Idaho Junior Master Gardener Program

The Idaho Junior Master Gardener™ (JMG) program is for youth of all ages. It uses fun activities to teach horticulture and environmental science concepts. There are currently six (6) ongoing JMG clubs in Idaho. JMG is part of the University of Idaho 4-H program. Presently JMG curriculums are being actively used in thirteen Idaho counties. Over 18,000 youth and 600 adults have participated in the Idaho Junior Master Gardener program since its inception in Idaho in 2002. One hundred and twenty five (125) adults and two teens have completed the Idaho JMG facilitator certification course. Requests for JMG awareness, workshop, and certification programs have been facilitated in all regions of Idaho, as well as, six other states. JMG uses the Experiential Learning Model and meets Idaho State Achievement Standards. JMG is currently being used in Solid Waste Education, Parks & Recreation, Botanical Garden, Boys and Girls Club, Library, Camping, Home School, School Enrichment, Afterschool, and 4-H Club programs across Idaho. The annual UI Extension Youth Enrollment report (ES 237) for 4-H for 2006 suggests that gardening is the 2nd highest enrollment project in Ada County and 4th highest enrolled 4-H project in the state. The report notes JMG usage is increasing across Idaho particularly in after school programs and with school age child care groups. For 2007 we piloted JMG as a “4-H Project in a Day” in Ada County and JMG was added as official statewide 4-H Club project in 2007.

For more information on JMG: http://www.jmgkids.us. Additional JMG information for Idaho is available at: http://extension.ag.uidaho.edu/ada.

Give us a call if we can help you with JMG! Best Wishes!
Kevin M. Laughlin, Ph.D., University of Idaho Extension Educator & Idaho JMG Coordinator
e-mail: laughlin@uidaho.edu
5880 Glenwood, Boise, ID 83714
Phone: 208-377-2107 Fax: 208-375-8715

Elizabeth Dickey, Idaho Botanical Garden Education Director

A college internship at the California Academy of Science in Golden Gate Park inspired Elizabeth to pursue a career in informal science education. Education directors at museums and nature centers advised her that she needed teaching and volunteer experiences in order to break into the field. This led to teaching high school science, work at a county museum, a nature center lead naturalist position, a master’s degree in teaching, time volunteering for Id. Parks and Rec. and Idaho Fish & Game, and a job at the Garden. She endeavors to include environmental education where ever she works. Elizabeth joined IdEEA in order to rub elbows (those car pools to Summit meetings can be awfully crowded) with other environmental educations, to learn what is going on around the state, and to gather new ideas.

The education program at the Idaho Botanical Garden is dedicated to nurturing a child’s fascination with the world of biology and to providing education relevant to the amateur gardener. Environmental education topics are introduced to children through Boise foothill tours and Idaho ecology-themed summer Botany Camp sessions. The adult Continuing Education program focuses more every year on water conservation issues. A water conservation display garden is nearing completion with two other demonstration sites under development. The public attends classes on efficient irrigation systems, noxious weeds, fire-wise gardening, and landscaping with native plants. Elizabeth is very interested in collaborating with others on environmental education projects. She can be reached at elizabeth@idahobotanicalgarden.org.

IdEEA 2008 Conference

Date:  Friday, February 29 and Saturday, March 1
Place:  Owyhee Plaza, Boise
Theme: Go Local: Exploring your Backyard -- Local Experiences, Local Field Work, Local Resources & Local Involvement

- Showcase of Student Work
- Environmental Educator of the Year Awards
- Presentations of Exemplary Programs
- Displays by Educational Resource Providers
- Field Trips

Conference Fees
-$75 IdEEA members
-$100 non-members (includes a 1 year membership to IdEEA)
-$30 student

Register on-line at www.idahoee.org or for more information contact Amy at IdEEA. Continuing education credit available.

Help IdEEA save resources! Pay your membership dues now, rather than wait until you receive your renewal letter in the mail. A reduction of mailings will stretch your membership dollars, and help reduce IdEEA’s environmental impact. Membership letters will be mailed in mid November, so please pay your dues today.

Membership Dues:

  • $30 individuals
  • $15 students
  • $100 organizations
  • $50 nonprofit organizations
  • $25 student organizations

Pay your dues on-line by clicking on the Donate Now button at www.idahoee.org OR
make checks payable to “IdEEA” and mail to IdEEA, P.O. Box 791, Lava Hot Springs, ID 83246

Annual Board of Director’s Retreat
The Idaho Environmental Education Board of Directors meet on August 2nd and 3rd at the McCall Outdoor Science School (MOSS) for the annual Board of Directors’ retreat. The primary focus of the retreat was the initial stages of development of IdEEA’s strategic plan.

