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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!