Midwest Environmental Education Conference: Full Schedule

Register by October 4!

11:30am CDT

Check-in

Open registration for full conference attendees, field trip attendees, exhibitors, and vendors.

Thursday November 2, 2023 11:30am - 3:30pm CDT

12:30pm CDT

Adapted Recreation in Three Rivers Park District

Adapted recreation in Three Rivers Park District

This is part 1 of a two part session. We encourage you to come to both.

Come learn about the history of Adapted Recreation in Three Rivers Park District and discuss language and etiquette you can use in your workplace to be more inclusive. Participate in interactive scenarios with peers to put your learning to practice. Later in the presentation, we will look at some of our adapted equipment, demonstrate how it works with the option to try it out.

Speakers

Nick Sacco

Outdoor Recreation Program Specialist, Three Rivers Park District

Thursday November 2, 2023 12:30pm - 2:20pm CDT
Salon C (Capacity 117)

Workshop, Nature is interdisciplinary

State Affiliation Minnesota
Audience Elementary educators, Secondary educators, Nonformal educators

12:30pm CDT

Honoring Indigenous Knowledge through Place, Nature, and Identity

CampFire National Headquarters and NIEA (National Indian Education Association) are partnering to develop an environmental education framework informed by Native ecological knowledge, centering place and nature to protect and honor youth identity - especially LGBTQ2S+ youth. This presentation stories that partnership and the work that is currently underway.

Speakers

Catherine Koons-Hubbard (she/er)

Manager of Outdoor & Nature Programming, Camp Fire National Headquarters

I have been working in nature-based education since the nineties (I have seen a lot of water bottle trends come and go). In 2022, I co-authored the book, "Partnering with Nature in Early Childhood: A Guide to Outdoor Experiences" with Dr. Patti Bailie (Gryphon House). I am also the... Read More →

Casie Wise

Thursday November 2, 2023 12:30pm - 2:20pm CDT
Pines (Capacity 35)

Workshop, Connecting to the land and each other

Host Organization Camp Fire National Headquarters
State Affiliation Wisconsin
Audience Early childhood educators, Elementary educators, Secondary educators, Higher education faculty and staff, Nonformal educators, Administrators, Community educators

12:30pm CDT

Reawakening kinship and reciprocity

Reawaken or nurture your inherent kinship with the more-than-human-world through sensory awareness of self, community, and context. This session touches on the health and societal benefits of mindful outdoor time and reciprocity with Earth. A 70-minute guided "awe walk" helps you embody your connections to others.

Speakers

Colleen Robinson

Owner, Nature's Good Company, LLC

Joyfully spending my career in environmental education and communication, something was still deeply missing. When I launched Nature's Good Company, LLC to help people reawaken and nurture their kinship with nature, I found the missing links. I love this work. It is who I am. I'm... Read More →

Thursday November 2, 2023 12:30pm - 2:20pm CDT
Hearth (Capacity 20)

Workshop, Connecting to the land and each other

Host Organization Nature's Good Company, LLC and Wisconsin Master Naturalists and Forest Stewards Guild
State Affiliation Wisconsin
Audience Early childhood educators, Elementary educators, Secondary educators, Higher education faculty and staff, Nonformal educators, Administrators, Community educators

12:30pm CDT

Smart, Streamlined Systems for Success: Tech Tips for Your Organization

Are you busy managing the work—instead of doing the work—in your association or organization? Join us to explore systems for management and member engagement using Google Workspace/Google for Nonprofits, as well as some other free tech tools you can use to get back to the business of providing EE.

Speakers

Victoria Rydberg-Nania

Environmental Ed, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction

Educator passionate about authentic learning and engaging students outdoors.

Skylar L. Primm (he/him)

Board Chair / Lead Teacher, Wisconsin Association for Environmental Education / Koshkonong Trails School

Skylar L. Primm (he/him) has more than a decade of teaching experience in student-centered, teacher-powered, schools. He serves as lead teacher at Koshkonong Trails School in Cambridge, Wisconsin, where students in grades 7-12 co-create an environment- and agriculture-focused edu... Read More →

Thursday November 2, 2023 12:30pm - 2:20pm CDT
Salon A (Capacity 108)

Workshop, The business of providing environmental education

Host Organization Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
State Affiliation Wisconsin
Audience Administrators

1:00pm CDT

Integral Ecology in Practice on FSPA land on St. Joseph Ridge

Field trip to a site that has been held privately since 1895 outside of La Crosse by the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration (FSPA). We can explore the land, talk about vision and partnerships to care for the land from USDA NRCS, farmer renter, to Ho Chunk and youth groups like BGC or 4-H.

Sign up to carpool for this field trip: bit.ly/43TWyew
W2658 WI-33, La Crosse, WI 54601
Parking is on the east side of the building where employees park.

Speakers

Siena Muehlfeld

Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration (FSPA)

Beth Piggush

Integral Ecology Director, Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration

Beth Piggush is the Integral Ecology Director for the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration.Her position is always evolving, which includes serving as a resource person and promotingenvironmental and sustainability best practices that support care for all of creation. Twomajor... Read More →

Meredith Hink

Garden Coordinator, Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration

I am a true foodie! I have been gardening since I could walk and my extended family own a nursery and seed catalog business. I have degrees in both dietetics and food science. I am currently a garden coordinator for the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration. In my spare... Read More →

Thursday November 2, 2023 1:00pm - 3:30pm CDT
Meet at Location

Field Trip, Healing people and place

Host Organization Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration (FSPA)
State Affiliation Wisconsin
Audience Early childhood educators, Elementary educators, Secondary educators, Higher education faculty and staff, Nonformal educators, Administrators, Community educators

1:00pm CDT

Midwest Fisheries Center

Visit the Midwest Fisheries Center where science, technology, and innovation come together to protect and conserve aquatic species in the Midwest! We will take an interactive tour or the Whitney Genetics Lab, Fish Health Center, and Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office. The Midwest Fisheries Center is the region’s Fish Technology Center for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Fish Technology Centers provide leadership in science-based management of trust aquatic resources through applied research and the development of new concepts, strategies and techniques to solve problems in aquatic resource conservation.

Sign up to carpool for this field trip: bit.ly/43TWyew
555 Lester Ave Onalaska WI 54650

Speakers

Cristina Stahl

Midwest Fisheries Center

Thursday November 2, 2023 1:00pm - 3:30pm CDT
Meet at Location

Field Trip, Nature is interdisciplinary

Host Organization Midwest Fisheries Center
State Affiliation Wisconsin
Audience Higher education faculty and staff, Nonformal educators, Community educators

1:00pm CDT

Outdoors Access 4 All

Join representatives from Access Ability Wisconsin (AAW) and Upham Woods for an inclusive experience. We will start with a demonstration of AAW's all-terrain outdoor wheelchairs that help increase Outdoors Access 4 All, before we head off as a group to explore the beautiful trails at BLANK. All are welcome and encouraged to attend. The outdoor wheelchairs can be test driven by everyone, and they can also be used by people during our exploration. Upham Woods will also bring some portable chairs and hiking poles for people to borrow.

Sign up to carpool for this field trip: bit.ly/43TWyew

Speakers

Kasi Greenwood

Rachael Lewandowski Sarette

On-Site and Accessibility Coordinator, Upham Woods

Monica Spaeni

Thursday November 2, 2023 1:00pm - 3:30pm CDT
Meet at Location

Field Trip, Connecting to the land and each other

Host Organization Upham Woods
State Affiliation Wisconsin
Audience Nonformal educators, Community educators

1:00pm CDT

Reclaimed Nature

Come see how The Nature Place,.located in a city park adjacent to a 1000 acre marsh that has lead contamination and areas of former dumping is home to a vibrant nature education effort. The time will include cheap and easy hands-on science activities!

Speakers

Cindy Blobaum

Environmental Education Program Manager, The Nature Place

I absolutely LOVE developing new ways to help people connect with and understand more about our natural world. I have been fortunate to work at facilities in Illinois, Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut, Nebraska, Iowa and now Wisconsin. I have channeled much of my work into 10 hands-on... Read More →

Thursday November 2, 2023 1:00pm - 3:30pm CDT
Meet at Location

Field Trip, Connecting to the land and each other

Host Organization The Nature Place
State Affiliation Wisconsin
Audience Elementary educators, secondary educators, community educators

1:00pm CDT

Summit Environmental School

Summit Environmental School is a public school in the School District of La Crosse serving 285 students from 4K - 5th grade. Summit is located on French Island between the Black River and the back waters of the Mississippi. The school is on a 10 acre campus with a frog pond, school forest, vegetable garden and natural playscape. The mission of Summit Environmental School is "to provide students with a solid educational foundation in the core academic areas with an environmental focus integrated throughout the curriculum."

