USA Science & Engineering Festival

REMINDER – Sign up to Volunteer for USA Science & Engineering Festival NOW

Volunteer shifts are filling quickly, but we still need your help as volunteers for the USA Science & Engineering Festival on April 24-27, 2014 at Walter E Washington Convention Center.  We have volunteer opportunities for two unique events - Sneak Peek Friday & X-STEM Symposium – as well as the Finale EXPO.  We have a critical shortage on Thursday, April 24^th   (X-STEM) and Friday, April 25^th (Sneak Peek Friday) – and need HOMESCHOOL volunteer support!

http://www.usasciencefestival.org/2014-volunteer-at-the-usa-science-and-engineering-festival/opportunities.html

The USA Science & Engineering Festival is a national grassroots effort to advance STEM education and inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers.  Our exhibitors, performers, speakers, partners, sponsors and advisors are a who-is-who of science and engineering in the United States: from major academic centers and leading research institutes and government agencies to cutting-edge high tech companies, museums and community organizations. 

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:

Sneak Peek Friday 4/25- The entire Finale EXPO will be open exclusively for students on Sneak Peek Friday.30,000 students are expected for the largest celebration of science.  Individual and Groups of Volunteers are needed as Ambassadors and at the Metro stations for this event.  Please contact volunteer@usasciencefestival.org for information about Group Volunteer opportunities. Volunteer opportunities for the Magic School Bus, Book Fair, and Festival Ambassadors and more.

X-STEM Symposium 4/24 - The X-STEM Symposium is a unique opportunity for students interested in STEM to get up close and personal with science and technology role models in a conference-style setting. X-STEM attendees can attend talks and workshops from 60 STEM mentors and industry leaders.  Volunteers are needed for positions: registration, ambassador, stage production, information booth and volunteer management.

Finale EXPO 4/26-27 -  The Finale EXPO is the largest celebration of science encompassing 2.3 million square feet of meeting space in Washington, DC with exhibits and stage shows. Every meeting room and exhibit hall will be filled with hands-on activities for students K-12 and science lovers of all ages.  Volunteers are needed in registration, information booths, merchandise assistants and more.   

To register for specific jobs, shifts and times, use this link:

http://www.usasciencefestival.org/2014-volunteer-at-the-usa-science-and-engineering-festival/opportunities.html

Youth 13+ and older can volunteer independently, youth 10-12 need an adult volunteer.

Please contact Carol Klatt at volunteer@usasciencefestival.org if you have questions.

SISTER Program - Career Awareness

SISTER

The SISTER program is designed to increase awareness of and provide an opportunity for female middle school students to be exposed to and explore nontraditional career fields with GSFC women engineers, mathematicians, scientists, technicians and researchers. The objectives of the program include introducing young women to a technical working environment; acquainting students with GSFC missions; providing an awareness of educational programs and internships available during high school, undergraduate and graduate study; providing observations and experiences with real hands-on projects researched and developed by women at GSFC. The SISTER program components include such activities as women scientist, engineers, technicians, researchers, and mathematicians as mentors; women speakers in various fields at GSFC; women entrepreneur role models; multicultural experiences; a tour of facilities; building and launching rockets; hands-on science experiments; and written communication experiences; and interpersonal and human relations skills building.

The program takes place this Summer, July 14-18, 2014, Monday-Friday from 8:30am to 4:00pm at GSFC. It is sponsored by the Equal Opportunity Programs Office and The Education Programs Office.

Application website:     http://education.gsfc.nasa.gov/sister/apply.html      

Completed  Application  sent to this address:    GSFC-SISTER@mail.nasa.gov

National gallery of Art - This week

April 23 at 1:00 p.m.

Dragons in Art

Bela Demeter (50 minutes)

