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
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 ecosystems.
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.
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 use with students.
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 invitations into playful, interactive formats.
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.
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 that blend science, creativity, and play.
