CAEE 2024 Conference eeVoices: The Power of Stories

Advancing Colorado's Environmental Education Plan

• Are you interested in learning more about Colorado's Environmental Education Plan?
• Are you interested in learning more about how YOU can advance environmental and outdoor learning in Colorado?

If so, you are invited to join us for a pre-conference summit to generate ideas to advance environmental and outdoor learning in Colorado. Each year, we select a strategy from the Colorado Environmental Education Plan to dig into and think about how we can work together to build stronger systems for PreK-12 Learning in Colorado. We will invite experts to share about trends that might be impacting outdoor and environmental learning and we will work together to brainstorm strategies together!
When:  September 18th, 2024 from 10am-3pmWhere:  CSU Spur, DenverCost:  $29 to cover lunch and snacks, Free for Colorado EE Leadership Council MembersPlease check back for a detailed agenda and speaker list.

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

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!

As environmental and outdoor educators we bring stories to life!  We are the storytellers of our natural world, weaving narratives that inspire, educate, and transform.  Join us at the opening session to connect with colleagues, explore our stories as educators, and set the stage for our next several days together!  

Don't miss opening speaker, storyteller, and storymaker, Don Whyte, Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Elder, and retired National Park Service Chief Ranger at Chaco Culture National Historical Park.

Join us to engage with a sampling of formal classroom and informal activities developed by the team at the Center for Education, Engagement and Evaluation at CIRES. Play the HEART Force Drought Resilience Game and explore activities developed by our We Are Water project that highlights indegenous and Latinx voices.

The South Platte has a reputation for being an unhealthy river, and by observing our invertebrate friends we can figure out the truth. We will be collecting invertebrates from the South Platte, analyzing the health of our water way, and showcasing our suite of macroinvertebrate programming. 

As we aim to reveal, inspire, and engage- weaving stories into EE is a powerful way to captivate the attention and emotions of our audiences. In this interactive session, we’ll uncover impactful hacks for making story-sharing an essential part of your communication and create a toolkit to apply to your experiences.

Join us at the first annual eeLeaders Forum, a specialized conference session designed for individuals with five or more years of professional experience in developing environmental education (EE) and interpretive programs, supervising education staff, and managing educational or interpretive sites. This forum provides a unique opportunity to network and connect with fellow managers, directors, and leaders of environmental and outdoor learning programs. This year, we will focus on the crucial areas of recruitment, hiring, retention, and the culture of EE teams, encompassing staff, volunteers, and other contributors. Participants will gain valuable insights and practical strategies to enhance their team's effectiveness and cohesion.

The forum will give participants the opportunity to:

• Connect with other environmental and outdoor learning managers and leaders
• Ask your most burning questions about recruitment, hiring, retention, and team culture to a panel of HR Experts
• Engage in small group discussions with peers to brainstorm strategies that will work at YOUR organization

Join Sami Wolniakowski and Debbie Bangs, experienced Environmental Education Program Coordinators and former classroom teachers, as they guide you through techniques for effectively working with students with special needs in outdoor settings. This session will cover strategies for adapting curriculum and conducting staff training to ensure inclusivity in your programs. Beginning with an overview of selected special needs, participants will receive valuable materials to integrate into their programs, followed by engaging discussions.

A successful collaboration between the City of Wheat Ridge and Wheat Ridge High School created opportunities for students and grew a community resource through workshops and field trips to the community garden. Hear personal stories and experience some activities that kept students engaged while they learned how to care for the environment.

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
  

Grab lunch in the Hydro Lobby and bring it up to the Annual Member Meeting!  

The Annual Member Meeting is an opportunity to learn about state and national initiatives, catch up on CAEE news, and provide direction for EE in Colorado. We want to make sure we are meeting the needs of environmental and outdoor educators and organizations. Join us to provide your feedback on the most important things CAEE can be doing over the next 5 years to support you!

Join us for a lunchtime discussion of stories that uncover the contributions of ethnically and culturally diverse individuals to the advancement of the Natural Resource Industry. The objective of these narratives is to provide a counter-narrative to curriculum that often forgets or pushes these events or contributions to the margins.

At Butterfly Pavilion, stories serve as bridges that let learners connect on an emotional level, with animals and concepts they wouldn't have otherwise. Much like looking through a magnifying glass, stories allow us to get close to and bond with the natural world.

