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Pennsylvania State Parks
Educator E-Blast
January 2026 Edition
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Happy New Year! 🎉
We welcome you to 2026 with no resolutions. How can we help you this year? Let us know.
We hope this January edition provides you with a spark, an insight, or a needed training. Our list of upcoming professional development (PD) for educators is back with some great upcoming trainings (with more to come)!
Check out all of the good, free stuff below ⬇️ Snow ❄ Science, Winter Salt 🧂 Watch, Great Backyard Bird 🐦Count, Educator PD, MLK Day, & more!
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PA State Parks Educator E-Blast Contents ⬇️ -
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Section 1: Winter Teaching Ideas + FREE Lessons!
- Section 2: Educator Professional Development Trainings
- Section 3: Conferences, Trainings & Webinars for Educators
- Section 3: Explore the Outdoors!
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Section 4: Striving Towards Inclusion - MLK & Holocaust Remembrance Day
- Capstone: PA State Park Info. & Updates
| | Section 1: Winter Teaching Ideas | | |
Snow is an exciting Natural Phenomenon for students to Investigate at any grade level!
Start exploring today with these Snow Science Resources -
Activities, Lessons, Data, & More!
❄️The Science of Snow from The National Snow & Ice Data Center (NSIDC)
❄️How Do Snowflakes Form? Get the science behind snow from NOAA
❄️SnowCrystals.com tons of activities + Info., includes the Snow Morphology Diagram from Kenneth G. Libbrecht/Cal Tech
❄️Snowflake Bentley Resources & great snowflake pics from Jericho VT Historical Society
❄️Q-tip snowflake craft from TheBestIdeasForKids.com
Videos
❄️The Science of Snowflakes – middle & high school, 5:59 min. from Be Smart PBS
❄️The Snowflake Myth - high school & adult, 18:48 min. from Veritasium
❄️How Do Snowflakes Form? - high school & adult, 8:24 min. from Another Perspective
❄️Identical Snowflakes? Scientist Ruins Winter For Everyone – MS & HS, 3:28 min. from PBS
❄️Where Do Snowflakes Come From? – for younger students, 3:41 min., from SciShowKids
Books written by Snowflake Scientists featuring amazing photos of snowflakes ❄️
❄️The Six-Cornered Snowflake by Johannes Kepler
❄️Snow Crystals: Natural & Artificial by Ukichiro Nakaya
❄️The Snowflake, Winter’s Frozen Artistry by Kenneth Libbrecht & Rachel Wing
Children’s Books
❄️It’s Winter! by Linda Glaser, Illustrated by Susan Swan
❄️The Snow Thief by Alice Hemming, Illustrated by Nicola Slater
❄️Curious About Snow by Gina Shaw, Smithsonian
❄️Snowflake Bentley About "The Snowflake Man" by Jacqueline Briggs Martin, Illustrated by Mary Azarian
❄️The Secret Life of a Snowflake by Kenneth Libbrecht
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Utilize STEELS and Phenomena-Based Investigations!
💡Explore changes in the air around us to help students understand long-term climate patterns. Graph local temperature, climate gas concentrations, & precipitation trends with real datasets from NOAA Data in the Classroom.
💡Next Generation Climate Curriculum for Grades 6-8 - Use outdoor observation to ground learning by engaging in Community Science (formerly citizen science).
💡Community Collaborative Rain, Hail & Snow Network (CoCoRaHS) is a community-based network of volunteers working together to measure & map precipitation. CoCoRaHS staff worked with teachers & curriculum developers to curate a series of Real-Science Based Lessons & Activities for grades K-2, 3-5, 6-7, & 9-12.
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Participate in the Winter❄Salt🧂Watch Program from the Izaak Walton League!
