UEA Convention features events for teachers, parents and students!
While many think of UEA as simply two days the kids are out of school each fall, the annual UEA Convention has become a celebration of Utah public education, featuring learning opportunities and activities for teachers, students, parents and the whole community.
WHAT: Annual UEA Convention & Education Exposition
WHEN: Thursday, Oct. 20, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., and Friday, Oct. 21, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
(Exhibit Hall opens at 11 a.m. both days)
WHERE: South Towne Expo Center
WHO: Events for teachers, parents, kids, education students, elected officials and anyone interested in public education
SPECIAL EVENTS OF MEDIA INTEREST—
Thursday Opening Session: UEA President Heidi Matthews opens the UEA Convention followed by remarks from Utah Governor Gary Herbert and former Utah teacher and National Education Association President Lily Eskelsen García. <Media availability for Heidi and Lily following the session>
Ø Thursday, 10-11 a.m. / Location: Exhibit Hall Main Stage
‘Hot Topics and Hot Dogs’: Mix and mingle with federal, state and local candidates during an informal lunch. The event is open to everyone for a suggested minimum $10 on-site donation to the UEA Political Action Committee.
Ø Thursday, 1-2:15 p.m. / Location: Room 300C
Friday Opening Session: Award-winning educator and author Erin Gruwell, inspiration for the 2007 hit movie Freedom Writers, keynotes Friday’s activities.
Ø Friday, 10-11 a.m. / Location: Exhibit Hall Main Stage
Book-A-Basket: Kids and families shoot hoops to win books with the Utah Jazz Bear (Thursday only), Cat in the Hat and PBS Kids characters.
Ø Thursday and Friday, 1:30-3 p.m. / Location: Exhibit Hall
Schedule Overview:
- Seminars begin at 8:30 a.m. both days (earlier interviews can be arranged)
- Exhibit Hall open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday and 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday
- See the complete schedule at myUEA.org/convention
Interview Opportunities: (Contact Mike Kelley)
- UEA President Heidi Matthews…present both days
- NEA President Lily Eskelsen García…media availability Thursday
- Interviews with other speakers, presenters and exhibitors can be arranged
Visuals:
- Teachers in workshops…8:30 a.m.-2:45 p.m. both days
- Kids activities in the Exploration Corner learning area…11 a.m. until closing both days
- Parents at seminars and education workshops…times vary
- Teachers and parents at education vendor booths…11 a.m. until closing both days
- Kids and parents at learning workshops…noon-3 p.m. both days
- ‘Hot Topics and Hot Dogs’ political event with state and local candidates…Thursday, 1-2:15 p.m.
- Kids shooting hoops to win books with the Jazz Bear (Thursday only), Cat in the Hat and PBS Kids characters…1:30-3 p.m. both days
ABOUT THE UEA CONVENTION—
The UEA has been providing teacher training at its annual Convention for more than 100 years, but in 2012 added activities for kids, parents and anyone interested in public education.
Available activities at the Convention include:
· An interactive learning area with hands-on activities for kids provided by KUED, Discovery Gateway, Thanksgiving Point, Mad Science, Salt Lake City and County Libraries, and more (including lesson plans for teachers and parents).
· Stage presentations and workshops where educators and parents can learn ways to help struggling learners, find free learning resources, discover how to use magic and attention-getters in teaching, and more.
· A book giveaway where participants shoot a hoop and win a free book.
· An extensive selection of training opportunities for professional educators.
· An exhibit hall with dozens of vendor booths showcasing education-related products and services.
· Speakers addressing important education topics.
>>>See the complete schedule at myUEA.org/convention<<<
Admission to the UEA Convention & Education Exposition is free for UEA members and their families. General admission is $10. Free tickets are available from public school teachers.
ABOUT THE UTAH EDUCATION ASSOCIATION—
For more than a century, the Utah Education Association has been dedicated to preserving and enhancing Utah public education. The UEA represents 18,000 active classroom teachers, retired educators, administrators, licensed educational support personnel and campus education students. The UEA has local affiliates in each of the state’s 41 school districts, Applied Technology Colleges, and the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind.
