June 6-7 (1 credit workshop)
June 7 (conference only)

Scheduled to speak are:

Educators can opt to attend just the conference on June 7, or extend the conference into a credit opportunity by attending a 3 hour pre conference session June 6 to become trained in utilizing GEMS Global Warming kit.

The conference is for all South Dakota K-16 educators, non-formal educators and others with an interest in climate change education. The objectives of the conference are to increase awareness and knowledge of climate change and to create a network of individuals that wish to share knowledge on the subject.

The conference is a cooperative effort between the South Dakota Deptment of Education, Environment Education Connections of South Dakota (EECSD), National Wildlife Federation (NWF) and the South Dakota Discovery Center.

There is no charge for the event (excepting college credit) and a working lunch will be provided.

Conference Information & Registration

Pre-Conference GEMS training (required for credit)
June 6
4PM - 7:30PM
SD Discovery Center

Conference
June 7
10AM to 4PM
Capitol Lake Visitors Center, located between the Capitol Building and Capitol Lake in Pierre, SD.

To register for the conference, contact Curt Robertson at 603-773-4506. Or email curt.robertson@state.sd.us with:
Name:
School:
Grade level:
Subject area:
Phone:
Email:

To register for the credit, please contact Anne Lewis (annelewis@sd-discovery.com) at 605-224-8295. You may also register online at
http://www.sd-discovery.com/teachersworkshops.shtm#ClimateChange

Space for the conference is limited so register as soon as possible.
 

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Welcome!

Spring was a long time coming this year.  Most of South Dakota had spring snow squalls well into April.  I recently read a post on the internet where someone pointed to these weather events and scoffed at the idea of "global warming".  How could the world be getting warmer if we are experiencing more cold weather?

I'm sure you've heard similar comments.  If you would like to know how to respond (whether they be honest questions or derisive remarks) please plan to attend the South Dakota Climate Conference for Educators.  EECSD is co-sponsoring this event to help provide South Dakota's educators, agency outreach staff and youth program workers (volunteer and paid) the knowledge and resources to address this important topic.

Some people are reluctant to become educated because climate change seems too intractable.  Or perhaps people are reluctant to learn more because of the anxiety of considering the ramifications.  However, climate change is like every other issue in the world: the less you know, the more overwhelming it seems.

A good analogy here is that of scary medical symptoms.  While the initial reaction is to hold off on going to the doctor in hopes that the symptoms will go away by themselves, most people feel relieved when they get a diagnosis. They then learn their options and focus on what they can do rather than feeling helpless at what they don't understand.

The take home message (in a re-useable bag please) is  WE CAN DO SOMETHING.  Don't fear climate change, fight it using the first best weapon we've always had: knowledge.

Regards,

Anne Lewis
President
Contact:
Anne Lewis, President
c/o SD Discovery Center
805 W. Sioux
Pierre, SD 57501
Office: (605) 224-8295
Email: annelewis@sd-discovery.com