Congress Identifies State Natural Resource Agencies in the No Child Left Inside Act of 2009

Senator Jack Reed (RI) and Representative John Sarbanes (MD) introduced Senate and House versions of the “No Child Left Inside Act” legislation on Earth Day, April 22.

“Climate change, conservation of precious natural resources, maintaining clean air and water and other environmental challenges are pressing and complex issues that influence human health, economic development, and national security,” said Senator Reed in his introductory comments. “Environmental education will help ensure that our nation's children have the knowledge and skills necessary to address these critical issues. In short, the environment should be an important part of the curriculum in our schools.”

The legislation will authorize $100 million over each of the next five years for developing school curricula for outdoor learning activities, teacher professional development and the creation of state environmental literacy plans.

“It's great to see that the state environmental literacy plans are to be developed by state education departments in consultation with state environmental agencies and state natural resources agencies, and to see that state natural resources agencies will be eligible to receive sub grants,” observed Dr. Judy Silverberg, chair of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies’ Conservation Education Strategy Working Group and Wildlife Education Programs Supervisor with the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. “The good news for state fish and wildlife agencies is that state natural resource agencies are specifically identified in both House and Senate versions. ”

State natural resource agencies were not included in an earlier version of the bill passed by the House last year.

The 2009 legislation requires state educational agencies to develop environmental literacy plans “in consultation with state environmental agencies and state natural resource agencies.” State natural resource agencies also will be eligible for sub grants to provide professional development to teachers and for environmental education capacity building, in partnership with state educational agencies.

The Association and its member state fish and wildlife agencies are well positioned to take advantage of the new legislation. The Association’s Conservation Education (CE) Strategy has developed the K-12 Conservation Education Scope and Sequence, which outlines a set of expectations of what students should know and be able to do regarding natural resources conservation for grades K-5, 6-8, and 9-12.

The CE Strategy also has developed a Field Investigations Guide, which shows teachers how to conduct field investigations based on the research methods used by fish and wildlife agency biologists. A working session at the Association's recent Conservation Education Conference in Arkansas focused on environmental literacy plans. Future actions of the CE Strategy include coordinating with state education department science supervisors to incorporate core concepts into state science standards and to add social studies, technology and math correlations to the Field Investigations Guide.

The Association is a member of the No Child Left Inside Coalition, a group of about 1,300 organizations to advocate for greater outdoor educational and recreational activity in schools.

Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies Joins Federal and Nonprofit Conservation Leaders to Urge Children to “Get Outdoors, It’s Yours!”

BALTIMORE, MD -– Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne, Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer, and Deputy Commanding General of the US Army Corps of Engineers Maj. Gen. Don T. Riley yesterday announced a “Get Outdoors, It’s Yours!” campaign to reconnect children with nature. The event, held at the start of the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) Congress and Exposition at the Hilton Baltimore.

The new campaign, described at the website www.getoutdoorsitsyours.gov, encourages children and their educators and families to experience nature firsthand. Federal leaders from eight agencies and bureaus said that “Get Outdoors, It’s Yours!” will provide more information for America’s young people about opportunities to get outdoors on our national parks, forests, refuges, other public lands and waterways.

“We greatly appreciate this forum provided by NRPA because there is a crisis in America in which our kids are increasingly disconnected from nature,” said Secretary Kempthorne. “We must get children off the couch and outdoors. We must get them to turn off the computers and televisions and turn on to the power of wild places and wild creatures to lift them up – to rejuvenate body, soul and spirit.”

“We want every child in America to experience the great outdoors, whether it is in a remote mountain wilderness or a city park,” said Secretary Schafer. “Children react positively to nature. Working together, the federal agencies can help families foster their curiosity about nature and develop a deeper appreciation of precious natural resources.”

The “Get Outdoors, It’s Yours!” initiative, supported by an interagency Pledge of Cooperation, will unite federal land opportunities under one comprehensive platform and encourage the participation of non-profit land partners to develop a seamless portal for information on destinations, programs, special events and opportunities for educational adventures throughout the year.

The group will promote, and in some cases expand upon, the vast resources and programs that already exist within the Federal land management agencies including the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Bureau of Reclamation, the U.S. Geological Survey, the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

NRPA and other national nonprofit groups pledged to support the campaign today. The groups include American Forests, the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, the City Park Alliance, the National Association of County Park and Recreation Officials, the National Association of State Outdoor Recreation, the National Association of State Park Directors, the National Parks Conservation Association and the National Wildlife Federation.

"Through the spirit of partnerships, collectively we are poised to greatly impact the lives of children and teens. By re-engaging youth in nature, recreation and play, we've helped the next generation discover the rewards of more fulfilling, healthy lifestyles," said NRPA CEO Tulipane.

“The greatest benefit of this initiative is to foster a love of America’s lands and waters in today’s youth because they will be tomorrow’s caretakers of this nation’s cultural and natural resources,” said Maj. Gen. Riley. “That love will grow into awareness of the health and environmental benefits associated with those personal connections with nature.”

For more information on the new program, go to www.getoutdoorsitsyours.gov. The website provides lists of places for all sorts of outdoor activities from biking to wildlife viewing, links to agency websites for youth, games and other useful materials.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of the Interior

Registration Open for 2009 North American Conservation Education Conference

2009 North American Conservation Education Conference:
Taking Conservation Education to the Next Level

January 26-29, 2009
C. A. Vines 4-H Center, Little Rock, Arkansas

In 2004, conservation education professionals from across the nation met in Shepherdstown, WV for the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies’ Summit on Conservation Education. More than 35 state fish and wildlife agencies along with several federal agencies and non-governmental organizations participated in this historic event, which initiated the North American Conservation Education Strategy.

The 2009 North American Conservation Education Conference is the long-awaited sequel. This conference will enable conservation educators to discover the pieces of the strategy that are now in place and how the strategy can empower participants to become more proficient in their various areas of conservation education. Participants also will become more aware of national trends and latest quality conservation education materials.

The conference location near Little Rock will provide the backdrop for professional development and collaboration through a mixture of seminars, keynote speakers and work sessions. This conference will provide the opportunity to help determine the future direction of the North American CE Strategy.

The event will kick-off with dinner and an evening program on Monday, January 26. Tuesday through Wednesday will feature a mixture of sessions and discussion topped off by a Southern BBQ hosted by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. The conference will conclude at noon Thursday.

Conference registration is $295 for double occupancy and $325 for single occupancy, which covers all meals and lodging. In addition, Arkansas Game and Fish will shuttle attendees to and from the airport. Click here to download a Registration Form.

The Association is providing funding for travel scholarships through support of the North American Conservation Education Strategy. In order to encourage participation from all 50 state fish and wildlife agencies, the Association will reimburse one representative per state agency up to $500 for airline travel or mileage using the federal government rate. Click to download a scholarship form.

The conference committee is finalizing the agenda, which will be complete shortly.

For more information, contact any of the 2009 Conservation Education Planning Committee:

Kevin Frailey, Conference Chair, Michigan DNR, fraileyk@michigan.gov

Lucy Moreland, Registrar and host agency, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission,
lmmoreland@agfc.state.ar.us

Kurt Cunningham, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, kcunningham@mt.gov

Jennifer Dennison, Ohio DNR, jen.dennison@dnr.state.oh.gov

Warren Gartner, Indiana, DNR, wgartner@dnr.in.gov

Gregg Losinski, Idaho Fish and Game, glosinski@idfg.idaho.gov

For the most up-to-date information, visit the 2009 North American Conservation Education Conference website.