Dear Sue, 
Welcome Back to a
New School Year!
So many exciting green things are happening, and we want to assist you in being a part of it. SCARCE can help your school enhance its curriculum while meeting ISLS. Every principal in DuPage County was sent a letter at the beginning of August which told about SCARCE and the many programs we offer.
But, we can do even more than that! SCARCE can help with your Environmental Clubs and with your school or group in organizing environmental events and activities.
We want to be a valuable resource to all students, teachers and schools. Please contact us and use our environmental resources. DuPage County provides the funding for many of the resources, this newsletter and the training we offer to teachers and other community groups like your EcoClubs. So, take advantage of the great opportunities we receive only in our county.
Keep up the great things we have already seen, let us know what you are doing on the environmental front!
Have a GREAT 2009-2010 School Year,
The SCARCE Team
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SCARCE
Begins its 20th Year!
Oh, how far we've come! Twenty years ago,
- most people didn't even know what "GREEN" meant
- composting was for farmers
- caring for the environment was for tree huggers & leftover hippies
- recycling was not widespread nor taken seriously
- reducing didn't matter - we had enough landfill space to last
NOW, the public is so much more aware of the relevance of taking care of our natural resources and the world around us. The more we educate, the better the world is for everyone - think globally, act locally.
Environmental education needs to become even more widespread so that we can leave the legacy of a generation who cared & was environmentally responsible so that future generations will inherit an Earth that is still a wonderful place to live.
Schools can do their part by continuing the environmental educational process and teaching our children about caring for the Earth and its resources. In doing so, your school can earn or re-certify its Earth Flag. If it has been 4-5 years since your school earned its Earth Flag, SCARCE greatly encourages you to re-certify.
Having a school work together to achieve a common goal that makes the world a better place is a fabulous way to really help your students bond and work as a force to make change. Please let us help you - we are excited about our future prospects!
Click of the Earth Flag for re-certification requirements.
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 SCARCE Calendar
Click the Calendar for More Upcoming Events that are pertinent to Your Schools |
SCARCE wants to
Hear from YOU!
By popular demand, SCARCE has joined the ranks of the many who have joined Twitter and Facebook. We would love to know what you think! Become a SCARCE Fan!
We look forward to reading your updates and tidbits of exciting environmental news, events, activities, awards, ...
Click on either picture or the link above to check out our NEW web spaces!
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PLEASE Volunteer to Help
at
the Cantigny Green Fair! Would You or Your Students Want to: be a model in the FashionEcoNista Show? - assist with set-up or tear down?
- help at one of our many booths?
Does your Eco Club need a project?
SCARCE needs volunteers high school age and above to help with
the Green Fair.
To Volunteer: - Sign up online, click here: GREEN FAIR VOLUNTEER,
- Log onto http://www.bookrescue.org/scarce/volunteer.asp
- Email us at ecoed@sbcglobal.net
- Call us at 630.545.9710 - ask for Shefali or Katie
VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION
Wednesday, September 9, 2009 Cantigny Park Visitor's Center Wheaton 6:30 pm
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SCARCE & Cantigny Co-Sponsor the GREEN FAIR
Cantigny Park
Saturday, September 26
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Event: Free - Parking: $5.00/vehicle
You & Your Family are Invited
to our first ever Green Fair! Join us for the FUN: - Eco Venders
- FashionEcoNista Show
- Live Performance by the Giving Tree Band
- RECYCLED ART Contest
- Local Farmer's Market
- The Energy Bike
- Eco-Activities for Kids
- click for more....
The RECYCLED ART Contest OFFERING CASH PRIZES
is open to all high school & college students.
TELL YOUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS!!!Just click the Cantigny Recycled Art Contest link for details, rules and registration information. ___________________________________________________________
PLUS, a RECYCLING EXTRAVAGANZA will be held in conjunction with the Cantigny Green Fair.(It will held in a separate parking lot - no parking fees apply for drop off.) Log onto SCARCE for a complete list of items collected at the Recycling Extravaganza.
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Carbon Day believes that everyone should
"PLAY A PART" and work towards the goal of reducing each person's
carbon footprint.
There are many things each of us, as individuals and organizations, can do to reduce our carbon emissions.
September 15th has been designated as the official
Carbon Day Holiday. If you would like the opportunity to
create an event, large and small, in your own community to educate about energy efficiency and how to reduce our individual and
collective Carbon Footprints, log onto CarbonDay.com and get details on how to register, set up an event and obtain assistance and materials.