Sign up to carpool for this field trip: bit.ly/43TWyew
1800 Lakeshore Dr, La Crosse, WI 54603

Speakers

Oscar UrIbe

Summit Environmental School - School District of La Crosse

Thursday November 2, 2023 1:00pm - 3:30pm CDT
Meet at Location

Field Trip, The business of providing environmental education

Host Organization Summit Environmental School, School District of La Crosse
State Affiliation Wisconsin
Audience Early childhood educators, Elementary educators, Secondary educators, Higher education faculty and staff, Nonformal educators, Administrators, Community educators

1:00pm CDT

Sustainability at Western: U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools Honoree

One of Wisconsin's 17 public technical colleges, Western Technical College is recognized nationally as one of the leading two-year colleges in terms of campus sustainability. On this tour you'll experience how Western's culture and campus serve as a living laboratory for sustainable practices in an urban setting.

Sign up to carpool for this field trip: bit.ly/43TWyew
Please note: Parking on campus is by permit only and all on-street parking near campus is regulated by the city and requires payment. Please add your vehicle to the above carpool list by October 26 so that parking passes can be arranged. Meeting location will be provided at that time.

Speakers

Casey Meehan

Thursday November 2, 2023 1:00pm - 3:30pm CDT
Meet at Location

Field Trip, The business of providing environmental education

Host Organization Western Technical College
State Affiliation Wisconsin
Audience Early childhood educators, Elementary educators, Secondary educators, Higher education faculty and staff, Nonformal educators, Administrators, Community educators

2:30pm CDT

Adapted Recreation in Three Rivers Park District

Adapted recreation in Three Rivers Park District

This is part 2 of a two part session. We encourage you to come to both.

Speakers

Nick Sacco

Outdoor Recreation Program Specialist, Three Rivers Park District

Thursday November 2, 2023 2:30pm - 4:20pm CDT
Salon C (Capacity 117)

Workshop, Nature is interdisciplinary

State Affiliation Minnesota
Audience Elementary educators, Secondary educators, Nonformal educators

2:30pm CDT

Forest Therapy Walk: Remembering and Reconnecting with the Land

Forest Therapy Walks involve wandering slowly and engaging our senses in nature. Through embodied, sensory experiences, we can remember and renew our relationship with the land. By sharing and listening without judgment, we can foster reciprocal relationships, allowing us to know and be known by the land and each other.

Speakers

Jacquie Medina

Professor, Northern Michigan University

Thursday November 2, 2023 2:30pm - 4:20pm CDT
Timberlands (Capacity 50)

Workshop, Connecting to the land and each other

Host Organization Northern Michigan University
State Affiliation Michigan
Audience Secondary educators, Higher education faculty and staff, Nonformal educators, Community educators

2:30pm CDT

Nature Ditties: Songs to Celebrate and Explore Nature (A GuideNotes Workshop)

"GuideNotes" are powerful song tools to teach, guide, create culture, manage energy and reach diverse minds. We'll learn original, nature-based GuideNotes to celebrate nature, get outside, create outdoor routines, cue actions while enhancing nature mindset, mindfulness, wonder, social emotional connection and seasonal awareness. Leave with songs in hearts, hands & Cellphones.

Speakers

Kathryn Para, a.k.a. Frolic the Fox

Singer Songwriter, Teacher Educator, Frolic the Fox, Nature Learning Collective

Thursday November 2, 2023 2:30pm - 4:20pm CDT
Salon B (Capacity 117)

Workshop, Nature is interdisciplinary

Host Organization Frolic the Fox, Nature Learning Collective
State Affiliation Maryland
Audience Early childhood educators, Elementary educators, Nonformal educators, Administrators, Community educators, Outdoor educators

2:30pm CDT

Spiral Belonging: Nature's Repeating Pattern

Spirals permeate human bodies, wind and water movement, galaxies, plants and trees, and countless creatures. 4000-5000 years ago, labyrinth practices emerged around the world as a spiral-patterned practice walked or traced by hand. With classical labyrinths, we will explore spiral-connections with one another and the places where we dwell.

Speakers

Martha Brunell

Accredited Advanced Labyrinth Facilitator--Veriditas and Forest Therapy Guide with ANFT (Association of Nature and Forest Therapy)

Thursday November 2, 2023 2:30pm - 4:20pm CDT
Hearth (Capacity 20)

Workshop, Connecting to the land and each other

Host Organization Accredited Advanced Labyrinth Facilitator--Veriditas and Forest Therapy Guide with ANFT (Association of Nature and Forest Therapy)
State Affiliation IA, IL, WI, MN
Audience Early childhood educators, Elementary educators, Secondary educators, Higher education faculty and staff, Nonformal educators, Administrators, Community educators

2:30pm CDT

What is Nature: An Interactive Dialogue with Dr. Ruth Wilson

This sharing session led by Dr. Ruth Wilson will engage participants in a discussion about what we mean
by nature, about the human/nature relationship, and how we present nature to different audiences.
Participants will be invited to share their thoughts on connectedness to nature, ecological identity, and
an ecological worldview. Some thoughts on ecospirituality will also be shared.

Session requires advance sign-up! This dialog will be limited to the first 30 participants to sign up as attendees to this session. If this session has 30 attendees registered here, you are still welcome to add this to your schedule and check-in at the session location to see if additional spots have opened day of.

Speakers

Ruth Wilson

Children & Nature Network

Dr. Ruth Wilson worked as an educator for over 30 years and currently works with the Children & NatureNetwork as curator of the Research Library. She has several published books, including Nature andYoung Children, Learning is in Bloom, and Naturally Inclusive. She also co-authored... Read More →

Thursday November 2, 2023 2:30pm - 4:20pm CDT
Pines (Capacity 35)

Workshop, Connecting to the land and each other

6:00pm CDT

Thursday Night Social with Opening Remarks: What We Yearn For/What the World Yearns For

Join us for a social gathering at The Nature Place in La Crosse! We will have light appetizers, a scavenger hunt, and poster sessions to celebrate the opening of the 2023 Midwest Environmental Education Conference in this beautiful venue! Dr. Ruth Wilson will offer the opening remarks entitled, "What We Yearn For/What the World Yearns For" for the 2023 MEEC at this event.

Light Catering will be provided by Wild Bearies, a nonprofit that strives to bring indigenous ancestral foods to the community in nurturing, nutritious ways. Space is limited to 200 people, you must have a separate ticket for this event which can be purchased on the Sched App.

Speakers

Ruth Wilson

Children & Nature Network

Thursday November 2, 2023 6:00pm - 8:30pm CDT
The Nature Place 789 Myrick Park Dr., La Crosse, WI 54601

Socials & Networking, Extra Cost

8:15am CDT

Coffee & Exhibits!

Come wake up with our Exhibitors! Coffee will be served in this area.

Friday November 3, 2023 8:15am - 9:00am CDT
Watering Hole

Socials & Networking

9:00am CDT

Opening Remarks

Speakers

Skylar L. Primm (he/him)

Board Chair / Lead Teacher, Wisconsin Association for Environmental Education / Koshkonong Trails School

Beca Borkowski (she/her)

Friday November 3, 2023 9:00am - 9:30am CDT
Salon A/B/C

Featured Speaker

9:30am CDT

Keynote Session: Ho-Chunk History: Traditional Cultural Resilience Through Climate Change

William “Nąąwącekǧize” Quackenbush, Ho-Chunk Deer Clan Tribal Member, serves as the Tribal Historic Preservation Officer (THPO) and Cultural Resources Division Manager for the Ho-Chunk Nation. As the Ho-Chunk Nation Tribal Historian, Mr. Quackenbush has presented extensively on Ho-Chunk history and culture.

Speakers

Bill Quackenbush

Tribal Preservation Officer, Ho-Chunk Nation

Friday November 3, 2023 9:30am - 10:30am CDT
Salon A/B/C

Featured Speaker

10:45am CDT

Everything is Connected: Hands-on Human Ecology for Young Learners

Discover interdisciplinary games and simulations that help younger students explore connections between themselves and their environment (land and water), including natural resource use, pollution and habitat protection. Presented activities build skills in scientific inquiry, data analysis, critical thinking, and problem solving.

