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May News Items

NGA Announcements
Conferences
Resources For Educators
Funding Opportunities

Announcements

Attention School Garden Educators!
NGA is partnering with Life Lab Science Program to publish a new edition of the award-winning curriculum The Growing Classroom. We are looking for a few innovative garden programs who use The Growing Classroom and other Life Lab resources to feature as case studies in the new edition. If you would be interested in having your program spotlighted in this curriculum, please e-mail Education Specialist Sarah Pounders.

This Month's Teachers' Room:
Got Nutrition? Rooting Out the Truth in Food Ads
Kids are subject to a sophisticated blend of food marketing techniques that entice them to opt for foods poor in nutrition — 80 percent of all food ads hype sugary cereals and soft drinks, fatty fast food, or salty snacks. But given some support, students can figure out the “sell” and become advertising-savvy consumers. This means asking important questions about what they read, see, and hear: What tricks do marketers use to grab my attention? How do they want me to feel about the food? Does the scene on the box front fit the nutritional reality? The activities and stories in this month's Teachers’ Room help students to critically pick through the persuasive patter in search of the truth, and invites them to use their newfound marketing awareness to advertise healthful fare.

Summer is Around the Corner!

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Conferences

Ag in the Classroom National Conference ~ June 21-24, 2006
Join educators from across the nation in Atlantic City, New Jersey, to "Unlock the Treasures of the Garden State" and celebrate AITC's 25th Anniversary. Workshops will help you introduce agriculture concepts to your students and cover topics from crops and cows to biotechnology and biofuels. For a complete workshop and tour schedule and registration information, visit the AITC Web site.

2006 National Children & Youth Garden Symposium ~ July 27-29, 2006
Presented by the American Horticultural Society and hosted by The Missouri Botanical Garden, the theme of this year’s Symposium is “Cultivating a Sense of Place: A Youth Gardening Adventure." Workshops, tours, and networking opportunities are capped by the keynote address by Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder. Learn more at the AHS Web site.

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Resources for Educators

California School Garden Network
The California School Garden Network is a collaborative effort of educational institutions and corporate partners committed to enhancing learning through gardening in schools and other community settings. Visit the CSGN Web site for support materials and links to helpful resources.

Soil Surveys Available
The Natural Resources Conservation Service offers detailed soil and geological information. Learn more about what's underfoot in your schoolyard and garden! Visit the NRCS Web site for details.

May is National Wetlands Month
This annual celebration inspires and empowers people to work throughout the year to protect and expand these vital ecosystems. For a calendar of events, visit the Environmental Protection Agency's Wetlands Web site. If you're thinking about building a schoolyard wetland, check out the October 2005 issue of Kids Garden News for ideas and instructions.

WOW! Wetlands Education in Spanish
Environmental Concern announces Las Maravillas de Humedales – the first Spanish extension to WOW! The Wonders of Wetlands curriculum guide. The new module is a compilation of choice activities translated into Spanish and available through WOW! workshops. Learn more at the Environmental Concern Web site.

Keep America Beautiful’s Great American Cleanup continues through May 31. Each spring, Keep America Beautiful coordinates volunteers across the nation in projects to create community environments that are healthy, safe, clean, and beautiful. Find volunteer opportunities in your area

Edens Lost & Found: PBS Series Highlights Sustainable Urban Landscapes
Edens Lost & Found is a four-part PBS series showcasing extraordinary stories of environmental rebirth in four very different American cities. Each one-hour program examines the environmental, economic, and social issues that confront a particular city and the innovative solutions developed to help solve problems that all America's cities face. A companion curriculum will be available in Fall 2006; a downloadable teacher's guide will be available online soon. Learn more about these and other resources on the series' Web site.

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Funding Opportunities

2006 Hooked on Hydroponics Awards
The National Gardening Association joins the Hydroponic Merchants Association and leading hydroponic gardening suppliers in presenting this 2nd annual award. Classroom hydroponics offers eager students loads of opportunities to explore concepts across the curriculum, from biology to economics. Twelve educational programs will each receive a compact hydroponics package that includes everything required grow plants successfully indoors. Application deadline: September 30, 2006. Learn more here

Healthy Sprouts Awards
These awards support school garden programs that use the garden to teach about nutrition and the issue of hunger in the United States. Sponsored by Gardener’s Supply Company. In this grant cycle we will present awards to 25 schools or organizations. Each will receive a $200 gift certificate to Gardener's Supply Company and a curriculum package from NGA. Apply by October 15, 2006. To learn more or download an application, visit here.

VIVA! Garden for Schools Contest ~ Deadline: May 31
Fifty winning schools will receive a $250 Home Depot gift card and have photos of their winning garden entry featured on the VivaGarden.com Web site. All entries must be received by May 31, 2006. Click here for details.

Garden Crusader Awards ~ Deadline: June 1
The Garden Crusader Awards were created by Gardener's Supply in 2001 to honor individuals who are improving the world through gardening. These enthusiastic men and women are planting trees and flowers, growing food, creating new green spaces, and teaching their friends and neighbors about the rewards of gardening. Garden Crusader Award Categories include: education, feeding the hungry, beautification, urban renewal, and restoration. Do you know a Garden Crusader? Click here for nomination details.

CVS Community Grants Program ~ Deadline: October 31
Does your youth garden focus on accessibility and inclusion for disabled kids? The CVS/Pharmacy Community Grants program is requesting proposals for programs targeting children with disabilities that address any of the following: health and rehabilitation services; public schools promoting a greater level of inclusion in student activities and extracurricular programs; and creating opportunities or facilities that give greater access to physical movement and play. Visit the CVS Web site for details.

Edith Stevens Groundwater Educator Award ~ Deadline: July 14
This award recognizes educators who understand the importance of groundwater, motivate others to protect groundwater, and lead by personal example. Anyone actively involved with the implementation and delivery of groundwater education programs is eligible. Visit here for full details.

Support for Afterschool Programs
The Afterschool Alliance is a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness of the importance of afterschool programs and advocating for quality, affordable programs for all children. The organization's Web site offers loads of resources including information on funding projects. For more information, visit the Afterschool Alliance Web site.

Grant Wrangler Funding Directory
Grant Wrangler is a free grants listing service that makes it easy for teachers to find funding. To see the full list of funding opportunities, and to subscribe to the monthly e-newsletter, visit the Grant Wrangler Web site.