School Programs, Events, Competitions, and Professional Development

Mark your calendars with these grant opportunities, workshops, conferences and more!
 

January 31 – The Museum Institute for Teaching Science (MITS) will be offering a Professional Development Seminar Series designed for education staff, volunteers, and other professionals from science, environmental, natural history, technology, art, history, and other cultural institutions in New England. The first full day seminar, Making Connections with Science, is on January 31 and will feature sessions on Carbon, Climate, and Consensus as well as Setting up Seasonal Nature Journals.

January 31 – Request for Proposals deadline for the 2019 Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration Grant Program. The program funds projects focused on ecological improvements along with targeted community outreach, education and stewardship. Grants should span 12 to 18 months in length with a start date in July 2019. Awards range from $20,000 to $50,000 and 40-50 grants awarded per year.

February 1 – Application deadline for the EPA’s President’s Environmental Youth Award.  The award recognizes outstanding environmental projects by K-12 youth completed in 2018. Projects must include an environmental stewardship component. Applicants from all 50 states and U.S. territories ng are eligible to compete for a regional certificate of special recognition and a national Presidential award.

February 21 – The Massachusetts Horticultural Society’s School Garden Conference in Wellesley will feature workshops that explore regional best practices for planning and running a school garden. Attending educators will develop practical gardening skills including techniques for managing worm composting.  Free worms provided, courtesy of THE GREEN TEAM!

February 22 – Submission deadline for World of 7 Billion Student Video Contest. Students must create a short video about human population growth that highlights a global challenge.

February 28 – The Museum Institute for Teaching Science Professional Development Seminar Series second full day seminar,  Learning From our Cities, will feature sessions on Exploring the Ecology of Our Cities and Towns and Enhancing Your Audience Engagement with Local Biodiversity.

March 6 – Massachusetts Environmental Education Society (MEES) 2018 Conference. The MEES conference brings together environmental educators from across the state to network and learn new skills.

March 15 – Register a school sustainability project with the Green Apple Day of Service by March 15 to be eligible for a mini-grant and Green Apple Award. Projects should bring school community service and environmental sustainability together in one day of action.

March 21 –  The Museum Institute for Teaching Science Professional Development Seminar Series third full day seminar, Science Story Tellers, will feature sessions on New England: the Origins of American Environmentalism and Integrating STEM and the Humanities: A Role Playing Game.

March 25 – MassRecycle R3 Conference. The R3 Conference is the biggest annual recycling and organics conference in Massachusetts, and one of the biggest state conferences in the nation. At R3, MassRecycle fosters discussion on issues that affect recycling, reuse, and waste reduction, and provides a venue to convene individuals from all sectors.

March 29 – Deadline to submit THE GREEN TEAM recycling equipment application for the April 4 distribution day to be held in Boston. (Equipment requests for the Amherst and Pittsfield equipment locations may be submitted at any time).

March 31 – Deadline to submit THE GREEN TEAM Teacher Response Form to report your students’ activities and receive a Certificate of Recognition and student prizes to recognize their work.

April 4 – Distribution day for GREEN TEAM recycling equipment for schools in the Boston area. Register for THE GREEN TEAM and submit a recycling equipment application by March 29 for this distribution.

April 25 – The Museum Institute for Teaching Science Professional Development Seminar Series fourth full day seminar, Science on the Brain, will feature a full day session entitled Mind on Brains: Making the Connection.

April 26 – Submission deadline for the Massachusetts Marine Educators 2019 Marine Art Contest. Students in grades K-12 are invited to submit a piece of original artwork focusing on this year’s theme, “Revealing the Biodiversity of Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary.”