Speakers

Heidi Masters

Assistant Professor, University of Wisconsin - La Crosse

Friday November 3, 2023 10:45am - 11:35am CDT
Rowe (Capacity 72)

Concurrent Session, Connecting to the land and each other

Host Organization University of Wisconsin - La Crosse
State Affiliation Wisconsin
Audience Elementary educators

10:45am CDT

Food Frolic Academy

Cooking exposure that will make you have Super Powers over food. How we taught a six week session of food options to Third, Fourth and Fifth graders using fresh garden ingredients from the Logan Northside Neighborhood Gardens.

Speakers

Tamra Dickinson

Logan Northside Neighborhood Gardens

Our Logan Northside Neighborhood Association was awarded a grant to establish gardens on the northside of LaCrosse, WI. This area was without a grocery store since 2020. As a member of the association I became involved in the design and installation of gardens on two school sites... Read More →

Vicki Lopez-Kaley

Logan Northside Neighborhood Gardens

Friday November 3, 2023 10:45am - 11:35am CDT
Pines (Capacity 35)

Concurrent Session, Grab bag

Host Organization Logan Northside Neighborhood Gardens
State Affiliation Wisconsin
Audience Elementary educators, Secondary educators, Higher education faculty and staff, Nonformal educators, Administrators, Community educators

10:45am CDT

Ojibwe & Dakota PLT lessons

When we teaching with indigenous knowledge, we help students build their respect for Mother Earth through mindful acknowledgement and use of the natural materials around us. Learn how Minnesota Project Learning Tree created lessons that integrate Ojibwe and Dakota ways. Participants will do at least one lesson as a group.

Speakers

Laura Duffey

Friday November 3, 2023 10:45am - 11:35am CDT
Timberlands (Capacity 50)

Concurrent Session, Connecting to the land and each other

Host Organization Minnesota School Forest Program
State Affiliation Minnesota
Audience Elementary educators, Secondary educators, Nonformal educators

10:45am CDT

Stories of Activism, Empowerment, & Change: Exploring PBS Wisconsin's Wisconsin Biographies & More

In this 50-minute session, PBS Wisconsin Education will share incredible stories and educational resources to inspire and motivate students and teachers alike. In addition to a deep dive exploration of the beloved Wisconsin Biographies collection, participants will learn about other free, standards-aligned media and get updates on the popular Climate Wisconsin series. As fast as 50 minutes will go, participants will be sure to leave this session with high interest resources and thoughtful ideas for integration in a variety of learning spaces.

Speakers

Michael Hartwell

Education Engagement Specialist, PBS Wisconsin

Michael Hartwell is a 3rd -12th Grade Education Engagement Specialist with PBS Wisconsin Education. Michael is passionate about public education and advocacy that is practical and equitable. In his role facilitating professional learning opportunities, he strives to support educators... Read More →

Friday November 3, 2023 10:45am - 11:35am CDT
Badger's Den (Capacity 45)

Concurrent Session

10:45am CDT

Taking Learning Outdoors in the K/1 Classroom

You will learn ways to bring nature in the classroom and ideas for engaging students outdoors in nature. There are many benefits of spending time in nature: school readiness, physical wellness, positive mental health, social-emotional well being, and a pathway for healing(trauma).

Speakers

Karen Anderson

Summit Environmental School - School District of La Crosse

Wendy Fechner

Summit Environmental School - School District of La Crosse

Deb Ofte

teacher, Summit Environmental School - School District of La Crosse

Friday November 3, 2023 10:45am - 11:35am CDT
Eagle's Lookout (Capacity 45)

Concurrent Session, Grab bag

Host Organization Summit Environmental School, School District of La Crosse
State Affiliation Wisconsin
Audience Early childhood educators, Elementary educators

10:45am CDT

We're All in this Together- How the EPA Collaborative Problem Solving Model Can Support Environmental Justice

In this session you will learn about and utilize the U.S. EPA‚Äôs Collaborative Problem-Solving Model (CPS), formatted specifically for educators. CPS is used for addressing environmental justice (EJ) by using the knowledge, resources, and lived experiences of people both directly and indirectly affected by an EJ problem. This model provides guidance on collaboration and communication between all of these people and can create conditions that enable them as a community unit to secure the resources necessary to produce effective, efficient, community appropriate, and/or long-term solutions to their EJ problem.

Speakers

Emma Buzecky

EJ Scientist, U.S. EPA Region 5

EJ Scientist at U.S. EPA Region 5's Tribal and Multi-media Programs Office. The Region 5 geographic coverage includes working with the states of WI, MI, MN, OH, IL, and IN. I utilize scientific, environmental justice, and environmental health concepts and principles in my work identifying... Read More →

Megan Gavin

Environmental Education Coordinator, U.S. EPA Region 5

Nathan Melia

U.S. EPA Region 5

Friday November 3, 2023 10:45am - 11:35am CDT
Hearth (Capacity 20)

Concurrent Session, Environmental justice

Host Organization U.S. EPA Region 5
State Affiliation Illinois
Audience Elementary educators, Secondary educators, Higher education faculty and staff, Nonformal educators, Community educators

10:45am CDT

Climate Change - Development of a Statewide Infrastructure

Participants learn how four Wisconsin organizations partnered to advance climate change education through coordination of professional development including the integration of TEK and creation of a resource portal for educators. Participants are encouraged to suggest improvements to usefulness of the resources shared and invited to join a network of climate change educators in our region.

Speakers

Kimberly Talarico (she/her/hers)

Climate Justice Instructional Coach, Milwaukee Public Schools

Samara Hamzé

Energy Educator, KEEP - Wisconsin's K-12 Energy Education Program

I work with energy partners, school facilities personnel, and students across Wisconsin to elevate awareness that leads to carbon-negative actions. I gets geeked out on data and continue my collaboration with Green & Healthy Schools Wisconsin to survey and map sustainability practices... Read More →

Gina Smith

Resource Specialist, Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education

I joined the Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education as a Resource Specialist in June of 2021. I assist the center with curriculum support and development for both the KEEP (Wisconsin's K-12 Energy Education) and LEAF (Wisconsin's K-12 Forestry Education) programs. If you want... Read More →

Victoria Rydberg-Nania

Environmental Ed, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction

Educator passionate about authentic learning and engaging students outdoors.

Friday November 3, 2023 10:45am - 11:35am CDT
Salon B/C

Round Table Discussion, Connecting to the land and each other

Host Organization KEEP - Wisconsin's K-12 Energy Education Program
State Affiliation Wisconsin
Audience Elementary educators, Secondary educators, Nonformal educators, Community educators

10:45am CDT

Disentangling Environmental Education from Colonization

Despite an ethos of connection and environmental literacy, environmental education can reinforce colonial norms. EE may emphasize conservation approaches that separate Indigenous people and local communities from the landscape or discourage the application of Indigenous knowledge and lifeways. Conservation norms and environmental education may also ignore or lack knowledge of the very long history of Indigenous land relationships prior to European settlement on this continent. This hosted discussion invites mutual support and reflection on personal and professional practice in EE to recognize the influence of colonial perspectives and disentangle practice from these patterns.

Speakers

Deanna Erickson

Hannah Smith

Friday November 3, 2023 10:45am - 11:35am CDT
Salon B/C

Round Table Discussion, Environmental justice

Host Organization Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve
State Affiliation Wisconsin
Audience Elementary educators, Secondary educators, Higher education faculty and staff, Nonformal educators, Community educators

10:45am CDT

Finding the Stories in Nature

Stories are powerful tools for engagement, learning, and relating. During this workshop, Award winning author Emily Stone will share some of her favorite stories and photos. Then, through a series of props, writing, and speaking exercises, participants will have a chance to practice finding and telling the stories in nature.

Speakers

Emily Stone

Naturalist/Education Director, Cable Natural History Museum

Friday November 3, 2023 10:45am - 11:35am CDT
Salon B/C

Round Table Discussion, Nature is interdisciplinary

Host Organization Cable Natural History Museum
State Affiliation Wisconsin
Audience Elementary educators, Secondary educators, Higher education faculty and staff, Nonformal educators, Community educators

10:45am CDT

Letting the Land heal and connect: an urban mutual aid story

Beautiful outcomes happen when humans embrace the idea of mutual aid. In this session attendees will hear a case study of a group of Latinos gathered together in community to support each other during the pandemic. The Land was used as a character in the mutual aid efforts for example the community came together to gather for a soil blessing to thank for previous harvest. Come join the discussion to activate and cultivate a similar movement in your Place!

