Scotch Bonnet

Welcome to the newest online issue of Scotch Bonnet. And the newsletter is also available as a portable document file (.pdf) — if you’re like me and want to keep a hard copy!

We’ve already had our first snowfall of the season. OK, it was just snow flurries. But at the coast, any snow is exciting! Winter is a great time to do inside work — such as attending professional development workshops, taking inventory of your books and props, developing a new activity or program, or looking for summer opportunities for you and for your students. I’m sure you’ll find something of use in this issue of Scotch Bonnet!

I hope you’re geared up for an eventful winter. There are many professional development opportunities for all of us. Try to take advantage of these wonderful conferences, workshops and more. Keep reading for unique opportunities and ideas for educators. There is a lot going on in North Carolina!

Banana Slug String Band’s New CD
www.bananaslugstringband.com

The Banana Slug String Band’s latest CD is here! Whoo hoo — finally!

Dive in! Swim with us, alongside sea turtles and whales, on a musical odyssey into the Earth’s one mysterious, marvelous — and precious — ocean.

Only One Ocean is 14 rockin’ new songs from the award-winning Banana Slug String Band, all designed to inspire young people and their families to learn about and care for the ocean. Special guests include George Winston, Brett Dennen, Zach Gill, and Grammy winners Victor Wooten and BeaSoleil avec Michael Doucet.

To order, visit the Banana Slug String Band’s website. Be the first one on your block to sing along with “Kingdom of the Crab” or “Turtle Ate a Jelly”!

In partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Exploration and Research, the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, the Centers for Ocean Science Education Excellence, the National Marine Educators Association, and Lawrence Hall of Science, Only One Ocean supports Ocean Literacy’s essential principles and fundamental concepts.

A Visit to Your School or Facility by Author Kevin Kurtz
www.kevinkurtz.homestead.com

Kevin Kurtz, author of the children’s books A Day in the Salt Marsh and A Day on the Mountain, is available to visit schools in Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina throughout the 2010–2011 school year. Kevin has a master’s degree in elementary education and more than 10 years of experience teaching school groups of all ages. He has presented A Day in the Salt Marsh to teachers at conferences and to students from kindergarten to 8th grade, as well as to high school biology classes. A visit from Kevin can include:

• A reading of A Day in the Salt Marsh or the new A Day on the Mountain.
• An informative discussion based on grade-level science standards of the habitats featured in the book and the animals and plants that live there.
• A discussion about the process of writing a children’s book.
• A question-and-answer period.

A Day in the Salt Marsh, published in 2007, was a finalist for the 2007 Green Earth book award and the 2008–2009 Chickadee award. Kurtz’s new book, A Day on the Mountain, was published in August 2010. Both books are written in fun-to-read, rhyming verse and beautifully illustrated by Consie Powell and Erin Hunter respectively. The books introduce students to the plants and animals of important and unusual ecosystems, while teaching them about adaptations and the interrelationships of the living and nonliving things found there. A Day in the Salt Marsh can also be used to teach about tides and the differences between land and marine ecosystems. A Day on the Mountain can be used to teach about the impact of elevation and climate on habitats.

Kurtz’s rates are as follows:

• All-day visit at one school. Includes five 45-minute reading programs (maximum 125 students per program) and book signings; Cost: $500.
• All-day visit at one school. Includes five 45-minute writing workshop programs (maximum 30 students per program) and book signings; Cost: $500.
• Split with nearby schools into separate morning and afternoon visits. Each would include two 45-minute programs (maximum 125 students per program) and book signings; Cost: $250 for each school.
• Evening PTA program. Includes 45-minute program plus book signing; Cost: $200.
• Schools outside of Charleston, S.C., need to add travel expenses to the program rates.

To schedule a visit, e-mail Kurtz at kevkurtz@gmail.com or go to www.kevinkurtz.homestead.com to learn more.

