Bright Ideas

Early Childhood Environmental Education at 2018 NAAEE Conference

Natural Start Staff

 

NAAEE’s 47th Annual Conference, taking place on October 9-13, 2018, in Spokane, WA, will focus on the power of education to create positive change for the future. Here are some of the sessions and exhibitors that may be of interest to educators and researchers working with young children through kindergarten and the early elementary grades.

(Have we missed a session with an early childhood focus? Let us know by emailing us at [email protected])

 

15th Annual Research Symposium, October 9-10

 

Tuesday, October 9

 
Sensory Tours as Storied Entanglements in-with-for Our Environments—Poster Presentation
10:45 AM–11:15 AM, Room 111AB
Presenter(s): Carie Green, University of Alaska Fairbanks
 
Toward Interconnected Sustainability Education: A Case Study of North Carolina Green Schools—Poster Presentation
10:45 AM–11:15 AM, Room 111AB
Presenter(s): Nathan Hunnicutt and Scott Morrison, Elon University
 
Children’s Perspectives on Nature Preschool Through Photovoice—Poster Presentation
11:45 AM - 12:15 PM, Room 111AB
Presenter(s): Laura Dell, University of Cincinnati
 
Frogs, Newts, and Australian-USA Early Childhood Teacher-Researchers—Poster Presentation
11:45 AM - 12:15 PM, Room 111AB
Presenter(s): Victoria Carr, University of Cincinnati
 
The Role of Animals in Early Childhood Environmental Education—Poster Presentation
11:45 AM - 12:15 PM, Room 111AB
Presenter(s): Patty Born Selly, Hamline University School of Education
 
Young Children’s Drawings of Outdoor Adventures in Rural Alaska—Poster Presentation
11:45 AM - 12:15 PM, Room 111AB
Presenter(s): Carie Green, University of Alaska Fairbanks
 
 
Wednesday, October 10
 
Rethinking Nature-Based Early Childhood Education: Common World Pedagogies—Facilitated Panel
10:45 AM–11:45 AM, Room 201B
Presenter(s)s: Fikile Nxumalo, University of Texas at Austin; Veronica Pacini-Ketchabaw, Western University; Cristina Delgado-Vintimilla, Capilano University;  Narda Nelson, University of Victoria
 
Early Childhood EE Research—Roundtable Discussion
1:30 PM - 2:00 PM,  Room 111AB
Presenter(s)s: Yash Bhagwanji, Florida Atlantic University; Emilian Geczi and Betty Olivolo, NAAEE 
 
Nature Playscapes and Pedagogies: Research, Affordances, and Teachers’ Practice—Roundtable Discussion
1:30 PM - 2:00 PM, Room 111AB
Presenter(s)s: Victoria Carr, Rhonda Brown, Heidi Kloos, Catherine Maltbie, Leslie Kochanowski, and Sue Schlembach, University of Cincinnati
 
Research Lessons: Working with Teachers and Schools—Facilitated Discussion
2:00 PM - 2:30 PM, Room 201A
Presenter(s)s: Roberta Hunter and Rebecca Jordan, Rutgers University
 
 
 

47th Annual Conference, October 10-13

 

Exhibit Fair
Wednesday, 5:00 PM–6:30 PM | Thursday, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM | Friday, 9:00 AM–2:30 PM
 
Be sure to visit the tables/exhibits of:
 
  • Natural Start Alliance (booth #301)
  • Antioch University-New England (#203)
  • Center for Nature and Place-Based Early Childhood Education at Prescott College (#103)
  • Project Learning Tree (#302)
  • Project WILD (#223)
  • Project WET (#306)
 
Thursday, October 11
 
8:30-9:10 AM, Room 401 B
Presenter(s): Jena Jauchius, SPVV Landscape Architects
 
Advancing K–12 Environmental Education Through Nonformal Education Partnerships—Symposium
8:30 AM–10:00 AM, Room 205
Presenter(s): Donna Balado, Maryland State Department of Education; Ashley Hoffman, Southeastern Environmental Education Alliance; Laura Johnson Collard, Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education; Grace Manubay, DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education; Jenna Mendenhall, Oregon Environmental Literacy Program
 
Education for Sustainability in Washington’s K–12 STEM Teacher Preparation Programs
8:30 AM–9:10 AM, Room 201B
Presenter(s): Kathryn Baldwin, Eastern Washington University
 
