CBF's Virginia Environmental Education Program Wins Gold
The Commonwealth has recognized CBF's outstanding environmental education programs, which reached 8,800 students and 850 teachers and administrators from public and private schools throughout Virginia last year.

A New National Model for Environmental Education?
A new program will bring environmental literacy to every student in Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS).

One Teacher's Commitment to Environmental Education
Ophelia Barizo, an environmental science and chemistry teacher in western Maryland, doesn't let her location—miles from the Bay—deter her from teaching her students about the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

• Principal Leadership Retreats. Our summer programs aren't just for teachers. Our Environmental Leadership for Principals' Program teaches you how to implement a school program that utilizes and benefits the local environment. Check it out at cbf.org/principals.
    
• CBF Fall Field Programs. Already planning to bring your students on a one-day field experience in the fall? Download the Fall 2011 application for all one-day programs, like the Potomac River boat program. If you've already experienced our one-day trips and are ready for a more in-depth experience consider one of our residential education centers, such as the Karen Noonan Center. Download our revised 2011/2012 residential program application.
  
  Both applications are due by June 17, 2011.
     
• CBT Mini-grants. The Chesapeake Bay Trust awards mini-grants of up to $5,000 for school projects that "engage Maryland citizens in activities that raise public awareness and participation in the restoration and protection of the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers." It has restructured the mini-grant program. For more information, go to the Chesapeake Bay Trust website.

School Water Audit Guide
In connection with National Environmental Education Week (EE Week), we offer you the Be Water Wise! School Water Audit Guide. School water audits provide a fun and educational way for students to examine the ways that they use water. Audits encourage everyone—classmates, teachers, and school administrators—to make their school more water-efficient and cost-effective. Water-audit tools for teachers, as well as supplementary water conservation lesson plans from The Water Sourcebooks, can be found at http://bit.ly/hLEeOR. Plus, you can submit the results of your school's water audit to National EE Week online at http://bit.ly/esLsup.

April is Earth Month

This year, the theme of Earth Day, which always falls on April 22, will be "A Billion Acts of Green." In that spirit, here are two eco-friendly resources to help you and your students make your school more earth friendly:  Make Every Day Earth Day and 50 Ways to Help Our Environment.

Event: Clagett Tree Planting Days
Dates: Throughout April
Location: Clagett Farm, Upper Marlboro, Maryland

Event: Alice Ferguson Foundation 23rd Annual Potomac River Watershed Cleanup
Encourage your school to lead its own schoolyard cleanup. Schools can register as official clean-up sites or can do one on their own.
Date: April 9, 2011
Time:  9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Event:  CBF Save the Bay Photo Contest
Date:  Submissions due postmarked by April 15.

Deadlines:  Fall 2011 applications due for one-day and residential programs
Date:  Applications must be received by June 17, 2011
Get applications here

For a full listing of upcoming events and restoration projects check our Online Calendar.

Use CBF's State of the Bay Report in Your Classroom
A specially designed poster (above) and relevant worksheets about the 2010 State of the Bay report are now available for teachers to use in the classroom. Discover how the current status of our watershed can be a fantastic teaching tool across the curriculum, and use this unique visual to send the message "save the Bay" home with your students. To get your copy of the poster and worksheets, e-mail chesapeakeclassrooms@cbf.org.