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The Lettered Olive: S.C. Sea Grant Consortium Education News
[ March 24, 2023]
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From green shoots poking tentatively out of the soil, to pairs of bluebirds eagerly building their nests, to alligators lazily warming in the sun, signs of spring have started to emerge. While nature marches towards its full complement of vibrant colors and sounds, you won't see this month's featured species moving anywhere. Despite having "knees," the bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) tree stands firmly in place in areas that are typically saturated with water or seasonally flooded, such as swamps. Classified as a deciduous conifer, this native tree sheds its needles in the fall, the bare appearance giving rise to the name "bald". Along with a flared trunk, the knees, or pneumatophores, that crop up above the water near the tree are two of its distinguishing physical features. The pneumatophores are conically-shaped extensions of the bald cypress's submerged roots and are thought to aid with anchoring the tree and for gas exchange.
Bald cypress trees are commonly found from Delaware to Texas. In South Carolina, Congaree National Park is home to "champion" trees that rank as some of the tallest in the state and nation, with the largest at the park towering more than 125 feet. Other impressive stands can be viewed from the boardwalk at Francis Beidler Forest. Traditionally logged for its rot-resistant wood, bald cypress trees have been used for furniture, fences, and other products. However, harvesting of bald cypress for these products has waned in recent years due to the fact that it grows slowly and their preferred location in wetlands can challenge -- or stump -- logging operations.
So as you root down into the joys of the spring season, be sure to get a move on to take advantage of these upcoming educational opportunities from the S.C. Sea Grant Consortium and our partners. Kneed we say more?
Photo Credit: E.V. Bell
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K - 12 Student and Educator Resources | |
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S.C. Sea Grant Earth Day Challenge
April 17 - 22, 2023
This year, Earth Day occurs on Saturday, April 22, and students, teachers, and the public-at-large are invited to participate in the S.C. Sea Grant Consortium (Consortium) Earth Day Challenge! Starting the week before Earth Day on Monday, April 17, a new daily challenge will post on social media that will encourage good stewardship and celebration of nature and the environment. For each challenge, participants have the option to take a photo and tag the Consortium, and by doing so, your photo might wind up in our Earth Day montage. There is no cost to participate, however, be sure to follow the Consortium on Facebook and/or Instagram so that you can be ready to access the daily challenges. Questions can be sent to E.V. Bell or Emmi Palenbaum.
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My Ocean Science Journals
Take advantage of the warmer weather by engaging your students with learning about the ocean through the S.C. Sea Grant Consortium's My Ocean Science Journals. Elementary, middle, and high school journal options are available for free download, each providing ten writing prompts and engagement activities based on the seven Ocean Literacy Essential Principles. Each week, one principle is highlighted with a fact page and supplemental activity. The prompts are written to be used weekly; however, they can be used more or less frequently depending on the needs of the student. In addition, the prompts are standalone concepts and can be used in or out of sequence. The journals are formatted in order to be used digitally or printed as a hard copy.
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Educator Professional Development | |
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EEASC Conference "InclusivitEE"
June 21 - 24, 2023
Penn Center (St. Helena Island, S.C.)
Registration is now open for the 2023 Environmental Education Association of South Carolina (EEASC) Conference, "InclusivitEE: Environmental Education for Everyone"! This year's conference will take place at the historic Penn Center on St. Helena Island from June 21 - 24, 2023 and will provide ample opportunities for learning, engagement, and exploring! Check out the conference webpage for a sneak peek at sessions, field trips, and networking events. Conference questions can be sent to Chanda Cooper.
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Save the Date!
From Seeds to Shoreline® Workshops
August 8, 2023 (Veteran Teachers)
August 9, 2023 (New Teachers)
The From Seeds to Shoreline® (S2S) program wants you to join our team for the 2023 - 2024 school year! The S2S program, coordinated by the S.C. Sea Grant Consortium in partnership with S.C. Department of Natural Resources and Clemson University, is the only salt marsh restoration program in the state designed specifically for K - 12 students and teachers. By growing Spartina alterniflora, the dominant plant of southeastern salt marshes, throughout the school year and transplanting young seedlings to areas of the coastline, students not only learn about the importance of this critical ecosystem but they also serve as environmental stewards. Two training sessions will be offered:
August 8, 2023 (Veteran Teacher Training): This one-day training is optional for those S2S teachers who have been with the program for at least one year. Join us for a fun-filled day of exploration and networking, new resources, giveaways, and much more!
August 9, 2023 (New Teacher Training): This one-day training is a pre-requisite for new teachers interested in participating in S2S for the upcoming school year. The training offers sessions on salt marsh ecology, restoration techniques, classroom applications, and more! There is no cost to attend, however, pre-registration will be required.
Registration will open April 24, 2023 via the S2S website. Questions can be sent to Morgan Treon.
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EEASC Annual Environmental Awards
Nomination Period Open
The Environmental Education Association of South Carolina (EEASC) is pleased to give recognition to those individuals and businesses that have supported environmental education efforts across the state. EEASC is currently accepting nominations for the following categories and the winners will be announced at the 2023 EEASC Conference.
- Environmental Educator of the Year
- Green Business of the Year
- Non-Profit Organization of the Year
- Outstanding Youth
- Legislator of the Year
To nominate an individual or organization for one or more of these prestigious awards, please visit the EEASC Awards website for more information.
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S.C. Sea Grant Consortium Speaker Request Form
Do you have a science night or career day coming up in the future? Would you like a speaker for your students or organization? The S.C. Sea Grant Consortium (Consortium) has plenty to share regarding marine science careers, current research projects, and engaging coastal science activities for all ages! Be sure to check out our career page to learn more about the Consortium, and if you are interested in booking the S.C. Sea Grant Consortium for an upcoming career day or science night, please fill out this request form.
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Enviroscape Loaner Program
The S.C. Sea Grant Consortium offers use of the Wetlands Enviroscape Model free-of-charge to any S.C. K-12, nonformal, and homeschool educator. The model provides a hands-on demonstration about how watersheds can be affected by development, pollution, and other human-made and natural impacts. Included as part of the demonstration are ways in which potential pollution impacts can be mitigated (e.g., riparian buffers and salt marshes). To find out more information on requesting to borrow the Enviroscape, please visit the Enviroscape Loaner Program webpage to fill out the request form. Questions can be sent to Morgan Treon.
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Join hundreds of South Carolina educators like you! The S.C. Sea Grant Consortium sends out marine science and coastal education updates every month with opportunities and resources. |
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