2016 CONFERENCE WORKSHOPS
Current as of 12/2/15
FRIDAY 9:00 – 10:30
Friday, 9:00 Room: Outdoor Class
Grades: Pre-K through 8th grade
Who Lives There - An Outdoor Excursion
Primary Presenter: Jeff Hoagland, Stony Brook Millstone Watershed Association
Additional Presenter: Allison Jackson Stony Brook Millstone Watershed Association
Join us on this inquiry-based outdoor exploration. In small teams, outside the conference center, we will
categorize and search for signs of animal life. We will also examine the interdependent relationships
within this habitat as well as the challenges presented by winter. Dress for the outdoors – expect
challenge and fun.
Friday 9:00 Room: Einstein
Grades: Pre-K through 12+, Facility Directors
What will it take to lead your district to a sustainable future?
Presenter: John Henry, NJ School Boards Association
Additional Presenter: Jaimie Cloud Cloud Institute
In this session, John Henry of NJSBA and Jaimie Cloud of the Cloud Institute for Sustainability Education
will discuss their leadership development work with school board members and other education leaders
in NJ. What do staff and school board members need to know and what do they need to be able to do in
order to champion green building initiatives.
Friday 9:00 Room: Madison
Grades: 6 – 12
Polar Interdisciplinary Coordinated Education (ICE)
Primary Presenter: Janice McDonnell, Rutgers University
Additional Presenters: Carrie Ferraro, Kristin Hunter Thomson, Josh Kohut, Oscar Schofield
How do you get middle and high school students excited about scientific inquiry? Have them join a
collaborative research team in Antarctica or the Arctic! Polar Interdisciplinary Coordinated Education
(ICE) is a new NSF funded project designed to develop opportunities for scientists and educators to work
together to develop and implement polar science projects that represent the NGSS core ideas, cross
cutting concepts and science practices. In this session, we will share lesson plans and teaching strategies
focused on using scientific data from the poles.
Friday 9:00 Room: Wilson
Grades: 6 - 12
Getting Youth Excited About Composting
Primary Presenter: Michele Bakacs, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Middlesex County
Whether you have a school garden or not, incorporating composting into a curriculum is a great way to
teach kids about relationships in ecosystems, soil food webs, the cycling of matter, and reducing waste. A
sample lesson plan, getting youth excited to compost, common pitfalls at schools, the basic concepts and
supplies needed to get started will be discussed.
Friday 9:00 Room: Stockton B
Grades: 6 – 12+
Weather, Climate, and the Importance of Understanding Storm Surge
Primary Presenter: Mindy Voss, NJ Sea Grant
Additional presenter: Diana Burich
Research conducted throughout Sandy-impacted areas found that many residents misunderstood the
term “storm surge” and therefore did not fully grasp the severity of flood warnings issued for their
communities. During this workshop, participants will learn about the weather conditions that cause
storm surge and how to share this knowledge with students through hands-on activities.
Friday 9:00 Room: 204
Grade: K – 12+
Building the Foundation for a Native Plant Garden in the NJ Coastal Plain
Primary Presenter: Becky LaBoy, Ocean County Soil Conservation District
Healthy soil is the foundation for a healthy garden. Native NJ soils in the Coastal Plain (middle to south
Jersey) are sandy, acidic and nutrient poor – a perfect recipe for growing native plants. Get to know your
soil and the beautiful native plants that thrive in these conditions. Discover how to grow a healthy native
plant garden for your school or outdoor facility that can be used as an educational tool for teaching about
soil, plants and the ecosystem.
Friday 9:00 Room: 206
Grades:
Finding their Passions: The Keys to Maximizing Volunteers and Service-Based Programs
Primary Presenter: Kirsten Holt, Duke Farms
Additional Presenters: Clifford Berek, Manager of Volunteer Resources and others
Harnessing passions and maximizing your volunteer’s abilities is one of the most difficult things for a
non-profit organization to do. This workshop will introduce you to different training methods and
resources to maximize your organization’s reach through happy and devoted volunteers so you can reach
new audiences and achieve your mission.
Friday 9:00 Room: 207
Grades: 6 - 12
Thinking Locally-Acting Globally: GenneX Green News
Primary Presenter: William York, Small Feat Education
Today students are using eco-journalism, community engagement, place-based projects and service
learning to think about local environmental issues. However, with technology and social media, they are
also peer consultants, mentors and activists in countries outside their own. GenneX Green News in
Action connects students here and abroad in this very way. Find out how!
