ACT for Bees - Love Food Love Bees

Link to ACT for Bees. ACT for Bees develops authoritative engaging science-based community and school education about bees.

Latest articles - Journal of Environmental Education (Intl)

The Journal of Environmental Education (JEE) is a research-oriented, refereed periodical intended to provide a forum for critical and constructive debate on all aspects of research, theory and practice in environmental and sustainability education (EE & SE). Link to Journal of Environmental Education (Intl) Link to Australian Journal of Environmental Education (AAEE member access).

Canberra Nature Map

Link to Canberra Nature Map

The Canberra Spider Orchid, Caladenia actensis, an endangered plant endemic to the ACT, was the inspiration for the creation of Canberra Nature Map (CNM) and its logo. When Aaron Clausen accidentally encountered these beautiful orchids he began a search to find out more about them and how to ensure their continued survival and in so doing formed a website development project that has gone on to host a map of the location of these and all Canberra species using mobile phone cameras and GPS technology.

Threatened Species Childrens' Art Competition

Link to Threatened Species Childrens' Art Competition 

The Threatened Species Childrens' Art Competition (aka TSCAC) helps children unleash their artistic creativity while learning about the extinction crisis facing our native plants and animals. The organisers say their aim is to encourage the next generation of environmental leaders and is run each year in ACT, Victoria and New South Wales. 

Icon Water

About Icon Water Education resources 

• Early Learning

• Primary and Secondary Schools (K-10)  

• College (11-12) and Tertiary Students 
  

• Community 

• Industry

Link to Icon Water Education  

 
Icon Water offers series of free, fun and  engaging learning resources  to support students and teachers. These include lesson plans, videos and factsheets that teach students  about the ACT urban water cycle and the role of water in our everyday lives. All of our resources support curriculum outcomes for early years, primary and secondary students. Our goal is to help students to think and act in ways that create more sustainable futures for our water resources.   

 

Resources available: 

• The ACT Water Cycle – an overview and map to learn about the water cycle.
• The Wonders of the Water - a comprehensive suite of education units and resources developed by teachers for the Cotter Dam Enlargement project.
• History 100 – a centenary of water supply in the ACT.
• Education activities - PDF factsheets, maps, posters and activity sheets to download.
• Education videos – answers to questions we have received from kids and other interesting videos.
• Virtual education sessions - We are offering virtual classroom sessions to educate students on the urban water cycle to learn about our amazing water and sewerage network.
• Tours and Education session at Cotter Dam and Googong Dam.
• Questions from Kids - Does your class have questions about what Icon Water? Send in your questions as part of our classroom sessions and we will answer them! View videos from our fabulous field and operation staff answering some of the questions sent in from kids in our community.

 

•  
  Download the Icon Water Education Program Newsletter Term Two 2021. 

Canberra Nature Art Lab

Link to NatureArt Lab
NatureArt Lab is Canberra’s only natural history art school and offers workshops and courses on art inspired by science and nature. Workshops, incursions and excursions on nature-inspired art and science topics are available on request for national institutions, schools and community organisations.

ACT Recycling Discovery Hub, Recyclopaedia and National Recycling Week November 11-18

Link to the ACT Recycling Discovery Hub and Schools Resources

Link to Recyclopaedia and National Recycling Week ACT November 11-18

The Recycling Discovery Hub is located at the ACT's Materials Recovery Facility at Mugga Lane - where recycling is sorted. Visitors can interact with a hands on recycling exhibition, see the facility through a virtual reality experience and discuss recycling with facilitators. Take a look at the virtual reality experience at the Recycling Discovery Hub at the Link to the ACT Recycling Discovery Hub and Schools Resources

Recyclodaedia is what it sounds like! An A-Z of what to do with every kind of disposal challenge you are likely to meet. 

Sustainable Schools Program (ACT)

Link to the Sustainable Schools Program (ACT). (Click on image to watch a video introducing the program)

Did you know that the ACT is committed to net zero emissions by 2045?

ACT school communities can pave the way to climate action and help build community adaptation and resilience. Schools can set a great example by reducing emissions. It supports the environment and can save money.

Get free support to take climate action at your school. Register for Sustainable Schools Program Online (SSP Online). Use free resources or organise a visit from the SSP team. Help build your school community’s resilience to climate change.

Spring-Summer Update ACT Chapter HERE

Welcome to the Spring / Summer edition of the ACT Chapter Update, sent every quarter to members, colleagues and friends of Earth, environmental and sustainability education in the ACT.

Remember, if you missed it you can still read all the national EE news from the September 2019 OzEEnews: it's available here in the members area.

But first, have a quick read of the local update, and save some dates for all the good things happening in both National Recycling Week and Australian Pollinator Week (both starting Nov 11).Some events will need to be booked ahead so get in now to not miss out.

Mighty Mobile Muster - We are all starting to herd our household and workplace mobile devices for the Actsmart Mobile Roundup - ACT is going for the World Record this year, and if we all pitch in apparently we are in with a good chance. No need to book to join the attempt at the World's Biggest Mobile Muster in National Recycling Week. Collection is at the Canberra Times Fountain on City Walk 8 am - 8 pm - more details about what can be deposited here.

