Press/Media Center - ANJEE: Alliance for New Jersey Environmental Education

PRESS RELEASES

ANJEE and PSEG Announce Sustainability Grant Awardees

Partnerships will focus on strengthening environmental education
(April 25, 2011 - Newark, NJ) - The PSEG Foundation and the Alliance for New Jersey Environmental Education (ANJEE) have announced the recipients of their new PSEG-ANJEE Learners in Sustainability (PALS) grant program. A total of nearly $45,000 will be provided to three partnerships that were selected through a competitive application process. Each of the partnerships is a collaborative effort between non-formal environmental education providers and K-5 pre-service or practicing teachers, with an eye toward increasing the sustainability of New Jersey communities.

"One of ANJEE's and PSEG's major goals for the PALS grant program is to create unique partnerships between formal and non-formal environmental educators -- the kind that will result in environmental education of the highest quality," said ANJEE President Elizabeth Johnson. "The response to our Request for Proposals made it clear that many schools and organizations in New Jersey share that very same goal."

New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards for science will be integrated into the projects. Lead partners from each organization or school district will participate in professional development provided by ANJEE; topics will include program evaluation and authentic assessment -- the assessment of student learning using a real-world situation or task to allow students to demonstrate what they have learned and the skills they have acquired. Grantees will also attend the annual ANJEE Environmental Education Conference in 2012, and present the results of their projects at the 2013 conference.

Announcing the first PSEG-ANJEE Learners in Sustainability (PALS) grantees, by region:

ANJEE - North

Tenafly Public Schools, Bergen County ($14,943)

In partnership with the Tenafly Nature Center (TNC), Tenafly Public Schools will train teams of teachers from its four elementary schools in specific science content, with each team representing grades one, two and five. Working closely with the District Science Supervisor, Elementary Staff Developer and Assistant Superintendent, TNC will provide instruction within the school district and at the nature center. The participating teachers’ classrooms will become “living labs” that model effective science instruction, and curricular units will be implemented by grade levels: Animal Adaptations (First Grade), Plant Ecology and Diversity (Second Grade) and Environmental Sustainability (Third Grade). The teachers selected for this project will share their knowledge and instructional strategies with fellow teachers at their respective schools.

ANJEE - Central

Princeton Regional Schools, Mercer County ($14,921)

The Princeton Sustainable Schools Project will focus on energy conservation and sustainable energy practices to help elementary schools reduce energy usage. Workshops and lessons will be provided for elementary science specialists, classroom teachers and other school staff. A new partnership will be developed with Global Learning Inc., a nonprofit organization that engages the education community in solutions to real-world environmental challenges. In cooperation with Global Learning, participating teachers will develop new curricular materials on sustainable energy practices that illustrate the relevance of science and math. A second project partner, Sustainable Princeton, is a community-wide effort that dedicates itself to sustainable development. They will expand their current relationship with Princeton Regional Schools by disseminating information on efficient energy use and energy reduction practices beyond the school community.

ANJEE – South

Educational Information & Resource Center (EIRC), Gloucester County ($15,000)

EIRC will recruit teams of teachers from grades K-5 at various locations throughout the state to participate in one of three geographically-based Green Schools Leadership Institutes (GSLI) and Green Education Fairs. The GSLI is a weeklong face-to-face program that helps teachers create ways to green their schools. It achieves this through teacher-based development of instructional tools, using schools and school grounds as a context for learning. On the last day of the GSLI, the community is invited to participate in an all-day “green fair” that features expert speakers, policy makers, schools that have gone green, and fun learning activities. The US Green Building Council’s NJ Chapter is a major partner for this project. Additional partners include the Energy and Environmental Research Center in Salem County, PrincetonGreen.org, NJ Department of Environmental Protection, the NJ Council of County Vocational-Technical Schools, North Brunswick Township School District and West Orange School District, among others.

Congratulations to everyone. Many thanks to all our applicants for submitting some excellent proposals, to our thoughtful reviewers, to Jo Ann Dow-Breslin for keeping the application and selection process on track, and to Roberta Hunter for her oversight of this first ANJEE grants program. We are pleased to be partnering with PSEG Foundation and are looking forward to following these innovative projects through the year and to exciting results!

Happy Spring to all!

Elizabeth Johnson, President
Alliance for New Jersey Environmental Education
Bringing green to the classroom and beyond for 25 years!
212-769-5047

PSEG has a long tradition of caring for New Jersey's people and communities. Each year, the energy company and its employees invest millions of dollars and thousands of hours to improve the quality of life in New Jersey. The company's culture dictates that service to customers and community go hand-in-hand. For more, visit www.pseg.com.

Environmental Education at the edWeb

Want to network online with other educators interested in environmental education? Join the edWeb and the Alliance for New Jersey Environmental Education discusssion forum. This is a new online network just for educators with blogs, discussion groups, messaging, files sharing, bookmark sharing, and more... Just go to www.theedweb.com/ANJEE, sign up and join in our group discussions.

Book Available

ANJEE is proud to present "THE NEW JERSEY SCHOOL OF CONSERVATION FROM 1949 TO 1999, FIFTY YEARS OF EDUCATIONAL SERVICES TO NATURE AND SOCIETY", a new book by Annette Sambolin of the New Jersey School of Conservation.

Proceeds from the sale will be used by the Alliance to promote environmental education for formal and nonformal educators in the state of New Jersey.

