The Mojave Environmental Education Consortium is pleased to announce an exciting opportunity for (10) Grade K-12 teachers to receive a full scholarship to attend a two-day “place-based” outdoor workshop, Saturday, November 6, 2010 & Sunday November 7, 2010. This workshop is funded by the a grant from the Boeing Company.

Teachers will stay in a private residence at the Joshua Tree Retreat Center, and will work directly in the field with wildlife biologist/photographer David Lamfrom. The workshop will demonstrate to teachers how to utilize concepts like exposition and sense of place to deepen and make richer the content of any lesson. Teachers will be instructed on, and discuss the benefits of, using digital photography, pen and ink drawing, 3-D modeling, sculpture, and other media to help students comprehend concepts and retain information by making it more personal and relevant. The workshop will take place in both Joshua Tree National Park and the Morongo Preserve over the two days. All meals, tuition, and lodging are covered, as well as a $25.00 transportation stipend. The Joshua Tree Desert Studies Workshop Scholarship announcement will go out to all teachers via email the end of September, so be sure to look for the email announcement. This is a competitive scholarship application.

“Solar Energy 101″ is a FREE two hour workshop presented by MEEC Sponsor Abengoa Solar, which will present the varieties and uses of solar energy. This will include descriptions of both PV and solar thermal systems and a special emphasis on the solar thermal power plants both in the area and planned for construction near here. This workshop is being offered on September 23, 2010, from 4:00 – 6:00PM, and is being held at the Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District Office in Victorville. Seating is limited to 45. Early signup is recommended. To register for the workshop, please contact Christie Robinson, MEEC Program Specialist at (760) 245-1661 x 6101 or email: christier@mdaqmd.ca.gov

Begining in September, MEEC is offering several FREE and exciting new teacher workshops for our members in addition to our sponsor workshops. The first scheduled workshop is hosted by MEEC Sponsor Abengoa Solar. Three other workshops offered are hosted by our Boeing sponsor and will take place at different locations throughout the High Desert. A very limited, but very special, workshop will be offered in November, and will be limited to (10) teachers.

“Solar Energy 101″ is a two hour workshop presented by MEEC Sponsor Abengoa Solar, which will present the varieties and uses of solar energy. This will include descriptions of both PV and solar thermal systems and a special emphasis on the solar thermal power plants both in the area and planned for construction near here. This workshop is being offered on September 23, 2010, from 4:00 – 6:00PM, and is being held at the Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District Office in Victorville. Seating is limited to 45. Early signup is recommended. To register for this workshop please contact Christie Robinson, MEEC Program Specialist at (760) 245-1661 x 6101 or email: christier@mdaqmd.ca.gov

Project Learning Tree “Energy & Society”: This fun, 3-hour workshop will provide teachers PreK-8 with new tools and activities which are designed to help you teach your students about their relationship with energy and how to investigate the environmental issues related to energy’s role in society. Each teacher that attends the workshop will receive a FREE Project Learning Tree “Society & Energy” activity kit (includes activity guide, music CD, video, and posters, valued at $40)!! PLT’s “Energy & Society” Program kit helps students develop critical thinking skills to make decisions about their personal energy use. In addition to hands-on activities, “Energy & Society” integrates music and dance to enhance the study of energy issues and correlations to the California Science Standards. Three workshops will be offered in the following areas; Antelope Valley, Morongo Basin, and Needles. Limited to (20) teachers at each workshop location. Dates to be announced.

“Clean Air” Workshops: This fun and informative workshop is a hands-on training session for teachers. The new MDAQMD “Ozi & Parti” Curriculum will be introduced. Four standards-based air quality lesson plans designed for middle through high school students will be included on a CD. Lesson objectives include understanding the density of air and the causes and effects of ozone. Students can also create their own statistics about recycling in their classroom and design ways to make a concrete contribution in the fight against air pollution. A fuel cell car kit, lab supplies, and standards-based activity lessons will also be included in the FREE $150.00 kit that each attending teacher will receive. Three workshops will be offered in the following areas; Victorville, Antelope Valley, and Barstow. Limited to (10) teachers at each workshop location. Dates to be announced.

Joshua Tree Desert Studies Workshop Scholarship. (10) Scholarships will be awarded for this two-day learning experience (Saturday 11/6 & Sunday 11/7). Teachers will stay in a private residence at the Joshua Tree Retreat Center, and will work directly in the field with wildlife biologist/photographer David Lamfrom. The workshop will demonstrate to teachers how to utilize concepts like exposition and sense of place to deepen and make richer the content of any lesson. Teachers will be instructed on, and discuss the benefits of, using digital photography, pen and ink drawing, 3-D modeling, sculpture, and other media to help students comprehend concepts and retain information by making it more personal and relevant. The place-based outdoor workshop will take place in both Joshua Tree National Park and the Morongo Preserve over the two days. All meals, tuition, and lodging are covered, as well as a $25.00 transportation stipend. Scholarship announcement will go out to all teachers via email the end of September, so be sure to look for the email announcement.

For more information on any of these upcoming workshops, please contact Christie Robinson, MEEC Program Specialist at (760) 245-1661 x 6101 or email: christier@mdaqmd.ca.gov

“Mojave Desert Heritage Museum” is located in the historical town of Goff, located just off Highway 40 and the Mojave Preserve.

In May of this year, educator Brenda Campbell attended a free MEEC/Boeing Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) workshop that was supported by Needles Unified School District Superintendant, Dr. Mike Davitt. Brenda shared her experience with me on how she was able to easily modify the lesson to work with her special ed students immediately after the workshop. I shared her letter with Brian Brown, California State Project WET Coordinator, which he included in the just released “California Project WET Gazette” “Summer Gazette”

Below is an excerpt of Brenda’s experience with her students.

Water Meter

“We had been talking about conserving water off and on all year. It’s a pet peeve of mine to see water being wasted while we live in a desert and are in a drought.

We made the meters as described in the activity, but without the liters on one side. My special education students would get all wrapped up in trying to figure out the difference and not pay attention to the main idea of the assignment. So with gallons listed we made the ribbon slide. We listed a few of the things they use water on and they kept track daily for only three days. On the fourth day we combined our info and discussed each individual’s data. My students did not all follow the directions but we got the general idea and displayed one student’s data on the board (they are too low in math for this). I showed them how fast their usage of water adds up. I asked them to come up with ways to help slow down the use of water in their homes. They had a lot of good ideas.

They met my overall goal of increased awareness of their water use. They suggested making a contract for all of us to sign that says we promise to try and use less water every day. Many things on the list include turning off the water while you brush your teeth, turning off the shower after getting wet to soap down and then turn back on to rinse off. This is where one student said his sister shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near the shower!

It was definitely an adaptation of the lesson in the Project WET activity book. I had limited time, limited abilities in the students and never thought I could do a lesson even remotely this satisfying. If it had not been for the lesson in the book…ready to go…I wouldn’t have done it. I don’t usually take manuals home for the summer to study, but I am taking this one home. Thank you.”

- Brenda Campbell, Vista Colorado Elementary School, Needles Unified School District. Brenda participated in one of the Mojave Desert Project WET workshops offered by the Mojave Environmental Education Consortium (MEEC) sponsored by a grant from Boeing.

If you have attended a MEEC teacher workshop and have a success story using materials or techniques gathered from a workshop that you would like to share with other teachers, please contact Christie Robinson, MEEC Program Specialist at (760) 245-1661 ext 6101 or email: christier@mdaqmd.ca.gov and share your story.