AEG also links to AGI’s K-5 GeoSource online at . K-5 GeoSource is an online professional development tool for elementary-level teachers who offer instruction on Earth science topics such as weather, fossils, rocks, soil, and water. To find out more about what AEG has to offer or become a member, visit “AGI K-5″

Smithsonian Education Digs Into Earth’s Soil
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Smithsonian Education offers a fascinating exploration of Earth’s soil with its “Dig It! The Secrets of Soil” exhibition. For information, videos, expert instruction, and activity sheets, visit “Dig It!”.

For example, a “Root Words” word-search sheet combines science and language arts with insights into the origins of related scientific terms. Download a PDF at “Smithsonian”.

NSF Offers Online Climate Change Resources
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Earth science teachers and students often examine the connections between two related topics: energy and climate. For those wishing to take a closer look at climate change, the National Science Foundation (NSF) offers a useful web site.

“Our planet’s climate affects – and is affected by – the sky, land, ice, sea, life, and people found on it. To understand the entire story of climate change,” according to the site, “we must study all of the natural and human systems that contribute to and interact with Earth’s climate system.”

Go to “NSF” to find an NSF report summarizing the current state of knowledge about climate change. The succinct format is enhanced with slideshows and videos.

Examine Critical Minerals In AGI’s New EarthNote
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What would you do without your cell phone, computer, or car? These technological marvels require dozens of elements, which come from a finite supply of minerals. In a new EarthNote, AGI looks at what makes a mineral “critical” and how a sudden loss of resources could impact the economy.

Critical minerals are defined by their dollar value, availability of substitutes, and increasing demand. Green technologies such as wind turbines and electric cars, communications technologies such as computers and cell phones, and cutting-edge military systems all depend on critical minerals. Learn more in the new EarthNote “Critical Minerals”
(http://www.agiweb.org/environment/earthnotes/note.html?PublicID=8).

SSA Resources Produce Seismic Shift in Learning
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Want to shake up education? Start with the Seismological Society of America (SSA), the international scientific association devoted to advancing seismology and applications in imaging Earth’s structure and understanding and mitigating earthquake hazards.

SSA, an AGI member society, offers a number of links to educational web sites, including geoscience activities related to seismic science and earthquakes. Sponsored by Purdue University, the site “Purdue” features seismic eruption models, wave animations, plate tectonics simulations, information on tsunamis, and much more.

SSA also offers publications, information on seismology careers, a distinguished lecturer series, and an electronic encyclopedia of earthquakes.

Is Earth Science Education At Risk in Your State?
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Many public schools have dropped Earth science from the required curriculum in recent years. Some colleges have closed geoscience departments. Employers have said they need more qualified candidates for geoscience jobs. Does your public education system ensure that all students learn important Earth science content?

AGI allows you to track the status of Earth science education nationwide. The “Pulse of Earth Science” web site, launched in connection with Earth Science Week, offers detailed, up-to-date information on geoscience education in every state, as well as guidance for advocates. View online at “Pulse of Earth Science”

NOAA Teaches Teachers About Oceans, Atmosphere
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The U.S. National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) promotes education about oceanic and atmospheric science – and not only during Earth Science Week. NOAA offers resources and opportunities for students and teachers all year long.

“NOAA’s” education site provides lesson plans, interactive activities, educational games, videos, images, scholarships, career opportunities, and detailed information on weather, climate change, oceans, and satellites. Also, look for information on NOAA’s Teacher at Sea program, which allows a K-16 teacher to serve aboard a NOAA ship as a researcher. In addition to online offerings, NOAA’s Office of Education conducts teacher development workshops throughout the year to help improve oceanic and atmospheric literacy among science teachers.

YELC is an exciting, hands-on, STEM Service Learning focused conference designed to introduce students and teachers to environmental professionals and potential careers, while encouraging the development of Service Learning Projects that improve their local environment.

School teams of two to eight students from each school along with a teacher/advisor were encouraged attend to take part in this unique, but “FREE” Conference.

The Mojave Environmental Education Consortium is pleased to announce an exciting opportunity for Grade K-12 teachers to receive a full scholarship to attend a two-day “place-based” outdoor workshop that will demonstrate to educators how to utilize arts and group facilitation to achieve more investment from students.

The Joshua Tree Desert Studies two-day workshop has been developed to infuse Environmental Education into standards based curriculum by demonstrating to teachers how to utilize concepts like exposition and sense of place to deepen and make richer the content of any lesson. Subjects such as history, literature, and science benefit from an understanding of the environment where they were formed and took place. Looking at man’s relationship with nature, and the conditions that shaped beliefs, ideas, and stories, serve to allow students to connect to material, and increase the opportunity for research and in-depth consideration of topics.