To order by mail, send a check for $23.00 to:
The Alliance for New Jersey Environmental Education
c/o Forest Resource Education Center
370 Veterans Highway
Jackson, New Jersey 08527


		Promoting and Improving Environmental Education for people of all ages in New Jersey


	OOOOOOOOOOOOO


Home ANJEE Leadership Members About ANJEE ANJEE Basics Alliance Song Regions North Central South Affiliates NJOCN NJNREC WPNJ Membership Conference Calendar Press/Media Getting the Word Out NJEED Teachers Students Links Awards		PRESS RELEASES ANJEE and PSEG Announce Sustainability Grant Awardees Partnerships will focus on strengthening environmental education (April 25, 2011 - Newark, NJ) - The PSEG Foundation and the Alliance for New Jersey Environmental Education (ANJEE) have announced the recipients of their new PSEG-ANJEE Learners in Sustainability (PALS) grant program. A total of nearly $45,000 will be provided to three partnerships that were selected through a competitive application process. Each of the partnerships is a collaborative effort between non-formal environmental education providers and K-5 pre-service or practicing teachers, with an eye toward increasing the sustainability of New Jersey communities. "One of ANJEE's and PSEG's major goals for the PALS grant program is to create unique partnerships between formal and non-formal environmental educators -- the kind that will result in environmental education of the highest quality," said ANJEE President Elizabeth Johnson. "The response to our Request for Proposals made it clear that many schools and organizations in New Jersey share that very same goal." New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards for science will be integrated into the projects. Lead partners from each organization or school district will participate in professional development provided by ANJEE; topics will include program evaluation and authentic assessment -- the assessment of student learning using a real-world situation or task to allow students to demonstrate what they have learned and the skills they have acquired. Grantees will also attend the annual ANJEE Environmental Education Conference in 2012, and present the results of their projects at the 2013 conference. Announcing the first PSEG-ANJEE Learners in Sustainability (PALS) grantees, by region: ANJEE - North Tenafly Public Schools, Bergen County ($14,943) In partnership with the Tenafly Nature Center (TNC), Tenafly Public Schools will train teams of teachers from its four elementary schools in specific science content, with each team representing grades one, two and five. Working closely with the District Science Supervisor, Elementary Staff Developer and Assistant Superintendent, TNC will provide instruction within the school district and at the nature center. The participating teachers’ classrooms will become “living labs” that model effective science instruction, and curricular units will be implemented by grade levels: Animal Adaptations (First Grade), Plant Ecology and Diversity (Second Grade) and Environmental Sustainability (Third Grade). The teachers selected for this project will share their knowledge and instructional strategies with fellow teachers at their respective schools. ANJEE - Central Princeton Regional Schools, Mercer County ($14,921) The Princeton Sustainable Schools Project will focus on energy conservation and sustainable energy practices to help elementary schools reduce energy usage. Workshops and lessons will be provided for elementary science specialists, classroom teachers and other school staff. A new partnership will be developed with Global Learning Inc., a nonprofit organization that engages the education community in solutions to real-world environmental challenges. In cooperation with Global Learning, participating teachers will develop new curricular materials on sustainable energy practices that illustrate the relevance of science and math. A second project partner, Sustainable Princeton, is a community-wide effort that dedicates itself to sustainable development. They will expand their current relationship with Princeton Regional Schools by disseminating information on efficient energy use and energy reduction practices beyond the school community. ANJEE – South Educational Information & Resource Center (EIRC), Gloucester County ($15,000) EIRC will recruit teams of teachers from grades K-5 at various locations throughout the state to participate in one of three geographically-based Green Schools Leadership Institutes (GSLI) and Green Education Fairs. The GSLI is a weeklong face-to-face program that helps teachers create ways to green their schools. It achieves this through teacher-based development of instructional tools, using schools and school grounds as a context for learning. On the last day of the GSLI, the community is invited to participate in an all-day “green fair” that features expert speakers, policy makers, schools that have gone green, and fun learning activities. The US Green Building Council’s NJ Chapter is a major partner for this project. Additional partners include the Energy and Environmental Research Center in Salem County, PrincetonGreen.org, NJ Department of Environmental Protection, the NJ Council of County Vocational-Technical Schools, North Brunswick Township School District and West Orange School District, among others. Congratulations to everyone. Many thanks to all our applicants for submitting some excellent proposals, to our thoughtful reviewers, to Jo Ann Dow-Breslin for keeping the application and selection process on track, and to Roberta Hunter for her oversight of this first ANJEE grants program. We are pleased to be partnering with PSEG Foundation and are looking forward to following these innovative projects through the year and to exciting results! Happy Spring to all! Elizabeth Johnson, President Alliance for New Jersey Environmental Education Bringing green to the classroom and beyond for 25 years! 212-769-5047 PSEG has a long tradition of caring for New Jersey's people and communities. Each year, the energy company and its employees invest millions of dollars and thousands of hours to improve the quality of life in New Jersey. The company's culture dictates that service to customers and community go hand-in-hand. For more, visit www.pseg.com. Environmental Education at the edWeb Want to network online with other educators interested in environmental education? Join the edWeb and the Alliance for New Jersey Environmental Education discusssion forum. This is a new online network just for educators with blogs, discussion groups, messaging, files sharing, bookmark sharing, and more... Just go to www.theedweb.com/ANJEE, sign up and join in our group discussions. Book Available ANJEE is proud to present "THE NEW JERSEY SCHOOL OF CONSERVATION FROM 1949 TO 1999, FIFTY YEARS OF EDUCATIONAL SERVICES TO NATURE AND SOCIETY", a new book by Annette Sambolin of the New Jersey School of Conservation. Proceeds from the sale will be used by the Alliance to promote environmental education for formal and nonformal educators in the state of New Jersey. To order by mail, send a check for $23.00 to: The Alliance for New Jersey Environmental Education c/o Forest Resource Education Center 370 Veterans Highway Jackson, New Jersey 08527