The Nature Generation

Who else will be joining Turning the Page at the Children’s Book and Learning Festival? ! 🌿🌳 Learn more about them below, and stop by their tent on June 15 📅

The Nature Generation (NatGen) is a 501(c)(3) environmental nonprofit that inspires and empowers children and young adults to make a difference in their communities.

2024 is NatGen’s twentieth year of fostering and encouraging environmental stewardship through innovative programs in literature, science, and the arts. Their mission to Read Green, Teach Green, and Act Green is put into action through specific programs and initiatives.

📖 Read Green: They award the best in environmental literature for children and young adults in their annual flagship program, the Green Earth Book Award (GEBA). They recognize winners, honor books, and recommended reading, with winners receiving a cash prize. Over twenty years, this award has become the premier literary award for environmental books for children and young adults.
🌻 Teach Green: No Planet B Conversations bring thought leaders and environmental experts online for insightful, interactive presentations on the environmental challenges and issues of the day. They also offer environmental Lesson Plans and other resources for educators and parents. These plans can augment existing curriculum or stand alone.
🔬 Act Green: Through STEM Seed Grants, NatGen makes small-scale grants to other nonprofits or individuals that engage with GEBA books in on-the-ground projects at schools, libraries, community centers, etc.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/childrens-book-and-learning-festival-tickets-900266149287?aff=oddtdtcreator
https://turningthepage.org/childrens-book-and-learning-festival/

Excalibur and The Nature Generation joined the Excel Technologies, LLC team in delivering a STEM camp to tribal students in the west. We focused on capacity building through grants and climate changes impact on disasters.

If you are local to DC, join NatGen at the Children’s Book and Learning Festival, this Saturday, June 15, 10-4 pm: Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave NW -- We'll have a booth at this wonderful book festival. Festivities include author readings, book sales and book giveaways, and tons of activities!

https://turningthepage.org/childrens-book-and-learning-festival/

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY. We support military families and thank every soldier for their service and their sacrifice. Earlier this month, The Nature Generation and our partner, The Excalibur Group, donated a selection of engaging environmental books to Fort Campbell soldiers and their families. The donation was made in support of the Soldier for Life Transition Assistance Program, an Army initiative designed to aid military personnel and their families as they transition from military to civilian life and embark on new career paths.

Still time to REGISTER for our first No Planet B Conversation of 2024 WEDNESDAY! Take an hour out of your day. Do it for the Oceans.
https://delawarelibraries.libcal.com/event/12387235

On May 1, please join our No Planet B Conversation on Healthy Oceans. Register at www.NatGen.org or https://delawarelibraries.libcal.com/event/12387235

Kids’ and Teens’ picks are also GEBA winners!!

A friend just sent this from the Washington DC public library newsletter. So cool!

NatGen is thrilled to announce our 2024 GREEN EARTH BOOK AWARDS, today on Earth Day. Congratulations!! For a full list of Winners, Honors, and Recommended Reading, visit: www.NatGen.org

The Green Earth Book Awards - 2024

Earth Day is Monday, April 22. NatGen's 22-Hour Fundraiser starts NOW! Donate until 6:00 pm EDT Earth Day. www.NatGen.org/donate

Donations matched up to $2,200.00 - Help us purchase GEBA books for donation and fund our STEM Seed Grants.

EARTH DAY is 4-22-24. NatGen is having a 22-hour flash fundraiser on Monday. Funds support our STEM Seed Grant program. Thank you for considering us in your giving. www.NatGen.org

Green Earth Book Award - Short List 2024! Visit our website for the full list. Winners/Honors/Recommended Reading will be announced on Earth Day! www.NatGen.org

DID YOU KNOW...that NatGen extended its Seed Grant deadline to April 30. Are you an individual, school, library, community center, resource center, nonprofit, etc. that has a small-scale environmental or environmental literacy project needing funding!? We have a grant program for you! Check out all the details at https://www.natgen.org/stem-seed-grants

HAPPY 90th BIRTHDAY TO JANE GOODALL!!

“Every individual matters. Every individual has a role to play. Every individual makes a difference.”

www.JaneGoodall.org

WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH - ENVIRONMENTAL ICONS
"With every drop of water you drink, every breath you take, you're connected to the sea. No matter where on Earth you live." - Dr. Sylvia Earle

Dr. Sylvia Earle has spent over 7,000 hours under water, and holds the deepest walk on the sea floor record for taking a stroll at 381 m (1,250 ft) below the ocean's surface! Earle's spirit for exploration has led to her conducting world-renown marine research, including leading the first all-women team of aquanauts. She was also the first woman to serve as Chief Scientist at NOAA in 1990 and in 1998 became the first female "explorer in residence" for the National Geographic Society.