Project WET Workshops
www.ncwater.org/Education_and_Technical_Assistance/Project_WET/

Project WET — or Water Education for Teachers — is an interdisciplinary water science and education program for formal and nonformal educators of K–12 students. The keystone of Project WET is the Project WET Curriculum and Activity Guide that consists of 91 water education activities that were developed, field tested and reviewed by more than 600 educators and resource managers working with 34,000 students nationwide. The activities are meaningful and relevant to children and are correlated to the N.C. Standard Course of Study in all major subjects for K–8 and for high school science and math.

The guide is only available through a 6-hour Project WET workshop. The schedule for upcoming workshops:

• Saturday, March 12, at the N.C. Aquarium on Roanoke Island
• Thursday, March 24, at Jordan Lake State Park
• Saturday, April 9, at the N.C. Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores

For more information, please contact State Coordinator Holly Denham at 919/715-5433 or holly.denham@ncdenr.gov.

Sustainable Forestry Teachers’ Academy
www.ncsu.edu/sfta

Registration is now open for the 2011 Sustainable Forestry Teachers’ Academy. The Coastal Academy is based in New Bern and is offered June 20–24. The Mountain Academy, based in Asheville, is set for July 25–29. Online applications and more information, including sample agendas, can be viewed at www.ncsu.edu/sfta.

The Sustainable Forestry Teachers’ Academy is a four-day residential program that focuses on the social, economic and environmental aspects of sustainable forestry. Teachers will visit a variety of forests and mills to learn about forest management and how various wood products — such as paper, furniture, plywood and lumber — are manufactured. Teachers participate in tours and hikes in forests that are under a variety of ownership and management plans. Excursions to museums, state forests, experimental forests and environmental learning centers round out the experience.

Meals, lodging and transportation during the Academy are provided. Continuing Education Units renewal credits will be awarded. Multiple teachers from the same school, and teachers of all disciplines and grades, are encouraged to apply! This opportunity is available only for teachers associated with a school district within North Carolina. Nonformal educators do not qualify. Contact Renee Strnad at 919/515-5518 or renee_strnad@ncsu.edu for details.

Events at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences
www.naturalsciences.org

Don’t miss these family events this winter!

• Marine Mammal Day, Jan. 29, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Spend a day exploring the ocean in Raleigh! Learn about the marine mammals along our coast — including whales, dolphins and seals — and the challenges these magnificent creatures face in today’s world!
• Groundhog Day, Feb. 2, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Meet Sir Walter Wally the groundhog and get his weather prognostication for the next six weeks!
• Darwin Day, Feb. 12, 12–5 p.m. Spend an afternoon learning about famed naturalist Charles Darwin, take a closer look at his theories and their impact on modern science, and meet some of the scientists who are continuing his work.

Here are a few educator opportunities hosted/sponsored by the Museum this winter.

• NASA Educator Trek – Exploring the Forces of Flight, N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh. Feb. 12, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Cost: $25 deposit (will be returned upon completion of workshop). Participants will conduct hands-on investigations into the forces of flight, the effects of these forces on aircraft, calculating airspeed, flight simulation and modeling, the engineering design process, and even flying saucers! In particular, this workshop will focus on helping students address curriculum strands including Forces & Motions, Science as Inquiry, and Science & Technology.
• NASA Educator Trek – Humans & Robotics: Exploring Space Together, N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh. Feb. 19, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Cost: $25 deposit (will be returned upon completion of workshop). Learn about human space flight and robotic missions that explore space! Educators will participate in a hands-on workshop that involves spacesuit activities, robotic activities, and a virtual tour of websites. Take home classroom resources and learn how to connect them to your curriculum!
• Project Learning Tree (PLT) Environmental Experiences for Early Childhood – Spring, N.C. Museum of Forestry, Whiteville. April 2, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; Cost: $20 (includes PLT activity guide and other resource materials). Day Care Credit: 6 hours. For preschool and elementary school teachers. The newly released PLT Environmental Experiences for Early Childhood guide is designed as a resource for educators that work with early childhood audiences ages 3–5 years. PLT Environmental Experiences for Early Childhood encourages children to explore, discover and communicate in expressive ways, and provides an introduction to environmental education at a key developmental period in children’s lives.
• Creating Interpretive Trails, Prairie Ridge Ecostation, Raleigh. April 2, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Cost: $40 (includes bluebird box and resource materials). Join us at the Museum’s Prairie Ridge field station for a day of exploration as we share ideas for creating learning stations and nature trails in outdoor areas on school grounds and nature parks. Take home ideas for creating outdoor learning areas just in time for Earth Day celebrations.

