TUESDAY  --  NCLI Day encourages students to go outside and research Earth science in the field like a professional geoscientist.

By 2008, the NCLI slogan had become a popular rallying cry among youth organizations, fitness groups, and government agencies interested in promoting outdoor activities. Some wished to promote exercise, some appreciation of nature, and some awareness of recreational opportunities. Working in partnership with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), AGI structured the first NCLI Day to promote Earth science education. Now NCLI Day is celebrated on the Tuesday of each Earth Science Week. But any day can be NCLI Day! Young people everywhere enjoy experiences that make learning fresh and exciting. Your students will, too.

There are several ways you can have your students get involved by getting outdoors in their local environment! AGI has a full guide online available for free as a PDF download with strategies for setting up a NCLI Day with your students, as well as example outdoor activities. You are also encouraged to check out some of the options below.

Citizen Science

Citizen science programs allow students to become amateur scientists and collect data that will help professional scientists accomplish their research mission! AGI has a short list of outdoor citizen science projects you may want to consider, or explore the largest citizen science database at SciStarter.

World Water Monitoring Challenge

View our lesson and additional information in the PAESTA Classroom for Engaging students in conducting basic monitoring of their local water bodies through the World Water Monitoring Challenge (WWMC).

PhillyTreeMap Project

Do you live in the 13-county area of Greater Philadelphia (including counties in PA, NJ, and DE)? If so, why not take your students outdoors and have them measure trees for PhillyTreeMap! (View this PDF brochure that describes the project).