See the Project Learning Tree / Growing Up WILD Trainings page for even more trainings.
More Opportunities Near You
Monthly (Date Changes each month)
NAAEE Monthly Webinar Series
Each month join members of the NAAEE eePro community to hear from educators, researchers and authors on a wide range of topics in environmental education.
Available to EEAI members. Look for more information on your Member Login Page.
Questions? Email EEAI Executive Director Abbie Enlund executivedirectoreeai@gmail.com
March 14, 2020
Prying into Prions: Investigating Chronic Wasting Disease
Giant City State Park, Makanda
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Protein synthesis is a topic that many students will not be interested in studying, yet you can make it relevant by using this unit. Prion diseases are caused by errors in protein synthesis. One of those diseases, chronic wasting disease, is affecting the white-tailed deer population in Illinois. During this workshop for middle school and high school teachers, you will preview the six lessons and activities, video and other materials in the unit, “Prying into Prions: Investigating Chronic Wasting Disease.” You'll receive this DVD unit and other supplemental materials. The information from this workshop can be used in teaching about protein synthesis, genetics, DNA replication, wildlife management and other topics. Professional Development Hours are available. Visit https://www.enticeworkshops.com for details, the complete list of workshops and to register.
March 21, 2020
Wildlife Basics for Early Childhood Educators
Starved Rock State Park, Utica
9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
This workshop for educators of grades prekindergarten through two will provide you with the information and resources that you need to successfully teach about and observe wildlife. We’ll focus on the life history of common wildlife species, and we’ll go on a hike to look for wildlife and their signs. You’ll receive training in using basic equipment. We’ll also discuss developing wildlife habitat on your school grounds. We’ll show you how to support the teaching of several of the Illinois Early Learning and Development Standards for science and Next Generation Science Standards with your students. You’ll take away numerous resources to use with young children when learning about nature. Professional Development Hours are available. Visit https://www.enticeworkshops.com for details, the complete list of workshops and to register.
April 18, 2020
Asian Carps: Activities for Middle School and High School Students to Support the Teaching of Next Generation Science Standards
Pere Marquette State Park, Grafton
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Asian carps are nonnative fishes that have invaded the waterways of Illinois and many other states. These species are responsible for enormous economic, recreational and environmental impacts. At this workshop, we’ll provide an introduction to their life history as well as data to quantify their effects. Containment methods being used in Illinois to keep Asian carps out of Lake Michigan will be discussed. Student lessons relevant to Next Generation Science Standards MS-LS2-4 and HS-LS2-7 will be incorporated. Although targeted to middle school and high school educators, teachers of other grade levels are welcome to attend but may need to adapt the information as appropriate. Professional Development Hours are available. Visit https://www.enticeworkshops.com for details, the complete list of workshops and to register.
Saturday, April 4
9:00am-4:00pm
NAAEE Guidelines for Excellence
Bora Simmons, Director, National Project for Excellence in Environmental Education
Bruce Young, Affiliate Network Coordinator, North American Association for Environmental Education
Participants in this one-day workshop will learn how to apply the North American Association for Environmental Education’s publication: K-12 Environmental Education: Guidelines for Excellence. These guidelines and the companion piece, K-12 Environmental Education: Guidelines for Excellence Executive Summary provide educators a roadmap to achieving environmental literacy by setting expectations for fourth (age 10), eighth (age 14) and twelfth grade (age 18) students and outlining a framework for effective and comprehensive environmental education programs and curricula.
What you will receive? Participants will receive a full day of training on the guidelines, lunch and a copy of the K-12 Environmental Education: Guidelines for Excellence publication, and its companion piece K-12 Environmental Education: Guidelines for Excellence Executive Summary.
Workshop Objectives:
Registration is through the EEAI Annual Conference registration, but participants DO NOT have to attend the full conference. Simply select just the NAAEE Guidelines Workshop as the registration option.
https://www.gifttool.com/registrar/ShowEventDetails?ID=2264&EID=28134
April 21-23, 2020
NatureStart™
The Chicago Zoological Society is offering a regional model of its NatureStart™ professional development course. This competency-based training is for teachers and staff from Head Start programs and for informal educators from zoos, museums, and nature centers who provide programs for young children and families. Together, educators will build skills for developing and facilitating nature play experiences for young children in all settings.
Cost: $550 includes NatureStart™ Toolkit, 18 hours of interactive training, and continental breakfast and lunch each day.
Upon completion, you will be able to assist your team in implementation of nature-based early learning competencies. The NatureStart ™ training team will provide you with ongoing support to help ensure successful implementation of NatureStart™ practices to your organization.
For additional information contact CZS.org/NatureStart or email Marilyn Brink at Marilyn.brink@czs.org.
Friday, June 19, 2020
Partnering For the Blanding's Turtle
9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Isle a la Cache Museum in Romeoville
$10 per person
Explore STEM science and the endangered Blanding's turtle. Meet ecologists, biologists and naturalists from the DuPage and Will county forest preserve districts to discover their efforts to revitalize the Blanding's turtle populations. Begin your day with a presentation and head out for a field study in telemetry. Then, meet captive-reared turtles, view their native habitat and learn about a unique partnership between the forest preserve districts, U.S. Fish and Wildlife and Illinois Department of Natural Resources. For more information, visit the Forest Preserve District of DuPage website using the title link.
