Welcome to the first edition of Minnesota's Changing Climate(MCC) Updates.  This is one of the ways we hope to keep in touch with all of the educators implementing the MCC project this year.  Every other week we will be sending a short newsletter that includes resources that might complement your work, including funding opportunities for field trips and service learning grants and professional development opportunities. 

In addition we will feature the submissions and work of some of your students.  Please let us know what you are up to, how the curriculum is working or not working and if there is any way we can support you.  We are looking for classes that might be open to having our videographer come in to the classroom or field setting where you are implementing the curriculum.  Contact Ann Benson with your contact information and when you plan on doing one of the activities if this might be a possibility.

We are absolutely ecstatic about the success of the online classroom submissions in the first weeks of the school year!  We have already had over 200 observations and photos submitted from students around the state.  If you have time, ask your students to look them over and comment on them or ask questions.

We will be announcing the schools where Will will be visiting in the next few weeks. Thanks to all of you that expressed interest.

Finally, based on some of your feedback we have decided to pilot monthly climate change educator meet ups during the 2011-2012 school year beginning October 4. Meet Ups will be onsite or via conference call every other month. Teachers and educators integrating or hoping to implement climate change in their education setting are invited to stop in for informal discussion and treats 4:00-6:00 October 4.  RSVP if you plan to attend.

If you know of any other educators that might be interested in getting on the MCC mailing list, please send us their email address.  Keep up the good work and enjoy the fall colors!

Kristen Poppleton
Ann Benson

Check out these spectacular photos from students at Glacier Hills School of Arts and Science Elementary!

Featured Resource

Climate Tracker is a fantasic new resource from the University of Minnnesota that allows students to visualize Minnesota's shifting climate and how it corresponds with the location of Minnesota's biomes.  Check it out!

Funding Resources
Grants Available for Schools to  Integrate Environmental and Outdoor Education
 The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) is pleased to announce a request for proposals from Minnesota schools committed to integrating environmental and outdoor education into grades 7-12. The deadline to apply is September 30, 2011. Teams of teachers from an anticipated six schools will be selected to receive up to $5,000 in mini-grants and several days of free training from Minnesota environmental and outdoor education experts over the next two years. This funding is for the purpose of designing and implementing innovative environmental and outdoor education programs that bolster student achievement in middle school or high school science, physical education, social studies and/or mathematics.
 
Application materials, including more details on the program, are available on the MDE website at https://education.state.mn.us/EGMS/searchAllActiveGrants.do. Contact Jeff Ledermann at 651-582-8602 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for further information on this funding opportunity.

Grant Provides Funding to Support Transportation Costs for Field Trips to Three Rivers Park District Education Centers
http://www.seek.state.mn.us/fullrec.cfm?ItemID=2127

Target Field Trip Grants
http://sites.target.com/site/en/company/page.jsp?contentId=WCMP04-031880
 
PLT GreenWorks! Grants
Do you have an idea for a school/community native plant garden, a forest improvement project, a streamside restoration plan, a recycling program, or energy conservation project for your students?  Need funds to implement it? Apply for a GreenWorks! Grant for up to $1,000! For more information visit www.greenworks.org. Application deadline: September 30.

Green Thumb Challenge - Application deadline September 30  
The Green Thumb Challenge from the Green Education Foundation (GEF) aims to connect children with nature and the healthy benefits of gardening. GEF provides schools and youth groups with beginner-friendly resources to plant gardens of any size, in addition to fun activities and standards-based lessons linking the classroom to the garden. All participants have the opportunity to be awarded a $5,000 grant in recognition of their garden project. http://www.greeneducationfoundation.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=97&Itemid=289  
 
Toshiba America Foundation Grants for Grades K-5 - Application deadline October 1
Toshiba America Foundation offers grants of up to $1,000 to support innovative projects designed by math and science teachers to make their classrooms more exciting and successful for students. Any K-5 teacher in a public or private school is eligible. Proposed projects must advance the teacher's science and math teaching units. http://www.toshiba.com/taf/k5.jsp

Lexus Eco Challenge - October 31     
The Lexus Eco Challenge offers an opportunity for students in grades 6-12 to address environmental issues in three challenges: Land/Water, Air/Climate, and a Final Challenge. Teams have the opportunity to win $10,000 in each of the first two challenges and up to $30,000 in the final challenge. For each challenge, teams must choose a topic and use PowerPoint to illustrate an action plan. Participants are required to show how their ideas were implemented and also evaluate the results of their plan. http://www.scholastic.com/lexus/index.asp

Professional Development Opportunities

PolarTREC (Teachers and Researchers Exploring and Collaborating) is currently accepting applications from teachers for the sixth year of teacher research experiences. Teachers are invited to submit an application to participate in field research learning experiences during the 2012 (usually Arctic) or 2012-2013 (usually Antarctic) field seasons.

More information and application forms are available at: http://www.polartrec.com/teachers/application/2012

Teaching Climate Change in Your Classroom,  2 credit online graduate course, Hamline University
October 30-December 4, 2011
Register by going to www.hamline.edu.  Under "Logins" on the right select "Course Listing" then select Fall 2011 under "Continuing Studies".  Scroll down to select ENED 6126.