CAEE 2024 Conference eeVoices: The Power of Stories

Check in for the conference and pick up your nametag in the Hydro Lobby!

Start the morning off with local naturalist, Stefan Karg, as we walk and talk about the South Platte riparian ecosystem right out the back door of CSU Spur. Through nature, stories, and history we will discover what makes our stretch of this river special.  Bring your coffee or tea too!

Start your day with CAEE each morning from 8:00-9:00am for morning networking and the EExhibitor Resource Walk to learn more about how exhibitor programs and resources can support your work. If you would like to receive CSM credit for the EExhibitor Resource Walk, pick up the CSM credit form from the registration area for instructions.

Coffee will be provided by the Western Daughter’s Kitchen in Hydro (Level 1) thanks to the genorous sponsorship of CSU Spur!

How we take care of ourselves physically and mentally is just as important as how we engage with visitors in our programs and the world around us. Learn techniques to care for your well-being. Take away strategies to help yourself and others feel more present and grounded.

Learn through play in this session about crafting creative science education games and programs. Play Candyland through the lens of bird migration, dabble in a D&D style ecology scenario and connect prior knowledge through the guise of Scattergories made birdy.

Need a wildlife program that engages children ages 4 to 8? Our Critter Scene Investigations include life ending stories that introduce children to Colorado wildlife and their interactions. We'll cover how these programs are designed, supported and presented. Examples shared: The Cracked Eggshell, The Feather Fluff Puff, and The Flattened Frog.

The CLEAN collection is an online database of nearly 1000 free, peer-reviewed, and ready-to-use resources for teaching about climate and energy. In this workshop, learn about the collection and recent additions including activities that focus on climate mental health, teaching climate in multiple subjects, and the Fifth National Climate Assessment.

Stories matter to bringing environmental justice (EJ) to EE. In Part 1, we center the ethics that allow us to receive and share stories of EJ, with respect, authenticity, and reciprocity. Intergroup Dialogue—especially relationship-building techniques and learning on social identities—support teachers ready to build EJ curriculum.

In Part 2, small groups build curriculum that aligns EJ with Colorado state standards, while engaging stages 3 and 4 of Intergroup Dialogue (approaching “hot topics,” creating a “product” together). Participants create lessons from case studies of environmental racism, or indigenous stories. We close with self-reflection to promote cultural competence and justice.

Learn about the social justice and equity challenges we have been tackling at Bluff Lake Nature Center. We will discuss Bluff Lake’s work surrounding educational programming challenges regarding accessibility, bilingual facilitation, and scholarships, then we'll brainstorm alternative actions that you can use within your own programs!

The NSF NCAR Mesa Lab Visitor Center has collected 10,270 public responses regarding climate change since 2016. A subset of these responses have been evaluated to illuminate perspectives, ideas, hopes, and fears about climate change. We will share our insights and collectively brainstorm using this data in environmental education.

We know you know the why of taking kids outdoors. Let us help you with the how. From finding peer-to-peer groups to build community and work with like minded practitioners, to pedagogy, to the everyday operational basics, our goal is to help you make your passion into a workable reality.

By creating programming that integrates environmental science and stewardship into the curriculum, students show increased successes, engagement in learning, and gain a voice with environmental concerns. Attendees will hear how Miles Groth and Steve Ottmer have built sustainable programming at their respective schools centered around outdoor experiences and camping.

Are you new to the field of environmental education with less than five years of experience? Do you have questions about how to build a long-term career in the EE field? Join us at this roundtable to converse with other new professionals about the challenges and opportunities in EE.

How do you create wonder in your science education and EE programs? We will discuss and practice how to use props, pictures, observations and more. This interactive session is applicable to early career professionals, staff and volunteer trainers and anyone who wants to hone their skills and share their techniques.

Inspire young Black Americans to pursue forest and conservation careers by sharing the stories and advice of those who have taken similar career paths and learn more about the history of Black Americans in green jobs.

Head to the lobby in the Hydro Building to grab some lunch! There is a lot happening during this 1.5 hour block in addition to lunch. Don't forget to checkout lunchtime roundtables, the exhibit hall and all the great exhibits across the Spur Campus.