This workshop will demonstrate to teachers how to utilize arts and group facilitation to achieve more investment from students. Teachers will be instructed on, and discuss the benefits of, using digital photography, pen and ink drawing, and other media to help students comprehend concepts and retain information by making it more personal and relevant. The program will also discuss the advantages of using group presentation and facilitation to further engage students and to provide professional development in public speaking. This skill set builds capacity and self-confidence. The workshop will be conducted in both the Joshua Tree National Park and the Morongo Preserve, where teachers will experience “place-based” learning. A returning teacher from the previous year’s workshop will also provide a presentation on how they are utilizing what they learned from the workshop into their classroom.

We are pleased to have as the workshop presenter David Lamfrom, Wildlife Biologist/Photographer and California Desert Program Manager, with the National Parks Conservation Association. David is a renowned wildlife biologist and wildlife photographer who worked with students on the recently published “Tortoise through the Lens” program. Also invited are presenters to instruct the attendees on how to capture wildlife using pen, ink, or pencil mediums, and other guests presenting artistic disciplines that translate well into classrooms.

(15) Teacher Scholarships will be awarded to attend a two-day, overnight training session at both Joshua Tree National Park and the Big Morongo Preserve. Scholarships include all meals, lodging, curriculum materials, a $50.00 transportation stipend, and an autographed copy of David Lamfrom’s “Tortoise through the Lens” book. Attendees will need to bring their own camera to use during the workshop. This year, the workshop recipients will be staying in Yucca Valley at the new Best Western, where each participant will have their own deluxe king-size room. Dinner will be at the fun, unique, and historic “Harriet and Pappy’s “in historic Pioneer Town.
Click here to download the “Scholarship Application”

Workshops will include “Running on Renewables”, an energy-based workshop providing educators with the tools and resources to bring the ever-changing world of energy into their classrooms via energy kits and curriculum; “Desert Studies Photography” scholarship workshop, where (16) teachers will spend a day and a half in the Joshua Tree National Park and Morongo Preserve with wildlife photographers and biologists exploring nature and learning how to bring the outdoors inside through photography; and two new workshops, “STEM (Science, Technology, Education, and Math) Service Learning 101″, a resource workshop which will provide educators with the resources and tools necessary to bring STEM Service Learning into their classrooms and schools; and “Marine Ecology” scholarship opportunity for 16 educators to attend a three-day overnight place-based learning experience on Catalina Island.

These workshops are limited to educators. Announcements for these workshops will be available begining in December 2011.

“Boeing’s Grant allows MEEC to expand its services to teachers all over our jurisdiction, especially those in outlying areas”, commented Violette Roberts, MEEC’s Executive Board Chair. “We are truely grateful to Boeing for their commitment to High Desert communities and EE.”

MEEC is now providing up to $250.00 to students who wish to start a school environmental club. One-time award per school. Certain exceptions may apply. This remains one of MEEC’s long term goals to see environmental clubs established on every campus throughout the High Desert. Limited funds available.

To apply for grant funds, applicants should compose a brief letter containing the following information: The name of the club; the club’s mission statement; a brief description of an environmental project the club is considering undertaking or already has in place; a list of club officers and members (clubs must have at least three [3] student members) along with their contact information; club advisor’s name and contact information (mailing address & phone number). Special considerations are given to clubs with members who have previously attended MEEC’s Annual Youth Environmental Leadership Conference.

Send request letters to: MEEC ATTN: C.Wray, 14306 Park Avenue, Victorville, CA. 92392. Letters may also be faxed to (760) 241-6271. For more information, call (760) 245-1661 ext. 6717 or email: cwray@mdaqmd.ca.gov .

Each participating teacher will receive a kit that contains a fuel cell car kit, a “Parts Per Million (PPM) Jar, curriculum lessons and a DVD with downloadable activities from the new Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District’s “The Adventures of Parti & Ozi” an engaging combination live action/animated lesson plan series, which is designed to help connect students to the actual size of particulate matter and understand other pollutants they might possibly be exposed to, and how their density and concentration can dramatically impact their world.

This workshop is being offered at FOUR locations throughout the Mojave Desert
Time is the same at all locations: 4:00PM– 7:00PM

September 8, 2011 – Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District
14306 Park Ave, Victorville, CA 92392

September 22, 2011 – Antelope Valley Air Quality Management District Offices,
43301 Division Street, Suite 206, Lancaster, CA 93535

October 6, 2011 – Bell Center, Copper Mountain College,
6162 Rotary Way, Joshua Tree Ca 922252

October 18, 2011 – Staff Development Center, Barstow USD Offices
551 S. Avenue H, Barstow, CA 92311

These workshops are limited to 25 teachers per location so early sign up is recommended.

These workshops are limited to EDUCATORS only please.

To “Register” for a workshop in your area, please call: Christie Robinson, MEEC Program Specialist at (760) 245-1661 x6101 or email christier@mdaqmd.ca.gov