Happy Engineering Week!

Wishing everyone a Happy Engineering Week!  Lots of activities are available online for those interested; here are just a few:

• Change the Equation:  Change the Equation E-Week
• Lockheed Martin and Girls, Inc. Girl Day Twitter Chat on 25 February at 2pm Pacific - follow at #GirlDayChat
• DiscoverE DiscoverE Engineering Week

Thank an engineer today!

Free Teacher Energy Workshop Offered 3/3/16 in Victorville

Join MEEC for a FREE workshop about energy!  Share in the fun of learning about the basics of energy production while touring the High Desert Power Project as part of "Energy - Watts Up!"

Did you know that energy exists in several forms such as heat, kinetic or mechanical energy, light, potential energy, electrical, and other forms? Participants of this workshop will learn first-hand from a High Desert Power Project Engineer how the different states of energy are converted into the power that we use in our everyday lives.

Each educator will receive  Project Learning Tree’s “Energy & Society” Program kit  (a $45 value) designed to help students develop critical thinking skills to make decisions about their personal energy use.  In addition to hands-on activities, the kit integrates music and dance to enhance the study of energy and correlates with Common Core State Standards and Next Generation Science Standards.

WHEN:  Thursday, March 3,  2016

RSVP by February 25, 2016

TIME:  4:00PM-6:00PM

(registration begins at 3:45PM)

WHERE: High Desert Power Project

19000 Perimeter Rd, Victorville (located at the Southern Calif. Logistics Airport)

Space for this workshop is limited to the first 20 teachers who sign up so reserve your spot today!   To register: Contact Samantha Murray, MEEC Program Specialist at: (760) 245-1661 x 6717 or email at: smurray@mdaqmd.ca.gov

Key Issues Training for Teachers in June or July 2016; Scholarship Applications due by 3/30/16

The Mojave Environmental Education Consortium is proud to announce an exciting opportunity for Grade K-12 teachers to earn a full scholarship to attend The Key Issues Institute, a one-of-a-kind professional development workshop in Keystone, Colorado which integrates STEM, environmental education and experiential techniques this summer!

This once-in-a-lifetime educational opportunity is made possible by the Antelope Valley Air Quality Management District, Boeing, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics-Palmdale, the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts and MEEC.  In 2016, three Antelope Valley teachers and two teachers from the San Bernardino County High Desert or Riverside County’s Blythe region will be chosen to partake in the Keystone Science School’s interdisciplinary five-day STEM workshop, which equips educators with the skills and confidence to explore local and global environmental issues with their students. Best of all, Key Issues is aligned to national education standards, including Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards!

Using Colorado’s spectacular ecosystems as its setting, Key Issues combines classroom time with outdoor exploration of the natural environment.  Lessons include lab testing, outdoor water testing and indoor lecture periods. In addition to enjoying professional networking opportunities with teachers from across the country, each participant receives a customized Lab-Aids kit to take back to his/her classroom.  Airfare, training, lodging and meals are included as part of the scholarship recipient’s award and participants may select to attend one of two sessions held between June 21 and July 24, 2016.

You are invited to apply for one of the five Key Issues scholarships available this year to local K-12 teachers.  You can apply by clicking on the following link:   https://form.jotform.com/52775101586963

The deadline for submitting application packages is Wednesday, March 30, 2016.  When completing your application package, please select “MEEC-Mojave Ed. Consortium” as your Sponsor, in order to be considered for one of MEEC’s five scholarships.  Only electronic applications will be accepted-no hard copies please.

For more information please visit MEEC's website www.meeconline.com or contact MEEC Executive Board Chair Violette Roberts at (760) 245-1661, ext. 6104, or via e-mail at vroberts@mdaqmd.ca.gov.

- See more at: http://meeconline.com/scholarships/2016-key-issues-institute-teacher-scholarships/#sthash.oDoK6BM4.dpuf

Range and Natural Resources Camp in June 2016; Scholarships Available

The 32nd Annual Range and Natural Resources Camp will be taking place June 19-24, 2016 at the beautiful Elkus Youth Ranch in Half Moon Bay, California. The camp offers students between the ages of 15-18 the opportunity to work with peers from throughout the state and is designed to offer an appreciation of the extent, importance and value of California’s rangelands and natural resources. Range Camp fosters an appreciation for several fields of applied science and management through interaction with university faculty and experienced professionals in classroom and field activities.

Students will address the importance of such topics as plant identification, livestock production, wildlife management, forestry, fire ecology, geology, soils, water resources, rangeland ecosystems, technologies used in natural resource science and management.

At the end of the week, students will be evaluated on their understanding of the materials, with the top two scoring campers being awarded an all-expense-paid trip to represent California and the Pacific Islands at The Society for Range Management’s High School Youth Forum (HSYF) held in conjunction with its national science meeting in St. George, Utah, from January 29-February 2, 2016. The third highest scoring camper will be invited to attend as well, but will need to find other means of paying for the trip. (Delegates must still be in high school through Feb 2017.)