Speakers

Zaynab Baalbaki

Love & Justice Cultivator, Ayuda Mutua, ZB Consulting

Friday November 3, 2023 10:45am - 11:35am CDT
Salon B/C

Round Table Discussion, Nature is interdisciplinary

Host Organization Ayuda Mutua, ZB Consulting
State Affiliation Wisconsin
Audience Nonformal educators, Community educators, Community members

10:45am CDT

Starts with us. Relationships, unlearning and learning together

Roundtable discussion of the new relationships between the FSPA, Ho Chunk, UW Extension office and community. We are learning together how the land provides food and what we can do to bridge relationships that were harmed by settler invasions and boarding schools.

Speakers

Beth Piggush

Integral Ecology Director, Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration

Friday November 3, 2023 10:45am - 11:35am CDT
Salon B/C

Round Table Discussion, Healing people and place

Host Organization Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration
State Affiliation Wisconsin
Audience Secondary educators, Nonformal educators, Community educators

10:45am CDT

Strengthening Connections to Place

Discussion and Brainstorm for Incorporating Land-based Experiential Learning in Formal Educational Settings

Speakers

Emily Jones

Friday November 3, 2023 10:45am - 11:35am CDT
Salon B/C

Round Table Discussion, Connecting to the land and each other

Host Organization UMD
State Affiliation Wisconsin
Audience Early childhood educators, Elementary educators, Higher education faculty and staff

10:45am CDT

The Journey of Restoring and Revitalizing an Environmental Education Program Post-Covid.

Restoring and Revitalizing an Environmental Education Program Post-COVID. The principals journey to bring back what students needed the most.

Speakers

Oscar UrIbe

Summit Environmental School - School District of La Crosse

Friday November 3, 2023 10:45am - 11:35am CDT
Salon B/C

Round Table Discussion, The business of providing environmental education

Host Organization Summit Environmental School, School District of La Crosse
State Affiliation Wisconsin
Audience Early childhood educators, Elementary educators, Secondary educators, Administrators, Community educators

11:45am CDT

Affinity Groups!

(List each room here or created different "sessions" for each to label the rooms more formally

Friday November 3, 2023 11:45am - 12:45pm CDT
TBA

Socials & Networking

12:00pm CDT

Lunch

Friday November 3, 2023 12:00pm - 12:45pm CDT
Salon A/B

Meal Time

1:00pm CDT

Collective Leadership: Supporting Personal Power to Sustain Community Thriving

As our organization shifts from hierarchical to collective leadership, we are seeing tremendous shifts in creativity, engagement, and integration within our community. By centering values of inclusion, transparency, trust, and empowerment we are expanding our efforts toward sustainability and rooting more deeply into place. Come explore these themes with us!

Speakers

Emma Koeppel

Environmental Education Site Manager, School District of Waukesha Environmental Education Program

Betty Ballweg

Teacher, School District of Waukesha Environmental Education Program

Lynn Parkhurst

Environmental Teacher, School District of Waukesha Environmental Education Program

The natural world is fascinating to me because here's always something to be curious and enthusiastic about! I love learning new things, exploring new places, and learning from others. Anyone can be a teacher - and student - when you're out in Nature!

Friday November 3, 2023 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT
Pines (Capacity 35)

Concurrent Session, Healing people and place

Host Organization School District of Waukesha Environmental Education Program
State Affiliation Wisconsin
Audience Early childhood educators, Elementary educators, Secondary educators, Higher education faculty and staff, Nonformal educators, Administrators, Community educators

1:00pm CDT

Nature Explorers: Effects of an interpretive day camp on attitudes

How does interpretive approach to programming impact children's environmental attitudes? Explore the preliminary results of a study on the effects of an interpretive day camp at Schmeeckle Reserve (University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point) on children's environmental attitudes.

Speakers

Griffin Bray

Graduate Assistant, Schmeeckle Reserve, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point

Griffin is a naturalist/interpreter with five years of front-line interpretation experience. A Michigan native, he is currently the graduate assistant at Schmeeckle Reserve, a 280-acre natural area on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. He is also a graduate student... Read More →

Becca Franzen

Associate Professor, UWSP

After earning her B.S. from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Becca worked in varied roles at environmental education centers and camps for people with disabilities. Seeing a need to better connect with local communities, Becca went back to school for a Masters degree in... Read More →

Friday November 3, 2023 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT
Salon B (Capacity 117)

Concurrent Session, Connecting to the land and each other

Host Organization University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
State Affiliation Wisconsin
Audience Higher education faculty and staff, Nonformal educators, Community educators

1:00pm CDT

Creative Caring for Nature Through Art

Participants will be guided on how to be thoughtfully observant of the natural world, learning the process of creating personally meaningful images with drawing and watercolor media. No art experience is necessary, just enthusiasm to visually contemplate the environment, realizing how profound the act of making connects us to it.

Speakers

Kristin Gjerdset

Professor of Art, Wisconsin Lutheran College Art Department

Friday November 3, 2023 1:00pm - 2:50pm CDT
Badger's Den (Capacity 45)

Workshop, Connecting to the land and each other

Host Organization Wisconsin Lutheran College Art Department
State Affiliation Wisconsin
Audience Elementary educators, Higher education faculty and staff, Nonformal educators, Administrators, Community educators

1:00pm CDT

Increasing Accessibility through Transformational Thinking

Join Access Ability Wisconsin (AAW) and their partners for this workshop focused on increasing Outdoors Access 4 All. We will start with a panel discussion focused on our experiences and practical advice for increasing inclusion. Panelists will include AAW board members and state-wide partners. We will then spend time gaining practical skills to increase the inclusion of our own programs including learning how to assess trails/learning spaces for accessibility and discussing how to respond to different scenarios.

Speakers

Kasi Greenwood

Rachael Lewandowski Sarette

On-Site and Accessibility Coordinator, Upham Woods

Monica Spaeni

Friday November 3, 2023 1:00pm - 2:50pm CDT
Salon C (Capacity 117)

Workshop, Environmental justice

Host Organization Upham Woods
State Affiliation Wisconsin
Audience Nonformal educators, Administrators, Community educators

1:00pm CDT

Tracking: an introduction to math and physics

The art and science of tracking is the best introduction to math and science in the modern age. This million year old practice can model the latest ideas in science and education.

Speakers

Clayton Sattler

Friday November 3, 2023 1:00pm - 2:50pm CDT
Hearth (Capacity 20)

Workshop, Nature is interdisciplinary

Host Organization Little Chicks Learning Academy
State Affiliation Wisconsin
Audience Early childhood educators, Elementary educators, Secondary educators, Higher education faculty and staff, Nonformal educators, Administrators, Community educators

1:00pm CDT

Trees Tie Us to the Land: Using PLT to Foster Connections

Join midwestern Project Learning Tree coordinators as we dive into the new "Explore Your Environment" guide, looking in-depth at activities that help children build stronger connections to nature. Participants will receive activities appropriate for both urban and rural outdoor experiences, and will also learn more about their state‚Äôs PLT programs.

Speakers

Nicole Filizetti

LEAF Professional Development Specialist, Wisconsin Center For Environmental Education

Michelle Ramos

Environmental Education Association of Illinois

Chip Murrow

Urban Forestry Program Specialist, Iowa DNR

I graduated from Iowa State University with a MS in Forestry. I have spent nearly 30 years educating and sharing the importance of trees in our environment (both in nature and urban settings) and how to care for them. My experiences come from an employment background in which... Read More →

Friday November 3, 2023 1:00pm - 2:50pm CDT
Rowe (Capacity 72)

Workshop, Connecting to the land and each other

Host Organization LEAF/Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education
State Affiliation IA, IL, MI, MN, WI
Audience Elementary educators, Higher education faculty and staff, Nonformal educators, Administrators, Community educators

1:00pm CDT

Using local phenomena to engage students in robust Environmental Education

Participants will be engaged in a robust environmental education lesson using local phenomena. Discussions of pedagogy, instructional strategies, and environmental stewardship research will be provided. Lastly, participants will work in small groups to create their own robust lessons using phenomena and share these lessons to the large group.

