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Student Programs & Opportunities

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Last updated: March 5, 2010

Long-term Monitoring Program and Experiential Training for Students (LiMPETS)

LiMPETS is an environmental monitoring and education program for students, educators, and volunteer groups throughout California. This hands-on program was developed to monitor the ocean and coastal ecosystems of California's national marine sanctuaries to increase awareness and stewardship of these important areas. Through research-based monitoring and standardized protocols, students develop their problem solving skills, gain experience using tools and methods employed by field scientists, and learn to analyze data. Approximately 3,500 teachers and students along the coast of California are collecting rocky intertidal and sandy beach data as part of the LiMPETS network. Find out how to join this free environmental monitoring program at http://limpetsmonitoring.org.

Ocean Guardian Program

The purpose of the NOAA National Marine Sanctuaries Ocean Guardian Programs are to encourage teachers and students to explore their natural surroundings to form a sense of personal connection to the ocean and/or watersheds in which they live. • Students can make a difference by becoming a member of our Ocean Guardian Kids Club. • Teachers can get their classroom involved in environmental conservation at their school or in their community to be an Ocean Guardian Classroom. • Everyone can download a free copy of the Ocean Guardian Activity Book to learn more about the ocean and why its important through word searches, games, and coloring pages. Find out more about the Ocean Guardian Programs at http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/education/ocean_guardian_prog.html.

2010 National Service-Learning Conference

The conference is the largest gathering of youth and practitioners involved in the service-learning movement, drawing approximately 2,500 attendees from across the United States and many other countries each year. Through general sessions, thought leader series, and service-learning projects, the conference engages participants in local, national, and global issues. The conference will be held in San Jose, CA on March 24 - 27, 2010. For more information regarding our conference, please visit their website at www.nylc.org/conference.

Sacramento Regional Science & Engineering Fair

The 2010 Sacramento Regional Science & Engineering Fair is a fun and exciting way for middle and high school students in the greater Sacramento region to go beyond their classroom studies. The Fair allows students to put their skills to the test in the fields of computer science, environmental science, medicine & health, chemistry and many other categories. The Fair consistently produces winners who go on to compete in other state and national competitions, including the Intel International Science & Engineering Fair and the California State Science Fair. These students, with the help of dedicated teachers, parents and volunteers, will become our future scientists, engineers, technology experts and mathematicians. For more information visit www.srsefair.org. Location: Rosemont High School, Sacramento.
Dates: March 26-27, 2010

UC Davis Young Scholars Program

The UC Davis Young Scholars Program is a summer residential research program designed to expose 40 high-achieving high school sophomores and juniors to the world of original research in the natural sciences with emphases on the biological, environmental, and agricultural sciences. Participants will work one-on-one with research faculty and research groups in state-of-the-art laboratories for six weeks. Each student will work on an individual project and prepare a journal-quality paper and symposium presentation about their work. In addition to scientific research, the UCD-YSP strives to introduce participants to the climate and culture of living and working on a university campus. Staff make every effort to model the experiences that participants will have during their first years of college. Information can be found at http://ysp.ucdavis.edu, or contact J. Richard Pomeroy, Director, (530) 752-0622, jrpomeroy@ucdavis.edu.
Application deadline: March 31, 2010

SunWise with SHADE Poster Contest

Students can help raise awareness about sun safety and win prizes (including a family trip to Disney World!!) by entering the 2010 SunWise with SHADE poster contest. The annual contest is a joint effort by the SHADE Foundation of America, WeatherBug Schools and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to teach children ways to protect their skin and eyes from excessive sun exposure. Last year’s winner, a 13-year old from Bernville, Pa., depicted a girl talking to her friend about her unhealthy relationship with the sun. Posters will be judged in two categories: kindergarten through 3rd grade and 4th through 8th grade. For more information visit: http://www.shadefoundation.org/programs/poster-contest/.
Contest Application Deadline: April 7, 2010.

A World We Can Change: A Clean Air Conference & Expo for High School Students

High school students can help the Southland build a thriving, sustainable future. This conference & expo will offer information on green job training, environmental volunteer opportunities, state-of-science technology displays, and the chance to network with leaders who are transforming the greater Los Angeles region toward low-emission vehicle technologies, renewable energy, and cleaner air. Lunch will be provided to student and teacher participants. Registration is FREE for participating high schools but pre-registration is mandatory, and students must be accompanied by an instructor. No on-site registration will be available. For more information visit http://www.aqmd.gov and click on the conference banner, call the conference hotline at (909) 396-2221, or email at aworldwecanchange@aqmd.gov.
Thursday, May 27, 2010, Los Angeles Convention Center

2009- 2010 Mojave Max Emergence Contest

California’s Mojave Max is a real desert tortoise who lives at The Living Desert in Palm Desert, California. When the weather turns cold, desert tortoises brumate; this is a reptilian form of hibernation. The Mojave Max Emergence Contest campaign is designed to increase understanding about how desert ecosystems work and especially how the desert tortoise and other native organisms are affected when ecosystems change. Desert tortoises are California’s state reptile; they are also listed on federal and state endangered species list as threatened. Students can go on-line at http://www.deserttortoise.gov and register their guess for when Mojave Max will emerge from her burrow for the first time in 2010. Winners and their classes or groups will receive prizes.This year the contest is also including eligibility for prizes to youth groups and scouts as well as students enrolled in public, private, and registered home schools in the following counties: Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Ventura. The contest will remain open until Max emerges from her burrow. Students in grades 1-12 may enter the contest.

Celebrate Our Ocean and Water

A photo and art contest about our oceans. No matter where you live, your life is dependent upon a healthy ocean. Show us what a day without the ocean would be like by sending a digital image and caption, explaining your thoughts. For more information, visit http://www.yearofscience2009.org/themes_ocean_water/celebrate/.

Lifeschool

Lifeschool, Bodega Bay-based non-profit organization leads outdoor-based class trips and summer adventures in Alaska, California, Costa Rica, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington. Activities include backpacking, eco tours, fishing, sea kayaking, surfing and white water rafting. Lifeschool focuses on fun, teamwork, self-esteem, and back country skills. Five percent discount offered if you sign up with a friend. Call (707) 876-3071 or enroll at http://www.lifeschooladventures.org.

InventNow.org

InventNow.org encourages students to to explore and discover their own innate inventiveness and interests in space, sports, design, and entertainment. The site features ordinary children creating inventions to solve everyday problems. Check out http://www.inventnow.org/.

Sally Ride Science Camps

Innovative hands-on science camps for girls entering 4th - 9th grades. These unique camps provide girls an opportunity to explore science, technology, and engineering while having fun on a college campus. http://www.sallyridecamps.com

Academic Summer Camps and Summer Programs for Kids and Teens!

Education Unlimited®, established in 1993, provides a variety of summer camps, summer programs and summer study, both residential and commuter, for students in grades 4 through 12. http://www.educationunlimited.com

USA Biology Olympiad

The USA Biology Olympiad (USABO) is the premier competition in biology in the United States. The objectives of the USABO are to stimulate young scholars' intellectual curiosity and develop their critical thinking skills in biological reasoning. http://www.cee.org./usabo/index.shtml
Registration Period: Mid-October - Mid-January, visit website for exact dates.

Earth Explore

Earth Explore provides transforming student travel experiences that showcase the earth, science, and culture, in a way that is always challenging, safe, and educational. Visit the Earth Explore web site at http://www.earthexplore.com/.

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