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.
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 sustainability in your own school community!
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 variety of mobility levels as well as how the community was engaged in the planning process for interpretive signage, led by 2nd Nature TREC.
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 changes. Discover how the use of challenges, rewards, storytelling, and more, can spark lasting lifestyle change. Collaborate with peers to design your own gamified tool, ready to use in your classroom or home.
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 setting.
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, camps, libraries, and community programs.