You can find spaces to eat:
Outdoors

• The Backyard- Outside the Hydro Building
• 2nd Floor Terrace in the Hydro Building
• North Plaza-Outside the Terra Building
• Outdoor Garden Terrace- 4th Floor of the Terra Building
• Green Roof on the 5th Floor of the Hydro Building
• Riverfront Open Space- Along the South Platte on the westside of Spur

In the following Classrooms:

• Pumpkin Classroom (Terra)
• Alfalfa Classroom (Terra)
• Willow Creek Classroom (Hydro 

Explore the Spur Campus

• The Backyard in Hydro- This outdoor space features landscape architecture depicting the major watersheds of Colorado, and allows visitors to enjoy a break in the Colorado sunshine walking along native plants while connecting them with educational opportunities and rotating interactive programming. In addition to all that The Backyard has to offer, the space parallels the South Platte River and new Riverfront Open Space area with walking paths and an amphitheater. It’s an easy walk down to the river from The Backyard to explore one of Colorado’s most important waterways.
• Stream Table in Hydro (Level 2)- Check out the hands-on stream table equipped with water and sand that showcases how water affects the nearby landscape.
• Community Justice Food Garden outside Terra- Zucchini, tomatoes, peppers, basil, cilantro, eggplant, cucumber, and more are grown here for the food access program at The GrowHaus to be distributed to CSU Spur neighbors in the community.
• Green Roof in Terra (Level 4)-Green roof systems and an expansive greenhouse atop the Terra building show how urban spaces can be used for plant and food production.  The green roof serves as a research and demonstration facility to build on previous CSU research to investigate water use, food production, agrivoltaics, plant-pollinator interactions, seeding, and other emergent industry questions.
• Greenhouse in Terra (Level 4)- Visit a state-of-the-art rooftop greenhouse in the Terra building. Discover how CSU researchers in Controlled Environment Agriculture are leading the way in greenhouse growing systems that will inform solutions for growing food in urban spaces with limited resources. Interested in starting you a greenhouse at your school or business? Ask the Spur staff to connect you with our researchers!
• Denver Dumb Friends League Veterinary Hospital in Vida (Level 1)- Veterinarians perform “on-view” surgeries, meaning the public can watch live procedures through glass while the League’s veterinarians and certified veterinary technicians discuss the surgery in real-time and CSU docents describe the activity and field questions.
• Virtual Reality Room in Vida (Level 1)- step inside a virtual learning space and see how veterinary and biology students are using VR to study animal and human anatomy. This technology was developed by CSU faculty and students and is available to any field trip at CSU Spur (recommended for ages 10 and up).
• Temple Grandin Equine Center in Vida (Level 2)- Observe horses helping human clients in equine-assisted sessions throughout the day. From physical therapy to horse care, learn how CSU’s team of equine scientists, human healthcare providers, and the horses who live at Spur are all working together to promote the betterment of individuals with all types of abilities.
• Equine Sports Medicine and Rehab Center in Vida (Level 2)- As a visitor, check out the equine sports medicine and rehabilitation center viewing area on the 2nd floor (follow signs to the north side of the Vida building), and watch horses walking on underwater treadmills and working with veterinarians (check the CSU Spur events calendar for timing).
  

Stop by our Storytelling Stations for a few minutes to tell your story and earn chances for prize drawings.

Storytelling Station: Share your story via photo or video.
Where:  Selfie Station near the staircase in the Hydro Lobby.
Answer one of the following three questions by writing your answer on a piece of paper and holding it for a photo or taking a 30 second video.

• Who are the storytellers or stories that inspire you?
• Why is environmental and outdoor learning important?
• Share a story of a spark that was lit with a learner.

Create a Collaborative Poem: Add One Line
Where: Confluence Theater Lobby
Add a line to help create a conference poem! Let your creativity flow! It doesn't need to be profound, just fun!

Create a Collaborative Mural
Where: Confluence Theater Lobby
Draw your story! Add something the group drawing showcasing what environmental and outdoor learning means to you. Let's see what we can create together!

Stop by the registration desk to get a ticket to earn prizes. We have over 20 different prizes available including gift certificates, day packs, books, and more!

Grab your lunch and explore the campus!  If you are working towards obtaining CSM Credit, be sure to pick up a Resource Walk Form.  You can add a description of any of the places you visit (listed below) to your form to count for 1 hour of Credit.  You must visit a combination of 10 Spur Campus Exhibits and/or Exhibits in the Exhibit Hall to receive 1 hour towards your credit.

You can find spaces to eat:
Outdoors
· The Backyard- Outside the Hydro Building
· 2nd Floor Terrace in the Hydro Building
· North Plaza-Outside the Terra Building
· Outdoor Garden Terrace- 4th Floor of the Terra Building
· Green Roof on the 5th Floor of the Terra Building
· Riverfront Open Space- Along the South Platte on the westside of Spur

In the following Classrooms:
In the classrooms on the 2nd Floor of the Hydro Building!

