DNR Education News

Wee Recyclers early childhood recycling program helps teach children to become recyclers. Materials are designed for use with ages three to five-year-olds in early child care settings, but activities can be modified for other age groups. Activities are simple, entertaining, hands-on and require minimal preparation time. Use the teacher background information and easy directions to get started with Wee Crafts, stories and plays, songs, games, and take-home recycling ideas. Download the program today. Printed activity guides will be available in November, contact Elisabeth Olson at (608) 264-9258.

2010 Forest Appreciation Week Statewide Writing Contest for 4th Grade Students. This year's theme is "Why Plant Trees?" The Department of Natural Resources Forestry Division invites fourth grade students across Wisconsin to think and write about our tree and forest resources, and to enter the annual Forest Appreciation Week Writing Contest. Teachers can encourage 4th grade students to write about the importance of tree planting and to become an active steward of the environment. Get ready for Earth Day and Arbor Day in 2010 early this year. Check out these fantastic resources you can use to get students thinking about trees.

Tree Planting for Climate Change. Start today to reduce your carbon footprint. By planting trees you can help slow the effects of climate change -- and conserve polar bear habitat. Every tree planted makes a difference!

Green & Healthy School Recycling Bin Grant Program Schools across Wisconsin are demonstrating their commitment to a more sustainable Earth, stronger communities and healthier, more productive learning environments for students by choosing to join the Wisconsin Green and Healthy Schools program. This is a web-based, self-paced and voluntary program that is available to all Wisconsin public and private elementary, middle and high schools. The program is designed to support and encourage schools in their quest for a healthy, safe, and environmentally-friendly learning environment. Complete the first two steps and receive up to 50 bins for your school!

GreenWorks! Grants Activate Kids in the Community. Project Learning Tree® (PLT) is an award-winning national environmental education program for educators and their students in grades PreK-12. GreenWorks! is the service-learning, community action program of PLT that partners PLT educators, students, and communities in environmental neighborhood improvement projects. GreenWorks! blends service activities with the academic curriculum and addresses real community needs as students learn through active engagement. Since 1992, more than $700,000 has been distributed to fund over 900 environmental projects in communities across the country. GreenWorks! Grant Guidelines and Application due April 30, 2010.

Why Do Leaves Change Color?. As the Earth makes its 365-day journey around the sun, some parts of the planet will get fewer hours of sunlight at certain times of the year. In our region, the days become shorter and the nights grow longer. The temperature slowly drops. Autumn comes, and then winter. Learn more about this fascinating process of change.

Other News

Got Dirt? Gardening Toolkit for Educators. This program trains teachers and childcare providers to start youth gardens at their own facilities. The class and related teaching aids give teachers and childcare providers the skills they need to establish and sustain successful school garden programs, even with Wisconsin’s short growing season. Contact Bill Wright at (920) 391-4658 or Kristen Buettner (920) 391-4655.

Field Trip Grants With budgets tight, any help in getting students out of the classroom on field adventures is welcome. Target will award Field Trip Grants of up to $800 each to K-12 education professionals across the United States. Grant-funded field trips may include museum visits or environmental and science projects; artistic and cultural experiences; and civics or community service projects. Deadline: November 3, 2009.

Space in Fall Environmenal Courses.
The Environmental Education and Training Partnership (EETAP) would like to thank you for your past help in distributing information about the online environmental education courses offered by EETAP and the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Information on scholarships available can be found on the course website.

Learn About Nature's Nuances in Wisconsin Natural Resources Magazine

Hunting a woodland curative Ginseng's green leaves and shiny berries light up the shady forest floor.

What's the buzz about bees? Encouraging a mix of native bees will help cut the sting of honey bee declines.

Peaceful passage Twenty years after its creation, the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway buffers 92 miles of flowing tranquility

It works for me! We asked you to share your stories of homemade gear for the outdoors and you delivered!