FRIDAY 1:30 to 2:30
Friday 1:30 Room: Einstein
Grades: Pre-K – 12+
Sustainable Jersey for Schools: Roadmaps & Resources for Whole School EE
Primary Presenter: Heather McCall, Sustainable Jersey for Schools
Additional Presenters: Donna Drewes, Co Director, Sustainable Jersey and Veronique Lambert, Program
Coordinator, Sustainable Jersey for Schools
Sustainable Jersey for Schools (SJS) is a voluntary and free certification program for public and charter
schools. In the first program year, SJS has awarded over $500K in small grants and certified 59 schools.
Find out how you can take advantage of this program’s technical and financial resources to support your
environmental education goals.
Friday 1:30 Room: Madison
Grades: 6 – 12
Polar Interdisciplinary Coordinated Education (ICE)
Primary Presenter: Janice McDonnell
Additional Presenters: Carrie Ferraro, Kristin Hunter Thomson, Josh Kohut, Oscar Schofield
How do you get middle and high school students excited about scientific inquiry? Have them join a
collaborative research team in Antarctica or the Arctic! Polar Interdisciplinary Coordinated Education
(ICE) is a new NSF funded project designed to develop opportunities for scientists and educators to work
together to develop and implement polar science projects that represent the NGSS core ideas, cross
cutting concepts and science practices. In this session, we will share lesson plans and teaching strategies
focused on using scientific data from the poles.
Friday 1:30 Room: Wilson
Grades: Adults
KANP: Using Problem-based Learning for Water Quality Professional Development
Primary Presenter: Roberta H. Hunter, Rutgers University
This workshop describes a recent PD program - Knowledge and Action on Non-point Pollution (KANP).
KANP uses PBL to help educators develop an understanding of nonpoint-source water pollution. Over 7
sessions, participants work collaboratively to create an action plan for a coastal lake in the fictional town
of Bayburg.
Friday 1:30 Room: Stockton B Grades: Pre-K through 5
The Puddle Garden: Native Plant Ecology and Gardening for Children
Primary Presenter: Jared Rosenbaum, Wild Ridge Plants, LLC
Integrate native plants and wildlife into school gardens and curriculum through the medium of the
children's book The Puddle Garden. The author will discuss plant ecology and selection, welcoming
pollinators, garden creation, and habitat-related curriculum.
Friday 1:30 Room: 204
Grades: K-12
River-Friendly Schools Program: Connecting Students to Our Waters
Primary Presenter: Brittany Musolino, Stony Brook Millstone Watershed Association/River friendly
Coordinator
Additional Presenters: Lauren Theis, Julie Blanco, Aaron Schomburg
Learn about the River-Friendly Schools Certification Program, expanding rapidly among schools
throughout the Raritan Basin. Hear from program coordinators and school representatives who have
been through the certification process. Presentations will be accompanied by a hands-on activity to give
you many great ideas for making your classroom River-Friendly!
Friday 1:30 Room: 205
Grades: 6 – 12+
The Creature Show: Employing Narrative Documentary Storytelling to Engage Students
Primary Presenter: Jared Flesher, The Creature Show
The Creature Show is a multimedia environmental resource available free to all New Jersey educators at
www.creatureshow.com. Each documentary-style episode tells the story of a threatened or endangered
species in New Jersey. Creature Show director Jared Flesher will screen an episode about the federally
threatened Northern-long eared bat, and then discuss the potential of documentary storytelling to excite
and inspire students.
Friday 1:30 Room: 206
Grades: K - 12
Joining the JOIDES: A Partnership with Scientists at Sea
Primary Presenter: Julie Karavan, Rutgers Cooperative Extension
Engage in science in search of earth's secrets! Explore beneath the ocean floor with the Joides Resolution,
a seagoing research vessel that drills core samples. Join the JOIDES online to engage students in science,
literacy and technology through Skype sessions with scientists, tours and games, art projects, and handson experiments.
Friday 1:30
Room: 207
Grades: 6 – 12+
Using On-line Technology to Educate and Activate Students and Adults
Primary Presenter: Bill Sciarappa, Rutgers University - NJAES
This session will highlight using on-line tools and video technology to inform and excite volunteerism in
environmental education. Projects focus on water conservation and storm water management using rain
barrels, rain gardens and living shorelines. Experienced educators and community activists will dialogue
on successful approaches problems and connecting with community supporters.
