Sessions

All times are Eastern Standard Time

FRIDAY NOV 12

2:15 - 3:15 pm Session 1

Aaron Stump - Indiana's Wild Climate - Virtual option

Our Indiana’s Wild Climate Workshop explores our state’s place in the climate crisis. We discuss the origins of climate science, the implications for Indiana, and how we can do our part to fight the greatest challenge of our time.

Alyssa McConkey - What the heck is Earth Force? - Virtual option

Is Earth Force a bunch of superheroes or an environmental action impact organization? Perhaps both! Check out this high-level overview of Earth Force and the Process we use to support youth in tackling local environmental issues and developing civic skills in the process.

Jessica Helmbold - Creating Sustainable Environmental Education Programs 

In creating environmental education programs, we may become the very people we educate others not to be. How can we create public programs that are sustainable and enjoyable at the same time? I will share the many ways in which sustainability has influenced my program planning over the years.

Sara High - Woods on Wheels

A traveling interactive exhibit that provides information about the Hoosier state’s most renewable resource, our forests. Interactive displays will immerse the senses while covering key topics in forestry. Navigating through the exhibit takes visitors from learning about the benefits of forest management and how it supports Indiana’s native wildlife to the history of Indiana’s forests and the many industries that rely on our magnificent hardwoods to produce the products we all know and love.

3:30 - 4:30 pm Session 2

Amanda Wanlass - Phenology as a lens for environmental education: Observe Record Protect - Virtual option

Phenology (seasonal cycles of biological change) is ubiquitous and accessible, making it great for EE. We’ll discuss phenology, how to incorporate it into our EE efforts and create a phenology calendar based on our collective experience for all to use.

Daniel Poynter - Empowering students to measure and clean up carbon trash - Virtual option

Researchers at Yale found over 50% of Hoosiers are "worried" about climate, but most people don't know how to help. Through 400+ interviews, CNI discovered people want measurable, concrete, effective ways to contribute. This curriculum helps students measure their family's carbon footprint and learn how they can "clean up their carbon trash" to be carbon neutral. More available here: https://www.carbonneutralindiana.org/about and https://www.carbonneutralindiana.org/neutral-households

Holly Faust - The Buzz About Our Native Pollinators 

I would like to introduce our native pollinators. Most are not aware of the diversity of our native pollinators in this country. Why are they so important to us. Why are they disappearing, and what can we do to help?

Sara High - Woods on Wheels

A traveling interactive exhibit that provides information about the Hoosier state’s most renewable resource, our forests. Interactive displays will immerse the senses while covering key topics in forestry. Navigating through the exhibit takes visitors from learning about the benefits of forest management and how it supports Indiana’s native wildlife to the history of Indiana’s forests and the many industries that rely on our magnificent hardwoods to produce the products we all know and love.

SATURDAY NOV 13

9:00 - 10:10 am Session 1

Sarah Wolf - Tips and Tricks on how to land that EE job  - Virtual option

Learn how you can land that dream EE job!

Mary Cutler - Take a Journey Through the Carbon Cycle Game 

Do you struggle to make the complexities of the carbon cycle tangible for your audiences? Are you still finding it difficult to discuss the validity of anthropogenic climate change? This session will showcase a hands-on, role-playing activity which can help address both of these challenges! Activity handouts and other resources related to climate change education will be provided.

Troy Hammon and Jim Poyser - Leveraging curriculum for Climate Emergency Declarations - 

Virtual option

Leveraging curriculum to engage youth and adults in taking action for Climate Change. Troy Hammon of ICSS and Jim Poyser of Earth Charter Indiana will present on methods and milestones.

Sara High - Woods on Wheels

A traveling interactive exhibit that provides information about the Hoosier state’s most renewable resource, our forests. Interactive displays will immerse the senses while covering key topics in forestry. Navigating through the exhibit takes visitors from learning about the benefits of forest management and how it supports Indiana’s native wildlife to the history of Indiana’s forests and the many industries that rely on our magnificent hardwoods to produce the products we all know and love.

