Educating Tomorrow

Join us on Tuesday, November 17, 2009 for the
UFT Green Schools Committee monthly General Meeting
Co-chairs: Coquille Houshour & Micki Josi

Agenda:
4:30-5:00    School Recycling Presentation
by Mary Most of the New York City Department of Sanitation
                    
5:00-6:00    General Meeting
PRESENTATION: Styrofoam Out of Schools Committee (SOS)      
by Debby Lee Cohen        

6:00-7:00    Subcommittee Breakout Sessions
Subcommittees plan and execute themed events. If you’re interested in joining one of the subcommittees, please attend the breakout session (we’re also looking chairs).
    Recycling and Waste
    Compost and Gardening
    School Food
    SOS (Styrofoam Out of Schools)
    Environmental Education
    Sustainable Energy

Where:    UFT – 52 Broadway, New York, NY 10004   -  212.598.7772
Please RSVP: uftgreenschools@uft.org

Upcoming events:
Worm Compost November 12 at 5pm http://www.eventbrite.com/event/471247514
School Recycling Training  November 23 at 5pm http://schoolrecyclingworkshop.eventbrite.com/
Mark your calendar and join us for all our monthly meetings:
12/15/09, 1/19/10, 2/23/10, 3/16/10, 4/22/10, 5/18/10, 6/15/10

The UFT Green Schools Committee was established to help realize successful school recycling programs in all NYC schools. Join our Leadership Team to envision school sustainability.  
Find out more about our Committee and other professional committees at http://www.uft.org/member/committees/
Join us on facebook!

Officers:  Michael Mulgrew President, Michael Mendel Secretary, Mel Aaronson Treasurer, Robert Astrowsky Assistant Secretary, Mona Romain Assistant Treasurer, Vice Presidents:  Karen Alford, Carmen Alvarez, Leo Casey, Richard Farkas, Aminda Gentile, Sterling Roberson

OPEIU:  153

Are New Yorkers right to think recycling is a waste of time?

http://econaturecare.com/blog/?p=748

Read this interesting article and let us know what you think!

Join us on Tuesday, October 20, 2009 for the
UFT Green Schools Committee monthly General Meeting

Co-chairs: Coquille Houshour & Micki Josi

Agenda:
4:30-5:00    School Recycling Presentation
by Mary Most of the New York City Department of Sanitation
                     
5:00-6:00    General Meeting
Guest Speaker from NYRP’s (New York Restoration Project) New Outdoor Learning Center & Environmental Education Programs
Announcements, Q + A & Networking

6:00-7:00    Subcommittee Breakout Sessions
Subcommittees plan and execute themed events. If you’re interested in joining one of the subcommittees, please attend the breakout session (we’re also looking chairs).
 
Recycling and Waste Chairs:  Shannon Buckley-Shaklee and Juliana Germak
Compost and Gardening Chair: Alison Croney
School Food Chair: TBD
SOS (Styrofoam Out of Schools) Chair: Debby Lee Cohen
Environmental Education Chair:  TBD
Sustainable Energy Chair:  TBD

Where:    UFT
52 Broadway, New York, NY 10004
212.598.7772

Please RSVP: uftgreenschools@uft.org

Mark your calendar and join us for all our monthly meetings: 10/20/09, 11/17/09, 12/15/09, 1/19/10, 2/23/10, 3/16/10, 4/22/10, 5/18/10, 6/15/10

The UFT Green Schools Committee was established to help realize successful school recycling programs in all NYC schools. Join our Leadership Team to envision school sustainability.   

Find out more about our Committee and other professional committees at http://www.uft.org/member/committees/

Officers:  Michael Mulgrew President, Michael Mendel Secretary, Mel Aaronson Treasurer, Robert Astrowsky Assistant Secretary, Mona Romain Assistant Treasurer, Vice Presidents:  Karen Alford, Carmen Alvarez, Leo Casey, Richard Farkas, Aminda Gentile, Sterling Roberson

OPEIU:  153

Greetings!

New York City Outdoors!
An Environmental Education Expo
Tuesday, September 29th, 2009
4:00—6:30 pm
Hudson River Park Pier 66a (the Barge at the Frying Pan), Hudson River
Park at 26th Street
For more information, call 212.431.9676 x334 or email
Rebe...@nycswcd.net
Learn about field trips and in-class programs!
* Composting
* Observing live marine life or forest animals
* Overnight camping in a city park
* Hiking in forests
* Fishing and seining
* Growing oysters or trout
* Gardening with hydroponics
* Harvesting solar energy
* Using our parks as outdoor classrooms
Cool demonstrations!
* Gardening oysters
* Fishing off the pier
* Observing reptiles, fish
* Testing the Hudson River water
FREE refreshments!
Savor the fantastic view of the Hudson River, too.
Networking and socializing!
Find like-minded peers and share stories and ideas.
This program is a joint venture of The River Project, New York City
Soil & Water Conservation District, and The NYU Wallerstein
Collaborative for Urban Environmental Education.

