MEEC STEM Grants and Upcoming Activities in the High Desert!

Thanks to Samantha Murray for these items:

MEEC Grant-writing Workshop 9/24/15 in Victorville:

Join MEEC on September 24, 2015 for a FREE two-hour workshop spotlighting MEEC funding opportunities available to High Desert teachers!  During the workshop, teachers will have the opportunity to review MEEC’s grant application processes and walk away knowing the requirements for each of MEEC’s available funding sources.   Participants will  view sample applications for each program and have their application questions answered for the following grant opportunities:
EnviroBus Bucks Transportation Grants, School Garden Grants, EE Mini Grants, YELC and STEM Service-Learning Grants.

WHEN:  September 24, 2015
TIME: 4:30 PM-6:30 PM
WHERE:  Mojave Desert AQMD Offices, 14306 Park Ave., Victorville, CA 92392

Seating is limited, so early registration is recommended.  To reserve your space today, contact MEEC Program Specialist, Samantha Murray at (760) 245-1661 ext. 6717 or email: smurray@mdaqmd.ca.gov.  Registration Deadline is September 16, 2015.  For more info, visit:  MEEC Grant Workshop.


Energy from the Sun Teacher Workshop 10/1/15 in Palmdale:

Thanks to a generous grant from The Boeing Company, MEEC’s “Energy From the Sun”  teacher workshops will  equip educators with the tools to enable their students to conduct scientific research utilizing solar energy, draw conclusions, and develop critical thinking skills while learning how to reach logical conclusions and solutions about our future energy usage.

Each participating teacher will receive a kit that contains a Solar Oven, Solar Panel Kit, UV beads PLUS standards-based curriculum from the National Environmental Education Development Program (NEED).  NEED curriculum includes four levels: Primary, Elementary, Intermediate, and Secondary.  The NEED Project curriculum includes Teachers’ Guides and Student Lab Books for hands-on activities as well as a variety of resources to learn about renewable energy and their applications. Student Lab Book activities are designed for group learning, which promotes interaction among students. NEED's   K-12 curriculum helps schools meet the Common Core State Standards, develops student leadership, and brings the latest technology into the classroom.  Each kit is valued at over $200!!

When and where:  October 1, 2015, 4:00-6:00pm - AVUHSD Palmdale Conference Center, 1156 East Ave S, Palmdale, CA 93550.  RSVP by September 23, 2015 (currently full, but waitlist being taken); for details visit:  Energy from the Sun Workshop

Youth Environmental Leadership Conference 10/24/15 in the Victor Valley area: 

 Once again, the event will feature the "STEMFest" in addition to 3 workshops that the teams will rotate through. "STEMFest" is an opportunity for teams to rotate through the arena engaging with experts, mentors and other exhibitors to learn more about STEM environmental careers and projects while having fun with hands-on activities. Topics will focus on "green" themes such as water conservation, solar oven construction, robotics, composting, and school garden projects. The "technical" activities will be with the exhibitors in STEMFest, which provides a well-balanced program with something for everyone.  Attendees will hear a motivational address from Garner Holt, President and founder of Garner Holt Productions, Inc., an international design and manufacturing company that creates animatronics and special effects for theme parks, museums, shopping malls and restaurants.

Lunch, snacks, re-usable water bottles, YELC T-Shirts, and all conference materials are provided free of charge. Additionally, teams participating in YELC are eligible to apply for a project grant up to $250 to implement or further their environmental service learning project! By applying for and accepting these grant funds, you also agree to come back and participate with your team in the follow-up Spring 2016 YELC Showcase to share your project (regardless of what stage it's in) with other teams.  Transportation Reimbursement funds may be available upon request (if applicable) for participating teams in the Antelope Valley.

Teams of two to eight students, in grades 3 through 12, along with an attending teacher/advisor, from schools throughout the Mojave and High Desert, are invited to take part in this unique and FREE Conference.  Have parents complete the necessary participation forms and return them to MEEC by the October 5, 2015 Deadline.   Applications and transportation grants will be available online at: MEEC YELC 2016.

Environmental Education Mini-Grant Applications Due 10/30/15:

For a limited time, MEEC is accepting applications for environmental education school project and material mini-grants.   Recipients will be notified in early November and grants will be awarded by November 30th. Projects must be implemented/materials must be used in classrooms located in the High Desert portion of San Bernardino County, the Antelope Valley or the Palo Verde Valley of Riverside County.  Applicants must also teach within these jurisdictions.

Funded projects must be completed/purchased by June 18, 2016.  Average grant amount will vary from $100 to $500, but may be higher.  Individual award amounts to be determined by MEEC. Only one grant will be awarded per teacher per school year.

Application deadline is 5:00 PM October 30, 2015.  The EE Mini Grant Application is attached and can also be downloaded from MEEC’s website at MEEC EE Mini-Grants.   Completed applications may be mailed to MEEC/EE Mini Grants, 14306 Park Avenue, Victorville, CA 92392 or faxed to (760) 241-6271. For questions, contact Christie Robinson at (760) 245-1661 ext. 6101.

