Freshly Brewed Coffee, Hot Water with Assorted Organic Tea Bags, Ice Water, Seasonal Fresh Fruit Tray, Fresh House-Made Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Brown Sugar and Raisins, An Assortment of Yogurts, Freshly Baked Raspberry Oat Bars, GF Blueberry Muffins
Teaching young learners outdoors is a powerful way to foster environmental literacy and meaningful connections to the natural world. This interactive session explores research-based strategies for maximum engagement of young students in outdoor learning experiences. Delve into best practices for establishing outdoor routines, promoting student interest and focus, and facilitating meaningful... See More →
Explore how GIS tools like ArcGIS StoryMaps transform local data, imagery, and video into immersive, place-based learning experiences. Using a real watershed virtual field trip from Sampson County, NC, discover how educators can expand environmental access, deepen understanding, and connect learners to their world — no bus required.
It can be helpful to have field guides tailored to your site for your programs. In this hands-on session, you’ll learn how to create a custom field guide, including where to find species information, choosing photos, and laying out your guide - and you’ll walk away with a guide started! Bring a phone or laptop to access the internet during the session.
Dive into water quality science with this hands-on immunoassay activity! Participants will test simulated contaminated water samples to identify mystery pathogens — just like real environmental scientists. Part of NC BioNetwork's Immunoassay Investigations program, this activity offers a compelling, classroom-ready supplement for teaching immunoassays and water pollution concepts.
STEM Outreach Coordinator, Central Region, NC BioNetwork
As a STEM Outreach Coordinator, I focus on the Piedmont region of North Carolina, coordinating and delivering STEM and life science programs to K-12 schools and community colleges. I collaborate with life science industry groups and BioNetwork staff to develop conventions that illuminate... Read More →
Friday September 11, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am EDT Room 14
George Masa was a Japanese immigrant photographer whose work helped inspire the creation of Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Appalachian Trail, yet his story remains largely unknown. Through photography, storytelling, and examples from the George Masa Foundation, this session explores how educators can use local conservation history and place-based learning to deepen environmental... See More →
What can the underground networks of Harriet Tubman and Amanita phalloides (the death cap mushroom) teach us about a naturalist education at a time when knowing one's environment is increasingly a matter of life and death? How might a "fungal lens" help us to create coherent narratives out of climate chaos in collaboration with the more than human world?
Maria Pinto is a writer, teaching artist, and mycophile. Her work has appeared in several publications, including Frigg, Necessary Fiction, Word Riot, The Butter, and Dostoevsky Wannabe Cities: Boston. She has been awarded fellowships and residencies by the Mass Cultural Council... Read More →
Come for the meal, stay for the updates about what EENC has been up to, and where we're going! Poultry: Herb Baked Chicken BreastVegetarian: Portabella Provencal (WF) Romaine Salad with Two Dressings Lemon Roasted Potatoes (WF) Seasonal Fresh Vegetables (WF)Served with Rolls, Dessert Du Jour, Sweet Iced Tea and Ice WaterWF - Worry Free means free of the top 9 allergies, dairy, eggs,... See More →
Want to know how school districts, nonformal educators and community partners can collaborate to support teachers and schools? Learn how the Wake Green Schools Partnership is increasing environmental literacy and sustainability by supporting teachers with professional development, networking and peer support opportunities. Come join our discussion to develop ideas for partnering to advance EE and... See More →
Come and celebrate the joy of successful community collaborations that immerse students in nature and culture! Learn how environmental education partners across western North Carolina work with New Kituwah Academy, Cherokee language immersion school, to create outdoor experiences that honor Cherokee language, history, culture and identity. Simple on campus activities to overnight camping... See More →
Bring stream ecology to life with affordable, hands-on freshwater macroinvertebrate exploration kits. Learn how to design and build portable systems for use in classrooms, community events, and field programs. Participants will examine working examples across multiple budgets, receive build plans and supply lists, and gain practical strategies for engaging learners with their local aquatic... See More →
This session explores how creative nature writing can deepen environmental education for older learners. This interactive session uses sensory journaling, storytelling, and observation activities outdoors to build ecological literacy, creativity, and connection to place. Participants will leave with adaptable, hands-on strategies for classrooms, camps, parks, and community programs.