Many other helpful tools & links are available on site as well. Let
us know at SCARCE if you participate in any Carbon Day events.
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 Clean Up the World Weekend is Coming Soon!
Become
a part of this international event whose main cause is to better the
world around us by cleaning up or organizing/participating in an
environmental activity on a local level. Community clean ups and
events, though local, can be felt nationally and even internationally
whether we see the effects of our efforts or not.
So, join in and be a part of the solution. Log onto the Clean Up the World website for ideas and to register your group.
To join the 2009 campaign and put your group and its activities on the Global Environmental Map, visit the Clean Up the World Activities Website. |
 iwalk - International Walk to School Day - October 7th
Do you want to
- enhance the health of our kids?
- improve the quality of our air & the environment?
- spend more quality time with kids?
- participate in a fun, non-stressful event?
Join kids & families throughout the month of October as they walk and bike to school. Feel like you are even more a part of the fun by organizing and registering a "Walk to School Day" at your school.
For more details and to find out about registering an event, log onto iwalk- usa. Take a look at the international site as well, iwalk international - remember THINK GLOBALLY, ACT LOCALLY. |
 Itasca & Lisle Receive "Safe Routes to School" Federal Grants
Congratulations to both communities for receiving this grant which will help fund the installation or improvement of walkways that children take to and around schools.
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Do You Know What Type of TREE That Is?
If you love nature, walking, hiking or just being outside, this question often arises - especially in the fall when all of the trees are turning such beautiful colors! The Arbor Day Foundation produced a great little pocket guide to help with identifying these important giants of nature. Click on Arbor Day Foundation for more information.
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Summer Heat? No problem if you don't mind an Enormous "Cooling Bill"
Here's an example from nature that could teach us a few things about regulating temperature!
Think about how hot you would feel if you didn't sweat when it was hot. That's how it is for some animals, however, they beat the heat with a different kind of cooling system. Scientists have known for years that elephants and rabbits don't sweat but release heat through their rather large ears. Studies are now showing that a similar situation holds true for the toucan, but its his bill that acts as the cooling mechanism.
Thermal imaging (above) shows the "hot spots" along the bird's beak where large amounts of heat are allowed to escape. A series of blood vessels running through the beak regulates blood flow through the area thereby increasing/decreasing the amount of heat allowed to leave the body.
Imagine if we could create a heating/cooling system that was as efficient and easy as the toucan. That is called "BIOMIMICRY". Look below in our book recommendations. One of the books is all about that very thing!
For more on this fascinating discovery, click one of the links: Discover Magazine-Toucan or ScienceNow-Toucan9
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Sustainable Design Challenge Teacher Workshop Wednesday, October 7
6:30 pm to 8:00 pm
Introduce your students to challenges and exciting new technologies involved in designing a GREEN Building!
The Sustainable Design Challenge is the perfect activity for
- science classes teaching about
- ecology
- renewable/non-renewable energy & resources
- conservation
- environmentalism
- climate change & carbon footprints
- composting
- architecture & art classes learning about interior/exterior design
- eco clubs
- any interested students
Come to this important meeting to discuss all of the details involved in the 2010 Sustainable Design Challenge.
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 Green Building Workshop for Teachers
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
8:00 am - 2:30 pm
6.5 CPDUs
Would you like to learn about Green Building Design and
- energy efficiency
- renewable energy
- recycled materials
- water conservation
- the latest & greatest in technology?
Join us for an exciting day filled with hands-on, up-close-and-personal experiences with green roofs, solarpanels, geothermal HVAC systems, wind turbines & more! You've heard of LEED certification, but what is it? And, what about all of those GREEN Careers? We'll help you get ready to talk about those as well!
The day begins with registration & continental breakfast at SCARCE's headquarters in Glen Ellyn. Promptly at 8:15 a.m., we will board a bus and travel to several green buildings. Snacks will also be provided on the bus.
Register online - Log on right here - SCARCE |
Grants & Other Opportunities
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ARRA State Energy Program Grant Applications due Oct 1 or Oct 26
Programs include, but are not limited to:
- Green Roofs
- Electric Efficiency
- Thermal Efficiency for Public Facilities
- Renewable Energy Production
- Community Renewable Energy
- and more...
Log onto the Illinois DCEO website for information and links to applications.
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Take Education on the Road
with a Target Field Trip Grant
Target Field Trip Grants
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 A+ for Energy Grant - BP ProgramFrom exploring the uses of alternative energy to help power robots to investigating wind power by flying kites, your class could receive grant money to support and energy project. Perhaps your school could be the one to benefit from biodiesel or other clean burning fuel buses. The possibilities are endless!
