Crow Talk

NatureWalk, a free eCourse

Seven days to a greater awareness of nature, from NatureSkills.com.

NatureWalk is a FREE nature awareness course. It only take a few minutes a day.
Each day you'll take a short walk and begin to uncover the mysteries of the natural world around you. Explore the birds, trees, plants and mammals that live in your back yard.
• Do coyotes live in your neighborhood?
• What is the best "wilderness first aid" plant?
• Where is your local watershed?
• What are the important outdoor hazards that you must know?

Register for the course, and for seven days, you will be emailed a new installment.

In support of Earth Science Week 2006 (October 8-14), the American Geological Institute (AGI), working with government agencies and other scientific and educational organizations, has developed the 2006 Toolkit for grades K-12 and beyond focusing on "Be a Citizen Scientist." This year AGI has published a new edition of its popular Earth Science Calendar filled with activities and important geoscientific dates, which is included in the Toolkit. These activities, supplied by AGI member societies and other organizations, engage students in learning about the earth sciences while they collect data throughout the year for ongoing research projects. The Toolkits also include factsheets on citizen science programs from the U.S. Geological Survey, a DVD entitled "Views of the National Parks" from the National Parks Service, and a lithograph about ozone and a cloud chart from NASA. The Smithsonian Institution has developed "Earth from Space," a new web resource for teachers that compliments the traveling exhibition by the same name that will be launching in time for Earth Science Week 2006. The Toolkit includes more information about this interactive website that uses satellite images and features downloadable lessons based on the National Standards. The "Earth from Space" exhibit begins its national tour in November 2006 at the National Air and Space Museum. In addition, the Toolkit contains an activity-rich poster for grades K-5 from Scholastic, posters from IRIS and EarthScope, and materials from the Geological Society of America, plus much more. More details are at www.earthsciweek.org/materials.

Earth Science Week is an annual event held the second week of October to promote an understanding and appreciation of the earth sciences. It is coordinated by Triangle Coalition member, the American Geological Institute, with support from the U.S. Geological Survey, the AAPG Foundation, and the National Park Service. To learn more, visit www.earthsciweek.org. The American Geological Institute is a nonprofit federation of 44 scientific and professional associations that represents more than 120,000 geologists, geophysicists, and other Earth scientists. Founded in 1948, AGI provides information services to geoscientists, serves as a voice of shared interest in the profession, plays a major role in strengthening geoscience education, and strives to increase public awareness of the vital role the geosciences play in society's use of the resources and interaction with the environment. More information about AGI can be found at www.agiweb.org. The Institute also provides a public outreach site at www.earthscienceworld.org.

From the T C E BTriangle Coalition Electronic BulletinAugust 17, 2006 Volume 12, Number 32
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TWO Fall 2006 Sailing and Science Opportunities for Teachers!
With Salish Sea Expeditions

1) New this year, Salish will host a day-long Teacher Workshop on Monday, September 11, 2006 in Tacoma. This boat-based workshop will provide an opportunity for in-depth exploration of Salish's oceanographic equipment and Inquiry Based science techniques. Participants will co-create a research project and come away with real tools that can be applied in the classroom or outdoor education facility. Clock hours are available! This will be a unique opportunity to learn and practice inquiry techniques, and the sail is open to all classroom & outdoor educators, as well and teachers-in-training. Space is limited! Please see www.salish.org for further details. Contact lori@salish.org or (206) 780-7848 xt 2# to register. ($30/person, scholarships available.)

2) The next free 3-hour Teachers' Sail will be September 10, 2006 in Tacoma. Salish Sea Expeditions offers a chance for teachers to learn first-hand about our unique program offerings and provides participants with the opportunity to use our oceanographic sampling equipment, discuss Inquiry-Based Learning techniques, tour the 61' sailboat, Carlyn, meet the staff, help with sailing and talk with other teachers. This sail is free, but space is limited, so please contact Lori Mitchell at lori@salish.org to make a reservation.

A look at skin cancer, uranium, shellfish and more.