Working on an evaluation project and need support? Just want to learn more about evaluation? Join this 90-minute session to workshop your ideas and join the conversation. Using resources like eeVAL and EENC’s Embracing Evaluations course, we will explore common themes before breaking into small groups. Connect with peers and experienced evaluators to discuss questions, navigate challenges, and... See More →
Science Across NC is a statewide collaborative that helps educators connect learners with outdoor, participatory science across the year. This session will introduce the network, show how schools and organizations can join, and feature the October NC Spider Search as a timely way to engage students in observation, biodiversity, and community science.
A new piedmont trail will combine accessible design with the opportunity to learn about the area’s rich cultural and natural history. Join Erin Hines, Environmental Educator for Gaston Co. Dept. of Natural Resources, and Ashton Lamb, Trail Development Manager for Carolina Thread Trail, to learn how local partnerships made this project possible. We will cover how the trail was planned for a... See More →
Join us in exploring the phosphorus cycle and learn about different factors that influence the movement of phosphorus. Using a game format and stations, investigate how phosphorus is used and moved. Learn how surface water, soil characteristics, and farming influence the cycle as well as the role of phosphorus in eutrophication. Participants will receive copies of the game and the lesson plan to... See More →
From Jump! From Day One! From the beginning is an important way to look at the connections that we have with the world around us. Being connected to the land around us is built into our connections to our ancestors as Black people. Years of trauma, racism, enslavement, and forced labor has made us uniquely connected to our sense of community and that creates some unique aspects for our connections... See More →
Spending time outdoors can not only help us feel more connected to our environments but also has proven mental health benefits. Join us as we talk through some key learnings from our program: Niñitos de la Naturaleza, and our approach to reframing what science is, and how we can celebrate discovery of the world around us.
Freshly Brewed Coffee, Hot Water with Assorted Organic Tea Bags, Ice Water, Seasonal Fresh Fruit Tray, Fresh House-Made Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Brown Sugar and Raisins, An Assortment of Yogurts, Freshly Baked Raspberry Oat Bars, GF Blueberry Muffins
Discover how one educator’s NCEE certification project morphed into an ongoing field trip experience for 5th grade students at Waxhaw Elementary and a new environmental education course at Wingate University. Participants will gain insights into how strategic partnerships between public school educators, natural resource professionals, and universities can connect students at all levels and... See More →
This workshop explores common barriers that impact parents' and practitioners' ability to engage in outdoor play with their students or children. Many caregivers and educators understand the benefits of time in nature; translating that knowledge into practice remains a challenge. Rather than offering “tips and tricks,” this session introduces gamification as a strategy for creating lifestyle... See More →
Does learning about climate change and the biodiversity crisis stress out children and teens? What are the most effective ways of presenting challenging information about the state of our environment? Join Rachel Woods for a conversation about the impacts of climate change on children and teen’s mental health and learn about actions we can take to support the youth in our lives.... See More →
Owner and Lead Teacher, Dragonfly Nature Programs and Path to Positive Climate Ambassador
I am the owner and lead teacher of Dragonfly Nature Programs. We design and teach nature studies to young people in schools all over the Triangle Area. I also volunteer as a NC Climate Ambassador with ecoAmerica's Path to Positive Community. I advocate for climate action along with... Read More →
Saturday September 12, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am EDT Room 7B
Adult volunteers can be a great resource for collecting data and completing tasks at your site but they can come with their own challenges. During this session, we will talk about how we have been working with our enthusiastic volunteers to improve our Community Science projects by providing meaningful applications for their data collection efforts. The NC Arboretum hosts five Community Science... See More →
This session will help nonformal and environmental educators prepare for leadership responsibilities rarely covered in traditional training. Led by Jonathan Marchal and Chip Freund, the session will explore practical approaches to skills such as marketing, hiring, budgeting, grant administration, supervision, and evaluation while helping participants identify peer expertise and conference... See More →
Chip is a former product marketing executive in the technology sector. In 2017 he began his encore carrer as a full-time fine art landscape and nature photographic artist and public speaker. Chip holds a BA with a double-major in environmental biology and computer science from Wittenberg... Read More →
Fairy-crosses, blue honey, and carnivorous plants found in the Carolinas are just a few of the natural wonders that storyteller Liz Z Pardue explores in this talk. Hear why the strange, the eerie, and the wonderful are the most powerful teaching tools we have, and how curiosity sparked through story makes lessons last.