Log onto A+ for Energy to find out all of the details - this school year has not yet been posted, so keep checking. |
 NEA Foundation Grants
The NEA Foundation offers two different grants which may be geared towards environmental issues and leadership.
To see past recipients and to get more details, log onto NEA Foundation. The deadline for applications is October 15, 2009.
For a list of other grants, log onto Grants. Some of the listed grants still have deadlines for the beginning of the 2009-2010 school year. |
 Project Learning Tree - Greenworks! Grants"GreenWorks! grants engage PLT educators and their students with their local community in "learning-by-doing" environmental projects. Student leadership, service-learning, and community participation are the cornerstones to GreenWorks! projects. These grassroots action projects enable schools and youth organizations across the country to make a positive impact on their communities."
Applications due October 31, 2009. |
2009 Classroom Earth Professional Development Grant
"Environmental education aims to increase student understanding of how natural systems interact with each other and with human-made systems. It allows students to make decisions based on sound evidence and build skills that can have a positive impact on the environment. It is education that should be an integral part of every discipline, building student awareness, knowledge and action." To learn more about this log onto EPA EE. |
Classroom Earth - a Really Valuable Website
The Classroom Earth website has a plethura of information including articles, activities, lesson plans and a whole host of resources which are available to teachers.
The website also contains an entire page of pertinent Environmental Grants and Funding available to schools. Click the link above for the home page or here, Environmental Grants, for funding opportunities.
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Art Supply Opportunity
Are you in need of scrap pieces of plexiglass for any of your school projects? Well, Carlson Glass & Mirror in downtown Wheaton allows schools to have their leftovers. You can go pick up the plexiglass scraps on Saturdays from 9:00am to 1:00pm.
Carlson Glass & Mirror
111 E Front St
Wheaton 60187
630.668.4000
Website: Carlson Paint, Art & Glass Stores
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Want to Find Out About Upcoming Environmental Events?
The Green Bulletin
Click above to view the public events
for September 2009
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3 Rs - Ripples Recommended Reading
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How to Grow Fresh Air
by: Dr. B.C. Wolverton
Penguin Books
Age: Reference for Middle School & up
This book looks at indoor air pollution and the problems that it causes. Based on studies conducted by NASA to develop sustainable, closed ecological life-support facilities, this book discusses the amazing abilities of plants to purify and revitalize air.
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Judy Moody Saves the World
by: Megan McDonald
Candlewick Press
Age: 6 and up
This entertaining book is good for kids who are beginning chapter books. Judy Moody, the heroine, learns about the environment and begins her own campaigns to try to improve her family's recycling, save the rainforest, and endangered species.
Plus, click here for Judy Moody's Clubhouse or here Judy Moody Teacher's Guide for downloadable ideas from Candlewick Press.
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Dear Children of the Earth
by: Schim Schimmel
NorthWord Press
Age: 3 and up (great for all ages)
Mother Earth writes a letter telling people about herself and asking
them to take care of her for themselves and for all living creatures. Beautifully illustrated.
Children of the Earth...Remember is another book by the same author. It shares the same message of loving and caring for the Earth, but as a story instead of a letter.
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Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature
by: Janine M. Benyus
Perennial
(imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers)
Age: High School
 biomimicking these environmental solutions are the things we need to implement for a greener future.
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We are LOOKING FORWARD to our best, greenest year, yet! We can't wait to see all of the Earth-Friendly projects and ideas that will be happening in our schools. Remember, many hands make for light work - if we all do a little, we can have a huge impact on helping the environment.
Keep up the fabulous job you are doing!
The SCARCE Team
SCARCE Environmental Education |
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DuPage County |
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Illinois Composting Bill SB99
Made into Law! |
SCARCE is excited to tell you about a composting bill which has just recently been signed into law. Our director, Kay McKeen, worked for five years to get this legislation passed.
It is important because a) natural resources will be saved from becoming garbage, b) our ever-shrinking landfill space will be used for more real garbage, c) our soil will benefit from the natural forms of nutrients being put back into it, d) there will be less erosion pollution from stormwater runoff because the soil will contain less chemicals & composted soil holds more water and stays in place better.
THANKS for all of the support and KEEP COMPOSTING!!!Do your classes need to learn about Composting and Vermi-composting?
Contact SCARCE- We would love to help!!!
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Reduce Your Carbon Footprint - 
