Iowa Association of Naturalists

The Spring Region V
NAI Regional Interpretive Workshop, Growing the Interpretive Field
April 9-13, 2008, Rochester, MN
The 2008 NAI Regional Workshop Committee invites you
to come grow with us in Rochester, MN for the 2008
Regional Interpretive Workshop, Growing the Interpretive
Field, April 9-13. This year’s workshop includes:
• Concurrent Sessions presented by your peers
• Annual Professional Awards Banquet
• Annual Scholarship Auction
• Buffalo Chip Flip
• Offsite activities including fishing, hiking, history,
and more!
• Pre-workshop training on April 9 – (registration is
separate)
• Keynotes by Senior Exhibit Developer, Kate
Roberts and Author/Photographer Stan Tekiela
• Much, much, more!
Watch for registration materials and more information in
the Region 5 Newsletter and on the NAI Region 5
Website: www.nairegions.org/5/.
Register early! The early-bird deadline is February 22,
2008.For more information about the workshop see details on the Region V website: http://www.nairegions.org/5

The National Interpreters Workshop this year is in
Wichita, Kansas November 6-10. For more
information visit: http://www.interpnet.com

Winterfest 2008!
conference in Waterloo in
January probably seems like a long
way in the future! Planning for the annual conference starts in March
and by this time very year we have a lot of the
conference set in stone. At the 2008 conference we again have a lot of great
things in store for county conservation board
employees, starting with a keynote address by Dr.
Pease on Monday afternoon and a second keynote
address by tourism guru Roger Brooks on Tuesday.
With his expertise in marketing, advertising, and
public relations, Roger has developed a series of
highly entertaining and educational marketing
workshops, which are extremely popular. Stay tuned
for Roger's afternoon breakout session where he will
showcase additional rules such as “Restrooms Attract
More Than Flies,” “Critical Mass is Not Just a
Religious Experience,” and “Real Men Don’t Ask
For Directions". Along with these two high energy
keynote speakers we also have a wide variety of
concurrent session for attendees to choose from.
Look for Winterfest 2008 registration packets to hit
your “inbox” during the month of November. If you
don’t receive a copy of the registration packet
yourself and would like to, please feel free to contact
Angela Bries at sassycyclone@hotmail.com or Bob
Etzel at betzel@tamacounty.org . See you in
Waterloo!

Plug into Environmental Education at Winter Solstice
January 25-27, 2008
Camp I-O-Dis-E-Ca, in the Iowa City area
The Solstice Committee has put together another
inspiring workshop with keynotes Rich Leopold of the
Iowa DNR, Chip Taylor of Monarch Watch, and David
Osterberg with the Iowa City Policy Project.
Concurrent sessions will compliment the keynotes as
well as provide insight into this year's theme Plug into
Environmental Education.
Participants will come away with new knowledge,
renewed energy, new friendships, as well as catching
up with friends from past workshops.
Fifteeen dollar stipends are available for the first
fifiteen future teachers attending college as well as
$45.00 stipends for the first forty participants
requesting one. Graduate credit and AEA staff
development is also available.
Don't come empty handed, bring an item to be
auctioned off on Saturday evening. Monies from the
auction will support future stipends for Winter Solstice
attendees.
For further information or to request a registration
form, contact Heather Niec, ICEC Administrative
Coordinator at: AdminICEC@hotmail.com or 319-848-
7019.

Share Environmental Education Efforts at 2008 NAAEE
Call for Presentations
Deadline: January 15
Conference in Wichita, KS
The North American Association for Environmental
Education’s 37th Annual Conference will be held October
15–18 in Wichita, Kansas. To submit a presentation, go to
www.naaee.org/conference/2008-conference

6th Annual River Expedition
June 14 – 21, 2008
This year’s trip will tackle about 87 miles of the Winnebago,
Shell Rock and Cedar Rivers from June 14 – 21, 2008. The
route will launch from Mason City and float through
Rockford, Marble Rock, Greene, Clarksville, and Shell
Rock before landing in Cedar Falls.
In the five-year history of Project AWARE, the
expedition has sported an impressive track record
enlisting 863 participants who have cleaned up over
400 river miles and removing 1,000 cubic yards or
trash, 85 percent of which was recycled. For more
information or to register visit:
www.iowaprojectaware.com

Loess Hills Prairie Seminar
May 30, 31 and June 1, 2008
Loess Hills Wildlife Area, Onawa, Iowa
The Loess Hills Prairie Seminar is sponsored annually by
Northwest Area Education Agency for educators, students,
park and conservation persons, community leaders, and
citizens. It's held in the Loess Hills Wildlife Area
northeast of Onawa, Iowa. The philosophy and rationale is
grounded in the concept of the "total village" – the belief
that schools are part of the larger community that must
come together to share and learn about the natural world
and how to protect it. More information can be found at:
www.nwaea.k12.ia.us/en/upcoming_events/loess_hills/

Projects WILD, WILD Aquatic, and Learning Tree

WILD, WILD Aquatic, and PLT materials are available to formal and nonformal educators through workshops on request for groups of at least 15 educators and/or youth leaders.

Workshops also are provided through several colleges and universities. At the workshop, participants will be introduced to several activities as well as to suggested teaching techniques, ideas for using the activities, and philosophies behind the programs.

Email the WILD/ PLT coordinator to receive email notification of upcoming training opportunities. Please contact the workshop presenter if you require special accommodations.

Workshop date, location

Projects WILD, WILD Aquatic, Learning Tree Online Course

Projects WILD, WILD Aquatic, Learning Tree Online

This eight-week class is offered through Green Valley AEA 14. There is a required introductory session Saturday, February 16, 2008 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Green Valley AEA computer lab (1405 North Lincoln) in Creston. The rest of the course will be completed on-line. Participants are required to spend 2 hours per week on-line completing assignments.

Participants will receive all three activity guides as well as Iowa supplements that provide additional background information and resources. All materials are correlated to National Education Standards.

Participants should be comfortable with navigating web pages. A majority of the course materials will be provided on a CD with linked pdf files.

You must register on-line. Go to the Green Valley AEA website. Registration deadline is February 1, 2008. Cost is $70 for 1 license renewal credit, $145 for 1 graduate credit from Drake University or $120 for 1 graduate credit from Morningside or Viterbo ; in addition to credit fees there is a $25 material fee.

For more information, contact:

Shannon Hafner

(641) 747-2051

Shannon.Hafner@dnr.iowa.gov

Fish Iowa !

To set up a training session with the mentor nearest you, contact the Aquatic Education office: 641/747-2200.

March 1, 2008 – Ruthven , IA LOCATION: Lost Island Lake Nature Center , Palo Alto CCB, 3259 355th Ave. , Ruthven , IA
TIME: 12:30 pm to 4:30 pm

March 15, 2008 – Center Junction, IA Jones County LOCATION: Jones County Conservation Board Nature Center , Central Park , 12515 Central Park Road , Center Junction, IA
TIME: 12:30 pm to 4:30 pm

March 29, 2008 – Maxwell , IA Polk County LOCATION: Chichaqua Bottoms Long House, 8700 NE 126 Ave., Maxwell , IA (For map: www.conservationboard.org/Pages/cbg1.aspx)
TIME: 12:30 pm to 4:30 pm

Pre-registration and a small fee are required for all workshops. Please contact Stephanie Shepherd (contact info below) or periodically visit the website listed below for more details.
www.iowadnr.com/wildlife/diversity/vwmp.html

IOWATER

2007 Level 1 Workshops