West Building Main Floor, Rotunda Children's Audio Tour: West Building Highlights (ages 7–12) This free, self-guided tour gives children an opportunity to get "up close and personal" with some of the world's greatest paintings, on display in the West Building. Group reservations for audio tours (ten or more), call (202) 842-6592. West Building Main Floor, Rotunda www.nga.gov/content/ngaweb/visit/tours-and-guides/audio-tours.html MOBILE APP Your Art Discover highlights of the National Gallery of Art collections with Your Art app for iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad and on Google Play for Android. The app focuses on paintings and sculpture from the 13th to the 19th centuries on view in the West Building. Available free in the iTunes App Store and Google Play. www.nga.gov/content/ngaweb/visit/tours-and-guides/mobile-app.html (Additional Information) itunes.apple.com/us/app/your-art/id600049768?mt=8 (iTunes App Store) play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=gov.nga.yourart (Google Play) GUIDED TOURS Through April 30 - Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday at 1:30 p.m.; Sunday at 2:30 p.m. American Collection West Building Main Floor, Rotunda Through April 30 - Monday-Friday at 3:30 p.m.; Saturday at 10:30 a.m., 3:30 p.m.; Sunday at 11:30 a.m., 4:30 p.m. Early Italian to Early Modern: An Introduction to the West Building Collection West Building Main Floor, Rotunda Through April 30 - Monday-Saturday at 12:30 p.m.; Sunday at 3:30 p.m. French Collection: Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries West Building Main Floor, Rotunda Through April 30- Tuesday, Thursday at 11:30 a.m. Glimpses of 17th-Century Life West Building Main Floor, Rotunda Through April 30- Monday-Saturday at 2:30 p.m.; Sunday at 1:30 p.m. Italian Renaissance Collection West Building Main Floor, Rotunda Through April 30 - Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 11:30 a.m. Points of View: The Painter's Choices West Building Main Floor, Rotunda Through April 30 - Monday, Wednesday, Thursday at 1:30 p.m.; Saturday at 11:30 a.m.; Sunday at 12:30 p.m. The Sculpture Galleries West Building Main Floor, Rotunda Through April 30 - Friday at 12:30 p.m.; Saturday at 1:30 p.m. The Sculpture Garden (weather permitting) Sculpture Garden, Pavilion Cafe www.nga.gov/content/ngaweb/calendar/guided-tours/introductory-tours.html Events are free and open to the public. Seating is available on a first-come, first-seated basis. Registration is not required. NGA Public Wi-Fi service is currently available in the Cascade Cafe, the East Building library reading rooms, and the main floor of the West Building in the Information Room, the Founders Room, and the Rotunda. www.nga.gov/content/ngaweb/visit/public-wifi.html The National Gallery of Art provides access to lectures by well-known artists, architects, authors, curators, and historians. iTunes | www.nga.gov/content/ngaweb/audio-video.html National Gallery of Art 6th Street & Constitution Avenue NW Washington, DC 20565  Hours: Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 11am-6pm Admission is always free

History Channel Educational programming - April

H2 PROGRAMMING

History of the World in 2 Hours

Wednesday, April 16 at 8/7c

History of the World in 2 Hours gives viewers a rapid-fire history of our world, from the Big Bang to the world as we know it today. This program gives students a framework for understanding major transformations in the history of the universe through a "big picture" chronology that traces key turning points in the development of our planet. From basic concepts such as the interaction of matter and energy to specific historical changes that took place during the Stone Age, the Industrial Revolution and in modern world history, this program helps students make connections between the past and present. Teachers may want to use segments from this program as a visual companion to course units and lectures on a range of world history topics. Curriculum Links: This program would be useful for World History, Global Studies, Social Studies and Earth Sciences courses. It is appropriate for 7th grade students and above.

View the classroom guide » CLASSROOM PROGRAMMING The Mexican-American War (2 parts) Monday, April 21 & Monday, April 28 at 6am/5c This program explores the Mexican-American War, from the first days of conflict through the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Students will learn about the causes and consequences of this conflict, key turning points in the war, and its implications for both the U.S. and Mexico. The Mexican-American War combines interviews with historians, primary source documents, and dramatic recreations to explore the circumstances before, during, and after this key turning point in U.S. and Mexican history. Curriculum Links: The Mexican-American War is appropriate for middle school and high school students. It would be a good companion to United States History, Mexican History, Social Studies, or Politics classes. Learn more about the Mexican-American War »

History Classroom Contest

Kid Pickers Pick and Tell  National Student Contest HISTORY® invites students ages 7-13 to participate in the Kid Pickers Pick and Tell National Student Contest Each week on American Pickers, viewers tune in to watch Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz search through flea markets, barns, basements and other remote locales looking for interesting historical items. HISTORY® invites students ages 7 to 13 to search for and tell us about unique historical items, collectibles or pieces of memorabilia in their community. Students are asked to write short essays of 500 words or less describing an item they have picked and the history behind it. Students could win up to $10,000 in scholarship prizing and a trip to Mike Wolfe's Antique Archaeology store in Nashville, Tennessee and to visit the Tennessee State Fair! This is a great family project, and an excellent and fun way for students to learn more about the past. Contest deadline: all essays must be postmarked by May 29, 2014. Submit your entry » OFFICIAL RULES

