Education Opportunities
[ S.C. Sea Grant Consortium - July 17, 2020 ]
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Dear South Carolina Educators,
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Often seen skittering across the sand to evade crashing waves, curious beachcombers, or hungry birds, the Atlantic ghost crab (
Ocypode quadrata
)
, unlike its name, is more interesting than scary! While this crab doesn't say "boo" or jump out to scare unsuspecting sunbathers, the ghost crab gets the name from the pale yellow-white coloration of the carapace and claws that enables it to blend in with beach sand. In fact, the black eyes of the ghost crab sometimes are the only thing that makes it stand out! Ghost crabs are crustaceans -- a taxonomic classification that includes animals that are invertebrates, have exoskeletons, and possess at least four pairs of jointed legs, including claws. Closely related to several other common crustacean species in South Carolina, blue crabs, fiddler crabs, shrimp, and barnacles, the ghost crab has found its ecological niche along the coastal beaches and dunes where they dig burrows up to four feet deep. Unlike most coastal crabs, ghost crabs are mainly terrestrial and keep their gills wet using hair-like structures to absorb water from the sand. Although not adept at swimming, ghost crabs are often seen nimbly running sideways across the beach sand -- in fact, part of its scientific name, "
Ocypode
", means "swift-footed"! Ghost crabs are omnivores and scavenge on detritus, feast on insects, and prey on sea turtle nests for eggs or hatchlings. Channeling this week's featured creature, be sure to "crab" hold of these "clawsome" educational opportunities brought to you by the S.C. Sea Grant Consortium and our partners!
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2020-2022 Palmetto Environmental Education Certification (PEEC) Program
Registration Now Open!
Deadline: July 31, 2020
Interested in becoming part of the state's first and only environmental education certification program for formal and nonformal educators? The
PEEC program
blends the
NAAEE
Core Competencies with South Carolina-specific topics, examples, and regions to provide a robust and relevant training in environmental education. The
requirements of this two-year program
include training workshops, online modules, outdoor experiences, and a final capstone project. Please visit the
Application Page
for information on applying for the 2020 – 2022 class. Registration is open through July 31, 2020 and renewal credits are available for formal educators. For questions about this program, please contact
EV Bell
.
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2020-2022 PEEC Program Diversity Scholarships Available
Application Period Open!
Deadline: July 31, 2020
The
Palmetto Environmental Education Certification (PEEC) program
is the state’s first and only environmental education certification program for formal and noformal educators. The
requirements of this two-year program
include: training workshops, online modules, outdoor experiences, and a final capstone project designed to build skills in effective environmental education while learning about the different regions of the state. With generous funding from the Spaulding-Paolozzi Foundation and the Environmental Education Association of South Carolina, the PEEC Diversity Scholarship Award was created to extend the PEEC program to the diverse communities of South Carolina, specifically those groups historically considered to be underrepresented in environmental education. Winners of this scholarship will be awarded full registration costs for the 2020-2022 PEEC class (value $600). For eligibility and application information, please visit the
PEEC website
. Questions can be sent to
EV Bell
.
Energy Office Mini-Grant
Application Period July 1 - 31, 2020
The Energy Office of the S.C. Office of Regulatory Staff will begin taking applications for mini-grants beginning July 1, 2020. The U.S. Department of Energy provides the Energy Office with funds to support high-impact competitive demonstration projects in the areas of energy efficiency, renewable energy, and clean transportation. To evaluate mini-grant applications during the competitive process, the Energy Office will be considering criteria listed in the
solicitation document
(PDF). Be sure to address the criteria which apply to your project when describing it in the Project Overview section of the
application
(PDF).
Eligible applicants include:
- state agencies,
- local governments,
- public colleges/universities/technical colleges,
- K-12 public schools, and
- 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations.
The maximum award value will be $10,000. Cost sharing is not required, but leveraging of funds is encouraged in order to maximize the energy-related benefits of a project. The application form can be found on the
Energy Office website
. If you have any questions, contact Rick Campana
via email
or by phone at (803) 737-5229.
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South Carolina Aquarium: Stay Connected Resources
Are you practicing social distancing, but looking for things to do? Check out the South Carolina Aquarium's "Stay Connected" resources that include online curricula, virtual visits, and opportunities for a live animal to be at your next meeting or event. Please visit their Stay Connected
webpage
for more information.
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Bio
Disc
overy Workshop
Feedback Requested
The
BioDiscovery Project
promotes environmental stewardship among South Carolina’s students, teachers, and non-formal educators through the creation and deployment of bioracks, a tool used to study aquatic flora and fauna. This program, coordinated by the Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission in partnership with the S.C. Sea Grant Consortium, Clemson Extension, and the College of Charleston's Grice Marine Lab, infuses project-based learning and STEM (Science-Technology-Engineering-Math) activities with outdoor environmental education and data collection.
For the 2020 - 2021 school year, an educator training will be offered for this program; however, we would like your input as to the best format (e.g., virtual) and time of year (e.g., fall of 2020) for scheduling a workshop.
Take Action SC Virtual Workshop
July 29, 2020
9:00 AM – 12:30 PM
SC DHEC and Take Action SC Environmental Education Partners will be hosting the annual environmental education summer workshop in a virtual setting this year! The goal of Take Action SC Environmental Education Partnership is to provide a program that informs, inspires, and empowers students and teachers to protect and preserve the environment. The Take Action SC Virtual Workshop will have multiple sessions throughout this online experience to help you find ways to integrate environmental lessons into your everyday teaching – in the classroom and now even virtually! Each attendee will receive an educational toolkit in the mail after the workshop (sent to the shipping address you provided in the registration). Please visit the
registration page
to sign up for the workshop and to learn more. Questions can be sent to
Jane Hiller.
SC Project Learning Tree (PLT) Virtual Educator Workshops
Environmental Experiences for Early Childhood
10:00 AM, July 16, 2020
Hosted by Hobcaw Barony, this workshop is designed for early
childhood educators who work with ages 3 - 6. This workshop is approved for 3 hours of S.C. Endeavors credits. For more information, see the
registration flyer.
Energy and Ecosystems E-Unit Grades 3 - 5
10:00 AM, July 30, 2020
Hosted by Harbison State Forest, this workshop is designed for
educators who work with grades 3 - 5. This workshop is approved for 4.5 hours of S.C. Department of Education renewal credits. For more information, see the
registration flyer
.
PLT and Project WET Combination Workshop
August 4, 2020
This workshop is hosted by the Environmental Education Association of South Carolina and Roper Mountain Science Center. Participants will receive an electronic copy of the PLT PreK - 8 Environmental Education Activity Guide and a paper copy of the Project WET Curriculum and Activity Guide 2.0. This workshop is approved for 12 S.C. Department of Education renewal credits. For more information and to register, please view the
workshop flyer
.
PLT Workshop
August 14, 2020
This workshop is hosted by Lynches River County Park, one of seven S.C. PLT Environmental Education Centers. Participants will receive the PreK - 8 Environmental Education Activity Guide. This workshop is approved for 5.5 S.C. Department of Education renewal credits. For more information and to register, please view the
workshop flier
.
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Have Something to Include?
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Have an opportunity or resource that you would like to add to the next S.C. Sea Grant Consortium Education email update?
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Join hundreds of South Carolina educators like you! The S.C. Sea Grant Consortium sends out weekly marine science and coastal education updates with opportunities and resources.
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