FRIDAY 3:00 to 4:00
Friday 3:00 Room: Einstein
Grades: 9 – 12+Administrators
Rapid In-Vessel Composting of Cafeteria Food Waste
Primary Presenter: Robert Evangelista, Rowen College at Burlington County
Currently, approximately 5% of food waste is recycled. Most of the remaining food waste ends up in a
landfill, anaerobically degrades to methane---a potent greenhouse gas, and escapes into the atmosphere.
Rowen College at Burlington County has begun to aerobically recycle its food wastes into compost. We
are developing a process to safely and quickly make the transition from waste to value-added-product.
Friday 3:00 Room: Madison
Grades: 6 - 12
Ocean Literacy Through a National Coastal & Estuarine Science Curriculum
Primary Presenter: Melanie Reding
Discover and explore NOAA’s Estuaries 101 Curriculum created for students and teachers throughout the
nation to become more ocean literate through increasing their knowledge of coastal and estuarine
science and how estuaries affect their daily lives. Resources and lessons provided during this fun handson workshop.
Friday 3:00 Room: Wilson
Grades: 6 - 8
Hands-on Human Ecology and Geography for the Next Generation
Primary Presenter: John Volpa
Discover interdisciplinary activities to explore global population trends, carrying capacity, human
impacts on environment systems and paths to sustainability. Engage in memorable lessons designed to
meet the Next Generation Science Standards and NJ Core Curriculum Content Standards.
Friday 3:00 Room: Stockton B
Grades: 6 – 12+
Weather, Climate, and the Importance of Understanding Storm Surge
Primary Presenter: Mindy Voss, NJ Sea Grant
Additional presenter: Diana Burich
Research conducted throughout Sandy-impacted areas found that many residents misunderstood the
term “storm surge” and therefore did not fully grasp the severity of flood warnings issued for their
communities. During this workshop, participants will learn about the weather conditions that cause
storm surge and how to share this knowledge with students through hands-on activities.
Friday 3:00 Room: 204
Grades: K-12
River-Friendly Schools Program: Connecting Students to Our Waters
Primary Presenter: Brittany Musolino
Additional Presenters: Lauren Theis, Julie Blanco, Aaron Schomburg
Learn about the River-Friendly Schools Certification Program, expanding rapidly among schools
throughout the Raritan Basin. Hear from program coordinators and school representatives who have
been through the certification process. Presentations will be accompanied by a hands-on activity to give
you many great ideas for making your classroom River-Friendly!
Friday 3:00 Room: 205
Grades: Adults
Effective Engagement Strategies for the Next-Generation of Adult Nature Lovers
Primary Presenter: Kathleen Farley, Tenafly Nature Center
Workshop will give a brief history of adult involvement in nature/environmental advocacy to more
effectively engage adults in supporting conservation and nature through participation in nature-related
events and being supportive of environmental programming and legislation. The presentation will
outline a strategy for effectively marketing messages tailored to adults.
Friday 3:00 Room: 206
Grades: K - 8
4-H Private Eye
Primary Presenter: Julie Karavan, Rutgers Cooperative Extension
4-H Private Eye incorporates engineering, art and science. Youth observe the natural world and develop
analogies and instruments to explore significant species; discovering how scientists “spy” on
nature. Participants interact with Rutgers scientists learning about the importance of oysters, horseshoe
crab conservation efforts and the plight of the Monarch Butterfly.
FRIDAY 4:15 to 5:15
Friday 4:15 Room: Einstein
Grades: Pre-K - 12
NJ Sustainable Schools Project – Guidebook
Primary Presenter: John Henry
This presentation provided by the NJSBA project team outlines the process and the results of a three-year
study for greening existing schools. NJSSP project management and members of the pilot school districts
will present key observations, successes and challenges encountered.
Friday 4:15 Room: Madison
Grades: 6 - 12
Ocean Literacy Through a National Coastal & Estuarine Science Curriculum
Primary Presenter: Melanie Reding, Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve
Discover and explore NOAA’s Estuaries 101 Curriculum created for students and teachers throughout the
nation to become more ocean literate through increasing their knowledge of coastal and estuarine
science and how estuaries affect their daily lives. Resources and lessons provided during this fun handson workshop.
