Nature Bowl Coaches Workshop at Placer Nature Center in Auburn California connects people and nature through classes, special events and more!

Nature Bowl 2010

Engaging Youth in Science, Conservation and Citizenship

What is the Nature Bowl?

a cooperative team competition for 3rd – 6th grade students in the greater Sacramento Valley area
Teams of 3-7 students participate in two divisions:
3rd-4th grades and 5th-6th grades
science based activities emphasizing local & regional environments correlated with the State Science Standards
innovative strategies to teach and reinforce conservation
engages students in critical and creative thinking
a program in its 26th year, with a 90%+ rate of return coaches

How do I sign up?

Fill out the registration form (PDF) and send it to the site of your preference.

All new coaches are encouraged to attend a Coaches Workshop ($5) or the Extended Coaches Workshop ($20) on January 16 (with mock Nature Bowl) or for San Juan USD teachers, a class on Nov. 2, 30, Dec 12.
There is a $10 fee team registration fee.

Nature Bowl Semifinals Dates and Locations

Site	Date	Contact
Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District - Bufferlands, Elk Grove	March 8	Jackie Covey, (916) 978-0809 Chris Conard, (916) 876-9700
Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area, Davis	March 17	Jennifer Tolman, (916) 648-1406, ext. 102
Gray Lodge Wildlife Area, Gridley	March 10	Lori Dieter, (530) 846-7505
American River Nature Center, Coloma	March 12 & 15	Alice Cantelow, (530) 621-1224
Placer Nature Center, Auburn	April 12	Linda Desai, (530) 878-6053
Nimbus Hatchery, Rancho Cordova	April 14	Meg Grow, (916) 358-2884
Rush Ranch, Fairfield/Suisun	April 16	Teri Engbring, (707) 432-0150, ext. 200

FINALS will be held May 15, 2010, at California State University, Sacramento!

How Does the Nature Bowl Work?

Teams of 3-7 students participate in two divisions:
3rd-4th grades and 5th-6th grades
Only one team per division from any given school or club
Any child with interest can participate
The competitive aspect of the event is de-emphasized so all students feel comfortable, achieve success in learning, and enjoy the activities.
Each new coach is encouraged to attend a winter workshop. Return coaches are welcome too.
Mark your calendars for your semifinal event. A small number of teams advance to the finals to be held on the third Saturday in May at CSU Sacramento.
BUFFERLANDS SITE: A free field trip for the entire class on date of Nature Bowl may be available. This will be discussed at the December workshop.

Activities & Time Schedule

Typically, the 3rd and 4th grade division competes in the morning, 8:30 - 12:30, and the 5th and 6th grade division competes in the afternoon from 1:00 - 4:30 or 5:30, depending on the number of teams. At select sites, all grades participate at the same time (approx. 9:30 - 3:30 pm)

NATURE INVESTIGATIONS: Each team answers a set of exploratory questions through outside investigations. Emphasis is on team work for problem solving. The team becomes nature detectives searching for un-natural items, living specimens, signs of wildlife, etc.

NATURE RELAY: Items representing environmental terms or concepts are placed on a snow disk. Team members line up opposite the items and run one at a time to pick an item that represents the concept given. An all-time favorite of Nature Bowlers.

TEAM PROBLEMS: Each team will be given a series of hands-on questions to answer. Examples are constructing food chains, matching tools to adaptations, comparing products of renewable and non-renewable resources and deciding which can be recycled, reused and reduced, or even acting out a concept (charades).

BELL-RINGERS: Short answer questions will be given for all teams to answer on a “first ring” basis. Fun times for quick thinkers!

ENVIRO-MERCIAL: What's an environmental issue in your area? Present it in one minute, including causes, effects, and solutions! Students use their ingenuity and creativity, with many leading to actions in their school, neighborhood or community.

NATURE GAME: Teams participate in true-false tag, predator-prey game or jeopardy) a debate, dilemmas or who knows! Prior preparation is not needed. Be ready for an active, thought provoking experience.

