LINKS and ARTICLES

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Caliso Learning strives to be a source of reliable information. We believe in the value of sharing quality resources to all who wish to seek it out. We recommend the following sites to help students, educators, scientists, nature enthusiasts--knowledge seekers of all levels and ages to learn a little something new through some of our favorite natural and cultural science related sites. Clicking on links will take you out of the Caliso Learning website. Please check back to explore new additions! Feed your mouse and your brain...

Educational Resources

American Cetacean Society marine mammal resources and activities  http://www.acsonline.org/

Bird IQ Resources on programs for birds.  Birds are a great indicator of how our planet is doing.http://www.birdiq.com/learn/Resource_Dir/index.php   

Bug Guide BugGuide.Net - Insects, spiders, and their kin

Bureau of Land Management Learning Landscapes teacher resources http://www.blm.gov/education/ 

CalPhotos image search http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/ 

Celebrating Wildflowers featuring native gardening, wildflower ethics, “Just for Kids,” and Paren /Teacher resources dedicated to educating the public about the many values of native plants. http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/index.shtml  

CREEC Network: California Regional Environmental Education Community  http://www.creec.org/region10/

Desert USA http://www.desertusa.com/

Discovery School http://school.discovery.com/ 

EEK! Environmental Education for Kids (and teachers) http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/eek/index.htm  

EEK! Environmental Education for Kids electronic magazine is for kids in grades 4-8 to learn more about the great outdoors. http://dnr.wi.gov/eek/ 
Encyclopedia of Life http://www.eol.org/  

Environmental Kids Club (Environmental Protection Agency) Explore the environment and how to protect it. http://www.epa.gov/kids/about.htm

FunBrain.com teacher resources http://www.funbrain.com/teachers/index.html

Green Teacher by and for educators; environmental and global education at all grade levels. http://www.greenteacher.com/

International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) education awareness about the intrinsic value of animals and their connection to people http://www.ifaw.org/ifaw/general/

Journey North: global Migrations http://www.learner.org/jnorth/

Kid's Astronomy Teacher's Corner; online learning packets and worksheets http://www.kidsastronomy.com/teachers_corner.htm

Molecular Expressions: worth a visit to watch the now famous "Secret Worlds, The Universe Within;" teacher and student resources can be found as well http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/scienceopticsu/powersof10/index.html

Monterey Bay Aquarium ocean resources and activities http://www.mbayaq.org/

NASA hands-on activities http://lunar.arc.nasa.gov/education/activities/index.htm#22    

National Geographic lessons, guides, homework help http://www.nationalgeographic.com/education/

The National Wildlife Federation wildlife resources and activities  http://www.nwf.org/outside/

The National Wildlife Federation download free Ranger Rick materials http://www.nwf.org/kidzone/kzPage.cfm?siteId=3&departmentId=92

The Natural Science Collaborative links to organizations for lessons-activities, field trips and other valuable resources http://www.naturalsciencecollaborative.com/

Ocean Alliance Educating the public about whales and their ocean environment http://www.oceanalliance.org/education/index.html

The Old Farmer's Almanac http://www.almanac.com/

Science "mini-lessons" for high school (9-12) http://yn.la.ca.us/cec/cecsci/sci-high.html     

Skywatcher's Guide to the Moon; printable moon map http://www.space.com/spacewatch/moon_guide-1.html

Star Child (NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration) Space Exploration site for kids divided into level 1 and 2 for child's learning level. space glossary, universe, solar system and space, travel and space wardrobe. http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/StarChild.html

USGS: Science In Your Backyard: California http://www.usgs.gov/state/state.asp?State=CA

USGS: Real Time Earthquakes http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsus/Maps/special/California_Nevada.php

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FUNtastic Kid's Pages

American Museum of Natural History's OLOGY http://www.ology.amnh.org/

BLM Kid's Corner on outdoor manners, caves, dinosaurs and other topics.  http://www.blm.gov/education/00_kids/contents.html 

EEK! Environmental Education for Kids http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/eek/index.htm

HHMI Cool Stuff for Curious Kids http://www.hhmi.org/coolscience/ 

IDAHO NATIONAL LABORATORY (INL) http://www.stoller-eser.com/activity.htm

INL Interactive wildlife matching game http://www.stoller-eser.com/concentration.htm                   

INL Interactive habitat hangman http://www.stoller-eser.com/hangman.htm

Just For Kids (Department of the Interior) links to websites on butterflies, wetlands, earthquakes and other nature topics all geared toward children. http://www.doi.gov/kids/

Kid's Astronomy Fun Pages   http://www.kidsastronomy.com/index.htm

Monterey Bay Aquarium Kid's Corner http://www.mbayaq.org/lc/

NASA Kid's Home http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forkids/home/index.html

National Geographic KIDS http://www.nationalgeographic.com/kids/ 

National Geographic GEOGRAPHY project  http://mywonderfulworld.org/index.html 

National Security Agency CryptoKids America; math and logic puzzles and activities; codes, ciphers, cryptology  http://www.nsa.gov/kids/ 

National Wildlife Federation Ranger Rick activity page http://www.nwf.org/kids/kzPage.cfm?siteId=3

NATURE Games http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/fun.html   

Science News for Kids! http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org

Star Child (NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration) Space Exploration site for kids divided into level 1 and 2 for child's learning level. space glossary, universe, solar system and space, travel and space wardrobe. http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/StarChild.html

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Articles

A Human Migration Fueled By Dung   Researcher David Rhode suggests people could have burned dried dung when they made their way from Asia to the Americas thousands of years ago.