------------------------------------------------
Natural History Museum of Utah Hosts Spooky “Haunted Night at the Museum” event for Families, Oct. 22
SALT LAKE CITY, Oct. 12, 2016 – Utah families are invited to enjoy the first-ever Haunted Night at the Museum event, on Saturday, Oct. 22, from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Natural History Museum of Utah at the Rio Tinto Center, 301 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City, Utah. The party will include a variety of Halloween-themed hands-on activities including a Museum gallery scavenger hunt, a dance contest and refreshments. With the price of a ticket, family members can enjoy event activities and have full access to Museum galleries and the new Museum exhibit the Power of Poison.
“We invite everyone to wear their costumes and share this enjoyable Halloween party with family and friends,” said Sarah George, Museum director. “We’re creating a very affordable and memorable event that is perfect for everyone from grandmas and grandpas, down to little tots. Tickets are selling out fast, so we suggest buying them in advance online.”
Event activities include:
· Ghoulish goodies, frightful finger foods and other delectable dishes available for purchase
· A Halloween dance-off
· A spell-binding scavenger hunt throughout the Museum galleries
· A mad scientist's lab photo booth
· Hands-on activities and spooky stories for guests of all ages
· Hot chocolate and other Halloween-themed punches, pops and potions
Tickets for adults and seniors are $8, children’s tickets are $5, and children under 3 years of age are free. Museum members receive 10 percent discount.
For more information, visit https://nhmu.utah.edu/ or call or call 801.581.4303. Follow the Natural History Museum of Utah on Facebook, @NHMU on Twitter and on Instagram.
# # #
About the Natural History Museum of Utah
The Natural History Museum of Utah is one of the leading scientific research and cultural institutions in the country. Established in 1963, the Museum‘s collections contain over 1.2 million objects and offers innovative exhibitions and educational programs to thousands of residents and visitors each year, including traveling and permanent exhibits, special events and other programs. With an expected attendance of 180,000 visitors a year, the Museum also offers a variety of outreach programs to communities and schools throughout Utah, reaching every school district in the state annually. The Museum has an active science program with more than 30 scientists and 10 field exhibitions each year.
--------------------------------------
2017 Calendar of Utah Geology Showcases Utah’s Otherworldly Landscapes
Salt Lake City (October 17, 2016) — The Utah Geological Survey (UGS) has recently released the 11th edition of its popular Calendar of Utah Geology. “We published the first calendar in 2007 as a fun way to showcase cool photos taken by our geologists when working in the field,” said Vicky Clarke, UGS Publications Manager. The 2017 calendar features numerous geological wonders in Utah, including some otherworldly landscapes, with a brief explanation of how and when they formed.
Competition has grown among the staff (and not just the geologists) to get pictures in the calendar. This year, UGS staff submitted 232 photos for consideration, including some first-time submissions from UGS staff in the Natural Resources Map and Bookstore, who share with the geologists a love of the outdoors and curiosity about Utah’s landscapes. The cover photo of Great Salt Lake mudflats was taken by bookstore clerk Andy Cvar, who noted that “near-record low water levels reveal a landscape that feels like another planet.”
The calendar contains many other photos that can be described as otherworldly. For example, January presents a photo of a surrealistic rock face mottled with a vibrant purple mineral called fluorite. “I see a lot of rock, a lot of scenery and so tend to be drawn to anything I find unusual. Utah is world famous for its red rock, but electric purple? That catches my eye,” said geologist Mark Milligan, who took the photo. Other photos include a boulder on the San Rafael Swell covered with 150 million year old clam fossils, a scene of salt-encrusted mounds in Great Salt Lake, convolute patterns eroded into the blue-gray badlands of North Caineville Mesa, and the multi-hued Gingham Skirts Butte in Kane County.
The 2017 Calendar of Utah Geology is the same price as last year, $4.95 each or $4.25 for orders of 10 or more, and is available at the Natural Resources Map & Bookstore, 1594 West North Temple, Salt Lake City, (801) 537-3320 or 1-888-UTAHMAP. They may also be purchased online at http://www.mapstore.utah.gov. Bookstore manager Brian Butler suggests to “shop early, as these calendars have sold out in previous years.”