1. Skin Cancer and Tanning
Skin Cancer Is Up; Tanning Industry a Target
8/14/06 New York Times
Even the most conscientious health officials cannot keep the sun from rising; so in response to an unexplained increase in skin cancer among young people, some have fixed their sights on a more governable suspect: the $5 billion-a-year indoor tanning industry.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/14/nyregion/14tanning.html?ex=1155700800&en=82d51bc79cba52e8&ei=5087%0A

Bad News on Skin Cancer
The Why Files
Don't let these super-hunks fool you. Sun is bad for your skin. The only question is, "How bad?" Get the basics on skin cancer detection and prevention. Check out the role of ozone depletion in skin cancer. And solve this riddle: You'd expect sunscreen to protect against the worst skin cancer. But that's not what the studies show. (Website geared at students)http://whyfiles.org/173skin_cancer/

The Darker Side of Tanning
US FDA
Public health experts and medical professionals are continuing to warn people about the dangers of ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun, tanning beds, and sun lamps. Two types of ultraviolet radiation are Ultra­violet A (UVA) and Ultraviolet B (UVB). UVB has long been associated with sunburn while UVA has been recognized as a deeper penetrating radiation.
http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/consumer/tanning.html

2. Environmental Health in the News
Local beachgoers warned not to harvest shellfish as poison hits record level
8/12/06 Seattle Times
Weekend shellfishers beware: Eating what you've harvested in central Puget Sound could be fatal. Record-high levels of paralytic shellfish poison (PSP) have been measured throughout King, Pierce, Snohomish and Kitsap counties, indicating a spreading bloom related to the toxin.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/health/2003193528_shellfish12m.html

Sickened Iraq vets cite depleted uranium
8/13/06 Seattle PI
There is something massively wrong with Herbert Reed, though no one is sure what it is. He believes he knows the cause, but he cannot convince anyone caring for him that the military's new favorite weapon has made him terrifyingly sick.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1110AP_Radiation_Soldiers.html

An Ugly Picture for Flower Workers and Their Children
August 2006 Environmental Health Perspectives
Every year, Americans spend nearly $20 billion on fresh flowers, about 70% of which come from abroad, mainly from Latin America, according to the Society of American Florists. While this can represent an economic boon for some countries, overuse of pesticides and lack of protections for female workers can cause serious health effects for those women's children, according to a paper in the March 2006 issue of Pediatrics.
http://www.ehponline.org/docs/2006/114-8/forum.html#anug

White House: Lesser bird flu may be here
8/14/06 Seattle PI
Scientists have discovered possible bird flu in two wild swans on the shore of Lake Erie - but it does not appear to be the much-feared Asian strain that has ravaged poultry and killed at least 138 people elsewhere in the world.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/health/1500AP_Bird_Flu.html


2. For Teachers
Environmental Health Perspectives: Student Edition August 2006
Download a free Student Edition and Lesson Plans for the most recent issue of Environmental Health Perspectives.

• Lesson 1: Making Sports Green

Students analyze the environmental impact, in particular the creation of greenhouse gases, of a sporting event and make recommendations for reducing the impact, such as carbon mitigation.

• Lesson 2: Getting the Lead Out

Students read an article about lead drinking water regulations and then apply them to drinking water sampling results.

• Lesson 3: Cleaner Air and Water on the Fly

Students purify water using activated charcoal and then explore how carbon is used in coal-fired power plants to remove mercury.

http://www.ehponline.org/science-ed/

Organic School Garden Awards
School gardens using organic methods can enter the Organic School Garden Awards program, sponsored by the Rodale Institute. Maximum Award: $1000. Eligibility: Teams of students and teachers (grades K-12) nationwide. Deadline: October 31, 2006.http://www.kidsregen.org/gardens/index.shtml

EH Headlines are reprinted from the University of Washington's Center for Ecogenetics and Environmental Health.

A look at mercury, bed bugs, pesticides, soda, and more.

1. Mercury News
Exported mercury returns to haunt U.S. Recycled toxin goes overseas, but ends up in atmosphere
8/8/06 Chicago Tribune
Tons of toxic mercury from U.S. recycling programs are funneled each year to loosely regulated industries in developing countries, where much of the hazardous metal is released into the atmosphere.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0608080099aug08,1,3489462.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed&ctrack=1&cset=true

Families retain a lawyer after toxic testing
8/8/06 Philadelphia Inquirer
At least two Gloucester County families whose children attended a day care that opened in a former thermometer factory have hired a lawyer, saying their children show symptoms of mercury poisoning. [link]


