The MEES 2010 Conference was a success!  Thank you to everyone who came and participated in making it another wonderful conference.

For over 30 years, the MEES conference has attracted participants with its innovative presentations, networking opportunities, informative exhibits, pleasant atmosphere and great food. The conference draws a diverse audience including classroom teachers from pre-school to college, museum and nature center staff and administrators, and community resource leaders.

This year, we focused on Bringing Environmental Education Home. Workshops shared ideas for helping students to appreciate, understand, improve, and protect the special places they call home.

Keep the momentum going! Stay in touch during the year with massmees.org ... 

• Discuss workshops and share information in the forums !
• View and share conference photos in the photo galleries !
• Stay connected to other educators in your region and beyond using the directories !
• Submit articles and activities to the Observer or the Resource Guide !

Be Water and Energy Wise!
Register for National Environmental Education Week, April 11-17, 2010

National Environmental Education Week (EE Week), the nation's largest environmental education event held April 11-17, 2010, inspires environmental learning and stewardship among K-12 students. EE Week connects educators with environmental resources to promote K-12 students’ understanding of the environment. EE Week is a program of the National Environmental Education Foundation. 

Our nation’s water and energy resources are increasingly relevant topics of discussion in today’s media, classrooms and homes. Recognizing the importance of conserving both water and energy to protect the planet and reduce costs – and acknowledging the connection between water and energy – EE Week's 2010 theme is Be Water and Energy Wise. Learn more by visiting www.eeweek.org/water_and_energy_wise . 

Teachers can apply for a free kit from Carolina Biological in 3 easy steps:

1-  Go to www.carolina.com/inquiries and click the "apply now" to enter.

2- Fill out your basic contact information and answer 4 questions

-Why do you like inquiry
-What do you think students will like
-Which kit would you choose from the list
-Why they want the kit

3- Carolina will pick 50 winners to get a free kit and will notify winners by June 15. 

Kits will be shipped for the Fall of 2010 for use.

Act fast! Enter by May 27.  There are 4 Bio and 4 Chem available.

Environmental teachers might be most interested in the Analyzing Population Growth kit or the Simulating Darwinian Theory kit.

2/2/10 NEWS FLASH  from the No Child Left Inside Coalition:

Environmental Literacy included in Obama's new Education Budget: Historic First

 We just logged a major victory for No Child Left Inside, perhaps our most significant.  President Obama’s budget that was released yesterday includes environmental literacy in the U.S. Department of Education budget for the very first time.  We now have the Obama administration officially on our side, and better yet, in their budget.

UPDATE: We've extended the registration deadline to Friday, February 12th, 2010. Register today! If you've already registered, THANK YOU and please forward this conference notification to friends and colleagues who may be interested in attending the 2010 MEES Conference.

The 2010 MEES Conference theme is "Bringing Environmental Education Home." Workshops share ideas for helping students to appreciate, understand, improve, and protect the special places they call home, to help make your environmental message "hit home," to share technology that can be used to promote positive environmental attitudes and behaviors and to keep the message of environmental conservation fresh, timely, and inspiring.

Review the workshops on our website, and then register online.  You may also download the full brochure and registration form to review workshops and print out the registration form to mail in.

Conference registration fee is $85.00.  Full time student's fee is $65.00.  Please register and postmark checks and paper forms by the general deadline of February 12, 2010.  Registration is first-come, first-served.  Registration may end sooner than February 12th if the registration limit is met.

For more than 30 years, the MEES Conference has attracted participants with its innovative workshops, networking opportunities, informative exhibits, pleaseant atmosphere, and excellent cuisine. The MEES Conference draws a diverse audience including classroom teachers from pre-school through college, museum staff, nature center staff, administrators, and community resource leaders. Join your fellow environmental educators and all who are dedicated to providing experiences that educate, excite, and commit all generations to conserve the environment and help them become responsible stewards.