Calendar

November 2019

Monday 4 - Call for Abstracts now open for 'Science Revealed',  CONASTA 69, the annual science education conference of the Australian Science Teachers Association (ASTA) being held in Canberra at the ANU 5-8 July 2020. Abstract submissions close 6 December 2019

Sunday 11-18 - Australian Pollinator Week, also check ACT for Bees website more information. Join the Wild Pollinator Count, which you can support by looking for ten minutes at one flower in your garden, nearby bush reserve or school. Take photos which help with identification (ID), iNaturalist and Canberra Nature Map are good resources for ID too. This engaging and vital project has now been running since 2014 (!).

Thursday 14 10.30 am Australian National Botanic Gardens Wild Pollinator Count walk. Please RSVP (actforbees@gmail.com ). This is an informal walk at the Australian National Botanic Gardens with Peter Abbott on Thursday 10.30 AM. Learn more about the native bees in the Botanic Gardens and also take part in the Wild Pollinator Count.

Monday 11-17 - National Recycling Week - lots on, too many to mention, head to the website ASAP.

Wednesday 20 - Actsmart Schools Awards Morning tea More about Actsmart Schools here (youtube)

Monday 25 - OzEENews member articles deadline for December 'EfS in 2019' edition - notes for contributors here.

December 2019

Tuesday 3 - AAEE Learning Circle - The New Sustainability Cross-Curricular priority Curriculum Map Resource. ZOOM 4.30-6 PM All welcome. RSVP aaeeact@gmail.com

Thursday 5 - World Soil day

Thursday 5 - Reminder if you are booked for the FREE Teacher workshop at Australian National Botanic Gardens. Very popular, let’s hope Bush Blitz and ANBG can run this again next year.

Term 1 2020
February Tues 11 and Thursday 13 - Parliament of Youth on Sustainability Teacher Sessions.

Term 4 2020
September TBC - National Biennial Environmental Education Conference - Mandurah, Western Australia.

Great news - AAEE have commissioned an Environmental Education 2020 calendar and Sea Week themed calendar-art competition, coming out soon for free download.

News, Thank you's and Congratulations

 Members and friends may like to congratulate Julia Landford - Nature Art Lab - and Taz Whan - Caroline Chisholm School - next time you see them. Julia has taken out the ACT Environmental Educator of the Year award for 2019, marking 3 decades of educational innovation and the beginning of a new creative and social business phase in EE.

Taz has taken out the inaugural ACT Environmental Educator Early Career Excellence award for 2019, with a list of EfS accomplishments as a new teacher that has to be seen to be believed.

Thank you to Professor Keith Skamp and Jenny Dibley for expert adjudication, and thank you Taz and Julia for all you do,  in particular for your wide-ranging and strategic environmental education leadership.

Look out for what these two AAEE members accomplish in 2020.

Just a few short weeks from now we will all be on the edge of our seats to see who has taken out the highly competitive ACTsmart Schools awards for 2019.

We'd just like to wish a very impartial Good Luck to all the nominees - some of whom are probably pictured here on the ACTsmart Schools recent EcoBus Day.

AAEE would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to ACT Smart Schools team, who have been doing such wonderful work in our schools delivering not only hands-on education for the sustainability cross-curriculum priority for our students but also high-quality world-leading EfS PD for our teachers.





NEWS JUST IN Nov 20 2019 Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability Shane Rattenbury today presented Merici College with the 2019 Sustainable School of the Year Award at the Actsmart Schools Awards.

Thank you to our retiring chapter secretary, NoWaste's, Robbie Ladbrook. Huge congratulations to Robbie and the NoWaste team for recently collecting a Sustainable Stories excellence award for NoWaste's education facility, the very amazing Recycling Discovery Hub. Book a public tour and see for yourself!

Thank you and congratulations to Bren Weatherstone and the TSCAC team on conclusion of another fabulous year of the ever-growing Threatened Species Childrens' Art Competition, one of the best and best run environmental education programs available for 5-12 year old's to engage with in Australia.






Thank you and congratulations to our retiring Youth Advisory Board member, first-year ANU student Clara McArthur, who a little bird told us might have received a special mention at the ACT Young Environmentalist of 2019 awards for her work mentoring SchoolStrike4Climate primary and high school students over the last 2 years. Well done Clara. 

It was wonderful to have both Robbie and Clara on the AAEE ACT team in 2019, and we wish them all the best in 2020.

Thank you to members Julie Armstrong (Act for Bees) and Kate Rhook (Icon Water) for help progressing the new ACT EE Directory - it is getting there and is going to be a wonderful way of taking the ACT Environmental Education network to new heights.

Thank you and welcome to the incoming committee for 2019-2020: Sue Jones (DanceKids), Viv Pearce (Australian National Botanic Gardens), Jodie Green (Young Persons' Plan for the Planet and AAEE), Tarun Whan (Science Educators Association ACT and ACT Education), Bren Weatherstone (Threatened Species Childrens' Art Competition) and Julia Landford (Nature Art Lab).