2. MISC EH News
Don't let the bedbugs bite
8/7/06 Seattle Times
Entomologists and pest control professionals are reporting a dramatic increase in bedbug infestations in hotels, dorms and even homes throughout the country, and no one knows exactly why. "It's no secret that bedbugs are making a comeback," said Dan Suiter, an associate professor of entomology at the University of Georgia. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/health/2003181547_webbedbugs07.html

EPA gives green light to group of pesticides used for agriculture
8/5/06 Seattle Times
After a decade-long review, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has decided to allow continued use of 31 agricultural pesticides, concluding cumulative exposure does not pose a health risk. Although the potential danger of the chemicals, organophosphates, has been assessed individually over the years — and in some cases their use curtailed — this was the first time the EPA examined the chemicals' risk as a group. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/health/2003176612_pesticide05.html

Coke responds to India pesticide charges
8/8/06 Seattle PI
The Coca-Cola Co. is running ads in several newspapers in India to counter renewed allegations its drinks have high levels of pesticides. The move comes after the government of India's western Gujarat state asked state-run colleges and schools not to allow sales of Coke and Pepsi soft drinks on their premises. http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/health/1500AP_India_Soft_Drink_Pesticide.html

EH Headlines are reprinted from the University of Washington's Center for Ecogenetics and Environmental Health.

Discovering the Dead Sea Scrolls Family Workshops

This Fall and Winter, families can enjoy two workshops at Pacific Science Center investigating the archeology of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

The workshops were developed by Kristen Clapper Bergsman of Laughing Crow Curriculum.

Life Long Ago
(geared toward 5-7 year olds and adult chaperone)
Journey back in time and bring to life the stories of the Qumran community, located near the Dead Sea Scrolls discovery site. Compare life today to life long ago as you decipher the clues left by the everyday artifacts found in the Qumran ruins and explore the story of the scrolls themselves. Become an archaeologist and reconstruct the pieces of a clay scroll jar, then become a scribe to create your own scroll to take home!

Piecing Together the Past
(geared toward 8-12 year olds and adult chaperone)
Archaeology is about piecing together fragments of the past to develop an understanding of life long ago. Explore the process used by scholars and scientists to reconstruct fragments of the Dead Sea Scrolls in an effort to understand their meaning. Assemble documents from a pile of “scroll” fragments, and reconstruct a clay “artifact” to take home. Through these hands-on activities, paint a picture of the past.

For more information, and to register, go to:
http://www.pacificsciencecenter.org/dss/family_workshops.html

In Memory
Seattle environmental educator Susanna Stodden, and her mother Mary Cooper, were senselessly murdered on July 11, 2006 as they hiked together on the Pinnacle Lake Trail in the North Cascades. Like so many of us, Susanna and her mother sought the inspiration and comfort of nature, and it is shocking to discover the darker side of humanity lurking there among the trees.

Several years ago, I hired Susanna as a teacher at Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center. Susanna went on to become actively involved with the program's Lake Washington Watershed Internship Program, working with South Seattle high school students in a year-long internship. Susanna also worked as a nature educator at Seattle Audubon, and was working toward becoming a school teacher. Susanna was a graduate of the environmental education program at Western Washington University.

As I and many others grieve her death, we can take comfort in knowing that Susanna touched the lives of many children, helping form early bonds with nature that will last a lifetime. Along the trails of Mercer Slough Nature Park, I can imagine Susanna leading a group of children in doing the Bog Bounce, keying out the name of a wetland plant, slipping canoe paddles in the slough, or peering into pond water.

Susanna left a gentle, inspirational footprint on this earth that will not be forgotten. Peace be with her family. And peace be with those of us shaken by this violent act, who feel a sense of fear in the woods and mountains that at the same time offer such deep respite.


BirdNote: A Tribute to Susanna Stodden
"Our world too often is subject to random violence and senseless human behavior, making it all the more important to help a child find a friend in nature. Take time to counteract fear of the unknown with your love and curiosity. Today's BirdNote is dedicated to Seattle Audubon nature educator Susanna Stodden and her mother Mary Cooper, both of whom gave the gift of nature to children." This Seattle Audubon's BirdNote can be listened to at: http://www.birdnote.org/birdnote.cfm?id=841

Susanna was Fabulous
A tribute to Susanna written by her colleagues at Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center.
http://www.pacsci.org/susanna/