In Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, the Kingswood Regional High School and Middle School a recently rebuilt middle and high school go beyond LEED certification, and for the coveted CHPS certification. Aside from new synthetic and natural turf athletic fields as well as a Geothermal Ground Heat Exchanger piping system to serve the entire campus, the new school takes advantage of natural light,  LED lighting when needed, energy sensors and other energy-saving efforts. But what really stood out to us? They have been smart enough to include reusable water bottle refilling stations right by the traditional water fountains on campus. Through their efforts, they are teaching the next generation the importance, the beauty, and the need to be green in our personal and public environments.


--  http://www.bottlesupglass.com/3-creative-ways-to-kill-the-need-for-single-use-plastic-bottles/

Nominate a Big Tree in Honor of National Walk in the Woods Day 5/21

American Forests – May 13, 2011 By American Forest Foundation

Contact: Sheri Shannon, American Forests, (202) 737-1944 x250  sshannon@amfor.org


Nominate a Big Tree in Honor of National Walk in the Woods Day 2011

May 19, 2011- Washington, DC—American Forests encourages the public to get outside Saturday, May 21, and participate in National Walk in the Woods Day. The day-long occasion has been dedicated in celebration of the International Year of Forests, and is intended to inspire Americans to take time to enjoy the nation’s forests and outdoor spaces, and be reminded of our responsibility to be stewards of these critical natural resources.

While enjoying the outdoors, take part in American Forests’ Big Tree Challenge. Locate and measure a big tree by following the guidelines at www.americanforests.org/resources/bigtrees and see how it compares to the species’ national champion, as listed in the National Register of Big Trees. If you think the tree has what it takes to claim national champion bragging rights, click the link to submit its measurements online.

Since 1940, American Forests’ National Big Tree program has promoted the importance of planting and caring for trees. Every year, these majestic giants are honored in the Register, and American Forests relies on the public to submit possible contenders.

About American Forests
American Forests connects, educates, and inspires people to restore and protect rural and urban forests. Founded in 1875, the organization has served as a catalyst for many of the most important milestones in the conservation movement, including the founding of the U.S. Forest Service and national park system, the creation of the modern environmental movement, and literally thousands of forest ecosystem restoration and education efforts. Since 1991, American Forests has planted nearly 40 million trees in forests throughout the U.S. and beyond, resulting in cleaner air and drinking water, restored habitat for wildlife, and the removal of millions of tons of carbon from the atmosphere. Learn more at www.americanforests.org.

GROWING A HEALTHER WORLD WITH TREES SINCE 1875
P.O.Box 2000 Washington, DC 20005 - PH 202/737-1944 - FAX 202/737-2457
www.americanforests.org

Celebrate the Life and Legacy of John Muir

[>] Join the John Muir Discussion Online at C&NN Connect.

[+] Download the Family Guide
[+] Download the Educators Guide

National Environmental Education Week: Ocean Connections April 10-16, 2011

National Environmental Education Week: Ocean Connections April 10-16, 2011

Green Reading for Educators http://www.eeweek.org/resources/green_reading_educators.htm  The following books explore different philosophies of environmental education and different approaches to integrating environmental education into your curricula. Also see our list of green reading for kids. http://www.eeweek.org/resources/green_reading.htm

Island Water Protection

Just wanted to share these resources from the Nantucket Land Council for Nantucket Island residents that educates about the link between their sandy soil, their water quality and pesticides/fertilizers.  I hope there might be interest at Sandy Island in promoting awareness of the ecology of Sandy's water-well field and sewer system.

I especially like the information on Nantucket Island's Watersheds and Water Protection http://www.nantucketlandcouncil.org/WaterProt.html

"The Nantucket Land Council has mapped all the watersheds on Nantucket. You can find out which body of water, for example Madaket Harbor or Hummock Pond, the water under your house is flowing toward. Call us for a watershed map & brochure, or see it online at www.nantucketlandcouncil.org."  She the
Watershed Map: http://www.nantucketlandcouncil.org/WtrShedMap.html

Brochure
http://www.nantucketlandcouncil.org/Reports/ORGANIC%20GARDENING-2010.pdf

Your Lawn, Our Water
When rain falls, or when you irrigate your garden, excess fertilizers and pesticides will leach down into our sandy soils, eventually flowing into the ocean, a harbor, a pond or a drinking water well. The direction of the water flow on your property determines which “watershed” area you live in.

Reading The Sea Around Us

Revisiting Rachel Carson's 'The Sea Around Us' SouthCoastToday.com
June 2010 is an especially poignant time to be teaching Rachel Carson's "The Sea Around Us" (1951) to teachers. 

By LAURIE ROBERTSON-LORANT, Dr. Laurie Robertson-Lorant, English Department adjunct, Bridgewater State College, is a Melville biographer and poet who has taught sustainability education at UMass Dartmouth.

June 26, 2010

 

June 2010 is an especially poignant time to be teaching Rachel Carson's "The Sea Around Us" (1951) to teachers. The catastrophic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is a wake-up call to end our deadly addiction to fossil fuels and a tragic reminder of how little we have learned about the ocean since Carson's masterpiece appeared more than half a century ago. A masterful writer, marine biologist Carson combines informed observation, solid scientific knowledge and mindful contemplation of the geology, history and biodiversity of our ocean.

Read More

PollinatorLIVE: A Distance Learning Adventure

While pollinators may come in small sizes, they play a large and often undervalued role in the production of the food we eat, the health of flowering plants, and the future of wildlife. A decline in the numbers and health of pollinators over the last several years poses a significant threat to the integrity of biodiversity, to global food webs, and to human health, according to scientists.

http://pollinatorlive.pwnet.org

Includes great activities including:

Bee Hunt
Bumble Bee Nest Survey
Goldenrod Challenge
Great Sunflower Project
Hands on the Land
Journey North
Lost Ladybug Project
Monarch Larva Monitoring Project
MonarchHealth
Monarch Watch Tagging and Waystations
Project BudBurst
USA – National Phenology Network
Vanessa Migration Project