Last New Year’s Day a mentor of mine, my first high school principal, sent me a meme that said, “365 new days, 365 new chances.” I still like it, a year and a week later. Here are some of the 365 new opportunities that are passing across my desk and computer screen.
- The California Fertilizer Foundation has 24 school garden grants of $1,200 each available. Successful grant recipients can apply for a second year of money and field trips. The deadline is Jan. 15. If that deadline is too soon, the foundation usually offers a second round of grants in June. Check the foundation’s website. The website also has information and resources for school gardeners.
- The Cal Water H2O Challenge deadline is Feb. 21. This is an environmental science competition for students in grades 4 through 6 statewide.
- SMUD has its calendar of free science workshops and events from January through April posted. Included are topics such as building a solar-powered race car and creating Valentines with LED lights. In June there’s a family workshop on building your own solar cooker.
- The Sly Park Environmental Education Center in Pollock Pines is celebrating its 50th birthday with events open to the public.
- The College Board announced its A Dream Deferred: The Future of African American Education conference is March 11-13 in Chicago. Registration is now open.
- Registration for Kaiser-Permanente’s Women’s Fitness Festival is now open. The festival, which includes run/walks for girls ages 12 and under, is scheduled for June 7 in Sacramento.
- The 2020 National Agriculture in the Classroom conference will be in Salt Lake City on June 23-26. Registration opens Jan. 15. Traveling workshops to Utah agricultural operations and onsite workshops that demonstrate how to use agricultural resources to teach reading, writing, math, science, social science and nutrition are among the offerings at this conference.
- The 10th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference will run April 21-23 in Albuquerque. Organizer says, “this biennial event will convene hundreds of movement leaders working to source local food for institutional cafeterias and foster a culture of healthy food and agricultural literacy across America.” To sign up for the National Farm to School Network, click here.
- If you aren’t getting the California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom’s electronic newsletter, “Cream of the Crop,” you should consider signing up. They come monthly and are chockfull of great information. Some of the field trip possibilities listed in the January newsletter are the McKellar Family Farms in Ivanhoe; the Hillmar Cheese Co.; the Powerhouse Science Center in Sacramento; and the International Agriculture Center in Tulare. The California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom offers scholarships to its annual conferences and school grants as well as a multitude of resources.
Specifically of interest to people with disabilities:
- The Sacramento Public Library is hosting a “disability film festival” from 1 to 4 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 12, at the Tsakopoulos Library Galleria, 828 I St., Sacramento. Registration is required.
- The California State Council on Developmental Disabilities is in the process of developing its next Five-Year State Plan. The council wants to hear from people. An online survey is available in 18 languages. If you prefer pen and paper, the survey is available in English or Spanish.