The BoTANative Garden  The value of creating a backyard habitat with a native desert plant list to get you started.

Climate Changes Shift Springtime   The BBC News reports on a Europe-wide study which shows human-induced climate changes are affecting the ecology of seasonal cues that species depend on for survival. 

Flower Power   A National Wildlife Federation eNature article: Is it possible that certain plants can rid the soil of contaminates?

Into the Flames  National Wildlife Federation's eNature newsletter addressing how much wildlife can survive wildfires.
The Lives of Mole Rats   Are they moles or rats? (Neither) How do they dig without using claws? Learn about this little mammal and how their brain power is devoted to their teeth in this Science News article.

Living in the Desert  When you're hot and thirsty, you're likely to drink a glass of cold water or head for a shady spot to cool down. What you surely don't do is shrink your liver to a fraction of its original size...

Mountain Lion Attacks Are Rare From the Mountain Lion Foundation Cougar Clippings

Music From the Stars   Sounds produced by stars are helping astronomers find out more about their internal structure.

Nature's Alphabet  Article on photographer Kjell Sandved and how familiar patterns in nature inspire him. See how he so beautifully expresses patterns and images captured from the natural world.
The Nature-Child Reunion  Addressing the growing need for bonds between nature and children to improve the health and well-being of both...

The Nature of Song  It may be music to our ears, but does the song of a bird or a whale really carry an emotional message?

Protecting Our Tortoise Habitats  Desert Sun report: More public research needed to manage desert reptiles.

"Scat Dogs" Sniff Out Endangered Species Feces   Dogs make scents of endangered species study, on land and sea.

Scorpion Venom Tested As Brain Cancer Treatment   Two articles discussing the role of scorpion venom as a way of delivering radio-active iodine to tumors in the brain.

Tarantulas Produce Silk From Their Feet Researchers have found for the first time that tarantulas can produce silk from their feet as well as their spinnerets...

The Value of Autumn   What causes leaves to change color? Where does the color come from? Does the change have a purpose in nature? 

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Festivals and Conferences

The following links are listed in order of calendar occurrence. Check out these websites for upcoming dates. Festivals typically repeat annually in the same month as their previous year. As the event dates draw near,  their websites grow with current information, including activities, exhibits, exhibitors, trips, and seminars.  Listings are limited to southern California and nearby areas. 

Whale Watch Weekend and Intertidal Life Festival Cabrillo National Monument, San Diego http://www.nps.gov/cabr

January, 2010

Whale Fiesta, Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, San Pedro http://www.cabrillomarineaquarium.org/default.asp 

January, 2010

Salton Sea International Bird Festival  http://www.newriverwetlands.com/index.html

February 2010

The Great Backyard Birdcount http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/

February 12-15, 2010

The Mendocino Whale and Wine Festival http://www.mendowhale.com/

March 2010

The Fort Bragg Whale Festival http://www.mendowhale.com/

March 2010

Spring Festival, Big Morongo Canyon Preserve http://www.bigmorongo.org/index.htm 

March 2010

San Diego Bird Festival, Mission Bay, San Diego, CA  http://www.sandiegoaudubon.org/birdfest.htm 
March 4 - 7, 2010

Yuma Birding & Nature Festival http://yumabirding.com/ 

April 2010

California Desert Nature Festival Coachella Valley http://www.californiadesertnaturefestival.com

April 2010

Mother Nature's Earth Jam at The Living Desert  http://www.livingdesert.org/calendar/

April 17, 2010

Earth Day Birding Challenge  http://www.dcbc.blogspot.com

April 24, 2010

Children's Nature Institute Urban Nature Week http://www.childrensnatureinstitute.org/

May? TBD 2010

31st Annual Endangered Species Faire, Chico, CA http://www.endangeredspeciesfaire.org/ 

May 3, 2010

24th Annual BUG FAIR Natural History Museum of Los Angeles http://www.nhm.org/exhibitions/bugfair/

Mid May 2010

Memorial Day Weekend Wildflower and Art Show, Idyllwild Nature Center http://www.idyllwildnaturecenter.net/Home.html 

Memorial Day Weekend 2010

8th Annual California Amphibian & Reptile Celebration, Kern Valley, CA http://kern.audubon.org/festivals.htm 

June 13, 2009

11th Annual Hummingbird Celebration, Kern Valley, CA http://kern.audubon.org/hummer_fest.htm 

August 1, 2009

Starry Nights Festival, Yucca Valley http://www.hidesertnaturemuseum.org/index.html 

September 19, 2010

15th Annual Kern River Valley Autumn Nature and Vulture Festival http://kern.audubon.org/tvfest.htm 

September 26th, 2009

Coachella Valley Archaeological Society Annual Symposium. Information mail to: PO Box 2344 Palm Springs ,CA 92263

October 2009

Wildlife Conservation Expo, San Francisco, CA  http://www.wildnet.org/expo2006_expo.htm

October 3, 2009

CA Science Education Conference, California Science Teacher's Association (CSTA) , Palm Springs, CA  http://www.cascience.org/conference.html 

October 22-25, 2009

Annual International Conference of the American Cetacean Society http://www.acsonline.org/ 

TBD

Agua Caliente Cultural Museum Singing the Birds Annual Bird Song and Dance Festival http://accmuseum.org/

December 2009

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