10:15 - 11:15 am Session 2

Alison Zajdel - Incorporating Meaningful Sustainability Into Your Facility! - Virtual option

Making your facility as sustainable as your programs can be tough- especially on a budget! Learn how Cope Environmental Center worked with community partners to create a space built with meaningful stories and sustainable practices. Take away tips you can use with any facility- old or new!

Amy Sieferman - "How Do They Do That?" 

What happens to the “stuff” we put in our recycling bin? It can find new life as lots of fun and useful things. Learn hands-on ways to make connections between natural resources and recycling.

Jon Wassner - Maximizing Student Engagement with School Groups - Virtual option

School groups provide a ready made opportunity to extend beyond simply knowledge transfer toward developing citizen scientists interested in respecting and visiting Indiana's nature hubs.

Learn practical solutions to help students make the jump from a fun "field trip" to an experience that increases their on-site engagement while simultaneously achieving our own goals as instructors.

Sara High - Woods on Wheels

A traveling interactive exhibit that provides information about the Hoosier state’s most renewable resource, our forests. Interactive displays will immerse the senses while covering key topics in forestry. Navigating through the exhibit takes visitors from learning about the benefits of forest management and how it supports Indiana’s native wildlife to the history of Indiana’s forests and the many industries that rely on our magnificent hardwoods to produce the products we all know and love.

SUNDAY NOV 14

9:15 - 10:15 am Session 1

Lisa Kern - Modeling the Watersheds of the United States 

Create a 3-dimensional model of the major watersheds of the United States based on the formation of the country over geological time, then see how urban or agricultural pollutants can move through the watershed. 

Karin Hostetter - Where do we go from here? - Virtual option

COVID was an interesting challenge to environmental education and interpretation programs. It forced us to be creative, to come up with new approaches, to reach out to audiences in new ways. What did we learn that will continue into the future of successful organizations?

Jack Shoaf - Targeting Instruction to Level of Learner - Virtual option

There are techniques to make last minute adjustments to target instruction to the level of your students. Most of the time you need to make the adjustments as you are teaching. The session will focus on assessing learners’ levels as you are teaching to make your instruction more effective.

Coletta Prewitt - Spring Mill Village Tour

The village tour would be a casual stroll through the village learning the history of the people who settled in this little valley. The tour takes about 30 to 45 minutes depending on questions. We remain outside the village buildings during the stroll but the buildings will be open so that they can be toured at the conclusion. Paved trail is ADA accessible but buildings are not. 5 people minimum - sign up at the registration table. Meet at Weaver's Cabin in the Village.

10:45 - 11:45 am Session 2

Dr. J. Adam Scribner - Educating for Environmental Change - Virtual option 

Learn about Educating for Environmental Change, a free Indiana University program that helps educators effectively teach climate change and participate in exemplar lessons designed to surface student thinking and address common misconceptions pertaining to environmental science.

Dennis Schatz - Connecting In-School and Out-of-School STEM Learning 

This presentation highlights effective connected science experiences featured in the journal Connected Science Learning to help participants identify ways to develop similar experiences that they can use in their science education efforts. Attendees will need to bring a mobile device or laptop that can connect to wifi.

Kimmie Gordon - Diversity Equity and Inclusion -- Sustaining Balance in Sustainability - Virtual option

This panel will discuss broadening our audiences and thinking about diversity and equity when planning programs and connecting families/children/adults with nature. 

Conference session locations

Most of the sessions are in meeting rooms at the Inn.

The Woods on Wheels trailer will be at the Lakeview Activity Center (Nature Center) parking lot.

The Red Cross Cabin is a short drive or walk from the Inn.  Due to the rugged trail, it is not recommended to walk after dark.  There are only 3 handicap parking spots at the Red Cross Cabin, and regular parking is on the far end of the Lakeview Activity Center (Nature Center) parking lot.

There is an outhouse near the Red Cross Cabin, and modern restrooms available from 9 am to 4 pm at the nearby Lakeview Activity Center (Nature Center).