Explore the Spur Campus
The Backyard in Hydro- This outdoor space features landscape architecture depicting the major watersheds of Colorado, and allows visitors to enjoy a break in the Colorado sunshine walking along native plants while connecting them with educational opportunities. In addition to all that The Backyard has to offer, the space parallels the South Platte River and Riverfront Open Space area with walking paths and an amphitheater. It’s an easy walk down to the river from The Backyard to explore one of Colorado’s most important waterways.

While you are in the Backyard meet the mini horses who call Spur home. The minis are part of the Temple Grandin Equine Center's equine-assisted services program, and they will be going for their daily stroll during the lunch hour. Stop by and say hi.

Stream Table in Hydro (Level 2)- Check out the hands-on stream table equipped with water and sand that showcases how water affects the nearby landscape.

Community Food Justice Garden outside Terra- Zucchini, tomatoes, peppers, basil, cilantro, eggplant, cucumber, and more are grown here for the food access program at The GrowHaus to be distributed to CSU Spur neighbors in the community.

Green Roof in Terra (Level 4)-Green roof systems and an expansive greenhouse atop the Terra building show how urban spaces can be used for plant and food production. The green roof serves as a research and demonstration facility to build on previous CSU research to investigate water use, food production, agrivoltaics, plant-pollinator interactions, seeding, and other emergent industry questions.

Greenhouse in Terra (Level 4)- Visit a state-of-the-art rooftop greenhouse in the Terra building. Discover how CSU researchers in Controlled Environment Agriculture are leading the way in greenhouse growing systems that will inform solutions for growing food in urban spaces with limited resources. Interested in starting you a greenhouse at your school or business? Ask the Spur staff to connect you with our researchers!

Denver Dumb Friends League Veterinary Hospital in Vida (Level 1 and 2)- Veterinarians perform “on-view” surgeries, meaning the public can watch live procedures through glass while the League’s veterinarians and certified veterinary technicians discuss the surgery in real-time and CSU educators describe the activity and field questions.

Virtual Reality Room in Vida (Level 1)- step inside a virtual learning space and see how veterinary and biology students are using VR to study animal and human anatomy. This technology was developed by CSU faculty and students and is available to any field trip at CSU Spur (recommended for ages 9 and up).

Temple Grandin Equine Center in Vida (Level 2)- Observe horses helping human clients in equine-assisted sessions throughout the day. From physical therapy to horse care, learn how CSU’s team of equine scientists, human healthcare providers, and the horses who live at Spur are all working together to promote the betterment of individuals with all types of abilities.

Equine Sports Medicine and Rehab Center in Vida (Level 2)- As a visitor, check out the equine sports medicine and rehabilitation center viewing area on the 2nd floor (follow signs to the north side of the Vida building), and watch horses walking on underwater treadmills and working with veterinarians. A special demonstration for conference attendees is scheduled for Friday at 12:30 p.m.

Whose stories matter? And who gets to tell them? It's not common for a municipal government to raise the questions, but in the five years since Denver launched the city's Office of Storytellin, a program designed to preserve and share the city's history and culture primarily by creating films in the voices of residents has evolved to include the desire to inform decision -making at City Hall and to uplift community voices for conservation and engagement, particularly around issues of social justice. Why? Because so many of the stories, from drag queens to wheelchair activists and from Japanese Americans imprisoned by the U.S. government to Chicanos advocating for access to housing and education, are similar and maybe, just maybe, could be taken into account when formulating a more just and informed policy. Denver's Chief Storyteller, Rowena Alegria, founder and director of the Denver Office of Storytelling, will share clips from the office's work and explore how Narrative Justice can be a force for peace.

We all have a story to tell! Nature inspires and provides the setting for any story. Learn how storytelling, picture books, loose parts, mindfulness, play, and joy support children in sharing their stories as they build community with each other and the world around them.

The Grab & Go Kits at CSU Spur were developed as short drop-in experiences that connect participants with exhibits and research happening on campus. Learn about how art can be used as a tool to engage museum visitors with scientific concepts and get hands-on by testing out the kits yourself!

Our Landscape Analysis unveiled findings about the state of environmental and outdoor learning in Colorado. So, now what? Explore tools and data that you can use in grant applications, reports, and more to build support for your work. Delve into recommendations and discuss opportunities to collaborate to advance environmental and outdoor learning across the state.