Shem Creek » education

What does sustainability mean to you?

Charleston Native — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 09:41:23 +0000

If you’re not sure, this short video from College of Charleston students will be a nice wake-up call – one that everybody should take notice of as fellow stewards of our environment.

From the Shem Creek blog.

What does sustainability mean to you?

EPA data shows dangerous toxins near our schools

Charleston Native — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 06:55:55 +0000

In a recent USA TODAY analysis of EPA data, results show that the air outside many schools across the nation have high levels of dangerous toxic chemicals, most of whose effects on children have never been tested.

I’m not sure how many schools there are across S.C., but all together, there are 1,521 schools with dangerous toxicity levels in the atmosphere around them!

The two worst in S.C. were right here in N. Chas: Chicora Elementary (169th worst in the nation) & St. Johns Catholic School (432nd worst in the nation) – putting them both along with Charlestowne Academy & Riverside High School in the top percentile across the nation!

Chemicals most responsible for the toxicity outside Chicora Elementary School

Toxic Chemicals	Overall Toxicity
Manganese and manganese compounds	70%
Chromium and chromium compounds	20%
Nickel and nickel compounds	3%
Sulfuric acid	2%
Copper and copper compounds	1%

Polluters most responsible for toxics outside Chicora Elementary School

Business	Location
Charleston Marine Containers Inc.	N. Chas, S.C.
Meadwestvaco Corp.	N. Chas, S.C.
Detyens Shipyard	N. Chas, S.C.
Rhodia Inc.	Chas, S.C.
Saint-Gobain Vetrotex America Inc.	N. Chas, S.C.

Chemicals most responsible for the toxicity outside St. Johns Catholic School

Toxic Chemicals	Overall Toxicity
Manganese and manganese compounds	67%
Chromium and chromium compounds	20%
Sulfuric acid	4%
Nickel and nickel compounds	3%
Formaldehyde	2%

Polluters most responsible for toxics outside St. Johns Catholic School

Business	Location
Charleston Marine Containers Inc.	N. Chas, S.C.
Meadwestvaco Corp.	N. Chas, S.C.
Saint-Gobain Vetrotex America Inc.	N. Chas, S.C.
Rhodia Inc.	Chas, S.C.
Alumax Of South Carolina	Goose Creek, S.C.

_{Sources: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, University of Massachusetts at Amherst Political Economy Research Institute, and USA Today.}

* Chemicals most responsible for the toxicity outside this school may not add up to 100% because only the top chemicals are listed.

Maybe there is something to living out in Kansas – wizard or not; Either way, I bet they’re breathing better than us!

* UPDATE: 3/25/9: EPA’s new Strategic Plan for Evaluating the Toxicity of Chemicals

From the Shem Creek blog.

EPA data shows dangerous toxins near our schools

Coastal Explorations Series Spring 2009

Charleston Native — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 19:36:32 +0000

The goal of the Coastal Explorations Series, free of charge to the public, is to raise regional awareness of issues pertaining to South Carolina’s marine resources, the importance of conservation, and the significance of historical preservation in the Lowcountry area.

The Coastal Explorations Series provides the public with an opportunity to interact with and meet DNR employees that have knowledgeable insight into the following topics.

February	Nemours Plantation of the ACE Basin
Speaker:	Ernie Wiggers, Manager of Nemours Wildlife Foundation
Date:	February 24, 2009 – 9 a.m. to mid-afternoon (bring lunch)
Capacity:	20 people
March	Native Gardening and Rain Barrel Demonstration – DNR Fort Johnson Marine Center, James Island
Speakers:	Colette Degarady (Conservation Ecologist, The Nature Conservancy), David Joyner (Natural Resources Agent, Clemson Extension), Rebekah Szivak (SCDNR)
Date:	March 18 – 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Capacity:	Unlimited
	Birding in the ACE Basin – Donnelly and Bear Island Wildlife Management Area
Speaker:	Pete Laurie (retired SCDNR)
Date:	March 23, 2009 – 9 a.m. to 1 pm. (bring a lunch)
Capacity:	20 people
May	Huntington Beach State Park: Marine Invertebrates
Speaker:	Mike Walker (SC Park Service)
Date:	May 4, 2009 – 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (bring lunch)
Capacity:	20 people
	Exploring Lewis Ocean Bay Heritage Preserve
Speaker:	Deanna Ruth (SCDNR)
Date:	May 5, 2009 – 9 a.m. to noon
Capacity:	20 people
	Birding in the Headwaters of the ACE Basin – Francis Beidler National Forest
Speakers:	Jeff Mollenhauer (SC Audubon)
Date:	May 18, 2009 – 9 a.m. to noon
Capacity:	30 people
June	History and Natural History of the ACE Basin – McKenzie Field Station at Bennett’s Point
Speakers:	Al Segars, Katie McMillan, Louie Heyward, and Kim Counts (SCDNR)
Date:	June 2, 2009 – 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Capacity:	30 people
July	Deveaux Banks: A Resting and Nesting Place for Shorebirds (Depart from McKenzie Field Station, Bennett’s Point)
Speakers:	Felicia Sanders and Al Segars
Date:	July 29, 2009 – 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Capacity:	30 people

The public is encouraged to register through the online calendar. Online registration is available 30 days prior to each scheduled event. Reservations are required for all of the events, as detailed logistical information varies for each seminar and public outing. You can check individual descriptions of each event on the calendar, or visit the 2009 Coastal Explorations Series web page for a list through July.

The Coastal Explorations Series during the spring will span from February through May. The events range in format from seminar, lectures, discussion, to hands-on identification and field outings. For additional information on the Coastal Explorations Series, contact Kim Counts, DNR coordinator, at the Marine Resources Center, at (843) 953-9354, or CountsK@dnr.sc.gov.

From the Shem Creek blog.

Coastal Explorations Series Spring 2009

Hey Instructors, want $5,000? Teach environmental education!

Charleston Native — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 13:00:00 +0000

$5,000 will get anybody’s attention, but this offer includes the warm-and-fuzzy knowledge that you’re helping kids be environmentally-conscious for their future.

The National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) only has a few rules to qualify; applications must come from teachers who:

• Teach 9th-12th grades in a U.S. public or private school
• Have at least three years of teaching experience
• Apply for one grant category
• Are not serving as advisors to NEEF

Single Course Grants – for teachers in any subject area who want to infuse more environmental content into their coursework – $5,000 grants are available.

Cross-Curricular Grants – for a team of 3 or more teachers who want to integrate environmental themes across courses – $10,000 grants are available.

Visit the site to learn more, but that sounds like one heck of an incentive to me.

Classroom Earth is made possible by a generous contribution from The Weather Channel.

From the Shem Creek blog.

Hey Instructors, want $5,000? Teach environmental education!