Speakers

Christopher Like

Kean Roberts

Earth & Space Science Teacher, Ames Community School District

Friday November 3, 2023 1:00pm - 2:50pm CDT
Timberlands (Capacity 50)

Workshop, Grab bag

Host Organization Ames High School/Drake University
State Affiliation Iowa
Audience Early childhood educators, Elementary educators, Secondary educators, Higher education faculty and staff, Nonformal educators, Community educators

2:00pm CDT

Environmental Education with EPA!

Experience environmental education at its best! The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency strives to engage formal and non-formal educators with ways to promote environmental awareness. Various materials and activities relating to water, air, ecosystems, and pollution along with a general overview of our resources will be demonstrated.

Speakers

Nathan Melia

U.S. EPA Region 5

Megan Gavin

Environmental Education Coordinator, U.S. EPA Region 5

Emma Buzecky

EJ Scientist, U.S. EPA Region 5

Friday November 3, 2023 2:00pm - 2:50pm CDT
Pines (Capacity 35)

Concurrent Session, Grab bag

Host Organization U.S. E.P.A Region 5
State Affiliation Illinois
Audience Early childhood educators, Elementary educators, Secondary educators, Higher education faculty and staff, Nonformal educators, Community educators

2:00pm CDT

Students Connecting through Manoominikwin (Wild Ricing) and Iskigamizige (Maple Sugar Camp)

Learn from eighth grade students about how Anishinaabe traditions are integrated into their yearly learning. Students at the NorthStar Community Charter School in Minong, WI do wild ricing and maple sugar camp each year, connecting them to the Land and food that people have gathered here for generations.

Speakers

Brian Olson

NorthStar Community Charter School

Anna DeMers

NorthStar Community Charter School

Friday November 3, 2023 2:00pm - 2:50pm CDT
Salon A (Capacity 108)

Concurrent Session, Connecting to the land and each other

State Affiliation WI
Audience Elementary educators, Nonformal educators, Secondary educators

3:00pm CDT

Equity and Environmental Education in Educator Preparation

Join participants from Wisconsin's Teacher Educator Network for Environmental Education (TENFEE) to learn how they are changing their curriculum to integrate equity.

Speakers

Becca Franzen

Associate Professor, UWSP

Friday November 3, 2023 3:00pm - 3:20pm CDT
Badger's Den (Capacity 45)

3:00pm CDT

Building Nature Connections & Community

Wehr Nature Center is creating community through partnerships and serving specific audiences with meaningful, impactful experiences that go beyond a single visit. In this session, Wehr will share the creative partnerships key to welcoming and engaging veterans, people experiencing memory loss, and visitors with disabilities into the nature center community.

Speakers

Emily Brown

Friday November 3, 2023 3:00pm - 3:20pm CDT
Salon A (Capacity 108)

Idea Ignition Session, Grab bag

Host Organization Wehr Nature Center - Milwaukee County Parks
State Affiliation Wisconsin
Audience Nonformal educators, Administrators, Community educators

3:00pm CDT

City of Superior Environmental Services Division Water Quality Programming

Over 20 years, the City of Superior Environmental Services Division (ESD) has developed creative ways to engage the Superior community in environmental education. ESD educates the public about wastewater and stormwater through water quality programming. Learn more about two successful programs that the city will highlight during the session.

Speakers

Megan Högfeldt

City of Superior Environmental Services Division

Lisa DeGuire

City of Superior Environmental Services Division

Ida Sampson

City of Superior Environmental Services Division

Friday November 3, 2023 3:00pm - 3:20pm CDT
Salon C (Capacity 117)

Idea Ignition Session, Grab bag

Host Organization City of Superior Environmental Services Division
State Affiliation Wisconsin
Audience Early childhood educators, Elementary educators, Secondary educators, Higher education faculty and staff, Nonformal educators, Administrators, Community educators

3:00pm CDT

Nature Poetry Is For Everyone!

Let‚Äôs take a poetry break! We‚Äôll draw inspiration from Hin≈≥kwaseja and explore some simple forms of poetry as we express how nature makes us feel. Take-home resources will be provided so you can confidently integrate nature poetry into your own environmental education practice. Poetry is for everyone!

Speakers

Nicole Filizetti

LEAF Professional Development Specialist, Wisconsin Center For Environmental Education

Friday November 3, 2023 3:00pm - 3:20pm CDT
Timberlands (Capacity 50)

Idea Ignition Session, Nature is interdisciplinary

Host Organization LEAF/Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education
State Affiliation Wisconsin
Audience Early childhood educators, Elementary educators, Secondary educators, Higher education faculty and staff, Nonformal educators, Administrators, Community educators

3:00pm CDT

Student Led Environmental Action Civics

The environmental challenges our planet faces are, to say the least, complicated.
Solving them requires cooperation, most powerfully through local civic participation. Environmental Action Civics embodies the belief that participation in local environmental decision-making is critical to equitable processes, innovative solutions, and enduring democratic and civic skills.

Speakers

Michelle Ramos

Environmental Education Association of Illinois

Friday November 3, 2023 3:00pm - 3:20pm CDT
Rowe (Capacity 72)

Idea Ignition Session, Environmental justice

Host Organization Environmental Education Association of Illinois
State Affiliation Illinois
Audience Elementary educators, Secondary educators, Nonformal educators, Community educators

3:00pm CDT

iPlan: Creating Localized Land-Use Simulations for Place-Based Learning

This session will introduce attendees to iPlan, a free online platform for creating and implementing custom, localized land-use simulations suitable for use with teenage or adult learners in formal or informal contexts.

Speakers

Andrew Ruis

Researcher, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Friday November 3, 2023 3:00pm - 3:50pm CDT
Hearth (Capacity 20)

Concurrent Session, The business of providing environmental education

Host Organization University of Wisconsin-Madison
State Affiliation Wisconsin
Audience Secondary educators, Higher education faculty and staff, Nonformal educators, Community educators

3:00pm CDT

Exhibitor Time

Friday November 3, 2023 3:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
Watering Hole

Socials & Networking

3:00pm CDT

Guidelines for Excellence

Speakers

Becca Franzen

Associate Professor, UWSP

Friday November 3, 2023 3:00pm - 4:50pm CDT
Pines (Capacity 35)

Workshop

Host Organization NAAEE
State Affiliation IA, IL, WI, MN

3:30pm CDT

Equity and Environmental Education in Educator Preparation

Join participants from Wisconsin's Teacher Educator Network for Environmental Education (TENFEE) to learn how they are changing their curriculum to integrate equity.

Speakers

Becca Franzen

Associate Professor, UWSP

Friday November 3, 2023 3:30pm - 3:50pm CDT
Badger's Den (Capacity 45)

3:30pm CDT

Circular Intergenerational Connections

Beth Piggush can share her experience in building an environmental education program on behalf of the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration. How can the existing sphere of influence of the Sisters related to the modern times of caring for our planet? How to connections of one generation to the Sisters (grandparents) related to the future generation (grandchildren) with the La Crosse community?

Speakers

Beth Piggush

Integral Ecology Director, Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration

Friday November 3, 2023 3:30pm - 3:50pm CDT
Rowe (Capacity 72)

Idea Ignition Session, Grab bag

Host Organization Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration
State Affiliation Wisconsin
Audience Early childhood educators, Elementary educators, Secondary educators, Higher education faculty and staff, Nonformal educators, Administrators, Community educators

3:30pm CDT

Food Sovereignty & Indigenous Wisdom

Tap into the roots of indigenous wisdom as we come together to discuss food sovereignty. Join Heather Gayton, food sovereignty and social justice advocate, in igniting conversation and interest in learning more about ancestral foods and how indigenous people thrived by living symbiotically with the natural world.

Speakers

Heather Gayton

ZanBria Artisan Farms

Friday November 3, 2023 3:30pm - 3:50pm CDT
Salon A (Capacity 108)

Idea Ignition Session, Healing people and place

Host Organization ZanBria Artisan Farms
State Affiliation Wisconsin
Audience Secondary educators, Higher education faculty and staff, Community educators

3:30pm CDT

How to be a Badge-r

The Midwest is home to a massive network of food production - in rural and urban areas, yet many students are unaware of how food is grown and produced in their communities. Discover (and leave with) hands-on activities for 2nd-5th graders using the lens of agriculture to engage students in exploring what we eat, wear, and use every day.

