Program of Events



Program of Events

48th Annual Conference

April 9 – 12, 2015

Thursday, April 9, 2015

(Please reference the forum pamphlet available at eeco-)

Friday, April 10, 2015

Workshops

Project WET 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Dennis Clement, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency

Participants will be provided instruction on several water education activities and receive the Project WET curriculum guide, which has more than 60 activities included. Other Project WET resources will be shared with participants. $20.00 cost for workshop includes lunch

Project PORE 9:00 AM – Noon

Dave Shellhaas, Piqua City Schools, Director of Curriculum

The Project PORE (Producing Ohio’s Renewable Energies) presentation will highlight a free curriculum for grades 9-12 that address many of the Common Core reading and writing standards for science at the high school.

Classroom Connections on Population, Consumption, Climate and Health 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Gail Luera, University of Michigan, Dearborn; Population Connection

Engage in innovative, hands-on activities to help students draw connections between human population growth, resource consumption, climate change and impacts on health and well-being. Receive interdisciplinary lesson plans on CD-ROM.

Field Trips

Oak Openings Region Field Trip – transportation provided (max 11 people) 9:00 AM -4:00 PM

Head to Oak Openings Preserve for a tour of a globally rare, sand dune, plant community. Oak Openings also has more nesting birds than any location in Ohio. We will look and listen for some of the spring arrivals, such as the state endangered Lark Sparrow. After lunch, we will reconvene at the nearby Blue Creek Conservation Area for a presentation from wildlife rehabilitation specialists, Nature’s Nursery, and then take a tour of Metroparks Native Plant Seed Nursery. Additional Cost $10. Lunch is on your own.

Magee Marsh and Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge 9am-noon carpool from lodge 9:00 AM – Noon

Black Swamp Bird Observatory staff will introduce participants to the enjoyment of avian exploration in one of the world’s best birding locations. Try your hand at birding as well as observe how bird banding is done to provide pertinent information to ecologists. The morning will finish up with a trip to the Ottawa National Wildlife refuge visitor center and trails. Bring a pair of binoculars and a field guide if possible; a minimal number will be available to borrow for the morning. Additional Cost $5

Ken Green’s Farm carpool from lodge 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Learn about living a more sustainable lifestyle. A tour of Ken Green’s Farm will offer participants a view into the many tradeoffs of ‘journeying’ rather than ‘jumping’ into this mind frame. Participants will see sustainable energy usage in action through geothermal heating/cooling and photovoltaic cells, the use of eco-friendly building materials and crop management, as well as the many benefits of habitat restoration through wetland remediation projects and some hands on stream monitoring activities. Additional Cost $5

Old Woman Creek Estuary car pool from lodge 1:30 PM- 4:00 AM

This field trip is an opportunity to visit and explore one of Lake Erie’s last remaining natural estuaries. Old Woman Creek flows through our coastal wetland into Lake Erie creating calm, protected waters that help to filter out run off before it enters the lake. As part of this field trip, you will get a behind the scenes tour of our research facility, explore the visitor center and trails, visit our overlook deck on the estuary and walk our protected beach. If the weather cooperates, we can even canoe up the creek to experience the area from the water. This State Nature Preserve houses a water quality lab and is the site of a Sentinel Site for climate change. Space is limited to 20 participants. Bring clothes that you don’t mind getting wet, protective gear (rain coat, hat, sunglasses etc.), and water bottle.

Additional Cost $5

Free Time 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Relax after your sessions and check into your room.

Friday Night Welcome Dinner 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Join us for the welcome dinner and chat with old friends, or make new friends!

Friday Evening Keynote Speaker 7:00 PM

Kristin Stanford, Ph.D., OSU Stone Laboratory

Dr. Stanford has been actively involved in Lake Erie watersnake conservation for 15 years. Currently, serving as the Education and Outreach Coordinator for OSU’s Stone Laboratory, she continues to facilitate much of the research, management and outreach needed to maintain recovery for this species.

Saturday, April 11, 2015

Bird Hike Tentative 7:00 AM – 8:00 AM

Breakfast 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM

Welcome and Conference Opening 9:00 AM – 9:15 AM

Concurrent Session 1 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM

Environmental Detectives (2 Hour Double Session)

Carolyn Watkins, Ohio EPA

Two activities from Project WET will illustrate how epidemiologists trace the source of water borne illnesses, and how environmental scientists track and prevent contamination of underground drinking water supplies.

The Giving Stream (2 Hour Double Session)

Ken Frisch, Advanced Certified Fund Raising Executive, Toledo Community Foundation, Inc. and Michelle Klinger, Director, Center for Nonprofit Resources

Learn to create a comprehensive development plan. The session will examine different annual and major giving techniques for diversifying funding sources and effectively meeting organizational goals and objectives.

Learning about Ohio’s Great Lake

Jennifer Bucheit, Education Coordinator, Old Woman Creek Reserve

Lake Erie has its issues, but it’s still a vital resource for Ohio and other states. Learn how Old Woman Creek Reserve teaches about the importance of protecting Ohio’s Great Lake.

Ohio Sea Grant – Great Lakes, Great Lessons

Susan Bixler, Angela Greene and Lyndsey Manzo, OSU Stone Lab/Ohio Sea Grant

Are you looking for unique strategies to learn about the Great Lakes? Ohio Sea Grant has many Great Lakes lessons appropriate for grades 4 and beyond. Participants will experience and receive multiple lessons that can immediately be implemented in the classroom.