Study local science! Our winter roads need to be safe, but many of PA's 86,000 miles of streams 💦 are suffering from excessive road salt. With Winter Salt Watch, you can quickly perform STEM-based community science with your students or volunteers by monitoring road salt in streams via testing Chloride levels. 🧂
❄️Request a FREE 🆓Salt Watch Kit! Includes everything you need to learn whether road salt pollution is a problem in your local stream. A great way to study winter-based Phenomena! 🌨
Winter Salt🧂Week -- January 26–30, 2026 - A multistate effort to raise awareness about the harms of road salt.
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The Great Backyard Bird🐦Count is almost here! February 13-16, 2026
In as little as 15-minutes, observe the birds around you, ID them, count them, & submit your counts to help scientists better understand & protect birds around the world. Learn how!
Tuesday, January 27, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM ET - Register NOW
Bring the joy of science into your classroom by participating in the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC)—a fun, hands-on way for students to observe birds, collect data, & contribute to real-world research.
In this free, one-hour webinar you will:
- Discover how to participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count
- Explore resources that make teaching bird identification simple & engaging
- Discuss tips & tricks for leading successful bird walks
| | Section 2: Educator Professional Development (PD) Trainings | |
Project WET 💧 Climate, Water, and Resilience PD for Educators
Wednesday, February 4, 8:30 AM - 11:30 AM
In-person at Kinzua Bridge State Park, 296 Viaduct Road, Kane, PA 16735
Act 48: 3 hrs.
Fee: FREE!; pre-registration required 🆓
Project WET's Climate, Water, & Resilience Educator Guide helps educators teach middle & high school students about climate & climate change using interactive, objective, science-based activities that students enjoy. This PD training is open to all educators who work with students from grades 6-12, including teachers, naturalists, scout leaders, & others! All participants will receive the Climate, Water, & Resilience Educator Guide, ready-to-use lessons, deeper content knowledge, & insights on making climate education relevant to today's students. Pre-registration is required. Register NOW! Questions? Contact Holly Dzemyan at hdzemyan@pa.gov or (814) 778-5467.
Project Learning Tree Explore Your Environment: K-8 Educator PD 🌲
Friday, February 13, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
In-person at Carbon County EE Center, 151 E. White Bear Dr, Summit Hill, PA 18250
Act 48: 5 hrs.
Fee:$20; pre-registration required
This workshop is a collaboration of Hickory Run State Park with CCEEC. Project Learning Tree (PLT) is an award-winning, EE program committed to advancing forest literacy & green career pathways, using trees & forests as windows on the world. During this PD for formal & non-formal educators, learn about forests & their resources through hands-on activities. Participants will receive the PLT Explore Your Environment: K-8 Activity Guide & other supporting materials. Register NOW! Questions? Contact Jeannie Carl at CCEEC cceec@ptd.net or (570) 645-8597.
GO Teach Educator PD - Hiking🥾and Snowshoeing❄️
Monday, February 16, 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
In-person at Moraine State Park, 195 Park Road, Prospect, PA 16052
Act 48: 6.5 hrs.
Fee:$20; pre-registration required
GO Teach Workshops provide educators with ideas to develop the skills & background knowledge to lead students in a variety of outdoor recreational activities while creating a sense of responsibility and stewardship to protect our natural resources. Learn the basics of hiking & snowshoeing as they apply to students K-12, guiding them into lifelong physical activities, while also correlating to academic standards in Physical Education, Health, Science, Civics along with a variety of cross curricular connections. This workshop is open to all adult educators, from formal teachers to naturalists, scout leaders, & homeschool teachers. Participants will receive both GO Teach: Hiking & GO Teach: Snowshoeing - 2 guides for incorporating outdoor recreation into the classroom. Register NOW! Questions? Contact morainesp@pa.gov or call 724-368-8811.
WILD About Waterfowl🦆- Using Project WILD to Help your MWEE Take Flight Educator PD!
Thursday, February 19, 9:00 AM - 2:30 PM
In-person at Montour Preserve, 374 Preserve Road, Danville, PA 17821
Act 48: 5 hrs.