Want to be a part of the global climate solution? Turn your attention to the week of September 20-26 and join thousands of other concerned citizens taking action.

Climate Week NY°C will bring together hundreds of business and government leaders from across the world to New York City, along with thousands of everyday citizens, to participate in a series of activities designed to raise the visibility and urgency of climate change. Taking place seventy days before the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, this week will offer us an opportunity to underscore the urgency for a global climate change deal. The meetings in Copenhagen are extremely important to ensure that all countries do their part to halt the negative effects of climate change.

Teachers and students around the world have a critical opportunity to increase the impact of this week by participating in Climate Week NY°C’s Cool Your School initiative. Simply by bringing climate change curriculum into classrooms and engaging students, schools can support this call for global climate action.

Go one step further and focus your action on September 21st, which is the official launch of Climate Week NYC. This is also during the UN's General Assembly and is sure to attract the attention of international media. Your most important resources are the toolkit that is attached and the Cool Your School website.

If you would like additional information, please check out these links:

• Unite For Climate social networking site where you can find more resources
• Climate Week NYC website for events happening during the week
• Email Cool Your School with questions or additional ways to get involved

Check out this article on our activities... GO TEAM!

http://planetgreen.discovery.com/work-connect/teachers-nyc-students-recycle.html

Here are several exciting events and exhibits to get you geared up about NYC water (details further below):

1. TONIGHT 7pm: Discovery Channel’s “Under New York” focuses on the New York City water supply system

Two engineers explore subterranean New York, from the upstate New York watershed to the infrastructure beneath Manhattan Island.

2. 9/23: special event for the exhibit “The Future Beneath Us: 8 Great Projects Under New York”

The exhibit plunges into depth to explore the construction of City Water Tunnel #3 and the Croton Filtration Plant, along with other city projects.  

3. 9/24: 5^th Annual Green Brooklyn…Green City Fair and Symposium

An interactive event where attendees can learn first-hand from local experts about the many ways New York City is creating a more sustainable future. 

4. 9/29 Environmental Education Expo

Come network and learn about all of the various environmental education programs and organizations in New York City.

5. 10/8 A Day in the Life of the Hudson River

Get your students with their water testing equipment to join other students along the Hudson River and New York Harbor as they take a snapshot of our local waterways.

6. Until 10/12: Exhibit Mannahatta / Manhattan : A Natural History of New York City

Unique exhibit showcasing how Manhattan looked when Henry Hudson first sailed into the harbor.

7. 10/13 Trout in the Classroom Teacher Conference

Learn about Trout in the Classroom, network with fellow teachers, exchange lessons, and get your trout eggs for the year.

8. 10/28 and 10/29: City that Drinks the Mountain Sky

Bring your students to see this amazing puppet show that illustrates how the New York City water supply system was created.

9. Also this fall: OPENING of the Visitor Center at the Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant

See where your sink and shower water go as well as how your tap water flows to your faucet.

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1. TONIGHT 7pm: Discovery Channel’s “Under New York” focuses on the NYC water supply system

Two engineers explore subterranean New York, from the upstate New York watershed to the infrastructure beneath Manhattan Island.

"Under New York," a one-hour special featuring the Catskill Watershed airs on the Discovery Channel this Friday, September 4, at 7 pm.  

The program is a journey through the New York water system, from high above the upstate New York watershed through the underground infrastructure to its final destination at an apartment tap in New York City. 

Along the way, intrepid hosts John Rosiello and Christine McKinley bike down the steep slopes of the Catskill Mountains, kayak down the raging creeks that feed into the reservoir system, go deep underground to unearth the hidden workings of the intricate dam systems, explore abandoned aqueducts and scramble dozens of stories above the city streets atop one of New York's iconic wooden water towers.  

Given unprecedented access by the New York City  Department of Environmental Protection, "Under New York" goes underground with a crew digging an immense filtration plant deep in the earth and rappels down the face of a 240-foot dam with members of the specially trained DEP police team.

 "Under New York" explores one of the greatest water systems of the world and takes viewers to places few have ever seen - or can hope to see.  Produced by Optomen Productions for Discovery, "Under New York" is an adventurous exploration of an engineering marvel. 

This film was produced by Optomen Productions, a Soho, New York-based television production company known for science, reality and factual programming.

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2. 9/23: Special Event for the exhibit “The Future Beneath Us: 8 Great Projects Under New York”

The exhibit plunges into depth to explore the construction of City Water Tunnel #3 and the Croton Filtration Plant, along with other city projects.  

More details for the event will come soon.  

The New York Public Library
Science, Industry and Business Library
188 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10016
(212) 592-7000

http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/html/news/the_future_beneath_us.shtml

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3. 9/24: 5^th Annual Green Brooklyn…Green City Fair and Symposium

An interactive event where attendees can learn first-hand from local experts about the many ways New York City is creating a more sustainable future. 

