Field Trips!
TCTC students have been incredibly busy traveling everywhere from the Common Ground Fair to AMC's Medawisla Lodge and one of Weyerhaeuser's logging sites (and likely more places!) these past few weeks! I was lucky enough to pop in briefly to their visit to their school's 60-acre plot where students worked with the dream team of UMaine Forestry Professor Jessica Leahy, Forester Molly London, Executive Director of Maine TREE Foundation's Logan Johnson, Project Learning Tree Coordinator Lena Ives, and AMC's Forest Manager Carolyn Ziegra to set up FERN plots and map the area.
High School Updates
High school students right now are in the process of figuring out their challenge, with Telstar just dialing in their decision to work on the challenge of inland flooding with Roberta Hill from the Center for an Ecology Based Economy. Belfast students have been working with environmental scientist, Aleta McKeage, at Wales park to learn about ecological restoration and will be working on tackling a few aspects of ecological restoration on campus, related to invasive species removal, increasing biodiversity and building soil. TCTC is going to be working toward small pieces and data collection for a future forest management plan for their school's land. Schenck has been working on ArcGIS labs and will be meeting with Dan Rogan from Outdoor Sports Institute and we will dial in our challenge next week!
Next steps are for students to dig into understanding the challenge before creating a challenge statement, figuring out their design team, and beginning to work on their action plans.
Middle School Updates
I just met with Greenville and Bass Harbor students for the first time to introduce MFC and their project this year. They are getting ready to create their Map of Place posters to share at our first cohort day at UMaine next month where they will be doing some rapid prototyping, visiting the Advanced Structures and Composites Center, the Process Development Center, and will be doing an engineering activty designing an aquaponics tank with the Aquaculture Research Institute.
In the News
Through training program, more students prepare to enter Maine's logging industry
Another dozen future members of Maine's logging industry are training this summer in a joint program of the Professional Logging Contractors of Maine and Northern Maine Community College.->>> Full article
From seaweed twine to plantain salve, young businesses are
going all out in innovation
Katie Weiler launched Viable Gear in Portland to develop a seaweed-based bioplastic for food harvesters to replace traditional plastic gear. Its pilot product, SeaTwine, is slated to launch in 2025.
Scientist's secret to making untreated wood as strong as aluminum
National Scientists at the University of Maryland have created a form of poplar wood that is as strong as chemically treated wood and on a par with aluminum in terms of tensile strength.
Funding Opportunities
GMRI Connected Learning Ecosystem Mini Grants Available
Belfast students successfully were awarded funding through this grant last year, up to $5,000 in funding with a rolling deadline. Check out the article about it here!
The Learning Ecosystems Northeast’s (LENE) project is offering members of Connected Learning Ecosystems (CLE) the opportunity to secure funds for projects that focus on climate and data literacy outcomes for learners achieved through connected learning experiences that incorporate NASA assets (which the project team will help you identify and find). Proposed projects should support learning in at least two different learning contexts, around a common topic, and with the same set of learners.
Engagement Opportunities
Wild Seed Project's Seeds for Teachers Request Open Now!
Wild Seed Project's Seeds for Teachers program provides free Northeast native seed packets to public school educators, a barrier-free initiative intended to support teachers in integrating native plants into their existing pollinator and plant units across grade levels. Packets include bulk seeds for 3-4 easy-to-sow, pollinator-friendly species, as well as a set of four lessons focused on seeds that can be adapted for all grade levels. Click here to request seeds!
Explore Maine's Aquaculture Industry with Virtual Field Trips!
Virtual Field Trips, VFTs, are an innovative way for youth to explore and learn about places and people that would otherwise be infeasible! These immersive, online experiences bring Maine’s thriving aquaculture industry to life—no travel required. Accessible at no cost, the Virtual Field Trips are designed to break down geographical and financial barriers, making high-quality, hands-on learning available to all.
Educators, both formal and informal, can register online to receive a link to the VFTs, providing a seamless way to introduce their students to Maine aquaculture. Each field trip also comes with complimentary 4-H activity guides and lesson plans to help facilitate meaningful engagement with K-12 youth.,The first VFT currently available features the University of Maine’s Center for Cooperative Aquaculture Research, CCAR, a large-scale, land-based aquaculture facility in Franklin, Maine. Additional virtual field trips are in development and will be rolled out throughout 2025 and 2026. These experiences offer insight into seafood production, workforce development, career exploration, and STEM concepts related to aquaculture technologies.To register for a virtual field trip, visit extension.umaine.edu/hancock/aquaculture/vft. For more information: contact Carla Scocchi, UMaine Cooperative Extension 4-H, carla.scocchi@maine.edu.
For Teachers
Teacher Winter Weekend at The Ecology School
Join us this January for a restorative weekend of professional development at River Bend Farm, home of The Ecology School. Attendees will head out into the winter landscape to experience outdoor learning led by The Ecology School's seasoned educators, and have time to design outdoor learning as a year-round reality for their students. Presentations by both teacher ambassadors and community partners will demonstrate and encourage participants with how to take the next steps to make outdoor learning a reality for their students. Attendees will also enjoy delicious meals, stay in our comfortable, sustainably built dorms, and have time to enjoy the beautiful River Bend Farm landscape in the winter.
This opportunity is open to any teachers or school staff who are looking to make outdoor learning a reality for their students. No prior experience necessary.January 24-26, 2025 (Snow date January 31-February 2) ***Teachers and attendees will receive a $250 stipend after attending, and be reimbursed up to $175 for travel. After being accepted, attendees will be asked to pay a $50 application fee. This fee may be waived if it presents a barrier to attending.***Both new participants and Teacher Institute alumni are welcome to apply. Priority will be given to new applicants!APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN NOW and will be reviewed beginning November 1. All applicants will be contacted by November 25 with your application status. Click here to Learn More.
CODAP Next Steps Workshop
November 1 from 9 am - 3 pm at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute, GMRI, in Portland, ME
Free full-day workshop to explore the Common Online Data Analysis Platform, CODAP, and the new NASA plug-in. This is a training for those with some familiarity with CODAP., GMRI is pleased to host Dan Damelin from the Concord Consortium, for a deep dive into the open source web-based tool, that creates new possibilities for students to engage in data analysis with real-world datasets.
Dan will be sharing how to use the new NASA plug-in in CODAP that allows students to work with a variety of NASA datasets. This workshop is designed for educators with some familiarity with CODAP. Join us for a fun, thought-provoking, and creative experience.
This workshop is FREE, Mileage reimbursement, contact hours, breakfast, and lunch will be provided, Substitute teacher reimbursement is available upon request.
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