Improving EE in Teacher Education: A Statewide Effort in Wisconsin—Bright Spot
9:20 AM–10:00 AM, Room 202B
Presenter(s): Scott Ashmann, University of Wisconsin–Green Bay; Michael Beeth, University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh; Rebecca Franzen, University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point
 
Encouraging Preschool Teachers to Become Change Agents: Delivering Effective Inservice Education—Bright Spot
9:20 AM - 10:00 AM,  Room 202B
Presenter(s): Yash Bhagwanji, Florida Atlantic University 
 
Primary Nature Experiences—Bright Spot
9:20 AM - 10:00 AM,  Room 202B
Presenter(s): Melissa Wilson, Harvard University
 
9:20 AM - 10:00 AM, Room 201B
Presenter(s): Qing Ren, PEER Associates
 
9:20 AM - 10:00 AM, Room 201C
Presenter(s): Jessica Prescott-Smith, Chicago Botanic Garden
 
Best Practices for Nature-Based Preschools
10:30 AM - 11:10 AM, Room 401B
Presenter(s): Christy Merrick, NAAEE
 
Connecting the Classroom with the Outdoors Through Children's Literature 
10:30 AM - 11:10 AM, Room 402B
Presenter(s): Ginger Reasonover, Lipscomb Academy Elementary School
 
BirdNote: Impactful Storytelling for and by Students 
10:30 AM–11:10 AM, Room 401C
Presenter(s): Lisa Eschenbach, E3 Washington
 
Using an Inventory of Current Practices to Improve Environmental Education
10:30 AM–11:10 AM, Room 205
Presenter(s): Jeanine Silversmith, RI Environmental Education Association; Kelly Shea, University of Rhode Island
 
Building a Sustainable Urban EE Collaborative for K–8 Learners—Poster Presentation #5
1:15 PM–2:15 PM, Exhibit Hall A
Presenter(s): Brian Plankis, The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis; Catherine Bhathena, Indiana University Purdue University, Indianapolis
 
Connecting Contexts: Pre-K Programs for the Whole Family—Poster Presentation #16
1:15 PM–2:15 PM, Exhibit Hall A
Presenter(s): Stephanie Potts, Montana Natural History Center
 
Connecting to the Outdoors: Informal Science Education—Poster Presentation #17
1:15 PM–2:15 PM, Exhibit Hall A
Presenter(s): Yogani Govender, Inter American University of Puerto Rico–Metro Campus
 
Moms, Pops, & Tots: A Program for Parents and Their Infants and Toddlers—Poster Presentation #52
1:15 PM–2:15 PM, Exhibit Hall A
Presenter(s): Luise Woelflein, BLM Campbell Creek Science Center
 
1:15 PM–2:15 PM, Exhibit Hall A
Presenter(s): Zakiya Jackson, Detroit Public Schools Community District
 
1:15 PM–2:15 PM, Exhibit Hall A
Presenter(s): Sarah Yelton, UNC Institute for the Environment
 
1:15 PM–2:15 PM, Exhibit Hall A
Presenter(s): Paul Kelba, Calgary Board of Education
 
Working to Eliminate Barriers to the Outdoors for Young Children—Poster Presentation #81
1:15 PM–2:15 PM, Exhibit Hall A
Presenter(s): Shelby Gull Laird, Stephen F. Austin State University; Kelly Hoke, Center for Research on Lifelong STEM Learning, Oregon State University
 
Curriculum Principles for a Nature-Based Preschool: Case Study from Wisconsin
3:20 PM–4:00 PM, Room 201A
Presenter(s): Scott Ashmann, University of Wisconsin–Green Bay
 
3:20 PM - 4:00 PM, Room 202B
Presenter(s): Courtney Ryan (Additional Author, Non-presenting) and Sarah F Navarro, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
 
3:20 PM - 4:00 PM, Room 202B
Presenter(s): Haley Higdon, Natural Curiosity
 
4:15 PM - 4:55 PM, Room 202C
Presenter(s): Amanda Worsley, Tinkergarten
 
4:15 PM - 4:55 PM, Room 401C
Presenter(s): Martha C. Monroe, University of Florida; (Presenter) Nicole Ardoin, Stanford University; (Presenter) Lauren Watkins, White Oak Conservation/University of Florida; (Additional Author (Non-presenting)) Sadie Hundemer; (Additional Author (Non-presenting)) Cathy Jordan, Children & Nature Network; (Additional Author (Non-presenting)) Anna Lee, Stanford University
 