NAAEE Monthly Webinar Series
Each month join members of the NAAEE eePro community to hear from educators, researchers and authors on a wide range of topics in environmental education.
Available to EEAI members. Look for more information on your Member Login Page.
Questions? Email EEAI Executive Director Abbie Enlund executivedirectoreeai@gmail.com
March 14, 2020
Prying into Prions: Investigating Chronic Wasting Disease
Giant City State Park, Makanda
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Protein synthesis is a topic that many students will not be interested in studying, yet you can make it relevant by using this unit. Prion diseases are caused by errors in protein synthesis. One of those diseases, chronic wasting disease, is affecting the white-tailed deer population in Illinois. During this workshop for middle school and high school teachers, you will preview the six lessons and activities, video and other materials in the unit, “Prying into Prions: Investigating Chronic Wasting Disease.” You'll receive this DVD unit and other supplemental materials. The information from this workshop can be used in teaching about protein synthesis, genetics, DNA replication, wildlife management and other topics. Professional Development Hours are available. Visit https://www.enticeworkshops.com for details, the complete list of workshops and to register.
March 21, 2020
Wildlife Basics for Early Childhood Educators
Starved Rock State Park, Utica
9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
This workshop for educators of grades prekindergarten through two will provide you with the information and resources that you need to successfully teach about and observe wildlife. We’ll focus on the life history of common wildlife species, and we’ll go on a hike to look for wildlife and their signs. You’ll receive training in using basic equipment. We’ll also discuss developing wildlife habitat on your school grounds. We’ll show you how to support the teaching of several of the Illinois Early Learning and Development Standards for science and Next Generation Science Standards with your students. You’ll take away numerous resources to use with young children when learning about nature. Professional Development Hours are available. Visit https://www.enticeworkshops.com for details, the complete list of workshops and to register.
April 18, 2020
Asian Carps: Activities for Middle School and High School Students to Support the Teaching of Next Generation Science Standards
Pere Marquette State Park, Grafton
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Asian carps are nonnative fishes that have invaded the waterways of Illinois and many other states. These species are responsible for enormous economic, recreational and environmental impacts. At this workshop, we’ll provide an introduction to their life history as well as data to quantify their effects. Containment methods being used in Illinois to keep Asian carps out of Lake Michigan will be discussed. Student lessons relevant to Next Generation Science Standards MS-LS2-4 and HS-LS2-7 will be incorporated. Although targeted to middle school and high school educators, teachers of other grade levels are welcome to attend but may need to adapt the information as appropriate. Professional Development Hours are available. Visit https://www.enticeworkshops.com for details, the complete list of workshops and to register.
Saturday, April 4
9:00am-4:00pm
NAAEE Guidelines for Excellence
Bora Simmons, Director, National Project for Excellence in Environmental Education
Bruce Young, Affiliate Network Coordinator, North American Association for Environmental Education
Participants in this one-day workshop will learn how to apply the North American Association for Environmental Education’s publication: K-12 Environmental Education: Guidelines for Excellence. These guidelines and the companion piece, K-12 Environmental Education: Guidelines for Excellence Executive Summary provide educators a roadmap to achieving environmental literacy by setting expectations for fourth (age 10), eighth (age 14) and twelfth grade (age 18) students and outlining a framework for effective and comprehensive environmental education programs and curricula.
What you will receive? Participants will receive a full day of training on the guidelines, lunch and a copy of the K-12 Environmental Education: Guidelines for Excellence publication, and its companion piece K-12 Environmental Education: Guidelines for Excellence Executive Summary.
Workshop Objectives:
- To identify key characteristics of high-quality environmental education instructional materials
- To describe age appropriate benchmarks for environmental literacy
- To assess your own level of preparation and need for professional development in environmental education
Registration is through the EEAI Annual Conference registration, but participants DO NOT have to attend the full conference. Simply select just the NAAEE Guidelines Workshop as the registration option.
https://www.gifttool.com/registrar/ShowEventDetails?ID=2264&EID=28134
April 21-23, 2020
NatureStart™
The Chicago Zoological Society is offering a regional model of its NatureStart™ professional development course. This competency-based training is for teachers and staff from Head Start programs and for informal educators from zoos, museums, and nature centers who provide programs for young children and families. Together, educators will build skills for developing and facilitating nature play experiences for young children in all settings.
Cost: $550 includes NatureStart™ Toolkit, 18 hours of interactive training, and continental breakfast and lunch each day.
Upon completion, you will be able to assist your team in implementation of nature-based early learning competencies. The NatureStart ™ training team will provide you with ongoing support to help ensure successful implementation of NatureStart™ practices to your organization.
For additional information contact CZS.org/NatureStart or email Marilyn Brink at Marilyn.brink@czs.org.
Friday, June 19, 2020
Partnering For the Blanding's Turtle
9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Isle a la Cache Museum in Romeoville
$10 per person
Explore STEM science and the endangered Blanding's turtle. Meet ecologists, biologists and naturalists from the DuPage and Will county forest preserve districts to discover their efforts to revitalize the Blanding's turtle populations. Begin your day with a presentation and head out for a field study in telemetry. Then, meet captive-reared turtles, view their native habitat and learn about a unique partnership between the forest preserve districts, U.S. Fish and Wildlife and Illinois Department of Natural Resources. For more information, visit the Forest Preserve District of DuPage website using the title link.