Mallory McCullough, Muncie Community Schools Camp Adventure

"From Mud Kitchens to Stewardship: Building Environmental Leaders in Early Childhood"

Discover how a Montessori-inspired, nature-based early childhood program uses outdoor exploration, hands-on learning, and curiosity to help young learners develop a lifelong connection to nature and the foundations of environmental stewardship while remaining aligned with the academic expectations of a public school system.  Rooted in the early development of Forest Academy at Camp Adventure, this session highlights how something as simple as a mud kitchen became a starting point for deeper learning, inquiry, and connection to the natural world.  The goal of this session is to help educators understand how everyday outdoor environments can be transformed into meaningful learning spaces that support both child development and academic growth. Participants will explore how Montessori-inspired practices, combined with outdoor exploration, encourage observation, problem solving, and independence. The session will also highlight how early literacy aligned to the Science of Reading can be naturally integrated into outdoor learning through vocabulary development, storytelling, nature journaling, and hands-on experiences.

Laura Unsicker, Northwest Indiana Education Service Center

"From Worksheets to Wonders"

This interactive workshop immerses educators in the process of transforming a traditional, worksheet-based lesson into a hands-on, inquiry-driven STEM experience aligned with Integrated STEM Standards.  Using the 5E instructional model (Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, Evaluate) as a framework, participants will experience and practice shifting from teacher-centered instruction to student-centered inquiry and design.  Participants will leave with a Lesson Transformation Template, practical strategies for embedding inquiry across disciplines, and the confidence to turn even the most routine lesson into an engaging, standards-aligned STEM challenge.

Dr. Amy Gregg, Ball State University School of Earth, Atmosphere and Sustainability

"Environmental Education Over a Lifetime"

This session will be a discussion of environmental education goals for training of students for the future.  The stages of student development from K-12 through college and beyond will provide points of reference for debating how to engage audiences for promoting environmental awareness that leads to practical steps for promoting behaviors.  This session involves an introduction to teaching environmental education at the college level followed by discussion prompts to engage the audience to allow the sharing of best practices.  Audience participation will be encouraged.  At the end of the session attendees will have shared their voice with ideas for enriching university curriculum.  Dr. Gregg will lead this session alongside students from her Fall 2026 Environmental Education class.

Dr. Tom McConnell, Ball State University Department of Biology

Dr. McConnell will supplement his keynote speech with a session focused on his work with college students in conservation and telling the stories of conservation efforts around the world.

Dawn Hammon, IPS Center for Inquiry School #84

Session Title Coming Soon

Dawn will explore the role of environmental education in the elementary school years and how EE at this stage can prepare young learners for a variety of future pathways.

John Hochstetler, Hamilton Southeastern Schools

"Beyond the Classroom Walls: Tapping Community Expertise for Learning and Careers"

Megan Gunn, Purdue University

Session Title and Description Coming Soon

Megan will share about her work, centered on building strong, lasting partnerships between schools and environmental organizations, with the goal of getting environmental education out of the classroom and into real-world systems that students can actually see, explore, and be part of.

Aly Munger, Little River Wetlands

Erica Oliver, Ball State University Field Station & Environmental Education Center

"Partnering with BSU for Environmental Education Experiences"

The BSU Field Station and Environmental Education Center provides hands-on educational experiences for everyone: schoolchildren, college students, families, community organizations, and more. This session will start off with a history of FSEEC and an explanation of our mission statements. From there, we will discuss examples of our relationships with community partners, including other environmental organizations, PreK-12th grade schools, nonprofit programs, and the other educational institutions at BSU. Finally, we will explore some of the impacts we have seen through our public programming, and how you can partner with FSEEC for future environmental education experiences. Various examples of environmental education resources available at FSEEC will be on display.

Gowri Sundaram, Garden on Wheels and Indiana Composting Council

Session Title Coming Soon

Gowri will share about the school-community partnerships built through her work with the SARE youth educator grant project "Garden on Wheels" which introduces indoor urban farming through mobile educational units, educating students about sustainable food production in urban settings with minimal resources.  She will share insights gained from the development and expansion of this project, as well as those gained through the formation of the Indiana Composting Council board.

Strand 3 - Growing Green: Outdoor Learning through Agriculture

Dr. Joshua Gruver, Ball State University School of Earth, Atmosphere and Sustainability

"Addressing Food Insecurity in East Central Indiana through Immersive Learning Experiences with Ball State Students "

Clair Burt, Delaware County Soil &  Water Conservation District

"Greening Your Schoolyard"

Jessica Burkett, Giving Gardens of Indiana

"When Nature Becomes the Classroom"

Discover how Giving Gardens of Indiana evolved from a simple community garden into a thriving, multi-faceted outdoor learning program serving students of all ages. This session will share the journey of growth, highlighting how hands-on experiences in gardening and agriculture can spark curiosity, build life skills, and foster meaningful connections to the natural world.  Participants will explore how agriculture can serve as a powerful and accessible entry point into environmental education, expanding beyond the garden to include ecological awareness, stewardship, and seasonal learning. Practical examples, program ideas, and real-world applications will be shared to help educators, schools, and community organizations cultivate engaging outdoor learning experiences rooted in nature, sustainability, and connection.

Kyle Burchett, LaGrange Soil & Water Conservation District

"Keys to Understanding the Complexity of Soil and How to Teach Soils 101"

Jayde Grisham & Sophie Lindley, Purdue Extension Marion County & Indiana Department of Education

Session Title and Description Coming Soon