Maine Forest Collaborative December Newsletter
- Rural Aspirations
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
MIDDLE SCHOOL
Students are off to a great start at all schools!
Tremont students will be working through creation of a challenge statement later this week and are already on their way to creating solutions!
Greenville students will be connecting with me after the holidays to start to articulate their challenge and work on solutions.
Piscataquis students are finalizing solutions next week and will be beginning an action plan!
HIGH SCHOOL
Congratulations to Telstar and Piscataquis MFC students for being awarded a MEEA outdoor learning grant!
Schenck early college students just took an overnight trip to UMaine Farmington to tour campus, and participate in a tick lab! They just shared their Understanding the Challenge slidedeck and we are starting to think about solution pathways.
Belfast engineering students just pitched their CNF ideas shark tank style! They are just beginning to move forward on action plans.
PCSS students are getting started on their solution and working on an action plan.
TCTC will be working to identify solutions next week before getting started on their action plan
Telstar students are well underway working with community partners and are in the trenches of their action plan.
In the News
Educating Maine students on forest sector awareness
Check out this article from EPSCoR about Rural Aspirations, MFC and our collaboration with UMaine!
Maine entrepreneurs see big potential in seaweed
One business wants to use kelp to replace the plastic film on detergent pods. Another is creating an alternative to plastic twine.
The push to get invasive green crabs on the menu
For chefs and fishermen in Maine, green crabs’ proliferation along the coast brings both a challenge and an opportunity.
Materials on Lend!
MFC Materials!
Thanks to some grant funding we now have an MFC kit full of supplies for teachers to be able to use with students! It includes everything from calipers and loppers to GPS units and a game camera, and more! Check out what we have available and just email me to request an item! If you're interested in something that is checked out, let me know and we will get it to you next!
Funding Opportunities
Learning Landscapes Grant Application
The Learning Landscapes Grant program seeks to provide financial support for educators to facilitate nature-based outdoor education. The grant program provides funding (up to $500) to support projects that connect children with nature, enhance students' comfort with the outdoors, and teaches children how and why to care for the environment. The ultimate goal of the program is to encourage environmental stewardship among the next generation.
Eligibility
Applicants should be educators affiliated with public or private schools, or nonprofit organizations, serving early childhood to high school aged youth. Special consideration will be given to schools with socio-economic need facilitating outdoor nature-based learning. Priority will be given to projects within Knox and Waldo counties. Apply here!
For Students
Communication & Customer Service Training Course
What's included in this free training?
Students take part in real-life scenarios and decide how best to act in potential work situations. It takes one hour to complete and is on demand! Sign up here!
For Teachers
GMRI Learning Resource Hub
Find learning resources grounded in real-world climate and ecosystem science. GMRI's curriculum is designed to advance your students’ STEM skills through authentic scientific experiences. For over 20 years, the Gulf of Maine Research Institute has provided educators with tools to teach climate and ecosystem science through student-centered data investigations.Check it out here!
Winter Seed Sowing Workshop Wild Seed Project
Sat, Dec 6 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM Cape Elizabeth
Join us at our Native Seed Center at Turkey Hill Farm for seed saving and sowing! In this workshop, Wild Seed Project staff will facilitate a hands-on exploration of the many steps of growing native plants from seed, and establishing your own diverse, pollinator-friendly garden using seed-grown plants.
Each participant will sow two pots of seeds; one to take home with them, and one to stay at the Native Seed Center to keep growing our seed increase plots. Weather permitting, the workshop will begin with a walk to discuss plant identification and seed collection methods.
We're happy to share that this Saturday workshop is free to attend, thanks to support from ReVision Energy.
Do note this workshop will be held in our unheated greenhouse, so please come dressed warmly!
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