The Utah Geological Survey provides timely scientific information about Utah’s geologic environment, resources, and hazards. It is one of seven divisions within the Utah Department of Natural Resources.
-----------------------------------
People’s Tree” will make cross-country journey from Idaho to Washington D.C.
OGDEN, Utah (Oct. 17, 2016) – For more than 50 years, a Christmas tree has graced the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol for the holiday season. The Payette National Forest, in partnership with nonprofit Choose Outdoors, will bring this special gift from Idaho to Washington, D.C. for the 2016 season, involving more than 25 communities along the way, including an appearance in Ogden on November 15, 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM on Historic 25th Street in front of the Ogden City Amphitheater.
The tree will be cut on November 2, 2016, near McCall, Idaho, and prepared for the 2,000-mile expedition. With great fanfare, the tree will leave the Payette National Forest followed by a caravan of caretakers for the journey to the U.S. Capitol. 25 community celebrations are being planned throughout the tour, culminating with the official tree lighting in early December. Smaller companion trees also will be provided by the Idaho Christmas Tree Growers to decorate offices inside of the U.S. Capitol building and other sites throughout Washington, D.C., along with 8,000 ornaments designed and created by residents throughout the state of Idaho.
Festivities being held while the tree is in Ogden will include photo opportunities with Woodsy Owl and Smokey Bear, entertainment, brief presentations by public officials, hot cocoa, and more. Activities are open to the public and free for all to enjoy.
“We are honored that the U.S. Capitol Christmas tree will visit Ogden and the Regional Office on its way to Washington, D.C.” said Nora Rasure, Regional Forester, USFS Intermountain Region. “Our community looks forward to being a part of this gift to the nation and the joy it will bring to our own community this holiday,” added Ogden Mayor Mike Caldwell.
Associated costs are paid for in part by the U.S. Forest Service, while costs for the tree's transportation and special events are covered by in-kind services, donations and overall support both locally and nationwide, including major 2016 supporters KTVB TV 7, Idaho Potato Growers Association, Skybitz, Kenworth, Hale Trailer, Gary Amoth Trucking, Alaska Airlines, Seid Crane Service, Truckload Carriers Association, Eaton, University of Idaho, Meritor, Bass Pro Shops, and BrINC.
For related news, events and tour information, and to track the tree cross-country, visit www.capitolchristmastree.com and on Facebook @ USCapitolChristmasTree and #capitolchristmastree.
About the Payette National Forest
The Payette National Forest offers the visitor over 2.3 million acres to enjoy. Everything from the deep recesses of Hell's Canyon to peaks reaching elevations of almost 9,500 feet. Dry desert grasslands compliment heavily forested acres. Gateways to the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness lead the visitor to experience the solitude of seldom traveled trails. To the west is the Hell's Canyon National Recreation Area, the deepest river gorge in North America. Stand on the canyons east rim and in some places you gaze down 8,000 feet to the Snake River that carved this canyon. Gaze across the ten-mile wide chasm into the neighboring state of Oregon. Located entirely within Idaho, the Payette NF shares lands with Adams, Idaho, Valley, and Washington Counties. For more information, visit www.fs.usda.gov/payette.
About the U.S. Forest Service
The mission of the U.S. Forest Service is to sustain the health, diversity and productivity of the nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land; provides assistance to state and private landowners; and maintains the largest forestry research organization in the world. Public lands the Forest Service manages contribute more than $13 billion to the economy each year through visitor spending alone. Those same lands provide 20 percent of the nation’s clean water supply, a value estimated at $7.2 billion per year. For more information, see www.fs.fed.us.
About Choose Outdoors:
Choose Outdoors works to increase all American's enjoyment, appreciation and support for outdoor recreation activities that connect them to our public lands. These connections will ensure that our public lands will always be there for future generations to cherish. www.chooseoutdoors.org.
