11th Annual
Spokane Youth Environmental Conference
May 8, 2008

The annual Spokane Youth Environmental Conference (SYEC) is a one day, high-energy event for students in grades 7-12, to showcase their environmental science projects.   This year’s conference theme is Climate Change Connections.

The Conference is designed to:

• Encourage students to do real scientific investigations.
• Provide students a forum to share their projects with their peers. Through oral presentations and visual poster exhibits, students learn from each other about environmental issues and about concrete actions each individual can take to help address these issues.
• Enable students, through their active participation, to demonstrate their mastery of the Science and Language EALRs.
• Work toward meeting the Grade Level Expectations for math, reading and science.
• Complete culminating projects for seniors.

2008 Conference - Climate Change Connections

Since “Climate Change” is such a hot topic nationally, conference organizers are bringing it to a local level.  Changing climate will impact how we live, work and learn.  This year, students are encouraged to tie in “Climate Change Connections” to their evironmental science project, when possible.  For more information on how to participate in the conference, visit the “How to Participate” page.  Visit the climate change page for more information on global warming and the science behind it.

A draft conference agenda is available.  A final agenda will be posted in April.

Conference Organizers

• National Weather Service, Spokane Field Office
• Spokane Aquifer Joint Board
• Spokane County Water Quality Management
• Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency
• Spokane Regional Solid Waste System
• Washington State Department of Ecology

Conference Educator Advisors

• Jonathan Hanson, Educational Service District 101
• Jami Ostby-Marsh, West Valley Outdoor Learning Center
• Mindy Poindexter, Freeman Middle School

Conference Donors
The conference is made possible by the generous support of local businesses and organizations, listed below. For Information about being a sponsor, click here.

Spokane Master Composters will host their Spring Compost Fair at the John A. Finch Arboretum on Saturday, April 26^th from 11AM – 2 PM.  Just in time for spring yard clean-up, participants will learn how to turn yard and garden debris into valuable soil amendments and reduce garbage disposal costs.  The Fair is being held in conjunction with the Arboretum’s Arbor Day festivities. 

A variety of hands-on demonstrations will be highlighted — including a “hot” compost pile and worm bin.  Participants will learn about the materials to use in composting, how to build and turn a compost pile and how to choose the appropriate bin.   Participants must arrive by 1:30 PM to complete all of the activities by the 2 PM closing time.

This event is free and open to the public. Spokane County attendees (with identification verifying residency), can receive a free compost bin (one per household) after completing the various activities.  The bins are provided by the Spokane Regional Solid Waste System and the Washington State Department of Ecology.  The Master Composters are volunteers of the Spokane Regional Solid Waste System.

The John A. Finch Arboretum is located at the intersection of Sunset Highway and “F” Street.  For more information, call the Recycling Hotline at 625-6800 or visit http://www.solidwaste.org 

SCC Auditorium

9:30 am  “An Inconvenient Truth”

1:00 pm “Revolution Green”

Speaker Glen Cosby “Consumed by Consumption”  SCC Lair Littlefoot/Bigfoot  Followed by a screening of:  “Global Warming: Are You Hungry For Change?”  Lynette Barrett, Hungry for Change Contest Winner

12:30 pm - 1:30 pm

Tree Planting   Meeting: Lair Lobby 12:30

You are invited to Green Drinks: a monthly, free, informal networking
event for eco- professionals and anyone interested in conversation,
conservation and/or cocktails. Green Drinks gatherings are held in over 300 cities around the world. Raise your glass to sustainable Spokane!

Who: You and a friend, please spread the word
What: Spokane Green Drinks
Where: Brooklyn Nights, 122 S. Monroe, Spokane
When: Tuesday, April 8 and every second Tuesdays of the month from
5:30 ’til late
Why: no cost + no agenda = networking, community-building, fun (no-
host bar)
Questions: www.greendrinks.org

Holy Trinity Episcopal Church 1832 W Dean Ave  (10 am to 6 pm)

FREE Admission Plants-Buy/Sell/Trade Baked Goods Music Garden Info & Advice

Have plants to share, sell or trade? Space is free to individuals and nonprofits from West Central neighborhood. Available by reservation only. Space may be limited. Bring your own tables!

For more information, or to reserve your spot, call Kathy Dellwo at 844-4480

Community Building, 35 W Main,  Mezzanine meeting room

Are you a fan of local, sustainable agriculture?  Urban gardening and “farming”?  Tilth may be the group for you!  Contact Jim@UrbanEdenFarm.com   Mention ‘Tilth’ in your message or subject line.

Riverpoint campus, 600 N. Riverpoint Blvd. SAC 241.

Brought to you by the Riverpoint Campus Wellness Collaborative and Commute Trip Reduction Committee
The event will celebrate Earth Day and feature a presentation on bike commuting, in preparation for National Bike To Work Week, May 12-16, 2008. We strive to host zero waste food functions by (a) encouraging folks to bring their own eat-ware, and (b) providing non-disposable tumblers and compostable plates, bowls, and “silverware” — made from potato starch, I believe — for folks to use if they can’t bring their own.