Speakers

Beth Schaefer

Friday November 3, 2023 3:30pm - 3:50pm CDT
Timberlands (Capacity 50)

Idea Ignition Session, Grab bag

Host Organization Wisconsin Agriculture in the Classroom
State Affiliation Wisconsin
Audience Elementary educators, Nonformal educators, Administrators, Community educators

3:30pm CDT

Using Treasure Finders with All Ages

Treasure Finders are magical, inexpensive, and easy-to-carry teaching tools that work with any age group. They challenge students to find value in the most unexpected parts of nature. Naturalist/Education Director Emily Stone will inspire you to incorporate Treasure Finders into your next field day or nature walk.

Speakers

Emily Stone

Naturalist/Education Director, Cable Natural History Museum

Friday November 3, 2023 3:30pm - 3:50pm CDT
Salon C (Capacity 117)

Idea Ignition Session, Connecting to the land and each other

Host Organization Cable Natural History Museum
State Affiliation Wisconsin
Audience Early childhood educators, Elementary educators, Higher education faculty and staff, Nonformal educators, Community educators

4:00pm CDT

Farm to Classroom: Embedded Agriculture in Culinary Arts

Join our journey of connecting urban and suburban youth to the land through school and classroom gardens.

Speakers

Mollie Haubenschild

Career and Technical Education Coordinator, Waukesha School District

Erica Yoss

Friday November 3, 2023 4:00pm - 4:50pm CDT
Eagle's Lookout (Capacity 45)

Concurrent Session, Connecting to the land and each other

Host Organization School District of Waukesha
State Affiliation Wisconsin
Audience Secondary educators, Nonformal educators, Administrators, Community educators

4:00pm CDT

Growing Native Plants and Creating Pollinator Habitat with Students; a place-based experiential learning opportunity.

Haley Diem, M.E. Ed. presents her experience with the Pollinator Habitat Program; growing native plants and creating pollinator habitat with students in the classroom and field, and exploring how the program can be adapted to all ages, in schools with limited resources, and potential extensions for deeper place-based learning.

Speakers

Haley Diem

School Grant Program Coordinator, Sand County Foundation

Haley graduated from University of Minnesota Duluth in 2022 with a Master's of Environmental Education, specializing in gardening with children. She coordinates the School Grant Program with Sand County Foundation (SCF), which awarded grants to 22 schools in the 2022-2023 school year... Read More →

Friday November 3, 2023 4:00pm - 4:50pm CDT
Badger's Den (Capacity 45)

Concurrent Session, Connecting to the land and each other

Host Organization Sand County Foundation
State Affiliation IA, IL, MI, MN, WI
Audience Elementary educators, Secondary educators, Nonformal educators, Community educators

4:00pm CDT

Growing Where You Are Planted: Place-Based Learning with Trees

Picture your schoolyard or nature center: does it contain any trees? Join us to learn about the opportunities that urban trees provide for interdisciplinary outdoor learning and academic growth, student health and socioemotional learning. We‚Äôll share activities for both formal and nonformal settings and the latest research about tree benefits.

Speakers

Olivia Witthun

Urban Forestry Coordinator, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

I am an urban forester coordinator with the Wisconsin DNR. I assist local governments, non-profits and other partners with urban tree management via training, funding and other resources. Visit and enjoy all the benefits from the forest right outside your door!

Jonathan Ismail

Outreach Specialist, LEAF K-12 Forestry Education

I am an Outreach Specialist at University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point working with educators statewide to facilitate professional development and site consultations about outdoor learning and urban forestry education. I have a fantastic job! The LEAF K-12 Forestry Education Program... Read More →

Friday November 3, 2023 4:00pm - 4:50pm CDT
Salon C (Capacity 117)

Concurrent Session, Nature is interdisciplinary

Host Organization LEAF: WI K-12 Forestry Education Program
State Affiliation Wisconsin
Audience Early childhood educators, Elementary educators, Secondary educators, Nonformal educators, Community educators

4:00pm CDT

Interpreting Northeast Iowa's Neutral Ground

From 1840-1848, the Ho-Chunk Nation was forcibly moved to the "Neutral Ground" in Northeast Iowa. This session will discuss the challenges, successes, lessons learned, and opportunities for continued growth from a 2022 regional interpretive tour focused on the Indigenous presence in Northeast Iowa, including the Neutral Ground period.

Speakers

Lilly Jensen

Projects Manager, Northeast Iowa Resource Conservation and Development

Josh Dansdill

Northeast Iowa Resource Conservation and Development

Jared Nielsen

Northeast Iowa Resource Conservation and Development

Friday November 3, 2023 4:00pm - 4:50pm CDT
Salon A (Capacity 108)

Concurrent Session, Healing people and place

Host Organization Northeast Iowa Resource Conservation and Development
State Affiliation Iowa
Audience Secondary educators, Higher education faculty and staff, Nonformal educators, Community educators

4:00pm CDT

The Journey of Restoring and Revitalizing an Environmental Education Program Post-Covid.

Hear one principal's journey to rebuild his school's environmental education program after retirements and COVID-19 had greatly affected it. Participants will be engaged in this highly interactive session creating their plan for starting or expanding their EE program based on opportunities provided by Place and Land, professional development, and partnerships.

Speakers

Oscar UrIbe

Summit Environmental School - School District of La Crosse

Friday November 3, 2023 4:00pm - 4:50pm CDT
Hearth (Capacity 20)

Concurrent Session, The business of providing environmental education

Host Organization Summit Environmental School, School District of La Crosse
State Affiliation Wisconsin
Audience Early childhood educators, Elementary educators, Secondary educators, Higher education faculty and staff, Administrators

4:00pm CDT

What do you Notice? How Phenology Based Poetry Nurtures Nature-based, Inquiry-based Early Childhood Literacy Experiences While Expanding Children's Sense of Place

With a focus on place-based learning, wander and wonder alongside as a teacher-researcher shares how to incorporate inquiry-based questioning techniques with phenology-based poetry as an invitation to early childhood literacy experiences. Resources for starting this work and continuing this work in your own spaces will be shared and explored.

Speakers

Jade Ratliff Cashman

Inquiry-based ECE Literacy Coach, Schlitz Audubon Nature School

Friday November 3, 2023 4:00pm - 4:50pm CDT
Rowe (Capacity 72)

Concurrent Session, Nature is interdisciplinary

Host Organization Schlitz Audubon Nature Preschool
State Affiliation Wisconsin
Audience Early childhood educators, Elementary educators

5:00pm CDT

Teacher Powered Schools Exhibit Social Hour (with snacks!) @ the Rivoli Theatre

Join us for a happy hour in the Watering Hole at Stoney Creek, sponsored by Teacher Powered Schools!

Appetizers will be provided, drinks will be available for purchase.

Speakers

Laureanna Raymond-Duvernell

Friday November 3, 2023 5:00pm - 6:00pm CDT
The Rivoli Theatre 117 4th St N, La Crosse, WI 54601

Socials & Networking

6:00pm CDT

Dinner on your own in Downtown La Crosse

Pizza is available for purchase at the Rivoli Theatre as well. Stop by the Explore La Crosse Exhibitor table for local recommendations.

Friday November 3, 2023 6:00pm - 7:30pm CDT

7:00pm CDT

Breakfast on your own

Continental breakfast is available for hotel guests. Stop by the Explore La Crosse Exhibitor table for local recommendations.

Friday November 3, 2023 7:00pm - 8:15pm CDT

7:30pm CDT

Movie Night: Breaking Trail @ The Rivoli Theatre

Join us for a showing of the Emily Ford documentary Breaking Trail.

Emily Ford sets out with a borrowed sled dog to become the first woman and person of color to thru-hike the 1,200 mile Ice Age Trail in winter. As the journey tests their endurance, the duo embraces the unexpected kindness of strangers.
(Time and plan may change!)

Speakers

Laureanna Raymond-Duvernell

Beca Borkowski (she/her)

Friday November 3, 2023 7:30pm - 9:00pm CDT
The Rivoli Theatre 117 4th St N, La Crosse, WI 54601

Featured Speaker

7:00am CDT

Breakfast on your own

Continental breakfast is available for hotel guests. Stop by the Explore La Crosse Exhibitor table for local recommendations.

Saturday November 4, 2023 7:00am - 8:15am CDT

8:00am CDT

Coffee & Exhibits!