Connecting Young Scientists to Their Place Through Nature Journaling—Bright Spot
4:15 PM–4:55 PM, Room 202C
Presenter(s): Libby Bode and Kelsey Vollmer, The Meridian School
 
Healthy Outdoor Play and Early Childhood Education 
5:05 PM–5:45 PM, Room 201C
Presenter(s): Josh Falk, National Wildlife Federation; Emilian Geczi, NAAEE
 
National SnowSchool: Winter Snow Science Activities for Diverse Communities—Bright Spot
5:05 PM–5:45 PM, Room 202B
Presenter(s): Kerry McClay, Winter Wildlands Alliance; Dennison Webb, Selkirk Outdoor Leadership & Education (SOLE), Inc.
 
 
Friday, October 12
 
People and Place: Content and Context for Indigenous Knowledge in EE
10:30 AM - 11:10 AM, Room 206A
Presenter(s): Carolyn Sevier, Montana Audubon Center
 
“Outdoor Core”: Implementing the NGSS Through a Districtwide EE Approach
10:30 AM–11:10 AM, Room 203
Presenter(s): Rob Wade, Plumas Unified School District; Anne Kinney Stephens, California State University–Chico
 
EE: A Force for the Future—Plenary Session
11:30 AM–12:30 PM, Centennial Ballroom
Presenter(s): Paul Baribault, Kevin Chang, Shaun Martin, Sheila Williams Ridge, Jane Wei-Skillern; facilitated by Paul Baribault
 
eePRO Group: Early Childhood EE—Lunch Networking Meeting
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM, Room 207
Facilitators: Emilian Geczi, Christy Merrick, Betty Olivolo, NAAEE
 
Connecting Latinx Families to Nature Through Experiential STEM Education
2:15 PM–2:55 PM, Room 401C
Presenter(s): Rodrigo Corona and Janet Nagele, Oregon State University Extension Service
 
Billy B and the Salish Sea
4:00 PM - 4:40 PM, Room 402B
Presenter(s): Bill Brennan, Do Dreams Music
 
Cultivating Compassion: Encouraging and Measuring Children’s Empathy Toward Animals
4:00 - 4:40 PM, Room 201A
Presenter(s): Kathayoon Azra Khalil, Seattle Aquarium; (Presenter) Kathryn Owen, Kathryn Owen Consulting
 
Preparing Future Teachers to Integrate Environmental Education Across the Curriculum
4:00 PM–4:40 PM, Room 401A
Presenter(s): Sarah Haines, Towson University; Eileen Merritt, Arizona State University; Rebecca Franzen, University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point; Patty Born Selly, Hamline University School of Education; Yash Bhagwanji, Florida Atlantic University; Kimberly Yates, Northern Kentucky University; Fletcher Brown, University of Montana
 
 
Saturday, October 13
 
Land Trusts and K–12 Education: Creating Outdoor Learning Landscapes
8:30 AM–9:10 AM, Room 205
Presenter(s): Rob Wade, Plumas Unified School District; Anne Kinney Stephens, California State University, Chico
 
Peer Influence: Lessons on Leveraging Role Models in K–12 Science
9:20 AM–10:00 AM, Room 201C
Presenter(s): Nathan Conroy, STEMhero; Annie Baker, Wisconsin K-12 Energy Education Program
 
Examining K–12 Teacher Learning through Place-Based Education Professional Development—Roundtable 3
9:20 AM–10:00 AM, Room 206CD
Presenter(s): Erica Hamilton, Grand Valley State University
 
Conducting an Outdoor Learning Resource Inventory at Your School
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM, Room 303B
Presenter(s): Hartley Banack, UBC
 
Playing for Pennies: Creating Nature Play Spaces on a Budget
10:30 AM - 11:10 AM, Room 201C
Presenter(s): Lauren Pyle, Environmental Educators of North Carolina
 
Disneynature Penguins: Conservation Education Through Media
10:30 AM - 11:10 AM, Room 202C
Presenter(s): Lizabeth Fogel
 
Equity and Inclusion Through Nature Play
11:20 AM - 12:00 PM, Room 302A
Presenter(s): Amaris Alanis Ribeiro, North Park Village Nature Center; Ellen Bashor, Prescott College Center for Nature and Place-based Early Childhood Education; Sarah Foglesong, Center for Nature- & Place-based ECE; Erin Saunders, Thorne Nature Experience
 
 
(Did we miss any sessions with an early childhood focus? Let us know at [email protected])