Fee: FREE!; pre-registration required, lunch provided 🆓
Join the PA Game Commission (PGC), the North Central Environmental Literacy HUB & MWEE initiative, & the Montour Preserve Vernal School for a full-day professional learning experience designed for K–12 & nonformal educators. Spend the day at the Montour Preserve, where participants will explore the Project WILD curriculum, engage in hands-on outdoor activities, & learn how these resources align with Pennsylvania’s STEELS standards. This collaborative workshop highlights practical strategies for integrating wildlife education, environmental literacy, & MWEE-aligned instruction into your teaching practice. Educators will leave with the K-12 Project WILD curriculum, ready-to-use lessons, deeper content knowledge, & connections to regional partners who support high-quality EE. Register NOW! via the CSIU 21 website. Questions? Contact Colleen Epler-Ruths, STEM Edu. Consultant, cepler-ruths@csiu.org or 570-523-1155 X: 2206
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Growing Up WILD🦊Virtual Educator PD
Saturday, March 21, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Virtual on Teams with Presque Isle State Park
Act 48: 2.5 hrs.
Fee: FREE! 🆓pre-registration required
Virtual professional development opportunity for formal & non-formal educators of students in Preschool-3rd grade. Growing Up WILD is an award-winning early childhood education program that builds on children’s sense of wonder about nature & invites them to explore wildlife & the world around them. Register NOW. Register by 3/5/26. Questions? Contact Ray Bierbower, EES at edbierbowe@pa.gov or 814-833-0793.
Supporting the ELS of STEELS with Project WILD PD for Educators
Wednesday, March 25, 10 AM - 3 PM
In-Person at Intermediate Unit #1, 1 Intermediate Unit Drive, Coal Center, PA 15423
Act 48: 5 hrs.
Fee: FREE! pre-registration required; lunch provided. 🆓
K-12 educators, join Julie Travaglini from the Allegheny Land Trust, for a Project WILD PD workshop. Participants will be immersed in wildlife-based conservation & environmental education lessons that foster responsible actions towards wildlife. Participants will receive the Project WILD K-12 Curriculum & Activity Guide, aligned with NGSS & PA STEELS Standards, & more. Training is open to all educators. Register NOW! Questions? Contact IU1registration@iu1.org.
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Watershed Education💧Professional Development Workshop
Saturday, April 11, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
In-person at Little Pine State Park, 4205 Little Pine Creek Rd., Waterville, PA 17776
Act 48: 11.5 hrs. (includes 3 hrs. pre-workshop assignment)
Fee: $20 pay in advance; pre-registration required
Watershed Education (WE) is an inquiry-based, interdisciplinary curriculum for students in grades 6 -12. Developed by the DCNR Bureau of State Parks, WE helps educators utilize local natural resources as a valuable teaching tool. By blending hands-on classroom & field investigations modeled on professional research methodologies, students participate in data collection & analysis, community networking & partnerships, stewardship & service learning activities. WE promotes in-depth, multi-modal learning & understanding of water resources while encouraging students to examine their watershed holistically. Educators attending this workshop will receive the Bureau of State Parks award-winning Watershed Education curriculum & additional resources. Pay $20 fee in advance via credit card - call the park office at 570-753-6000. Register NOW! Questions? Contact Ian Loewen, EES at iloewen@pa.gov or 570-753-6000.
| Section 3: Trainings, Webinars, & Grants for Educators | | |
Winter Training Webinars for Educators from the Outdoor Learning School & Store!
FREE Winter Virtual Workshops! 🆓
60 mins. ea. + access to recording + certificate of attendance
Fee-Based Winter Courses - Sliding scale fees for these trainings: $80-$160 (+group discounts)
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The PA Association of Environmental Educators (PAEE) Annual Conference is an opportunity to celebrate & grow in the fantastic EE field in PA!
March 8-10, 2026
Wyndham Gettysburg Hotel & Conference Center
Learn More & Register NOW
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Stop by our DCNR - PA State Parks Exhibit table at the PAEE Conference to meet & talk to us about all things EE, STEELS, & PA State Parks! Plus, get free stuff!