What’s New at the N.C. Maritime Museum
www.ncmaritimemuseum.org

Here’s a sampling of what you can see and do at the N.C. Maritime Museum this winter!

See the Outer Banks in the winter season with Heritage and History at Shackleford Banks on Jan. 15, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Take part in our coastal heritage as we hike the east end of the island, experiencing “Banker” ponies and superb shelling. Reservations required. Cost: $30.

Calling all crafters for the Sailor’s Valentine Workshop on Feb. 11, 1–3 p.m. Bring your best shells and join us to learn the history and practice this traditional craft. An experienced crafter will share tips and tricks for making your own sailor valentines. Reservations required. Cost: $15.

Prohibition may have ended, but the history of Rum Runners lives on. Join the Museum at a local restaurant on Feb. 25 at 6 p.m. for this presentation on the ships that smuggled rum. Pre-registration preferred. Call for secret program location. No password necessary.

To make program reservations, or to find out more about educational programs offered at the Maritime Museum, visit www.ncmaritimemuseum.org or call 252/728-7317.

Winter at the N.C. Estuarium
www.partnershipforthesounds.org

Art exhibits scheduled for the fall include:

• January: Watercolors by Linda Boyer
• February: Photographs by Doward Jones
• March: Wall hangings by Pamlico River Quilters
• April: Paintings by Plein Air Painters from the Brushstrokes group

Program highlights for January:

• Drawing and Painting from Nature: Tuesday afternoons, 1–3 p.m., Jan. 11 – March 1; or Wednesday mornings, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Jan. 12 – March 2; Cost: $25. Learn about watercolors and basic drawing techniques. Open to beginners and more advanced artists. Call for materials list and pre-registration.
• Waterfowl Identification Program: Jan. 20, 1–2 p.m.; Cost: $2. Winter is a great time for bird watching in the area. Learn some of the basics of identifying area waterfowl and the best locations.

Program highlights for February:

• Valentine Tiramisu Demonstration: Feb. 9, 1–2 p.m., Cost: $2. Curator Amy Van Staalduinen presents a demonstration of this quick and easy dessert. Learn how to prepare it and enjoy a taste also!
• Children’s Decoy Painting Workshop: Feb. 12 (two classes), 9–10 a.m. and 10:30–11:30 a.m.; Cost: Free; pre-registration is required. Children must be between the ages of 4 and 12. This annual event is co-sponsored by the East Carolina Wildfowl Guild in conjunction with the Wildlife Arts Festival.

Program highlights for March:

• Those Crazy Crabs: March 10, 10:30–11:30 a.m.; Cost: $2. Teacher workday for Beaufort County Schools. Learn about blue crabs of the Pamlico area and make a crab craft to take home. Suitable for school-age children (K–6). Call for reservations.
• Nature Photography Seminar: March 12, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Cost: $50. Taught by Sol Levine, a professional nature photographer, this program is open to beginners, as well as advanced photographers. Topics range from choosing a digital camera to getting the best close-up shots of wildlife. Pre-registration and pre-payment required. Bring a bag lunch. Call for reservations.
• Native Plants of the Coastal Plain: March 23, 1–2 p.m.; Cost: $2. Learn about native plants of the area, then stroll through the Estuarium gardens and along the boardwalk to see native plants beginning to bud. Call for reservations.