An examination of IdEEA’s data, Board Members’ surveys, and the results of needs assessments of both IdEEA members and nonmembers was facilitated by Laurel York O’dell. Funding for the needs assessments and facilitator was provided by an EPA Environmental Education Grant.

Though this process the Board of Directors was able to identify the following Core Services:

  • State affiliate for North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE)
  • Provision of resource and referral service for environmental educators
  • Hosting the Idaho Environmental Education Conference
  • Advocacy of support for environmental education among state agencies and leaders
  • Presentation of professional development opportunities for formal as well as informal environmental educators
  • Granting of scholarships to educators for professional development

These Core Services will guide IdEEA’s work as we continue to support, promote and provide education about the environment. We value the input of IdEEA’s members and will be asking for your input as we continue the development of IdEEA’s strategic plan. We want to know how we can better serve our membership. If you have comments or suggestions, please contact Amy at 208-232-5674 or amy@idahoee.org.

Call for Articles
IdEEA is accepting articles that highlight environmental education programs in Idaho. To be considered for inclusion in the next edition of IdEEA Report, articles must be 300 words or less and submitted by January 1st. Preference will be given to individuals and/or organizations that are IdEEA members and offer programs that are statewide or could be adopted in locations throughout Idaho.


 


ACTION ALERT

IdEEA is working for you! IdEEA has coordinated a statewide effort to gather support for No Child Left Inside legislation. IdEEA representatives have meet twice with Representative Mike Simpson’s staffers regarding this important legislation, submitted letters to the editors of local papers, and coordinated a letter writing campaign. IdEEA will continue to advocate for Environmental Education on behalf of its members, but our biggest impact will be achieved when the individual members of IdEEA make their voices heard.

We need your help immediately! The House Education and Labor Committee is expected to make final decisions next week, either accepting or rejecting the No Child Left Inside Act, with the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee also moving swiftly. We need your help NOW in contacting your senators and representatives to get their support for the No Child Left Inside Act.

The No Child Left Inside Act is an historic step towards ensuring that the next generation of graduates from the nation’s schools will be environmentally literate. Please contact your federal representatives immediately to let them know you care about our environment, our schools, and our children’s health.

The No Child Left Behind reauthorization bill is currently being written in the Senate and House committees. A long list of co-sponsors of the NCLI Act will indicate strong support for including the NCLI Act’s language in the NCLB bills.

Please contact your representative and senators immediately to ask that they co-sponsor the No Child Left Inside Act. Each email, fax, and phone call counts!

1. Fax or e-mail a letter urging your senators and representative to co-sponsor the No Child Left Inside Act of 2007 (S.1981, H.R.3036). Go to www.eeNCLB.org and click on Contact Your Congressperson to email a letter. For fax numbers, go to http://www.congress.org/
congressorg/directory/
congdir.tt.

2. After sending your e-mail or fax, call your senators’ and representative’s offices and ask to speak to the education staff person. Tell him or her how important it is that the senator or representative co-sponsor the No Child Left Inside Act and support its inclusion in the No Child Left Behind bill.

If you believe that children should be spending more time outside, learning and playing, be better prepared to address increasingly complex environmental issues, and that the nation’s public schools have a critical role ensuring that both of these goals are met, then contact your federal legislators immediately! Thank you!

Note: “No Child Left InsideSM” is used with permission from the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection.

We proudly unveil IdEEA’s new look.

As you probably noticed, we have a new logo.  We also recently redesigned our website to make it more user-friendly.  Go to www.idahoee.org and check it out. While you are there, go to the on-line Resource Clearinghouse where educators can search for resources and providers can list their programs, materials, and events.

Workplace Giving Campaign

During the Fall months, many employers conduct annual giving campaigns, which allow their employees to make charitable contributions to organizations of their choosing. These donations can be orchestrated through various methods including payroll contribution. The human resources department can let you know whether such a program exists at your workplace.

If you are a federal employee, workplace giving is easy through the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC). During your office's next fund drive, please designate the Idaho Environmental Education Association (IdEEA) as your beneficiary.

Employees of non-federal agencies and companies can write in the Idaho Environmental Education Association on your pledge form (usually monitored by United Way).

If you do not have a workplace giving campaign at your place of business but would like to have one, please call Choices in Community Giving at 208-336-1033.

Thank you for your dedication to and your support of IdEEA.
 
       
Contact Information:
Amy Pike: amy@idahoee.org
www.idahoee.org 		P.O. Box 791
Lava Hot Spring, ID 83246 Phone
208-232-5674