Testimonials

“I appreciate the lack of emphasis on competition, the amount of instruction, and the guidance and teaching done by the judges.”
—Cindy Fleming, Indian Diggings School

“A program like this provides motivation to the unifying concept and makes learning more fun. It also builds team work since the other students in the class contribute to the teams learning in cooperative activities and presentations.”
—Stephani Saranillo, Mariposa School

“Nature Bowl helps my students become environmentally conscious enough to change the choices they make in everyday life. Nature Bowl is a positive, exciting, nurturing activity for all participants.”
—Veronica Schwalbach, Deterding School

“The Nature Bowl inspires kids to take actions to practice conservation. They’ve become leaders for a “green” campus. Their choices reflect responsibility that they’ve learned which will last them a lifetime.”
—Lili Joy, Latrobe School

"The Nature Bowl helps to make learning fun and teaches cooperation. It uses the community where kids live as the classroom, and this helps to make everything they experience very relevant and meaningful."
—Bobbie Winn, Wilton 4-H Club

“My underachieving students were turned upside down by Nature Bowl. Their excitement for learning and working together blossomed with this well conceived and well run program.”
—Alma Quesnal, Edward Kimble School

Coaches & Preparation

Coaches can be teachers, parents, youth leaders, senior citizens, seniors in high school, student teachers—anyone who wants to guide young team members through this discovery of nature.

How do I get started?

Attend an orientation workshop, which will provide you with the coach’s packet & inspiration. Three types of workshops listed below.

Coaches Orientation Workshop (Materials Fee – $5)

These sessions are late afternoons on weekdays and provide coaches (new and returning) with a packet that includes a glossary and description of activities with sample questions and answers to any questions you may have. Time is also spent on resources to prepare. Contact the CREEC website for full listing of environmental education resources available n the region.

Coaches Workshop Schedule (attendance at one is suggested for newcomers)

Site	Date & Time	Address	Contact #
Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area	December 2 4:30 - 5:45 p.m.	45211 County Rd. 32B Davis, CA 95617	(916) 648-1406, ext. 102
American River Nature Center	January 20 4:30 - 5:45 p.m.	348 Highway 49 Coloma, CA 95613	(530) 621-1224
Gray Lodge Wildlife Area	By Appointment Only	3207 Rutherford Rd. Gridley, CA 95948	(530) 846-7505
Nimbus Hatchery	January 19 3:45 - 5:00 p.m.	1700 Nimbus Rd. Rancho Cordova, CA 95670	(916) 489-4918
Sacramento County Regional Sanitation District - Bufferlands	December 10 3:45 - 5:00 p.m. January 12 3:45 - 5:00 p.m.	8521 Laguna Station Rd. Elk Grove, CA 95758	(916) 978-0809 coveydelu@jps.net
Solano Land Trust Office	January 21 4:30 - 5:45 p.m.	1001 Texas St. Fairfield, CA 94533	(707) 432-0150, ext. 200
Placer Nature Center	January 16 - see below	3700 Christian Valley Rd. Auburn, CA 95722	(530) 878-6053

Extended Coaches Workshop

(Fee: $20, payable to Placer Nature Center)
This workshop is perfect for new coaches and a brush up for veteran coaches. The format begins with an overview of activities and how to get started and is followed by a mock Nature Bowl. The workshop closes with a discussion on how to get a team together.
Location & Date:
Placer Nature Center, 3700 Christian Valley Rd., Auburn, 95722
Saturday, January 16, 2009, 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., (530) 878-6053

NEW CLASS

The San Juan Teachers Association hosts a free class for Nature Bowl coaches focusing on regional ecology, environmental issues and ways to instruct for Nature Bowl that aligns with the State Standards and FOSS.
November 2 and 30, 4:30 - 7:45 p.m. (Carmichael) and December 12 (field meet at Mather), 8:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Contact Bruce Forman at (916) 358-2353 or Bforman@dfg.ca.gov.

How do I sign up for workshops?

You can sign up for the workshops on the registration form (PDF) and send it to the site of your preference.

The Nature Bowl Program is sponsored by

American River Natural History Association
American River Conservancy
California Department of Fish and Game
California Waterfowl
Placer Nature Center
Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District
Save Our Sandhill Cranes
Solano Land Trust
Yolo Basin Foundation

Thanks to Funding from

The Wildlife Society – Sacramento Shasta Chapter
Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration - USFWS
Placer Nature Center is directly suported by Placer County Resource Conservation District

Coordinated by:

The Nature Bowl is coordinated by the CA Department of Fish and Game in partnership with the organizations above.

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