Welcome to The Highland Environmental Education Coalition-HEEC

Upcoming events for teachers/educators, students, and the general public are occurring every month. From local festivals to national conferences… it’s all here!

Recognized as a time to take action on behalf of captive birds, drawing attention to the exploitation of other country’s native birds by the

pet industry, putting many exotic birds in dangerous situations.

A day to remember the creator of the “land ethic” and author of A Sand County Almanac.

RED—	events hosted, sponsored, or otherwise directly connected with the Highland Environmental Learning Center and/or Highland Environmental Education Coalition.
BLUE—	national environmental holidays.
GREEN—	local and national events/conferences from other environmental organizations; not connected to the Highland Environmental Learning Center or HEEC.

A highly anticipated day during which a single animal determines the weather for the following six weeks. Traditional lore tells us that if a groundhog emerges from its burrow on this day and fails to see its shadow (because the weather is cloudy) winter will soon end and spring is near. If the groundhog sees its shadow (because it is bright and clear) it will be frightened and run back into its burrow, winter will continue for six moreeks. The day is also a reminder of situations constantly repeating themselves.

Celebrated to raise awareness about the importance of science education in the

and abroad, and to heighten the enthusiasm for science and technology learning and understanding across all demographics.

RED—	events hosted, sponsored, or otherwise directly connected with the Highland Environmental Learning Center and/or Highland Environmental Education Coalition.
BLUE—	national environmental holidays.
GREEN—	local and national events/conferences from other environmental organizations; not connected to the Highland Environmental Learning Center or HEEC.

Occurred in 1872, designated a National Park by President Ulysses S. Grant. Commemorative of the expansion of the west began by the journeys of Lewis and Clark.

Hosted by the National Arbor Day Foundation, all California graders are welcome to enter a poster within the theme “Trees are Terrific… and Forests are Tool!” Teachers may request contest kits beginning October 2006. For more information see www.arborday.org. To request a kit contact Kay Antunez (CA Dept. of Forestry and Fire Protection) at Kay.Antunez@fire.ca.gov or (916) 653- 7958.

Established by the First International Meeting of People Affected by Dams in Curitiba,

Brazil

. Continuing goals include strengthening regional and international networks within the international anti-dam movement.

Also called World Water Day, grew out of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro, focuses on the importance of water in all life and the environment as a whole.

Created by the World Meteorological Organization in recognition of an ever-changing planet and the interactions between people and nature.

RED—	events hosted, sponsored, or otherwise directly connected with the Highland Environmental Learning Center and/or Highland Environmental Education Coalition.
BLUE—	national environmental holidays.
GREEN—	local and national events/conferences from other environmental organizations; not connected to the Highland Environmental Learning Center or HEEC.

Sponsored by the World Health Organization, celebrated to create “awareness of a specific health theme to highlight a priority area of concern for the World Health Organization”, includes various activities related to the particular theme and resources provided.

Hailed as the “largest organized environmental education event in US history”, its purpose is to increase the educational impact of Earth Day by creating a full week of educational preparation, learning, and activities in K-12 classrooms, nature centers, zoos, museums, and aquariums.

A nationally-celebrated observance that encourages tree planting and care. Founded in 1872 by J. Sterling Morton in Nebraska. Now celebrated on the last Friday in April.

A celebration remembering the Father of our National Parks and co-founder of the Sierra Club.

A national celebration intended to inspire awareness of and appreciation for the Earth’s environment. Commonly includes various events from national onferences and speeches to local expos and fairs.

A day dedicated to remembering the deadly 1986 Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant Accident through activities to observe the tragedy that occurred and enhance public awareness of the consequences of such disasters for human health and the environment throughout the world.

RED—	events hosted, sponsored, or otherwise directly connected with the Highland Environmental Learning Center and/or Highland Environmental Education Coalition.
BLUE—	national environmental holidays.
GREEN—	local and national events/conferences from other environmental organizations; not connected to the Highland Environmental Learning Center or HEEC.

Celebrating the rebirth of nature with springtime revels and maypole merriment, one of the oldest holidays celebrating nature.

Initially a celebration of the universal right to “freedom of the press” as granted by the Bill of Rights, this day is now used as an occasion to inform the public of violations of the right to freedom of expression and as a reminder that many journalists brave death or jail to ring people their daily news.

An annual celebration began in 1994, the International Year of the Family, to enable local communities to highlight the importance of family life and the various ways in which families can be supported.

An annual event held across the US promoting the use of bicycles as an option for commuting to work instead of cars, focuses on the benefits of using a bike from gaining exercise to saving gas and lowering pollution.

A day proclaimed by the President of the United States (George W. Bush, 2002) that this will be all posts and all US ships sailing “dress ship” to comm emorate the importance of the maritime industry in times of peace and war and everyday life.

Remembering the woman that wrote Silent Spring, raising national awareness of the mis-use of chemicals.

RED—	events hosted, sponsored, or otherwise directly connected with the Highland Environmental Learning Center and/or Highland Environmental Education Coalition.
BLUE—	national environmental holidays.
GREEN—	local and national events/conferences from other environmental organizations; not connected to the Highland Environmental Learning Center or HEEC.

Created by the American Hiking Society to inspire people of all ages to discover, learn about, and celebrate trails, through participation in educational and recreational activities.

Originally established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972 to mark the opening of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment, now celebrated worldwide through national conferences and local environmentally themed events.

Remembering a celebrated oceanographer, science popularizer, and global environmentalist.

Celebrated in conjunction wit the solstice, this day is to renew the agreement between humans and whales and dolphins to abandon the killing of marine life and create a renewed bond between man and nature.

RED—	events hosted, sponsored, or otherwise directly connected with the Highland Environmental Learning Center and/or Highland Environmental Education Coalition.
BLUE—	national environmental holidays.
GREEN—	local and national events/conferences from other environmental organizations; not connected to the Highland Environmental Learning Center or HEEC.

Remembering a visionary environmentalist who fought for the health and protection of all Earth’s creatures and recognition that Earth is our only home and it must be taken care of before we (humans destroy it entirely).

Bringing attention to important population and development issues around the world.

Celebrates the life on a naturalist, most famous for his work as the author of Walden which brought international attention to the pure beauty of untouched nature.

A day to remember, celebrate, and look forward to discoveries still to be made regarding the landing of man on the moon and space exploration as a whole.

A celebration focused on the importance of trees, mainly celebrated in Australia with the planting and cultivation of thousands of trees.

RED—	events hosted, sponsored, or otherwise directly connected with the Highland Environmental Learning Center and/or Highland Environmental Education Coalition.
BLUE—	national environmental holidays.
GREEN—	local and national events/conferences from other environmental organizations; not connected to the Highland Environmental Learning Center or HEEC.

Recognition and celebration of the wisdom and traditions kept alive by the indigenous peoples of the world.

A recognition of meteors and shooting stars, commonly named after the star or constellation from which they seem to originate. Specifically remembering the Perseids, which arrives in a shower of up to 60 meteors an hour.

The anniversary of a volcanic eruption in 1883 which sent tons of ash into the atmosphere, later raining down on the environment; a specific reminder of Nature’s power.

RED—	events hosted, sponsored, or otherwise directly connected with the Highland Environmental Learning Center and/or Highland Environmental Education Coalition.
BLUE—	national environmental holidays.
GREEN—	local and national events/conferences from other environmental organizations; not connected to the Highland Environmental Learning Center or HEEC.

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