Friends of Blue Thumb

09/22/2026

09/18/2026

See below for information about upcoming Blue Oklahoma Blue Thumb training for 2027!

2027 Blue Thumb Volunteer Trainings have been announced! 🥳

Do you love science and being outdoors? Help protect Oklahoma streams by becoming a certified Blue Thumb stream monitor!

Learn more about the trainings and register here: https://www.bluethumbok.com/

09/16/2026

Water quality matters for monarchs because they depend on healthy plants, soils, and freshwater sources throughout their life cycle. Clean water supports milkweed and nectar plants, provides drinking water for adults, and helps maintain the healthy habitats monarchs need during migration and breeding!

09/15/2026

After defunding of a University of Iowa water monitoring system, volunteers step in to keep an eye on water quality in their corners of the state. See link below ⬇️

📸 Kaiden J. Yu/The Register

09/15/2026

This opportunity is open to undergraduate sophomores or third year students in a five year program and includes a paid NOAA internship and academic scholarship. Applications for the 2027 Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship opened on September 1, 2026 and is open through January 31, 2027, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.

The application for the 2027 NOAA Hollings undergraduate scholarship is now open until January 31, 2027! Learn more about the program and check out our resources for applicants: https://www.noaa.gov/office-education/undergraduate-scholarships
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

09/09/2026

From the Illinois River Watershed Partnership: As someone who cares about the Illinois River watershed, we are asking for a few minutes of your time to help guide the future of IRWP’s work.

Complete the survey by clicking on the link: https://forms.gle/DtJaPoVnDi6J7ULC7

09/08/2026

UPCOMING WORKSHOP: Landscaping with Native Plants on Wednesday, September 16th🌾

This class is a part of the Conservation Training Program, a collaborative initiative to foster development of a skilled conservation workforce in Northwest Arkansas. Registration is open on a rolling basis, and it is FREE to participate. Students will receive skills training, networking opportunities, and resume-building experiences.

Visit www.irwp.org/events/landscaping-witth-native-plants to sign up. 🔗

09/08/2026

09/07/2026

Jack Hilgert, our Statewide Environmental Education Coordinator, is headed to Portland, Oregon, this October for the North American Association for Environmental Education 2026 Conference and is excited to be part of the program.

He will be presenting "Leading Through CommunitEE: Building Belonging, Joy, and Resilience in Environmental Education" alongside Jaclyn Stallard from National Project Learning Tree and Dayna Berry from Arbor Day Foundation on Wednesday, October 7th from 10:30 to 11:10 am.

In today’s ever-changing world, finding and sustaining community is more important than ever—for our work, our wellbeing, and the future of EE. Community is not only a technical strategy for sharing resources and scaling impact; it is also a source of joy, belonging, and resilience that keeps educators and learners engaged and motivated.

This interactive session explores practical strategies for finding, creating, and strengthening connections across in-person, digital, and hybrid spaces. Drawing on lessons from online learning communities, NAAEE affiliate networks, and community-centered events, participants will discover why community-building is essential infrastructure for environmental education. Through a guided community-mapping exercise, they'll identify existing strengths, uncover new opportunities for collaboration, and leave with actionable ideas for growing meaningful connections at the local, state, and national levels.

The theme for this year’s conference is “Imagine If…,” and it’s a great invitation to think creatively about the future of environmental education and the possibilities that emerge when we all collaborate.

: Jack sits on the Oklahoma Affiliate of NAAEE, the Oklahoma Association for Environmental Education -- better known as OKAEE. A core aspect of their work is organizing Oklahoma's EE Expo each February.