Come wake up with our Exhibitors! Coffee will be served in this area.

Saturday November 4, 2023 8:00am - 9:00am CDT
Watering Hole

Socials & Networking

9:00am CDT

Iowa's School of the Wild Effort

Join this presentation to learn how the University of Iowa is building partnerships to lead a statewide effort to provided immersive EE experiences in Iowa. We'll discuss the model, funding, teacher training, partnerships, and the challenges of running a statewide effort.

Speakers

Jay Gorsh

Saturday November 4, 2023 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
Eagle's Lookout (Capacity 45)

Concurrent Session, Nature is interdisciplinary

Host Organization University of Iowa
State Affiliation Iowa
Audience Elementary educators, Higher education faculty and staff, Nonformal educators, Administrators

9:00am CDT

What's new in the world of EE research?

Research can help you improve and justify your programs! Come review recent EE research, discuss applications to your EE site, and make plans to collect your own data.

Speakers

Becca Franzen

Associate Professor, UWSP

Yue Li

Assistant Professor, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point

Yue Li is an Assistant Professor of educational sustainability in the School of Education at University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Her research focuses on online and face-to-face professional development for formal and non-formal educators, and community-engaged learning to address... Read More →

Kendra Liddicoat

Associate Professor, UW-Stevens Point

Saturday November 4, 2023 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
Badger's Den (Capacity 45)

Concurrent Session, Nature is interdisciplinary

Host Organization UWSP
State Affiliation Wisconsin
Audience Early childhood educators, Elementary educators, Secondary educators, Higher education faculty and staff, Nonformal educators, Administrators

9:00am CDT

Changing Climate, Changing Cultures: Integrating TEK into Climate Education

Learn how indigenous and place-based knowledge can be integrated into Project Wet and Project Wild‚Äôs ‚Äúacademic‚Äù science-based climate change curricula to create more culturally relevant knowledge and action. Relevant for any educator looking to integrate traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) into climate education activities and Project WET/WILD facilitators or coordinators.

Speakers

Victoria Rydberg-Nania

Environmental Ed, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction

Educator passionate about authentic learning and engaging students outdoors.

Cathy Techtmann

Saturday November 4, 2023 9:00am - 10:50am CDT
Hearth (Capacity 20)

Workshop, Connecting to the land and each other

Host Organization UW-Extension
State Affiliation Wisconsin
Audience Secondary educators, Higher education faculty and staff, Nonformal educators, Community educators

9:00am CDT

Connecting Digital Students to the Land through Game Design

Games can be incorporated into many learning situations to help inspire curiousity, creativity, collaboration and problem-solving skills. They can introduce digital students to real-world challenges and connections to the land. Find out how game design and game jams can inspire students of many ages to learn more about their world.

Speakers

Peg Steffen

Board member, Iowa Conservation Education Coalition

Peg Steffen has degrees in zoology and curriculum/instruction and taught for 25 years in middle, high and preservice college levels with a teaching degree in all sciences. She started federal service as an Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow at NASA Headquarters in 2000... Read More →

Saturday November 4, 2023 9:00am - 10:50am CDT
Salon A (Capacity 108)

Workshop, Nature is interdisciplinary

Host Organization Iowa Conservation Education Coalition
State Affiliation Iowa
Audience Elementary educators, Secondary educators, Higher education faculty and staff, Nonformal educators, Community educators

9:00am CDT

Decolonization: What is it?

A political action? A moral philosophy? A lifestyle? There are multiple interpretations of "decolonization" in modern settler contexts, some of which are more helpful to educators than others. Join this workshop to learn how different experts define decolonization and work together to identify how decolonization can/should inform environmental education.

Speakers

Tommy Mackey

Assistant Professor Of Outdoor Education, Northland College

Saturday November 4, 2023 9:00am - 10:50am CDT
Pines (Capacity 35)

Workshop, Healing people and place

Host Organization Northland College
State Affiliation Wisconsin
Audience Early childhood educators, Elementary educators, Secondary educators, Higher education faculty and staff, Nonformal educators, Administrators, Community educators

9:00am CDT

Playgrounds not Battlegrounds: Using playfulness to engage in Serious Business

Olly-olly oxen-free! It might sound counter-intuitive to be playful in a time of crisis, but in this workshop, we will be using LEGOs to explore how taking a more playful approach to our environmental work can unlock connection, inspire creative solutions, and leave us feeling renewed.

Speakers

Casey Meehan

Saturday November 4, 2023 9:00am - 10:50am CDT
Salon C (Capacity 117)

Workshop, The business of providing environmental education

Host Organization Western Technical College & UW-La Crosse
State Affiliation Wisconsin
Audience Early childhood educators, Elementary educators, Secondary educators, Higher education faculty and staff, Nonformal educators, Administrators, Community educators

9:00am CDT

Sign, Song, Story: Keeping things lively.

Through the use of sign language, simple songs, short stories and tactile experiences, we will share in a variety of concept facilitators to create exciting nature experiences.

Speakers

David Stokes (he/him)

Frog Chorus Nature Education

Saturday November 4, 2023 9:00am - 10:50am CDT
Rowe (Capacity 72)

Workshop, Nature is interdisciplinary

Host Organization Frog Chorus Nature Education
State Affiliation IA, IL, MN, WI
Audience Early childhood educators, Elementary educators, Nonformal educators, Community educators

9:00am CDT

Tree Inventories to Connect with Community Forests

Learn how to use a tree inventory to connect high school and adult learners with place-based education about the benefits of trees in their community! Participants will discover field-based skills for tree ID, assessment, data analysis, and planting success. Resources, curriculum connections, and research about urban tree benefits will be provided.

Speakers

Jonathan Ismail

Outreach Specialist, LEAF K-12 Forestry Education

Dan Buckler

Urban Forest Analyst, Wisconsin DNR

I am an urban forester with the Wisconsin DNR and work on data collection and analysis projects across Wisconsin. I try to understand what trees are growing where and why they're important.

Saturday November 4, 2023 9:00am - 10:50am CDT
Timberlands (Capacity 50)

Workshop, Connecting to the land and each other

Host Organization LEAF: WI K-12 Forestry Education Program
State Affiliation Wisconsin
Audience Secondary educators, Nonformal educators, Community educators

10:00am CDT

A day in the life: what do Gen Z-ers need and look for?

Wow, have things changed over the past few years! Many have wondered how to go about best recruiting new hires and how to support them. Here's an opportunity to talk to current Gen Z-ers who are college students at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

Speakers

EENA

University of Wisconsin Stevens Point

Becca Franzen

Associate Professor, UWSP

Saturday November 4, 2023 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Eagle's Lookout (Capacity 45)

Concurrent Session, The business of providing environmental education

Host Organization UWSP
State Affiliation Wisconsin
Audience Early childhood educators, Elementary educators, Secondary educators, Higher education faculty and staff, Nonformal educators, Administrators, Community educators

10:00am CDT

The Stories We Tell

Wenabozho and the Wolves? The 3 Little Pigs and the Big, Bad Wolf? It is through stories like these that we form our first opinions about wolves. This workshop will explore these feelings through looking at the wolf folklore of European immigrants, and Ma‚Äôiingan/Wolf stories told from an Anishinaabe perspective.

Speakers

Jane Weber

Timber Wolf Alliance Coordinator, Timber Wolf Alliance Educator/Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute

I am the coordinator for the Timber Wolf Alliance. The Timber Wolf Alliance is committed to investigating the facts and relies on research to dispel myths and unfounded fears associated with wolves. TWA provides training in wolf biology and ecology, develops and disseminates educational... Read More →

Saturday November 4, 2023 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Badger's Den (Capacity 45)

Concurrent Session, Connecting to the land and each other

Host Organization Timber Wolf Alliance Educator/Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute
State Affiliation Wisconsin
Audience Early childhood educators, Elementary educators, Secondary educators

11:00am CDT

State Group Meetings (WAEE Annual Meeting in WI Room)

Come network and meet people from your State!

WAEE will host it's annual meeting during this time in the room with Wisconsinites.