"A Garden in Every School" Grant Applications Due by 10/30/15:

Through the generous support of MEEC’s  sponsors and a special grant from MEEC partner Alliance for Water Awareness and Conservation (AWAC), schools may apply for a grant to provide them with the basic tools necessary to start or sustain a school garden.  This grant opportunity is now open to schools in the Antelope Valley.

Interested teachers must submit a completed application form that includes the proposed project, desired materials , a budget cost breakout based on the actual material costs, including shipping and handling, if applicable (labor costs are not eligible for funding)  and how the project will address educational standards.  Recipients will be notified in early November and grants will be awarded by November 30th.  Grant Applications are attached and also available on MEEC’s website at MEEC School Garden Grants .

The maximum grant amount is $500.00. Individual award amounts will be determined by MEEC. Only one grant will be awarded per school per school year. To date, MEEC has awarded school garden grants to 29 schools in the High Desert.  The application deadline is 5:00 PM October 30, 2015. Completed applications may be mailed to MEEC/School Garden Program, 14306 Park Avenue, Victorville, CA 92392 or faxed to (760) 241-6271. For questions, contact MEEC Program Specialist Samantha Murray at (760) 245-1661 ext. 6717. 

Solar and Renewable Energy Workshop in Palmdale - Register by 4/4/14

Boeing and MEEC are hosting a "Solar and Renewable Energy" workshop for 25 teachers at the Palmdale Conference Center, 1156 East Avenue "S," on 16 April 2014, from 4:00-6:00pm; the registration deadline is 4 April.  A second session will be held 4/24/14 at the Mojave Desert AQMD in Victorville (registration deadline 4/10).  Participants will receive free curriculum, free tools, and free dinner!  The information provided will enable students to "conduct scientific research on renewable energy sources, draw conclusions, and develop critical thinking skills while learning how to reach logical conclusions and solutions about our future energy usage. Each participating teacher will receive a kit that contains a Hydropower Kit, Solar Oven, Solar Panel Kit, Wind Turbine Kit, PLUS curriculum from the National Environmental Education Development Program (NEED). NEED curriculum includes four levels: Primary, Elementary, Intermediate, and Secondary. The NEED Project curriculum includes Teachers’ Guides and Student Lab Books for hands-on activities as well as a variety of resources to learn about solar, hydropower, wind, geothermal, and biomass energy and their applications. Student Lab Book activities are designed for group learning, which promotes interaction among students. NEED's K-12 curriculum helps schools meet the Common Core State Standards, develop student leadership, and brings the latest technology into the classroom. "  Each kit is valued at $400.  For further information and to register, visit Solar and Renewable Energy Workshop 2014 .

AV Summer Gateway Academies Engage Middle School Students in STEM

Two Project Lead the Way Summer Gateway Academy sessions were sponsored by the AVUHSD for middle school students during June and July 2013.  Over thirty students took part in events such as rocket-building and launching, creating solar cell phone covers, learning how to use design software, and programming Boe-bots to go through a maze, among others.  The session held at Lancaster High School was also visited by Lockheed Martin's school outreach team.

Eagle Robotics team member assists students to learn design software at
Lancaster HS Summer Gateway Academy

Middle school students launch solar balloon

Students at KHS Summer Gateway Academy create solar cell phone covers/chargers

 

Aerospace Education Services Project Teacher Webinars and Digital Badging

Penn State University, as part of the NASA Aerospace Education Service Project, is offering a series of free webinars for educators.  The topics range from remote sensing (July 16), to engineering design processes (multiple sessions in July and August) to Mission Mars, weather, and solar energy, among others.  For more information on webinar dates and how to connect, visit AESP Webinars .  Teachers who complete the webinars can receive certificates of completion.

NASA's AESP is also offering a digital badging program for completers of their professional development to include within on-line portfolios, along with feedback from master educators.  For details and to sign up, go to AESP Teacher Learning Journeys .

Ivanpah Solar Power Plant Featured in Time Magazine

The Ivanpah solar power plant funded by BrightSource, NRG, and Google in the Mojave Desert near the California/Nevada  Stateline is the subject of a short feature in Time Magazine's "Science & Space" column entitled "The Power - and Beauty - of Solar Energy." The plant, which is expected to be online by the end of 2013, is heralded not only for the technology it uses, but also the esthetics of its mirror arrays.   http://science.time.com/2013/06/13/the-power-and-beauty-of-solar-energy/ .

"Solar 101" Teacher Workshops Now Open for Registration

MEEC, through a generous grant from Boeing, will offer two free teacher workshops on "Solar 101" on 18 April in Victorville, and 16 May in Palmdale, both from 4:00 to 7:00pm PDT.  The workshops are designed to "present hands-on training sessions which provide you with the tools to enable your students to conduct scientific research on Solar energy sources, draw conclusions, and develop critical thinking skills while learning how to reach logical conclusions and solutions about our future energy usage."  Participants will receive free curriculum resources valued at over $100.

Registration is limited to 25 teachers at each workshop site, first-come, first-served.  To register, please call: Christie Robinson, MEEC Program Specialist at (760) 245-1661 x6101.