Chesapeake Education, Arts and Research Society- April Updates

Chesapeake Education, Arts and Research Society Restoring and promoting the health of all life in the Chesapeake Watershed    through education and action projects organized by volunteers _

Three Sisters: Gardens for All Seasons Spring into Eco-Gardening with These Upcoming Free Greenbelt Events! Three Sisters:  Gardens for All Seasons  Make Earth Day Every Day! No really, we mean it! And we'll get you started with a dance performance by Alight Dance Theater as well as a seed starting demo by our expert gardeners. This event is great for families! No RSVP required. Free and open to the community.  See below for performance dates and locations. Greenbelt Food Forest Exploration and Workday Saturday, April 19th (10 AM - 12:30 PM) We bet you didn't know figs, passion fruit, hazelnuts, and more can be grown inside Maryland! And you won't believe how many wild plants are edible (and delicious)! You can learn about it all with our Greenbelt Food Forest Project. Forest gardening is based upon the principles of permaculture, and this type of ecologically based, self-fertilizing agriculture practice is proving to produce extremely high yields of crops. We'll be getting everything ready for the spring with some mulching, invasive species removal (that's our fancy way of saying "weeding"), and planting. Please be prepared for outdoor work by bringing a reusable water bottle, close-toed shoes, long pants, and work gloves. Also, if you have any tools such as loppers, pruners, bow saws, shovels, metal rakes, pitchforks, or other gardening equipment, please bring them along (be sure to write your name on them). RSVP is required to Alex via email or call 240-542-2168. See below for date and location.  Schrom Hills Park Garden ~ 6915 Hanover Parkway Greenbelt Community Center Garden ~ 15 Crescent Road  [May 10-11, 1-3 PM] Garden Workdays at the Green Man Festival ~ Contact Alex, 240-542-2168 for more info and volunteer hours [May 31, 1:30-4:30 PM] Garden Workday/Alight Dance Theater ~ Garden maintenance, open Dress Rehearsal of Gardens for All Seasons      ***[June 1, 2-4 PM]*** Three Sisters: Gardens for All Seasons by Alight Dance Theater     Springhill Lake Outdoor Classroom ~ 6101 Cherrywood Lane This location is metro accessible! Take the Green Line to Greenbelt -  click for walking directions   ***[April 26, 2-4]*** Three Sisters: Gardens for All Seasons by Alight Dance Theater Greenbelt Food Forest ~ behind the playground at Springhill Lake This location is metro accessible! Take the Green Line to Greenbelt - click for walking directions  [April 19, 10-12:30 pm] Food Forest Exploration and Workday         These events are being coordinated by the Chesapeake Education Arts and Research Society (CHEARS). More information can be found on our website.  You can also Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter: @chearsorg.   Cleaning out your garage?  Do you have extra garden tools?  Contact Lucy, 301-577-2350 to donate equipment!   Event Updates: A Smashing Success!  Stormwater Solutions: Rain Barrels and More   Click here to see the photos Our Stormwater Solutions workshop was a smashing success!  Over 50 community members attended to learn about water pollution problems in urban areas and what ordinary citizens can do to make a real difference in their communities by following some simple (and fun) best management practices.  Workshop participants learned about rain gardens and bioswales, painted and decorated their own rain barrels, explored an interactive watershed model, got a behind-the-scenes tour of Greenbelt Public Works Building with their cutting-edge green building features, and we even had live demonstrations of how to install rain barrels in College Park and at Greenbelt Housing Inc!      Did you miss our workshop?  That's okay, we will be putting all of our presenter's slideshows on the web soon.      CHEARS would like to thank the Bagel Place of College Park for their donations of 5 dozen bagels and to the weatherman for bringing us 60 degree weather with sunshine!    The Stormwater Solutions workshop was a collaborative effort between CHEARS and the following organizations:      Greenbelt City Public Works Department                            Citizens to Conserve and Restore Indian Creek (CCRIC) Anacostia Watershed Citizens Advisory Committee          Green ACES Advisory Committee to the City of Greenbelt Town of Berwyn Heights                                             Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin Anacostia Watershed Society                                       Watershed Stewards Academy Greenbelt Homes Inc.                                                            Toyota TogetherGreen Fellowship Thank you for a successful tree planting!  10-Acre Tour and Tree Planting On March 8th, CHEARS partnered with Forested, LLC, a 10 acre forest garden research farm, for a tree planting workday.  