The Very Last Passenger Pigeon
“There will always be pigeons in books and museums, but these are effigies and images, dead to all hardships and all delights. They know no urge of the seasons, they feel no kiss of sun, no lash of wind and weather.” Aldo Leopold The very last passenger pigeon, Martha, died at the Cincinnati Zoo in... Continue reading→
Iowa DNR Job Opportunity
Job Opportunity: Position: Training Specialist 2 The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is seeking a Conservation Education Specialist (Training Specialist 2). This position coordinates angler education, conservation education, and outdoor skills-based programs across the state and creates and revises curricula and instructional materials for these programs. The Conservation Education Specialist plans, organizes, and conducts statewide formal and informal... Continue reading→
WW24 Call for Presentations
Winter Workshop 2024 Climate-Smart Agriculture: Rethinking Iowa’s Land, Water, and Food Production February 3, 2024, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tama Hall, Hawkeye Community College, Waterloo, Iowa Winter Workshop 2024 (WW24) promises to be an exciting and enriching experience, in which we bridge the gap between food production and conservation through education. Each year, we... Continue reading→
ExCom nominations for 2024-2026 term
The call for nominations for ICEC ExCom is now open! ICEC is looking for individuals interested in joining the leadership of ICEC. ExCom is a volunteer board of directors working together with members and partners to provide opportunities for Iowa’s conservation and environmental educators to learn, build relationships, and creatively collaborate. Nominees must be members... Continue reading→
Register for Midwest EE Conference 2023
The 2023 Midwest Environmental Education Conference is taking place November 2–4 in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Wondering why you should attend? Consider these reasons: Network! This conference is a great opportunity to meet new people from all over the Midwest who are passionate about environmental education. You’ll have the chance to learn from each other, share ideas,... Continue reading→
Phenomena and Authentic Data
All ages of students can prepare to be our next generation of biologists and scientists. Collecting, analyzing, and interpreting authentic (real-world) data is an important piece in all scientific investigations. Students can observe and document phenomena, collect their own local data, or use curated data sets in their science learning. See phenomena in the natural... Continue reading→
Things to do in your backyard!
Share these ideas with your own children, the neighborhood group, your childcare provider, and think about adapting some of these ideas for the schoolyard playground and classroom! The loose-parts of nature are great for challenging your student’s creativity! Build a Fort Build your own outdoor hideout! Supplies Large sticks Old sheets or blankets String or... Continue reading→
DOE Regional Science Training
The Iowa Department of Education, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, AEAs, and other regional institutions are hosting three regional science trainings for teachers, coaches, preservice teachers and informal educators. These events will be held in-person to help facilitate teacher networking and the delivery of a consistent message to science educators across the state. There... Continue reading→
Get out! Go Camping!
Join other families all across the country stepping outside to go camping – whether out in their backyards or at a campground – as part of the Great American Campout. Explore the wonderful world of camping with young children either as a family, in your classroom, or as part of summer day camp! For families:... Continue reading→
Conservation Education Landscape Analysis to Launch Soon
For several years, ICEC has been working with statewide organizations from across the Midwest to better understand how we can work together to support Conservation Education across the region. One important component of this work is to conduct a “Landscape Analysis” of conservation and environmental education efforts in the region. We want to know what’s already... Continue reading→
Iowa Amphibians and Authentic Data
Amphibian Week 2023 is May 7-13, 2023! Learn more about ways to celebrate Amphibian Week from Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation! Read on for ways to learn about frogs and toads in Iowa. There are a wide variety and number of amphibians that make Iowa their home. Many of these animals are secretive and... Continue reading→
Game Jam 2023 Concludes
The Iowa Game Jam for the 2022-2023 school year was a collaborative effort between ICEC, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Iowa Project WILD, and AmeriCorps members. Funding support came from the Holthues Trust. Using resources from last year’s University of Iowa graduate students and additions from this year’s AmeriCorps members, the topics were water... Continue reading→