MEEC is offering four student scholarships that will be awarded to attend Range Camp this summer. Scholarships include tuition ($450) and roundtrip airfare up to $350 per person. To apply, students must be enrolled in a school located within the MEEC boundaries of San Bernardino County’s High Desert Region, the Antelope Valley or Riverside County’s Blythe Region and be age 15-18 by the start date of camp. The deadline for application submission to MEEC is April 21, 2016 at 5:00 PM.

APPLICATION, PHOTO RELEASE AND COMMITMENT FORM MUST BE SUBMITTED TO MEEC IN ORDER TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THE SCHOLARSHIP.  ANY APPLICATIONS DIRECTLY SUBMITTED TO RANGE CAMP CANNOT BE GUARANTEED TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THE SCHOLARSHIP.

 Please mail application to:  MEEC, 14306 Park Ave, Victorville, CA 92392.  Applications may also be faxed to 760-241-6271

For more information please contact MEEC Program Specialist Samantha Murray at (760) 245-1661 ext. 6717 or via email at smurray@mdaqmd.ca.gov.

- See more at: http://meeconline.com/scholarships/2016-student-range-camp-scholarships-now-available/#sthash.LBmJPeNL.dpuf

Solar Oven Challenge Registration Now Open Until 4/30/16

MEEC is pleased to announce the 4th Annual “Solar Cook-Off Challenge!” which will be held on 14 May 2016.

This event provides students in grades 4-12 the perfect opportunity to utilize their STEM and critical thinking skills working as a team to design, build, and create a solar cooker and winning recipe.

This year, through an ongoing partnership with San Bernardino County First District Supervisor, MEEC will be hosting the event at the Victor Valley Museum located in Apple Valley. With this new prominent public location, MEEC is anticipating an increased number of registered teams and a large number of the general public on hand to enjoy the event and learn more about solar and solar cooking. A large shade tent, tables, and chairs will be provided for the teams. Lunch, snacks and event T-Shirts will also be provided for all participants in the event. Family and friends are welcome to attend the event but will not be allowed in the competition areas or eligible for meals. There are many fast food and restaurants in the immediate area that they are welcome to visit. MEEC also encourages visitors to tour the newly remodeled Victor Valley Museum. Students and advisors will be admitted for free. 

At the Solar Oven challenge, teams will demonstrate the performance of their solar cookers by creating an original dish(es) of food for the challenge. Three awards will be given in each age division for the BEST OVEN DESIGN and TOP RECIPES. Grade Divisions are: 4-6; 7-9; and 10-12.

Awards are:

Construction: 1st: $250 2nd: $150; 3rd: $75

Recipe: 1st: $200 2nd: $100; 3rd: $50

A total of $2,475 in Prizes will be awarded!!!! We are looking forward to a huge event this year!

This is one sizzling hot event that you don’t want your students to miss out on!  Applications are available for download at: http://meeconline.com/solar-oven-cook-off/.  The deadline to register is 30 April 2016.

For more information on this event, please contact event coordinator Christie Robinson at (760) 245-1661 ext. 6101 or email at christier@mdaqmd.ca.gov 

"Beyond Reasonable" Drought Workshop for Teachers 3/8/16

 Liberty Utilities is proud to present “Beyond Reasonable Drought” a FREE K-12 Teacher Workshop focusing on the California drought and water conservation!!!!!
 
What do you think when you hear the word “drought?”  Do you think “dry,” “hot,” “dusty,”    “cracked earth,” or even “no water”?  If so, you’re on the right track!

When a place is in a drought, it is arid and often dusty; cracks may appear in the soil, and rivers, lakes, streams, and other sources of water can go dry. A drought means that a region has less precipitation (rain or snow) than normal over a few months, years or even longer.

What causes a drought? How does it really affect us? How can we prepare for drought? These are all important questions that will be answered during this two hour workshop which will explore ways to teach students about California’s drought and help you incorporate hands-on water conservation activities into your classroom lessons.

Learn how to construct an edible aquifer and conduct simple water audits in addition to receiving standards-based materials ALL FOR FREE!!

WHEN: Tuesday, March 8, 2016

TIME: 4:30-6:30 PM

Registration begins at 4:15 PM

WHERE: Mojave Desert AQMD Offices

14306 Park Ave, Victorville, CA 92392

RSVP by March 1, 2016

Seating in limited to 25 teachers, so early registration is recommended. 

To register, contact MEEC Program Specialist Samantha Murray at smurray@mdaqmd.ca.gov or 760-245-1661 ext. 6717

 - See more at: http://meeconline.com/teacher%20workshop/beyond-reasonable-drought-k-12-teacher-workshop/#sthash.zX2IAjHh.dpuf

Forestry Institute for Teachers 2/20-2/21/16

 FIT+ (Forestry Institute for Teachers PLUS) is a two-day workshop that provides training in K-12 environmental education and special access to guest experts and a unique Southern California locale! All participants receive Project WET certification and a FREE K-12 curriculum guide. Special topics include water, fire, and urban ecology.

Date: Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016 and Sunday, Feb. 21, 2016, 9 am to 4 pm both days

Location: San Gabriel Mountains (San Dimas Experimental Forest and Santa Fe Dam Nature Center)
Cost: $35 per person; includes light breakfast and lunch on both days.