Program highlights for April:

• River Roving Educational River Tours: Learn about the history and habitats of the Washington waterfront. These boat tours cruise the Pamlico River Wednesdays through Fridays at 10:30 a.m. and 12:45 p.m., and Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. No admission fee or other cost is involved for the tour but advance reservations are required. Riders should check-in 15 minutes in advance. Children must be at least 6 years old to ride; a responsible adult must accompany children under 16. Call for reservations.
• Migratory Bird River Roving: April 13, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Take a pontoon boat ride with the Estuarium naturalist and observe migratory birds returning to area woods and streams. Possible sightings include ospreys, purple martins and warblers. No admission fee or other cost is involved for this trip, but reservations are required. Children must be at least 12 years old for this special trip.

The Crab Pot Gift Shop is full of unique gifts with a natural flair. North Carolina products and books are featured — a great place for shopping for that special one-of-a-kind gift.

The Estuarium is located at 223 E. Water Street in Washington, N.C., and is open Tuesdays to Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $4 for adults and $2 for students. Please call ahead for program information as space may be limited. The Estuarium is a Partnership for the Sounds facility, an organization promoting ecotourism and sustainable economic development in the Albemarle-Pamlico region (www.partnershipforthesounds.org). For more information or for reservations, contact 252/948-0000 or estuarium@embarqmail.com.

N.C. Coastal Federation’s Upcoming Programs
www.nccoast.org

The N.C. Coastal Federation (NCCF) has been protecting ocean and estuarine shorelines since 1982. Its mission is to provide citizens and groups with the assistance they need to take an active role in the stewardship of North Carolina’s coastal water quality and natural resources.

NCCF has several opportunities for community participation in the central coastal region. Meet at the NCCF headquarters in Ocean to help fill mesh bags with oyster shells. The bags eventually will be used to create an oyster reef that will help control erosion. Native salt marsh seedlings planted behind the reef will help restore the marsh. The oyster reef and marsh will become valuable habitat for important species of commercial and recreational fish and shellfish. The reef also will improve water quality by filtering sediment from the water.

Dates and times for oyster shell bagging events at NCCF Headquarters in Ocean: Jan. 11 and 20, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Feb. 4 and 21, 1–4 p.m. For details, please check the NCCF website at www.nccoast.org, or contact the office nearest you.

Curriculum/Activity Guides Still Available

Centers for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence SouthEast’s (COSEE SE’s) The Educator’s Guide to Marine Debris: Southeast and Gulf of Mexico is a regional introduction to three main categories of marine debris: litter, derelict or abandoned boats, and lost or abandoned commercial and recreational fishing gear. This publication is available for free download on the COSEE SE website at www.cosee-se.org/marinedebris.php and is also available in hard copy, while supplies last.

N.C. Big Sweep’s publication, Undercurrents: A Big Sweep Middle School Teacher’s Guide, includes litter-awareness lessons that are correlated with state learning objectives for 8th grade science and math, as well as for healthful living, language arts and information skills. Undercurrents is available free to North Carolina educators while supplies last.

The Coastal Processes and Conflicts curriculum includes extensive background information for teachers, as well as student lessons that are relevant in any setting — not just the island environment. It is appropriate for middle and high school students. The curriculum can be downloaded free from www.ecu.edu/educ/csmte/coastal_processes.cfm. Or you can order a hard copy ($10 includes postage), which comes with a CD containing color copies of figures used in the student activities.

Each of these education resources is available from Terri Kirby Hathaway, North Carolina Sea Grant, terrikh@csi.northcarolina.edu.

Need to Contact Me?

If you ever have information to share with other marine educators, please don’t hesitate to send it my way for inclusion in a future issue of the Scotch Bonnet. Let me know what you’re hearing from the sea!

Please share this website with others — and share my e-mail address with anyone who wants to receive a message when each Scotch Bonnet is available online! Thanks for all you do for students and for other educators!

My contact information is: North Carolina Sea Grant, PO Box 699, Manteo, NC 27954; phone: 252/475-3663; fax: 252/475-3545; e-mail: terrikh@csi.northcarolina.edu.

Best Fishes!

Terri Kirby Hathaway
Marine Education Specialist
North Carolina Sea Grant
terrikh@csi.northcarolina.edu