NOAA Planet Stewards Book Club

The NOAA Planet Stewards book club has a great line-up of books slated for discussion for this academic year. Scroll down to see the titles, brief descriptions, dates and connection links for each Book Club meeting. Discussion Questions will be posted approximately one week before each meeting.

To see previously selected books and associated discussion questions, have a look at our Book Club Archive Page.

To make sure you receive reminder announcements about our Book Club, sign up to our mailing list.

Here’s the general information for participating in our Book Club. We hope you’ll join us as we explore new and thought-provoking topics.

All book club meetings begin at 7:00 pm Eastern Time.
Anyone can participate. Just read the book prior to the discussion.
On the day of the meeting, click on the Video Meeting Link noted for that event. You may need to wait briefly to be let in by the facilitator.
If you prefer, you may dial into the meeting with your telephone using the meeting specific number noted for each event, then entering the meeting event specific PIN.
Before each meeting we will send out a reminder note through our email list with discussion questions prepared by the meeting facilitator.
There are a limited number of “seats” available for each meeting. Plan to dial in just a few minutes before the official start time.
Have questions? Contact: oceanserviceseducation@noaa.gov

2022 -2023 Academic Year Book Club Selections & Meeting Dates

All meetings for the NOAA Planet Stewards Book Club have concluded for the 2022/2023 academic year. Check back in August for a complete list of selections and dates for the 2023/2024 Book Club meetings. We look forward to seeing you then!

NOAA Planet Stewards Webinars

NOAA/NSTA Science Update: Observing Hurricanes with Ocean Drones, June 8, 2023

Join NOAA and NSTA us on Thursday, June 8, 2023, from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM ET for a Science Update Webinar.

Dr. Greg Foltz, an oceanographer at NOAA's Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory in Miami is the the co-lead of NOAA's Saildrone Hurricane Observations, which aims to improve our understanding of hurricanes and aid forecasts. During this presentation he will describe a new NOAA project to direct surface ocean drones ("saildrones") into hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean. He’ll discuss what saildrones are, how they work and can survive a hurricane, what kind of data (and videos!) we get from them, and how the data is being used to aid forecasters and improve our understanding of hurricanes.

Find more information and register for the webinar here.

NOAA Planet Stewards Workshops

To receive the latest announcements about upcoming distance and face to face learning opportunities as well as educator and student opportunities and resources, be sure to sign up to the Planet Stewards mailing list.

Climate Justice: Exploring the Science of Climate Change in Your Classroom (July 11-13, 2023)

NOAA Planet Stewards, Detroit Zoological Society, and Huron-Clinton Metroparks are hosting a three-day workshop for educators to explore how global climate change is affecting the Southeast Michigan region, and how they can engage students to take action and address these global phenomena.

Participants will attend:

Tuesday, July 11, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Detroit Zoo, with a special evening event at the Polk Penguin Conservation Center.
Wednesday, July 12, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Detroit Zoo.
Thursday, July 13, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Belle Isle Nature Center.

Workshop topics include:

How to incorporate weather and climate change activities that meet state curriculum requirements into existing curriculum; using citizen science projects to connect youth with their local environment; mobilizing youth to take action in their communities.

Workshop features:

Opportunities to learn from and interact with subject matter experts.
Hands-on learning experiences at the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Center.
Light continental breakfast, lunch, and snacks are included for each workshop day. Beverages and appetizers will be provided at the July 11 evening event.
Michigan educators will receive classroom resources and fully paid virtual educational opportunities.

When/Where: July 11-13, 2023 at the Detroit Zoo and the Belle Island Nature Center
Who: Teachers in the Southeast Michigan region who work with upper elementary, middle or high school students.
Cost: $50 includes 14 SCECHs (State Continuing Education Clock Hours), educational resources, tools and materials for the classroom, a special evening event in the Polk Penguin Conservation Center, a light continental breakfast, lunch, snacks, a fully paid virtual zoo field trip (a $125 value) and access to monthly virtual habitat chats for each classroom (a $250 value) for each classroom.
To register for the event and receive more information go to: Teacher Professional Development - Detroit Zoo
Questions? Contact: Thomas Benson (tbenson@dzs.org), Claire Lannoye-Hall clannoyehall@dzs.org, or Erin Parker (Erin.Parker@metroparks.com)

Investigate and Engage in Local Climate Change Impacts and Solutions

Join NOAA Planet Stewards, Chesapeake Bay Office and the Maryland Association for Environmental & Outdoor Education (MAEOE) at a three-day, in-person workshop for formal and informal educators focusing on how climate change is affecting the greater DC-Baltimore metro region, and opportunities to engage students in taking action to address local impacts of this global phenomena.

Workshop Goals:

Learn how to incorporate standards-aligned climate change and environmental education lessons into existing curriculum
Practice using NOAA data resources and citizen science projects to connect youth with their local environment
Experience hands-on, outdoor lessons to use with students
Engage with the NOAA Planet Stewards and uncover opportunities to develop stewardship projects that mobilize youth to take action in their communities
Work with experts to integrate the workshop content into new or existing Meaningful Watershed Education Experiences (MWEEs)
Leave with new professional contacts, teaching ideas, and educational materials!

A Certificate of Participation (15 contact hours) will be available for all attendees and 1 CPD for Maryland teachers

Audience:

Formal and informal educators are encouraged to attend as pairs or groups from the same school or organization who work in or regularly engage with underserved populations. Content will focus on middle and high school grades.

Workshop Logistics:

Location: Bladensburg Waterfront Park, 601 Annapolis Rd., Bladensburg MD 20710
Date: Tuesday, July 18 - Thursday, July 20
Time: 9:30am to 3:30 pm each day
Registration Fee:: $25
Stipend: $200 for full attendance and completion of all workshop activities.
Food: Continental Breakfast (starting at 8:30am), Lunch, Snacks, Coffee and Tea served daily
Click here to register! Space is limited. Register by June 1, 2023.