Thursday, September 24, 2009 from 11:30am to 6pm

Brooklyn Borough Hall and Columbus Park

209 Joralemon Street

http://www.cenyc.org/GreenBrooklynGreenCity

Green Brooklyn...Green City is an interactive event where attendees can learn first-hand from local experts about the many ways New York City is creating a more sustainable future.  Alongside our Greenmarket farmers' market, attendees can visit exhibitors, make art from recycled products, and more.  The event is the largest of its kind in Brooklyn and we invite you to come learn the simple, small steps you can take to help keep New York City a healthy place to live.  This event is free and open to the public.  

Activities for youth: OROEgami with CENYC’s Office of Recycling Outreach and Education; Greenmarket Tours – youth have a chance to meet farmers and learn about agriculture and the relationship between food and the environment; Solar Oven and Green House display – youth can learn from high school students participating in CENYC’s environmental education programming about the power of the sun and how green design minimizing our environmental impact;  the following groups will also provide activities for youth: Urban Park Rangers, Prospect Park Alliance, New York City Department of Sanitation, New York City Department of Environmental Protection, and more.

Workshops

The State of the Climate     12:00pm-1:00pm

Green Your Business          1:30pm-2:30pm

Local Vs. Organic               3:00pm-4:00pm

All workshops take place in the Court Room inside Brooklyn Borough Hall.

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4. 9/29 Environmental Education Expo

Come network and learn about all of the various environmental education programs and organizations in New York City.

Tuesday, September 29th, 2009 from 4:00 to 6:30

Pier 66 in Manhattan (Hudson River at West 26th Street)

http://www.nycswcd.net/environmental_ed.cfm

The Expo showcases the environmental education resources for New York City teachers and educators, in hopes that more children will have the opportunity to experience and learn about the natural features of our city.  There will be over thirty organizations to showcase their school-based programs and the event will feature demonstrations, such as water quality testing, observing live fish and reptiles, and fishing. 

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5. 10/8 A Day in the Life of the Hudson River

Get your students with their water testing equipment to join other students along the Hudson River and New York Harbor as they take a snapshot of our local waterways.

This event is designed to celebrate the Hudson River Estuary and educate participants on the uniqueness of our estuary as part of the annual recognition of "National Estuaries Week". The event is coordinated by The Hudson River Estuary Program of New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and Hudson Basin River Watch.

http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/edu/k12/snapshotday/

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6. Until 10/12: Exhibit Mannahatta / Manhattan : A Natural History of New York City

Unique exhibit showcasing how Manhattan looked when Henry Hudson first sailed into the harbor.

Musuem of the City of New York

1220 Fifth Avenue

NY, NY 10029

212.534.1672

http://www.mcny.org/exhibitions/current/mannahatta-manhattan-a-natural-history-of-new-york-city.html

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7. 10/13 Trout in the Classroom Teacher Conference

Learn about Trout in the Classroom, network with fellow teachers, exchange lessons, and get your trout eggs for the year.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

The Henry A. Wallace Center at the FDR Presidential Library and Home in Hyde Park, NY. 

This day long conference is a wonderful opportunity to meet TIC teachers and contacts, attend TIC workshops and pick up trout eggs.  The event is free of charge  and only requires registration, lunch will be provided.   Please register for the conference on our website home page: www.troutintheclassroom.org

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8. 10/28 and 10/29: City that Drinks the Mountain Sky

Bring your students to see this amazing puppet show that illustrates how the New York City water supply system was created.

See attached flyer

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9. Also this fall: OPENING of the Visitor Center at the Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant

See where your sink and shower water go as well as how your tap water flows to your faucet.

Educator workshops will follow the opening.  Stay tuned.  Also close by is the Newtown Creek Nature Walk – the first public waterfront access to Newtown Creek and features rare views of the neighboring Newtown Creek wastewater treatment plant.

http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/html/environmental_education/newtown.shtml

Min Kan

Director of Education

NYC Department of Environmental Protection
59-17 Junction Boulevard 19th, Flr.
Flushing, NY 11373
Phone:  (718) 595-3503

Alternative Phone: (718) 595-3506
Fax:  (718) 595-3477
E-Mail:  mkan@dep.nyc.gov

www.nyc.gov/dep

This message was sent to me recently and I found it fascinating!!       Subject NWF Report:  How an "indoor childhood" affects classroom performance         (1)                                                                           

Dear Colleagues,

As American childhood has steadily moved indoors in the past 12 to 15
years, outdoor play is increasingly rare.   The weekly indoor-outdoor
time ratio is now about 10 to one on the indoor side.   We wondered what
effect this modern "indoor childhood" is having on the quality of K-12
education and the average student's readiness to learn in the classroom.

In this back-to-schools time period -- Research shows children are less
fit, have shorter attention spans and are less ready to be
high-performance learners without a greater emphasis on regular outdoor
time such as a daily Green Hour.

Our new NWF report: Time Out: Using The Outdoors to Enhance Classroom
Performance is available at:
http://www.nwf.org/nwfwebadmin/binaryVault/Time%20Out%20with%20BOT%20Activities1.pdf

Best,

Kevin C.
 (See attached file: Time Out Press Release 9-2-09.doc)