We are beyond grateful to the Seacoast Science Center, our conference host, who is generously donating the space. The Seacoast Science Center is committed to providing a safe, accessible, and welcoming experience for all individuals. Whether it’s physical, sensory, or financial accommodations that would make your visit possible and more enjoyable, they’re here to help and are excited to welcome you!

Click here to learn more about accessibility at the Seacoast Science Center.

2024 Conference Schedule:

9:00-9:30 Registration, coffee, networking
9:30-9:45 Welcome
9:45-11:00 Keynote Panel Discussion
11:15-12:30 Morning Workshop
12:30-1:30 Lunch Discussion Groups
1:30-2:00 Annual Meeting and Awards
2:15-3:30 Afternoon Workshop
3:45-4:00 Closing

Keynote Panel Discussion:

Associate Professor of Environmental Science and Policy, Amy Villamagna, will moderate a discussion about how incorporating different areas of expertise can create better environmental education experiences for participants. Panelists have expertise in using community science with students, occupational therapy, climate & energy education, and outdoor learning.

Click here to learn more about the moderator and panelists.

Morning Workshop Descriptions:

Using GLOBE and the Earth Around Us Soil Tent in Your School or Organization: Free Resources to Educators! by Beth Young and Haley Wicklein, UNH - Get involved with the international NASA GLOBE program! Educators will learn how they can use the Earth Around Us Soil Tent (free) at their school/organization and how they can get involved with GLOBE's North American Phenology Campaign!

Lessons From A Famous River by Elizabeth Lemire, Science Teacher at Dwight-Englewood School - Come sing, paint and write while you explore deep understandings of the world around you. As humans, we have our own biases about the world in which we live. We see the world through a lens according to our experiences and understandings. As educators, it is up to us to explore these areas within ourselves where we are influencing our students. I will share my own journey about a river; how this impacted my students, and my determination to correct my own bias.

Incorporate Climate Action: The Hows & Whys by Aubrey Nelson & Angie Krysiak, NH Energy Education Project - This workshop will help us move from environmental education about our planet’s problems into the critical next step of addressing them in positive, meaningful ways. We'll engage with tools & activities to build climate agency through action projects.

Insects as Storytellers: Building ecological expertise through observation by Sara Burrell, The Caterpillar Lab - Join expert educators from The Caterpillar Lab to learn how to find and handle insects for educational programs, then practice methods for collecting and sharing their complex ecological stories both in the field and in the classroom.

From Exposure to Expertise in Nature-Based Learning by Karly Wilcox, Four Winds Nature Institute - As children, we learn about ourselves and the world around us through experience. Explore the adult role in nature-based learning, learn strategies to create peaceful learning communities, and nurture children’s curiosity, compassion and conﬁdence.

Afternoon Workshop Descriptions:

Community (Citizen) Science: Field Scientists-In-Training by Kate Leavitt, Seacoast Science Center - Learn some tips and tricks for setting your community science experience up for success, participate in Field Scientist-in-Training activities, and leave with a Teaching Tools for Success field science protocol. Then head outside to put your new skills to the test and participate in the Seacoast Science Center's green crab community science project!
Got a Rock Pile? A Beach? A River Bed-You Can Teach about Glacial Geology! A How To by Larry Davis, Camp Pemigewassett - Signs of past glaciation are everywhere in New England. We'll search for clues amongst the rocks and on the beach, do activities that will get us "looking", and ask questions to help us understand what the glaciers left and what they took away.
The Unparalleled Peregrine Falcon by Willa Coroka, NH Audubon - Learn how NH Audubon is getting students excited about wildlife by engaging in some of the interactive elements included in their "Learning as Scientists: Students Monitoring Peregrine Falcons" curriculum. Participants will learn ways to effectively utilize livestream nature webcams in the classroom while hitting science and literacy goals, increasing curiosity, and directly involving students in monitoring exercises.
School Gardens and Orchards as Outdoor Classrooms by Richard Hodges, ReTreeUS and Mike Smith, New Hampshire Ag in the Classroom - Want to do more garden and orchard-related lessons but are not sure where to start? Need to make sure it meets the standards? Richard and Mike will walk participants through a series of easy lessons that you can implement at your school or organization.
Building Orienteering Expertise by Barbara Bryant, Navigation Games and Deb Humiston, Ultimate Treasure Hunts - Orienteering is a map navigation activity that develops skills important for environmental education. In this workshop, you will navigate outdoors in teams, build skills, and adapt the activities to work with your programs’ spaces and communities.