Saturday November 4, 2023 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
TBA

Socials & Networking

11:00am CDT

Exhibitor Time

Saturday November 4, 2023 11:00am - 1:30pm CDT
Watering Hole

Socials & Networking

12:00pm CDT

Lunch & End of Silent Auction

Saturday November 4, 2023 12:00pm - 1:30pm CDT
Salon A/B

Meal Time

1:30pm CDT

EE in Action: Voices for Environmental Justice

Environmental education in the US is questioning the status quo and seeking shifts and synergies in ways that seemed a dream a decade ago. Advocacy is no longer about promoting the field, but asking questions about what we should be advocating for. The lack of equity in access to drinking-quality water, healthy food, safe housing and cultural autonomy are, for the first time, broadly recognized as issues that EE must be attentive to. These changes are exciting but have been rhetorical; the role that educators have in making social change is often elusive. Environmental justice is a field that has critiqued the foundations of popular American environmentalism for a lack of attention to equity. This panel highlights environmental justice as a framework that Midwestern environmental education can embrace to generate just curriculum, policy, and science-communication.

Speakers

Tommy Mackey

Assistant Professor Of Outdoor Education, Northland College

Dr. Lemir Teron

Associate Professor, Howard University

Robert Peterson

City-wide Representative, Milwaukee Board of School Directors, Milwaukee Public Schools

Saturday November 4, 2023 1:30pm - 3:00pm CDT
Salon A/B/C

Featured Speaker, Environmental justice

Host Organization WAEE Advocacy Committee
State Affiliation Wisconsin
Audience Early childhood educators, Elementary educators, Secondary educators, Higher education faculty and staff, Nonformal educators, Administrators, Community educators

3:10pm CDT

Close Encounters with Small Wonders

Come and find out about the presenter's current research exploring how microscopes and magnifying glasses can enhance relationships to the land and seasonal cycles. Leave here with a new "lens" on the potential these tools offer for not only connecting your learners to the natural world, but also yourself.

Speakers

Jill Brigham

Kendra Liddicoat

Associate Professor, UW-Stevens Point

Saturday November 4, 2023 3:10pm - 3:30pm CDT
Badger's Den (Capacity 45)

Idea Ignition Session, Connecting to the land and each other

Host Organization University of Wisconsin Stevens Point
State Affiliation Wisconsin
Audience Early childhood educators, Elementary educators, Secondary educators, Nonformal educators, Community educators

3:10pm CDT

Diversity in Conservation: Creating More Diverse Career Pathways and a DEIJ Community of Practice

Join staff from the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin to learn about two ongoing initiatives: the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice (DEI) Community of Practice for Wisconsin Conservation and the Diversity in Conservation Internship Program. We will discuss how these projects started and the impact they are having in Wisconsin.

Speakers

Lindsey Taylor

Conservation Programs Coordinator, Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin

Cait Williamson

Director of Conservation Programs, Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin

Cait is the director of conservation programs for the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin, where she leads the organization’s funding programs and initiatives for conservation and environmental education. She works closely with partners across the state to ensure that NRF... Read More →

Saturday November 4, 2023 3:10pm - 4:00pm CDT
Pines (Capacity 35)

Concurrent Session, Grab bag

Host Organization Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin
State Affiliation Wisconsin
Audience Higher education faculty and staff, Nonformal educators, Community educators

3:10pm CDT

Engaging Students in Lifelong Outdoor Adventure Activities in Physical Education Program

The Summit Elementary physical education program embeds environmental standards and activities to provide opportunities such as bicycling, indoor rock wall climbing, rappelling, ice fishing, fishing, and overnight camping. Educators will learn how to embed logistically complex activities in their curriculum while learning about the successes and challenges in our program.

Speakers

Nick Okeefe

Summit Environmental School

Oscar UrIbe

Summit Environmental School - School District of La Crosse

Saturday November 4, 2023 3:10pm - 4:00pm CDT
Salon A (Capacity 108)

Concurrent Session, Connecting to the land and each other

Host Organization Summit Environmental Education, School District of La Crosse
State Affiliation Wisconsin
Audience Early childhood educators, Elementary educators, Secondary educators, Higher education faculty and staff, Administrators, Community educators

3:10pm CDT

Green House: Play a game about climate change

Playing a game about climate change might seem frivolous but playfulness can help unlock climate action. Green House is a cooperative card game to help turn climate anxiety into hope and action. Come play the game and reflect on how you might use it in your classrooms or events.

Speakers

Casey Meehan

Saturday November 4, 2023 3:10pm - 4:00pm CDT
Timberlands (Capacity 50)

Concurrent Session, The business of providing environmental education

Host Organization Western Technical College
State Affiliation Wisconsin
Audience Secondary educators, Higher education faculty and staff, Nonformal educators, Community educators

3:10pm CDT

Innovative Approaches to Great Lakes Literacy and Marine Debris Prevention

Participants experience three marine debris focused projects that use performing arts, loanable educational kits, and stewardship activities to inspire the next generation of Great Lakes leaders to extend the legacy of Milly Zantow, and others, to rethink, refuse, reuse, reduce, repurpose, refurbish, repair, and recycle and thereby prevent marine debris.

Speakers

Ginny Carlton

Wisconsin Sea Grant

Saturday November 4, 2023 3:10pm - 4:00pm CDT
Salon C (Capacity 117)

Concurrent Session, Healing people and place

Host Organization Wisconsin Sea Grant
State Affiliation Wisconsin
Audience Elementary educators, Secondary educators, Nonformal educators, Community educators

3:10pm CDT

Nature-Based Early Childhood Education: Using Seasons as a Navigation Tool for Open-Ended Learning

Join the Urban Ecology Center‚Äôs nature-based early childhood team for an interactive session on the PEEP (Preschool Environmental Education Project) model. Explore how to scaffold and engage ages 1-6 in nature-based activities both inside and outside. Participants will leave inspired to engage their youngest learners with the natural world.

Speakers

Matt Flower

Alex LaBonte

Saturday November 4, 2023 3:10pm - 4:00pm CDT
Hearth (Capacity 20)

Concurrent Session, Connecting to the land and each other

Host Organization Urban Ecology Center
State Affiliation Wisconsin
Audience Early childhood educators

3:10pm CDT

Noticing Nature: Connecting educators with their green spaces

Learn how our Nature Near You program helps educators find accessible green spaces near their schools. Environmental and outdoor education becomes more accessible to educators no matter where they teach while utilizing the nature near them using virtual resources as a bridge to their curriculum.

Speakers

Megan Kuhl-Horbin (she/her)

School Programs Specialist, The Morton Arboretum

Megan Kuhl-Horbin is the School Programs Specialist at The Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Illinois. Though in this position for six years, she is a former educator with 10+ years of experience as a classroom teacher, environmental/outdoor educator, and interpretive guide. She currently... Read More →

Saturday November 4, 2023 3:10pm - 4:00pm CDT
Rowe (Capacity 72)

Concurrent Session, Connecting to the land and each other

Host Organization The Morton Arboretum
State Affiliation Illinois
Audience Early childhood educators, Elementary educators, Secondary educators, Higher education faculty and staff, Nonformal educators, Administrators, Community educators

3:10pm CDT

Resilience and Retribution: Key Components of Buffalo Nations Landmarks

The new Buffalo Nations Landmarks program recognizes the importance‚Äîfor all people‚Äîof revitalization of relationships between Buffalo Nations, the American Bison, and the lands within and surrounding Yellowstone National Park (YNP). This is an opportunity to learn about the new curriculum and converse about how it may be relevant to the Midwest.

Speakers

Stacey Snyder

Saturday November 4, 2023 3:10pm - 4:00pm CDT
Eagle's Lookout (Capacity 45)

Concurrent Session, Connecting to the land and each other

Host Organization Waterloo Schools
State Affiliation Iowa
Audience Elementary educators, Nonformal educators, Community educators

3:30pm CDT

Using photography to enhance nature connectedness

Research has shown that active interaction with nature, including taking photos, can help enhance nature connectedness. In this presentation, through one example of using photography to build connection to nature, we will provide practical techniques for educators and practitioners to implement in their own contexts.

Speakers

Idea Ignition Session, Connecting to the land and each other

Host Organization University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
State Affiliation Wisconsin
Audience Early childhood educators, Elementary educators, Secondary educators, Higher education faculty and staff, Nonformal educators, Community educators

4:10pm CDT

Wrap Up & Closing Speaker

Speakers

Tommy Mackey

Assistant Professor Of Outdoor Education, Northland College

Deanna Erickson

Saturday November 4, 2023 4:10pm - 4:30pm CDT
Salon A (Capacity 108)

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