Enjoy lunch and celebrate some of EENC's EE Heroes!Poultry: Spanish Roasted Chicken (WF) Vegetarian: Plant-Based Chorizo Stuffed Peppers Romaine Salad with Two Dressings Basmati White Rice (WF) Roasted Root Vegetables (WF)Served with Rolls, Dessert Du jour, Sweet Iced Tea and Ice Water*WF - Worry Free means free of the top 9 allergies: dairy, eggs, fish /shellfish, wheat / gluten,... See More →
This session will dive into the challenges and opportunities of translating classroom lesson plans to informal contexts. Using the Ready, Set, Resilience curriculum as a case study, we will discuss the successes and obstacles we’ve encountered so far as we reconfigure standards-aligned content to meet the needs of a broader audience in informal EE settings. In particular, we will focus on the... See More →
What happens when original storytelling and live animals travel from the North Carolina Zoo to libraries across the state? This summer, we found out and measured it. We'll share the successes and honest challenges of our 2026 Summer Library Program alongside a practical evaluation framework for assessing environmental empathy and stewardship identity, one you can adapt for your own informal EE... See More →
This experiential workshop explores how mindfulness and play can be powerful co-creators of embodied learning in EE. This workshop seeks to demystify the idea that quiet stillness is the only available form of mindfulness. This workshop invites participants to play and to revisit their connection with more-than-human beings. This workshop weaves grounding practices and restorative sensory... See More →
What if your students saw nature as a design lab, not just a landscape? In this interactive workshop, you'll tackle a real NC environmental problem by heading outside to find nature's solution. You'll leave the workshop with a changed perspective on problem-solving and an inquiry method you can run anywhere, with any age, next week.
Don’t Waste It! is a Criteria I educator guide that includes lessons and activities for covering municipal solid waste, landfills, recycling, composting, waterways, economy, and waste reduction. The guide was recently updated to include many new lessons and activities! Come to this session to try out two new activities and learn about available workshops and resources.
Discover what’s holding back school–community environmental education. This session reveals key barriers faced by middle grades educators, highlights inequities in access to partners, and invites you to help shape practical, justice‑centered solutions that make hands‑on, community‑rooted learning possible for every student!
The OCEAN FOR ALL Alliance (OFAA) unites 15 ocean education organizations from Ecuador, the Galápagos, Argentina, and South Africa with UNC Wilmington researchers to build a collaborative learning network. Through shared training and participatory evaluation, members implemented a common framework blending ocean literacy, service learning, water safety, and social-emotional development for youth... See More →
Puppets, are you ready?! Discover how puppetry can spark curiosity and help young children understand difficult science concepts like animal adaptations and the water cycle. For PreK and elementary environmental educators, this interactive session features live puppet demonstrations, ideas for implementing puppetry in your programs, and a hands-on opportunity to create simple, low-cost puppets... See More →
Through stories of Black environmental leaders, explorers, scientists, and outdoor pioneers, participants will explore ways to foster belonging in nature-based education. This interactive session introduces a “Nature Heroes Passport” framework that combines picture books, outdoor exploration, literacy, and stewardship activities to support inclusive environmental education across classrooms,... See More →
What can death, dying and climate justice teach us about conserving life on Earth? This session shares outcomes from a course at Warren Wilson College that engaged students in sustainable end-of-life planning. The class sessions focused on field experiences to explore people and places, from death doulas to casket weavers, conservation burial grounds to body farms. We will discuss diverse ways to... See More →