In just a matter of a few hours, over 60 volunteers planted over 80 trees and learned about permaculture design!   Click here to see the photos.  CHEARS and Forested would like to extend their thanks to Starbucks at the Greenway Center in Greenbelt for their donations of coffee and creamer that energized our program participants. And, as always, thanks so much to all of our volunteer participants!   ~ Alex Palmer, Volunteer Maryland Coordinator  Spring Nine Lives Yard Sale  Sunday, April 27 in Greenbelt  Have things to donate? Let us know! The Spring 9 Lives Yard Sale is planned for Sunday, April 27. The CHEARS community can help raise funds for community education and arts by donating usable goods.    We will begin picking up items on April 19th. To donate something good to the sale, call 202-664-7572 in the evenings or contact us via email and include "DONATION" in the subject line.    Proceeds from the sale go entirely to community events including the Green Man Festival, The Harvest Festival and other community gatherings where Art, Music, Poetry and other creative spirits draw attention to environmental issues. The CHEARS Flows Project presents...  2014 Chincoteague Co-Learning and Fun Weekend  Looking Back, Moving Forward: Baby Boomers and Climate Change      Memorial Day Weekend 2014, Friday-Monday, May 23-26 Co-facilitators: Bob and Maggie Cahalan Beach Walking, Canoeing, Kayaking, Co-Learning Exploration How did we get to where we are in 2014? Where do we go from here?  As early baby boomers, coming of age in the 1960's and 1970's Bob and Maggie believed their generation could change the world to be more peaceful, just, and environmentally friendly---Now over 40 years later using threatened Chincoteague Island as a metaphoric focus they invite you to join them for a co-learning weekend focused on addressing these questions    Cost:  $200--250 per person - includes:  up to 4 night double occupancy stay in a beautiful Chincoteague Bay front home, healthy vegan meals, canoe and kayak use, and Saturday and Sunday facilitated co-learning sessions.        Contact Bob or Maggie to register. Space is limited: All proceeds go to support CHEARS non-profit work dedicated to promoting the health of all who share the Chesapeake Bay Watershed    Bob Cahalan, is the former Chief of the Climate and Radiation Lab at NASA Goddard and Maggie Cahalan is the Director of the Pell Institute of the Council for Opportunity in Education--Both Maggie and Bob are in process of planning to retire/rewire soon!  10th Annual Greenbelt Green Man Festival May 10-11, Roosevelt Center, Greenbelt MD Download the flyer ~ Wish List  Dear Folks, The Green Man Festival is coming up and we are in the final stages of planning and preparing for the event. As the plans evolved, we have developed lists of things we will need for the festival. If you can help provide some of these items to borrow, please let us know. First let's look at things we need lent to us for the weekend: - Folding chairs - Folding Tables - Canopies - A ladder Materials we will need for the activities spaces: - Clay pots 3" to 6" - Potting soil - Old bed sheets - Sea shells - Beads - Chalk - Egg cartons - String and twine - Tiles - Pine cones and tree nuts - Popcycal sticks and tooth picks - Dried Beans, peas, seeds, and pasta - Flat stones, sea glass, tree bark, sturdy dried leaves, wood chips, moss, & small metal things Call to have your items picked up earlier at 202-664-7572 and leave your name and call back #. Set aside a bag or box and collect items for pick up or to bring to the festival.   We also need volunteers for 1, 2, and 3 hour shifts in the activities area. All you need is a willingness to help and a love for creative activities!    ~ CHEARS and the Green Man Community tribe Financial Permaculture Convergence May 31-June 4, 2014 in Miami, Florida Hosted by Earth Learning and Organized by Financial Permaculture Institute  CHEARS and other regional permaculture organizations are collaborating with Financial Permaculture Institute in designing regenerative businesses for a national permaculture convergence in Miami, Florida.   To register and for more information,  visit  Financial Permaculture Institute. $80 discount on the registration fee: use the code KWFPC This event, as well as the work leading up to it, will be focused on designing replicable regenerative local food enterprises and growing resilient local food economies.   We will address economic and ecological challenges of the 21st century as we design forward-looking businesses that optimize the local natural systems and human capacities to implement models of regenerative business and local resiliency.  For more information on the 2014 Team Members, including our keynote speakers, click here!

Chesapeake Education, Arts and Research Society P.O. Box 1841 | Greenbelt , MD  20768 www.chears.org  |  301-458-0241