Attend a session with PA State Park Educators!
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Sunday, March 8 from 11 AM - 1 PM, "Maple Sugaring" at Codorus State Park with Renae Weidner, EES
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Monday, March 9 from 9:30 AM - 10:15 AM "Teaching About Climate Change Utilizing a Wildlife Lens with Project WILD" with Carissa Longo, PA Project WILD Coordinator - All session attendees will the leave with their own copy of the new Project WILD Climate & Wildlife Activity Module!
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Section 4:
Explore the Outdoors!
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Pennsylvania's First Day Hikes 2026 🥾🎉❄🌲
On Thursday, January 1, 2026, PA Department of Conservation & Natural Resource (DCNR) hosted 64 hikes at 48 locations (45 parks & 3 forest districts); welcoming 1,984 participants, who collectively hiked 4,364 miles. Thank you for joining us! Were you there? If not, join us next year!
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Winter Festivals ❄️🛷⛄
Fall isn't the only time for 'festivals'. Did you know that DCNR hosts a variety of Winterfests each January & February? These family-friendly winter festivals at PA State Parks offer opportunities to tryout ice skating, snowshoeing, xc skiing, sledding, food vendors, crafts, & even a polar plunge! Each Winterfest is unique &, are, of course ❄️cold weather dependent. Learn more & find an upcoming Winterfest near you, check out the DCNR Calendar of Events. Bundle up & head out for winter fun!
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Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (MLK) - January 19, 2026
"On November 2, 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed the King Holiday Bill into law, designating the 3rd Monday in January a federal holiday in observance of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The legislation to recognize Martin Luther King Jr. Day was first introduced just 4 days after his assassination on April 4, 1968. Still, it would take 15 years of persistence by civil rights activists for the holiday to be approved by the federal government & an additional 17 years for it to be recognized in all 50 states!"
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International Holocaust Remembrance Day - January 27
January 27th marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau by Soviet troops in 1945. This commemoration not only marks when prisoners who survived Auschwitz were freed, but it also stands as an essential reminder to the world that such cruelty and suffering must never be forgotten.
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PA State Parks are YOURS!
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Book your virtual, in-person programs, and field experiences with PA State Park Educators! Find a PA State Park. Need help connecting to a PA State Park with an Educator on staff? Reach out to Carissa Longo at calongo@pa.gov.
DCNR facilities and Programs are OPEN to ALL👐
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Many Environmental Education programs require pre-registration. Explore the DCNR events calendar for details & to register.
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Plan your outing before you leave. Learn about facilities, download a park map on your phone or print it, & review regulations here: Find A Park
- Take care of & respect the resource. Park, hike, hunt, explore, & more only in designated areas.
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Check the weather before you depart, dress in layers, wear proper footwear, & bring water 💦. Wear orange if hiking in designated hunting areas. Please clean up after pets 🐕.
- Do not litter 🚮.
- Alcohol is not allowed in PA State Parks.
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Make a Reservation (up to 11-months in advance) at a PA State Park Campground, Camping Cottage, Cabin, Yurt, or Pavilion.
You can help keep state parks safe for all by following these practices:
- Use the restroom before you leave your house 🏡 Take hand sanitizer with you & use it
- LNT! Bring a bag & either carry out your trash or dispose of it properly
- If you are sick or have been exposed to someone who is sick, stay home
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🎉 Happy New Year! 🎉
Carissa Longo, Natural Resource Program Specialist
(Coordinating Project WILD & Pennsylvania Songbirds Curricula for all of PA)
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Christine Ticehurst, Natural Resource Program Specialist
(Coordinating PLT & DCNR's GO Teach Curricula for PA State Parks)
&
Kim Lott, Natural Resource Program Specialist
(Coordinating DCNR's Watershed Education, PA Land Choices, & Project WET curricula for PA State Parks)
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