Earle's contributions to research and ocean conservation have earned her the nicknames "Her Deepness" and "The Sturgeon General". Through her organization Mission Blue, she is hard at work to get protection for 30% of the world's ocean by 2030. She continues fighting to help our global community understand that without Blue, there is no Green.

WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH - ENVIRONMENTAL ICONS
"It is a wholesome and necessary thing for us to turn again to the earth and in the contemplation of her beauties to know the sense of wonder and humility." -Rachel Carson

Rachel Carson was a naturally gifted writer, at the young age of 10 she was published in "St. Nicholas" a magazine that also printed the likes of a young F. Scott Fitzgerald and William Faulkner. Her most notable and notorious work "Silent Spring", which spoke about the risks of pesticides like DDT, was absolutely groundbreaking. Carson's written works, particularly "Silent Spring", are credited with laying the foundation for the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and igniting the modern environmental movement.

Although it was a secret part of her life at the time, Carson was an inspirational member of the LGBTQ community, an eco-hero for qu**rs around the world! Her passion for and background in marine biology led to Carson becoming the second woman to ever be hired by the Bureau of Fisheries (which became the Department of Fish and Wildlife). In 1970 the Coastal Maine National Wildlife Refuge was renamed in her honor, and in 1980 Carson was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

To mark the first day of spring, NatGen sent our SPRING 2024 NEWSLETTER out this morning. It's got updates on GEBA, Seed Grant deadline extension, our new speaker series, 'No Planet B Conversations,' and more! If you are interested in receiving our quarterly newsletter, send us your email address. Happy Spring!

For each petal on the shamrock
This brings a wish your way
Good health, good luck, and happiness
For today and every day

Announcing the 2024 Green Earth Book Award Long List!!
Please visit our website for the complete list of book titles, authors, illustrators and publishers. In our 20th year of awarding GEBA, we are excited to be reviewing this amazing selection of environmental books for children and young adults. www.NatGen.org

It's officially WOMEN's HISTORY MONTH! While at NatGen we celebrate the women of our communities every chance we get, this month gives us the opportunity to highlight some fierce female environmental warriors. Too often are the women heroes of the environmental movement left out of our history books or their impacts downplayed.

The historic women we will be celebrating this month are all environmental stewardship champions! From Time Magazine's first "Hero of the Planet" to restoring and preserving an environmental landmark of Black history, these women made a big green splash in the past. Join us in celebrating their legacies during Women's History Month.

CELEBRATING BLACK + FEMALE VOICES FOR THE ENVIROMENT
Harriet Tubman was an incredible naturalist and spent almost all of her time in the woods. This hero used her knowledge of nature and how to survive in the wilderness to lead runaway slaves to freedom through the Appalachian Mountains.

CELEBRATING BLACK + FEMALE VOICES FOR THE ENVIRONMENT Carolyn Finney is a modern-day hero who uses the art of storytelling to talk about the importance of making sure that outdoor spaces are welcoming for everyone. She works with all types of organizations to help them change their stories about African Americans' relationship with nature.

CELEBRATING BLACK VOICES FOR THE ENVIRONMENT - John Francis a.k.a. Planetwalker has walked across the entire United States (several times) in his efforts to raise awareness about the harmful effects of the oil industry! This hero spent 17 years not speaking as a silent protest, but his message was heard far and wide.

CELEBRATING BLACK VOICES FOR THE ENVIRONMENT - Dr. Robert Bullard is known as the father of environmental justice, this hero was the first to use the Civil Rights Law to charge a waste management company with discrimination. He was the first African American to be honored with the Sierra Club's John Muir Award.

CELEBRATING BLACK VOICES FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
Charles Young was the first Black U.S. National Park Superintendent, and he was known for being a protector of the giant Sequoia trees in California along with his cavalry 'The Buffalo Soldiers'. He was born into slavery but would go on to become the first Black officer in the army to receive the rank of Captain!

GREEN EARTH BOOK AWARD 2024 - We received a record number of GEBA submissions this year and we had to call in small reinforcements to help unpack! Thank you to everyone who nominated the best environmental books for children and young adults. Judges are reviewing entries, and the Long List will be released soon. Watch this space!