FAIRCHILD CHALLENGE 2011 - 2012 CALENDAR

ES = elementary schools; MS = middle schools; HS = high schools

Events marked with an asterisk (*) are open to the public.
We welcome your involvement

Saturday, August 27, 2011 at Fairchild; 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., (doors open at 9:30)
LAUNCH BRUNCH FOR TEACHERS (MS & HS)
An informal networking brunch for all teachers interested in The Fairchild Challenge
with information, resources and a look at the year ahead. All current and prospective
Fairchild Challenge teachers and colleagues are welcome to attend. RSVP today!

Saturday, September 10, 2011 at Fairchild; 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., (doors open at 9:30)
LAUNCH BRUNCH FOR TEACHERS (ES)
An informal networking brunch for all teachers interested in The Fairchild Challenge
with information, resources and a look at the year ahead. All current and prospective
Fairchild Challenge teachers and colleagues are welcome to attend. RSVP today!

Thursday, September 22, 2011 at Fairchild; 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
FAIRCHILD CHALLENGE ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERS OF FAIRCHILD LEADERSHIP FORUM (HS) 
Students share ideas on environmental initiatives and discuss their schools' Fairchild Challenge clubs.

Saturday, October 1, 2011 at Fairchild; 12:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION WORKSHOP - FOR TEACHERS ONLY (ES, MS & HS)
Teachers will explore concrete ways to foster environmental awareness in their students. For more information, contact Kiki Mutis at kmutis@fairchildgarden.org

Saturday, October 15, 2011 at Fairchild; 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
SCHOOL GARDEN / HABITAT RESTORATION WORKSHOP - FOR TEACHERS ONLY (ES, MS & HS)
Teachers will learn the basics of planning, designing and implementing a school garden, as well as how to integrate garden activities into the curriculum. For more information, contact Kiki Mutis at kmutis@fairchildgarden.org

Wednesday, October 19, 2011 at Fairchild; 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
PERFORMANCES: "THE LAST OF MY SPECIES" (MS)* 
Students perform skits highlighting a species imperiled.    

Thursday, October 20, 2011 at Fairchild; 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
PERFORMANCES: "THE LAST OF MY SPECIES" (MS)* 
Students perform songs highlighting a species imperiled.
  
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 at Fairchild; 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
PERFORMANCES: "POLICY, WORDS AND MOVEMENT" (HS)*
Students deliver spoken-word performances accompanied by interpretive dance.  

Tuesday, November 8, 2011 at various sites; 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMMERSION DAY - FALL (HS)
Students work with environmentalists, biologists, botanists and researchers in laboratories, and/or natural areas.

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, November 16-18, 2011 at Fairchild; 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
GREEN TREASURES: "A LIVING HISTORY" (MS)
Students conduct ethnobotanical interviews with elders in Haitian-Creole, Spanish and English.
 
Saturday, December 3, 2011 at Fairchild; 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
BOTANICAL FASHION DESIGN: "OLYMPIC WREATH" (MS & HS)*
Students design wreaths worth of crowning an Olympic athlete with all visible parts made exclusively of real plant materials.

Saturday, December 3, 2011 at Fairchild; 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
BOTANICAL FASHION SHOW: "PLANTS, PEOPLE AND PLACES" (MS & HS)*
Students design and model cultural outfits with all visible parts made exclusively of real plant materials.

Saturday, December 10, 2011 at Fairchild; 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
ART WORKSHOP: "FABULOUS FLOWERS OF FLORIDA" (MS & HS)
Headed by a presentation about the purpose of flowers and their relationship to the environment, artists mentor students sketching and drawing plant life.
 
Saturday, January 7, 2012 at Fairchild; 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
SCHOOL GARDEN / HABITAT RESTORATION WORKSHOP - FOR TEACHERS ONLY (ES, MS & HS)
Teachers will learn the basics of planning, designing and implementing a school garden, as well as how to integrate garden activities into the curriculum.  

Saturday, January 21, 2012; Location and time - TBA
FAIRCHILD CHALLENGE PINE ROCKLAND WORKDAY (MS & HS)
Join Fairchild's Center for Tropical Plant Conservation's habitat restoration efforts and learn more about fire ecology, pine rocklands and one of the very special plant species found only in South Florida. 

Saturday, January 28, 2012 at Fairchild; 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
ENVIRONMENTAL DEBATES (HS)*
Students discuss vital environmental topics related to climate change policy.

Saturday, February 25, 2012 at Fairchild; 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
RESEARCH PROJECTS SHOWCASE (HS)*
Students demonstrate and explain their innovative research projects in four areas: sustainable energy inventions, stormscaping, green cuisine and citizen science.

Monday, March 5 - Friday, March 30, 2012 at various sites
FAIRCHILD CHALLENGE SCHOOL GARDEN VISITS (MS & HS)
Schedule your school garden visit by Fairchild Challenge staff today!

Tuesday, March 6, 2012 at various sites; 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMMERSION DAY - SPRING (HS)
Students work with environmentalists, biologists, botanists and researchers in laboratories, and/or natural areas.

Saturday, May 5, 2012 at Fairchild; 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., (doors open at 9:30)
FAIRCHILD CHALLENGE TEACHERS' CELEBRATION BRUNCH (ES, MS & HS)
Join us to celebrate and reflect upon this year's Fairchild Challenge. We welcome your feedback and new ideas for the coming year.

Tuesday, May 15, 2012 at Fairchild; 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AWARD CEREMONIES*
Join us as we celebrate the culmination of The Fairchild Challenge and recognize the achievements of participating schools throughout South Florida.

Wednesday, May 16, 2012 at Fairchild; 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
MIDDLE SCHOOL AWARD CEREMONIES*
Join us as we celebrate the culmination of The Fairchild Challenge and recognize the achievements of participating schools throughout South Florida.

Thursday, May 17, 2012 at Fairchild; 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
HIGH SCHOOL AWARD CEREMONIES*
Join us as we celebrate the culmination of The Fairchild Challenge and recognize the achievements of participating schools throughout South Florida. 

Questions?
Elementary schools: challengepk-5@fairchildgarden.org
Middle schools: challenge6-8@fairchildgarden.org
High schools: challenge9-12@fairchildgarden.org

last updated 09/13/2011