Friday 4:15 Room: Stockton B Grades: 6 - 12
Shaping Citizen Science to Monitor Coastal Restoration Efforts
Primary Presenter: Danielle Donkersloot, NJDEP
In this workshop the Department (and its grant partners) will share the goals and scope of the grant
project, provide a science-based overview of coastal resiliency needs, challenges and opportunities in
New Jersey, and facilitate discussion with attendees regarding their experiences, questions, challenges
and suggestions for the Coastal Citizen Science Program and curriculum package.
Friday 4:15 Room: 205
Grades: 9 - 12
Teaching Sustainability and Social Justice: A Resource for Educators
Primary Presenter: John W. Eppensteiner III
This session reviews a resource that educators can use to deliver a semester-long class on environmental
and social sustainability. The resource includes lesson plans, lectures, and projects designed to impart an
understanding of current and future environmental issues and the implications those issues have on
human health and well-being.
SATURDAY 10:15 – 11:15
Saturday 10:15
Room: Einstein
Grades: 9 – 12 (adaptable to other ages)
Urban Youth embracing Urban Rivers-Knowledge, Stewardship, Advocacy
Presenter: Jim Cummings, Director of Experiential Learning/UrbanTrekkers
Additional Presenter: We will have 10-12 teen student presenters from the UrbanPromise Academy & the
Center for Aquatic Sciences at Adventure Aquarium, Cheronda Frazier – Center for Aquatic Sciences at
Adventure Aquarium, Joey Rodriguez – Center for Aquatic Sciences at Adventure Aquarium, Kourtney de
la Cruz – UrbanPromise Academy
Camden teens from the Center for Aquatic Sciences and UrbanPromise Ministries continue their
partnership as they further their knowledge and advocacy in protecting and caring for the watershed of
the Delaware River and its tributaries. They will demonstrate the ways in which they are changing
behavior through action and experience.
Saturday 10:15
Room: Madison
Grades: K – 12+
Running a Modified BioBlitz on Your School Grounds
Primary Presenter: Katrinka Somdahl-Sands, NJ Geographic Alliance
Additional Presenters: Christopher Ale
A BioBlitz is an event that celebrates the ecological diversity that exists in our students’ everyday lives.
These events are biological field study programs that incorporate fun and active participation. We have
designed our BioBlitz to be run on school grounds, to familiarize students with animal and plant life at an
intimate level. This workshop will give you the tools to run our modified BioBlitz introducing students to
biology, ecology, and species variation.
Saturday 10:15
Room: Wilson
Grades: 6-12
Think Locally: How to Encourage Environmental Stewardship in Teenagers
Primary Presenter: Laura Mccluskey, Parsippany Hills High School
This workshop will focus on high school environmental science lab activities that have been successful in
raising student interest in environmental issues. The secret ingredient will be reveal during the
workshop session. Take aways include the lab activities that will be ready to use as soon as you return to
school. No expensive equipment or unusual materials required.
Saturday 10:15
Room: 204
Grade: 6 - 8
Updating Rain Garden Handbook – How did we do?
Primary Presenter: Pat Rector, Rutgers Cooperstive Extension
Additional Presenters: Dan Ross
Updating the Rain Garden Handbook for New Jersey Student Education is underway and this interactive
workshop enables participants to join the process. One module (Rain Garden) has been updated to the
NGSS but let’s take it apart, see how it was done and how to do it better!
Saturday, 10:15
Room: 205
Grades: K - 12
The Language of Science: Using Science Talk in a Classroom and in the Field
Primary Presenter: Missy Holzer, Chatham High School
In this session participants will be introduced to the language of science as presented in the classroom
and supported by NGSS practices. Key grade-appropriate terms and how to support student engagement
in these terms will be shared.
Saturday 10:15
Room: 206
Grades: 9 - adult
Applying Citizen Science to Help Solve Problems in the Microplastics World
Primary Presenter: Catie Tobin, Clean Ocean Action
Many studies have pointed to the value of collaborations between researchers and volunteers, often
termed “citizen scientists.” Clean Ocean Action’s Beach Sweeps Program and microplastics research are
just two examples of ways in which volunteers can get involved in citizen science.
