The California Regional Environmental Education Community (CREEC) Network is an educational project supported by the California Department of Education, Environmental Education Program, in collaboration with state, regional and local partners. The CREEC Network is the best source for Environmental Education resources in California.

Our online, searchable Resource Directory includes Environmental Education providers and programs/resources available to educators in your area. Please look at our calendar and find environmental education activities and exhibits, funding opportunities, and teacher professional development opportunities.

Please contact your local coordinator and they will be happy to assist you with your environmental education needs. For information about curriculum resources visit CREEC Curriculum.

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EDUCATION AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVE:
The first units being field tested will be available online in early July. Check the EEI website next month if you are interested in looking at these draft EEI units, http://www.calepa.ca.gov/Education/EEI/Curriculum/Default.htm#curriculumunits. Reviewer
applications are still being accepted. Applications are available at the CREEC website at http://www.creec.org/stories/storyReader$198.

"You've probably heard people talk about conservation. Well, conservation isn't just the business of a few people. It's a matter that concerns all of us. It's a science whose principles are written in the oldest code in the world, the laws of nature. The natural resources of our vast continent are not inexhaustible. But if we will use our riches wisely, if we will protect our wildlife and preserve our lakes and streams, these things will last us for generations to come."

-- Walt Disney

The Walt Disney Company continues to operate in a manner upholding Walt's progressive ideals. In 1990, the Company introduced Environmentality and identified Jiminy Cricket as the mascot to represent this initiative and serve as the official conscience for Cast Members and Guests.

Environmentality is a fundamental ethic that blends business growth with the conservation of natural resources. Attention to the environment drives new business initiatives demonstrating how environmental stewardship goes hand-in-hand with bottom line cost savings.

Please take a moment to reflect on your individual action and join Jiminy Cricket by adopting Environmentality.

LOOKING FOR PHOTOS?
USDA Forest Service's "Find-a-Photo" Web site allows access to thousands of copyright-free wildlife, fish, wildflower, adn EE photographs available for non-profite use. Please credit the photographer. http://wwwnotes.fs.fed.us:81/wo/wfrp/find_a_photo.nsf/.

STUDENTS' GUIDE TO COMPOSTING:
Composting in the Classroom: Scientific Inquiry for High School students, by Nancy Trautmann and Marianne Krasny, is a comprehensive guide for teachers interested in giding composting research projects by high school students. Downloadable in pdf format. http://compost.css.cornell.edu/CIC.html.

Congressman John Sarbanes of Maryland and Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island recently introduced legislation that strengthens and expands environmental education in America's
classrooms and reconnects children with nature. These bills, each titled the No Child Left Inside Act of 2007, were introduced in the House (H.R.3036) and the Senate (S.1981).

The No Child Left Inside Act of 2007 amends the NCLB law in the following ways:

§ Provides federal funding to states to train teachers in environmental education and to
operate model environmental education programs, which include outdoor learning.

§ Provides funding to states that create environmental literacy plans to ensure that high school graduates are environmentally literate.

§ Provides funding through an environmental education grant program to build state and national capacity.

§ Re-establishes the Office of Environmental Education within the U.S. Department of Education.

To see more on this topic visit: http://www.naaee.org/ee-advocacy/

For more Current News click on newsletter for updates:

Please contact Manuel Aquino with any updates, questions, requests, or information you may have regarding EE in Region 7.

region7 News

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