Hundreds of thousands of Sandhill Cranes rely on the Platte River as they migrate from Central America to Canada and Alaska. In this hands-on activity at the Spur Stream Table, we will explore the river features that help sustain the Cranes and see how those features have evolved over time. Note: This session can only accept 15-20 participants on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Evaluation data can tell powerful stories! Learn how we use evaluation-driven narratives to improve, demonstrate the value of, and seek future funding for middle/high school programming and educator development in underserved communities at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC).

This session equips educators with strategies to adapt existing tool kits for broader accessibility. Join the staff from Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW) to discuss techniques for fostering inclusivity while enhancing students’ observational, questioning, and analyzing skills. Attendees will gain actionable insights through engaging narratives and practical examples on how to empower learners of all backgrounds in their exploration of the natural world.

Learn some new team building activities for small groups, large groups, and all ages. These activities are based on the Training Wheels team building activities developed by Michelle Cummings. Come play AND Learn!

Our surroundings are a curriculum rich environment for learning. "The Story of Place", connects and influences us daily. Come on this journey as we share Chicken Program stories. Chicken yard spectacles provide opportunities for students to problem solve, observe nature, develop leadership skills and foster a deeper connection to place.

Join us for engaging Brighspots to learn about three innovative programs.  Each presentation will be approximately 15 minutes with 15 minutes for questions at the end.

Trout in the Classroom-  Miles Groth, Ute Pass Elementary
Trout in the Classroom is a nationwide program sponsored by Trout Unlimited where students raise trout throughout the year from egg to fingerling before releasing them into a local creek. There are many opportunities for students to learn about water health, fish biology, watersheds, water chemistry and much more in a hands on way.

Connecting Latino Families to Nature- Alicia Lamfers and Jenny Tebbs, Calwood Education Center
Multilingual and multicultural groups have historically been underrepresented in outdoor programming and recreation. Cal-Wood Education Center set a goal to offer unique environmental experiences to those that would not otherwise experience nature and the Colorado mountains. Learn from how we engaged community organizations and intentionally developed programs for Latino families, growing from one family camp to 40. Discuss how you could replicate this program in your community.

Colorado Envirothon: A Career Technical School Organization for Environmental Sciences- Rose Banzhaf, Envirothon
Colorado Envirothon is a high school teams-based study of wildlife, forestry, aquatics, soil, and a current environmental issue, culminating in a two-day competition. Natural resource experts from numerous agencies share their knowledge and career path opportunities. We’ll explore how Envirothon will be a Career Technical School Organization in the upcoming years.

Empathy is a powerful tool for storytelling and inspiring compassionate, conservation action. We will dive into empathy research and examine the power of empathic facilitation. Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of empathy and a toolbox of strategies to help connect people and their natural world.

To complement the role out of the Colorado Seal of Climate Literacy, we will present a few pathways to choose climate literacy principles that fit your unique context. These pathways include: current curriculum alignment, natural hazards, Colorado specific solutions, and justice and action oriented.

Organizing and maintaining water quality field equipment and data is a big challenge. In this session, we will share the successful strategies we have been using for seventeen years at CSU. We will work in small groups, use professional grade equipment, collect and analyze data, and communicate our results.

Ever noticed how some people dominate conversations? While it seems convenient, not speaking up means your ideas, values, and needs go unheard. What if there was a solution? Join our interactive session to gain three tools for speaking up, even for introverts. Unlock your voice and make an impact today!

Environmental health data (EHD), like that collected for air and water quality, are complicated but important to help people make decisions about their health. Our team empowers children to share their own experiences, enriching adults’ understanding of EHD. We offer tailored resources for use in formal and informal educational settings.

Be inspired and learn how some of our most innovative organizations and educators are embracing creative learning strategies to empower individuals and communities to care for our world and sustain it for future generations.

This engaging panel will feature this year's Awards for Excellence in Environmental Education recipients.  Read more about this year’s award recipients at caee.org/awards.

Unwind after a great day of conference sessions and raise a glass to celebrate this year's Excellence in Environmental Education Award Recipients and all of the great work being done to advance environmental education in Colorado. Enjoy complimentary beverages and light appetizers.  And don't forget to stick around for eeTrivia at 5:45!

Unwind and kick back with a drink and light snacks and catch up with everyone after a full day of great
sessions. Then, join your peers and form a team of up to six players and test your knowledge against
other teams in our TriEEvia contest! Team build with your organization or mix it up and gather a team with
different interests.

The winning team members will each taking home a fabulous prize!
Teams may register anytime after 12:00pm on Friday at the Registration desk. Teams that register early will
receive an opportunity to possibly earn extra points before the game even starts!

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).
  

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.

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.