Viv and Jodie for the ACT AAEE team

New SCCP mapping resource for F-10 teachers

The Australian Association for Environmental Education (AAEE) has worked with teachers to map the content descriptions and elaborations for the Sustainability Cross Curriculum Priority (SCCP) in the current version of the Australian Curriculum.

This is a must-have document that makes it very easy to see, plan and demonstrate the connections between sustainability and core concepts in the Australian Curriculum.

"Learning across the curriculum: Australian Curriculum Content Descriptions and Elaborations for the Sustainability cross-curriculum priority from Foundation to Year 10" .

F-10,  F-6 and 7-10 editions all available separately. View and buy it here

Tidbinbilla and Birrigai

Link to Tidbinbilla and Birrigai Education

Link to Today I learned at Tidbinbilla Vimeo


Birrigai programs support the vision, 'Educating for a sustainable future. Several program themes are available and any number of combinations are possible - depending on the needs of your students.

National Pollutant Inventory

Link to NPI Education

Check out the NPI 'substance fact sheets' where you will have learn about different substances and what you can do to reduce pollution to our air, water and land.

Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary

Link to Mulligans Flat Education
(Link to Woodlands and Wetlands Trust)
(Link to Jerrabomberra Wetlands)

The Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary welcomes schools for both incursion and excursion woodland wildlife experiences.

Landcare and Junior Landcare

Link to Landcare and Junior Landcare (and partner organisation Waterwatch)

Link to Junior Landcare Resources here.

There are more than 11,000 Junior Landcare groups and schools working with the more than 5,400 Landcare, Coastcare and community groups around Australia registered on the NLD, the National Landcare Directory. 

ACT Frogwatch

Link to Frogwatch on Naturemapr

In the ACT Frogwatch is a collaboration of a range of groups all of which holistically combine conservation and education programs.

ACT Waterwatch

Link to ACT Waterwatch Education

Upper Murrumbidgee Waterwatch is now available to provide field based education sessions with schools and youth groups.

Ginninderra Catchment Group - Waterwatch and Frogwatch

Link to GCG Environmental Education

Ginninderra Catchment Group offers a number of environmental education opportunities for schools, childcare centres and community groups.

DanceKids

Click here to go to DanceKids Canberra
DanceKids is a Canberra based education program that uses dance, music and theatre to inspire young people to take an active interest in the environment and the world around them.

Hot topics in Environmental Education - Latest Articles from the AJEE

AJEE is an internationally refereed journal publishing papers and reports on all aspects of environmental education. It presents research, information and argument to stimulate critical reflection, excellence and innovation in educational strategies to enhance awareness, understanding and actions to promote environmental and social justice. Link to latest issue.

To preview a summary of the journal, or to access articles if you are already logged in as an AAEE member, click the 'Journal AJEE' tab in this blog's header.

To access full feature articles, first login to AAEE and click the members area tab to turn on your access. Any issues, contact us at aaeeact@gmail.com &/or admin@aaee.org.au

Healthy Waterways ACT

Link to ACT Healthy Waterways. Link to H2OK

Formerly ACT Gov's program 'Understanding Canberra’s Wetlands', ACT Healthy Waterways is
now a major stormwater infrastructure program that incorporates a school curriculum program enabling students to learn how constructed urban wetlands work to help us restore waterways to health.

Australian National Botanic Gardens

Link to ANBG Education.

Join ANBG staff in their living classroom to discover Australia's rich natural and cultural heritage. Explore the connections between people, plants, and animals through inquiry-based exploration and hands-on learning experiences.

Questacon

Questacon is the spectacular and very popular National Science and Technology Centre in
Canberra and runs teacher education and hosts school visits. Will it eventually have a
sustainability science or natural history gallery? Nobody knows!

Link to teacher workshops here.

CSIRO Discovery Centre

The CSIRO Discovery Centre offers an interactive journey through CSIRO and Australian science history. It is one of Canberra's major attractions and is definitely worth adding to your list of things to do when you visit the city. The attraction presents science in an entertaining way to demystify it, and educates kids of all ages about the fascinating world of research and innovation.

Excellence in Environmental Education in the ACT - 2019 Awardees

President Viv Pearce OAM (centre) with 2019 nominees from left Julia Landford (NatureArt Lab), Taz Whan (President SEAACT) and Sue Jones (Director DanceKids and TakeFlight Education) at the Australian Academy of Science Shine Dome for National Science Week at the ACT AAEE session ‘Thinking Outside the Planet’, showcasing different and innovative ways to do education for sustainability. Read on for the nominations for the 2019 ACT awardees, Taz Whan and Julia Landford. 

Greenhouse gas demonstration

The effect of carbon dioxide on the atmosphere has been studied experimentally since 1856, when Ms Eunice Foote compared the warming of two flasks, one filled with “carbonic acid gas”, when they were simply placed in direct sunlight (1). Now, thanks to Warwick Cathro at 350.org Canberra, here is a neat way to reproduce this classic demonstration, ideal for a winter science fair, as we discovered.