SATURDAY 11:30 to 12:30
Saturday 11:30
Room: Einstein
Grades:
Engaging the Urban Teen Community: The TALON Program
Primary Presenter: Tanya Sulikowski, Duke Farms
Additional Presenters: Damon Lofton, KidsOutdoors and Jill Comerchero, Barack Obama Green Charter
High School
The TALON (Teen Action & Leadership Opportunities for Nature) program is a collaborative effort
between Duke Farms, the Barack Obama Green Charter High School and KidsOutdoors. Learn how
TALON is designed to engage high school students from underrepresented socioeconomic and ethnic
groups in an intensive program in conservation biology that builds personal connections with the natural
world through hands-on field experiences.
Saturday 11:30
Room: Madison
Grades: K – 12+
Running a Modified BioBlitz on Your School Grounds
Primary Presenter: Katrinka Somdahl-Sands
Additional Presenters: Christopher Ale
A BioBlitz is an event that celebrates the ecological diversity that exists in our students’ everyday lives.
These events are biological field study programs that incorporate fun and active participation. We have
designed our BioBlitz to be run on school grounds, to familiarize students with animal and plant life at an
intimate level. This workshop will give you the tools to run our modified BioBlitz introducing students to
biology, ecology, and species variation.
Saturday 11:30
Room: Wilson
Grades: K - 12
Going with the Flow – The Changing World of Stream Field Trips
Primary Presenter: Jeff Hoagland, Stony Brook Millstone Watershed Association
This presentation and group discussion examines the changing landscape of stream field trips. We will
start with a familiar field trip at the heart of the mission the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed
Association, How Clean is Your Stream. We will examine the evolutionary pressure of the Next
Generation Science Standards, and discuss what others in the room are doing to address NGSS.
Saturday 11:30
Room: Stockton B Grades: K -adult
Sustainability in Higher Ed: Integration from Classrooms and Offices to K-12
Primary Presenter: Katharine Jaworski, Rider University and New Jersey School Boards Association
Rider University is a small private college that despite its size still manages to make huge strides in
sustainability. In this session, the programs and practices that led Rider to be named the number one
Green School by the Princeton Review will be discussed. Particularly, the Sustainability Symposium for
high school students and teachers. Learn how to green your school, and how solving sustainable issues
connects to “Crosscutting Concepts” of the Next Generation Science Standards.
Saturday 11:30
Room: 205
Grades: K - 8
Bird’s Nest Engineering
Primary Presenter: Linda Burroughs, TCNJ
Birds have developed extraordinary methods in meeting environmental demands for nesting and chick
survival. Their nest engineering lends itself well to teaching Design Portfolios, natural materials and
critical thinking. An appreciation for using environmental materials to enhance survival will be
demonstrated. Participants work to match these skills.
SATURDAY 1:45 – 2:45
Saturday 1:45
Room: Madison
Grades: k- adult
Scouting, Environmental Education and Self-Led Learning
Primary Presenter: Nicole Esposito, Cora Hartshorn Arboretum and Bird Sanctuary
As scouting requirements have been changing, how can we best adapt? In this hands-on workshop,
explore how Inquiry-based learning leads Scouts to make their own decisions while increasing students’
critical thinking skills through your expertise and learn how to build an effective lesson plan.
Saturday 1:45
Room: 204
Grades: Adult
Connecting Outdoor Recreation, Sustainable Open Spaces, and Volunteerism
Primary Presenter: John Volpa
This session reviews a resource that educators can use to deliver a semester-long class on environmental
and social sustainability. The resource includes lesson plans, lectures, and projects designed to impart an
understanding of current and future environmental issues and the implications those issues have on
human health and well-being.
Saturday 1:45
Room: 205
Grades: Pre-k – 12+
Biomimicry: An Introduction
Primary Presenter: Christa Wood, Somerset County Park Commission
Additional Presenters: Vanessa Darras, Somerset County Park Commission, and Missy Holzer, Chatham
High School
After being introduced to the topic of biomimicry and how it is used by scientists, engineers and
designers, participants will engage in a hands-on activity employing this concept. Ideas on how
biomimicry can be incorporated into STEM lessons, programs and classrooms will be shared and
discussed.
Saturday 1:45
Room: 206
Grades:
Invasive Species: Impacts on the Ecosystem and the Cost of Global Economy
Primary Presenter: Paul J. Kurtz, NJ Department of Agriculture
An overview of invasive species in different ecosystems across the animal kingdom. The lecture will
discuss colonialization and global economies and how these human actions have led to unwanted pests in
the rural, suburban and urban landscapes of the United States. It will also address the response to nonnative threats and the opportunities for new jobs in science for future students.
SATURDAY 3:00 to 4:00
MEETINGS