Please register at https://fitplus2016.eventbrite.com/. For more information, contact Shayna Foreman at sforeman@ucanr.edu. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Geological Sciences Workshops Offered

Thanks to Samantha Murray of MEEC and Cynthia Pridmore from the California Geological Survey for this information:

There will be a special session consisting of two earth science workshops associated with the regional meeting of the Geological Society of America. The conference runs from April 3-6, 2016. Teachers who register early for the workshop, can attend either of the workshops (described below) for $20. The workshops are sponsored by the California Geological Survey (CGS), the Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC), the California Mineral Education Foundation (CMEF), Women in Mining (WIM), and the National Association of Geoscience Teachers, Far Western Section (NAGT). Please feel free to contact me for more information. Details are below:

 Geological Society of America,  Cordilleran Section, 112th Annual Meeting, Ontario California http://www.geosociety.org/Sections/cord/2016mtg/

Two educator workshops will be held (in conjunction with the GSA conference) on Sunday, 3 April, at the Ontario DoubleTree Hotel. Generous sponsorships allow the organizers to offer these workshops at no charge, except for the normal meeting registration fee (Register by February 29 for discounted price: $20 for workshop only registration). http://www.geosociety.org/Sections/cord/2016mtg/registration.htm . Space is limited for the workshops. For general questions, please contact Jade Star Lackey<http://www.geosociety.org/Sections/cord/2016mtg/contact.htm>. Contact the workshop organizer with questions related to individual workshops.

1.       California Earthquake Hazards & Mineral Resources-NGSS

 Explore "Earth and Human Activity-NGSS Disciplinary Core Idea ESS3" with mini lectures and  mostly hands-on-activities covering California earthquakes, tsunamis, and mineral resources. Become part of QuakeCatcher Network, ShakeOut, and an expert on California minerals used in everyday life! Aligned with MS/HS NGSS but scalable for K-5. Maps, worksheets, CDs, minerals, and more! For more info on this workshop contact cpridmore@consrv.ca.gov<mailto:cpridmore@consrv.ca.gov>

Cosponsored by California Geological Survey (CGS), California Mineral Education Foundation (CMEF); Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC); and Women In Mining (WIM).

Sun., 3 April, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Limit: 30; refreshments included, but participants need to provide their own lunch.

Cynthia L. Pridmore, California Geological Survey, cpridmore@consrv.ca.gov<mailto:cpridmore@consrv.ca.gov> ; Robert De Groot, Southern California Earthquake Center; Joyce Pulliam-Fitzgerald, Elementis Specialties Inc.

2.       Creating Dual-Enrollment Honors Geology Classes at High Schools

  Dual-enrollment honors geology classes are a proven strategy to introduce college-bound high school students to the geosciences. This workshop will give an overview of the program developed by the Kern High School District and CSU Bakersfield. It is intended for university faculty and teachers interested in developing similar programs. For more info on this workshop contact dbaron@csub.edu<mailto:dbaron@csub.edu>

Sponsored by National Association of Geoscience Teachers, Far Western Section.

Sun., 3 April, 8 a.m.-noon. Limit: 30; refreshment included.

Dirk Baron, California State Univ. Bakersfield, dbaron@csub.edu<mailto:dbaron@csub.edu>

 

NASA Is With You When You Fly 2/18/16

Do you know that NASA is with you when you fly?  Join NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center Office of Education for an educator workshop on weather.  Learn about basic meteorological concepts designed to demonstrate understanding of the general characteristics of the atmosphere and how weather conditions and weather phenomena occur. There will be hands-on, standards-aligned mathematics, science and engineering activities about density, mass, fluid dynamics and weather that you can take back to your classroom.  Make real world connections with NASA and the airplanes that do weather research.  Hear from subject matter experts about cutting edge research that is happening right now through a partnership between NASA Armstrong and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) with the Sensing Hazards with Operational Unmanned Technology (SHOUT) mission.

Target Audience: K-12 Formal and Informal Educators

When: Thursday, February 18, 2016, 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm PT

 Location: NASA Armstrong Educator Resource Center at the AERO Institute, 38256 N. Sierra Hwy., Palmdale, CA 93550

Register Online: http://goo.gl/forms/tprszIeivN

 Questions? Call Sondra Geddes 661-276-2359 or email at sondra.l.geddes@nasa.gov

There is no charge for the workshop. Free NASA educational materials will be provided. Seats are limited, and will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. All participants must be 18 years old or older.

 

Registration Now Open for 4th Annual STEM Conference for Girls on 3/5/16

The Antelope Valley Union High School District and Antelope Valley College are co-hosting the 4th annual STEM Conference for Girls on Saturday, 5 March 2016, from 9:00am-3:00pm, at the AVUHSD Palmdale Conference Center.  The FREE event is open to 100 young ladies in grades 6-12, who will participate in hands-on workshops, and hear from industry and young professionals.  Pre-registration is required; a box lunch is provided.  There is also a strand available for a limited number of parents. 

To register and get further information, visit:  STEM Conference for Girls 2016 .