Morning Break 10:30 AM – 10:45 AM

Concurrent Session 2 10:45 AM – 11:45 AM

Environmental Detectives (Continued from Session 1)

The Giving Stream (Continued from Session 1)

Kildare, An Environmental Health Scenario

Linda Sigismondi, Professor of Biology, University of Rio Grande

In this simulation, workshop participants will work as teams of investigators to determine the cause of a strange disease outbreak in a lakeside town.

Ohio Sea Grant “Climate Walk” – A Journey Using Nearpod

Susan Bixler, Angela Greene and Lyndsey Manzo, OSU Stone Lab/Ohio Sea Grant

BYOD! Bring your own device to this session that will explore the local impacts of global climate change using Nearpod technology. Experience how the Nearpod app will allow you to present content to learners in a highly engaging format while quickly collecting data that can be used to guide and customize instruction. Download the free version of Nearpod from the app store and be ready to go for this valuable learning experience.

Saturday Lunch, Business Meeting and Keynote Speaker Noon – 2:00 PM

Jeff Reutter, Ph.D., OSU Stone Laboratory

Dr. Reutter is an aquatic biologist and limnologist, the author of over 150 technical reports and journal articles, and a frequent lecturer on issues related to the changing Lake Erie ecosystem, harmful algal blooms, nutrient loading, aquatic invasive species, linking environmental health and coastal economic development, Great Lakes research needs and priorities, the importance of science education and research, and the importance of scientists communicating with the public.

Concurrent Session 3 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM

Environmental Heroes - Middle & High School Citizen Scientists, Cleveland Metroparks

(2 Hour Session)

Kathryn M. Kwiatkowski, Director (Math, Science), Case Western Reserve, Leonard Gelfand STEM Center

Students describe their authentic research work focused on amphibians and reptiles in the Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation-Cleveland Metroparks. The audience will be actively engaged in simulated research techniques outdoors.

Grant Writing 103 (2 Hour Session)

Carolyn Watkins, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency

Want to write better grants? Compare weak and strong proposals side-by-side and get a funder’s perspective on what makes for a winning application. The Ohio Environmental Education Fund will share examples from 16 years of grant making to show why one education project is more likely to be successful than another, and which proposal is more likely to be funded.

Green Wave for Schools: Waste and Energy Reduction District Wide

Ron Hochstrasser, Sycamore Community High School

Sycamore Community Schools has undertaken the task of saving energy, reducing waste, protecting the watershed and reducing their carbon footprint. The program has created daily opportunities to engage students in environmental stewardship while providing considerable cost savings for the district. The session will present the initiatives, implementation, successes and challenges of the program.

Trashology

Marti Kolb, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Retired)

Through hands-on activities, participants will explore recycling and waste reduction. Participants will complete a learning station board for classrooms/presentations and receive a recycling set to help facilitate the discussion of recycling, reuse, packaging and resource conservation.

Afternoon Break 3:15 PM – 3:30 PM

Concurrent Session 4 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM

Environmental Heroes - Middle & High School Citizen Scientists, Cleveland Metroparks

(Continued from Session 3)

Grant Writing 103 (Continued from Session 3)

40 Ways to Prepare Your Schoolyard for Outdoor Learning

Herb Broda, Professor, Schoolyard Learning Specialist, Ashland University

Whether your school is in a rural, suburban, or even a tightly packed urban setting, come and see many examples of how schools have added free or inexpensive features and enhancements to their school grounds that make it easier to use the schoolyard as a teaching tool.

Step it Up! Expand Your Outdoor Education Explorations

Gia Giammarinaro, Nature Center Director, Cincinnati Park Board

Are you comfortable taking your students outside, but looking for new tricks and tips? Expand your knowledge and keep yourself inspired. Find creative ways to use your outdoor classroom, regardless of size.

Free Time, Networking, Silent Auction 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM

Environmental Education Certification Poster Session 5:00 PM – 5:45 PM

Awards Banquet and Live Auction 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Sunday, April 12, 2015

Bird Hike Tentative 7:00 AM – 8:00 AM

Breakfast 8:00 AM – 8:45 AM

Field Trips

Pearson Metropark carpool from lodge 8:45 AM – Noon

Spring into the Natural and Human History of the Great Black Swamp! Join Metroparks of the Toledo Area for a visit to the historic Johlin Log House and a picture of what settlement of the Great Black Swamp was like, and then take to the swamp woods to learn of its natural history and enjoy the array of spring wildflowers and migratory birds. Bring comfortable walking shoes, a water bottle, and protective gear (rain coat, hat, sunglasses etc). Space is limited to 18 people. Cost $5

Toledo Zoo Aquarium carpool from lodge 8:45 AM – Noon

Inspiring others to join in caring for animals and conserving the natural world earned the Toledo Zoo the title of “best zoo in the United States”! Tour the newly opened aquarium which includes a 90,000 gallon coral reef tank, two touch tanks, flashlight fish, a Lake Erie section that addresses the impact invasive species have had on Lake Erie, and an Ohio stream life section including the physical and behavioral adaptations fish have for dealing with flow and currents. The Toledo Zoo is also highly committed to addressing Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields that prepare students for jobs in the state’s emerging high-tech economy. With the help of some animal friends participants will enjoy an inquiry activity on zoo careers. Cost $23

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