ADOPT-A-CLASSROOM GRANTS AVAILABLE FROM NAHEE

The National Association for Humane and Environmental Education (NAHEE) is now offering Adopt-a-Classroom grants of up to $5,000 to nonprofit animal protection organizations. 

For more than 21 years, NAHEE's Adopt-a-Classroom program has provided humane organizations with an opportunity to provide elementary schools with KIND News, our award-winning monthly newspaper for students in grades K-6. KIND News, the most widely used humane education tool in the country, features articles and activities that teach children to treat animals responsibly and humanely. To learn more about the Adopt-a-Classroom program, go to: http://www.kindnews.org/about_aac.asp 

Now, through Adopt-a-Classroom grants, NAHEE is making it easier than ever for humane organizations to jumpstart or revitalize humane education in their communities. Any registered 501(c) 3 animal protection organization can be considered for a grant, including those already participating in the Adopt-a-Classroom program.  

For more information or to request an application, e-mail Dorothy Weller at weller@nahee.org.

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Earn Your Humane Education Specialist Certification in 2006

NAHEE and Humane Society University (HSU) offer an online professional development program for animal care and control practitioners and volunteers committed to humane education.

The Certified Humane Education Specialist (CHES) program features a selection of courses that guide participants in:

• conducting effective teacher in-services
• exploring storytelling as a tool for teaching humane values
• developing humane education programs for preschoolers
• incorporating humane education into school service-learning programs
• aligning humane education with schools? character-building programs

Two new courses on effective classroom presentations and teaching dog bite prevention to children will be offered later this year.

Course content is based on extensive research and includes engaging activities and a wealth of practical tips and field-tested strategies for working with children, teens, school faculty, and youth leaders.

Participants earn a certificate from HSU for each course they successfully complete. Upon completion of four courses, students will receive Certified Humane Education Specialist credentials from NAHEE. Previous teaching experience is not required. All courses in the program are self-paced and can be completed in as little as 2-4 weeks. (Courses can be taken concurrently.)

The cost is $45 per course. Visit http://www.humanesocietyu.org/degrees_and_certificates/ to register.

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2006 National KIND Teacher Award Call for Entries

Are you a K-6 teacher who emphasizes kindness to people, animals, and the environment in your classroom? If you are, or if you know a teacher like that, we invite you to  fill out our National KIND Teacher Award online nomination form.

The deadline for nominations is February 15, 2006, and the winner will be notified before the end of the 2005-2006 school year.

The 2006 National KIND Teacher will receive an award plaque and a Teacher's Care & Carry Kit. In addition, our winner's achievements will be highlighted in a feature article in the 2006 edition of KIND Teacher