2025 Arkansas Environmental & Outdoor Education Conference: Full Schedule

Welcome to AEEA’s 2025 Environmental and Outdoor Education Conference!

8:30am CST

On-site Check-in

Friday March 7, 2025 8:30am - 9:00am CST

Check in at the AEEA table in the Doc Bryan Rotunda. Get your name tag, confirm your afternoon schedule, and get ready for the day!

Friday March 7, 2025 8:30am - 9:00am CST
Doc Bryan: Rotunda

9:00am CST

Welcome & Keynote Address

Friday March 7, 2025 9:00am - 9:45am CST

Doc Bryan: Lecture Hall

Start the conference with an inspiring keynote that explores the power of personal transformation as the foundation for creating positive shifts in the world. Learn how self-awareness and intentional action spark lasting impact. Discover how meaningful change begins within.

Friday March 7, 2025 9:00am - 9:45am CST
Doc Bryan: Lecture Hall

9:50am CST

Bridging the Gap Between Source and Tap

Friday March 7, 2025 9:50am - 10:50am CST

Rothwell: Room 206

Water is a fundamental element for life, and land use practices can significantly influence both human health and the quality of freshwater sources. Exploring these complex issues with students becomes both engaging and relevant when incorporating real-world examples, especially local water quality data. Involving students in data collection offers an impactful learning experience and strengthens their understanding of a land ethic. This presentation will spotlight three organizations that are actively gathering water quality data and implementing best management practices to safeguard watershed health and potable water supplies. We will examine both digital and physical resources available to educators, enabling them to integrate these data and concepts into their curriculum. The resources introduced will bridge core disciplinary concepts with NGSS science and engineering practices, leveraging real-world data to enhance students' learning experiences.
Taget audience: Classroom teachers, 6 grade - higher education, Non-formal educators

Speakers

Stephanie Bolin

Beaver Watershed Alliance

Stephanie Boline, Outreach Coordinator: Stephanie holds a degree in Marketing and Nonprofit Studies from the University of Arkansas. Since graduation, she has been working at nonprofits in a various roles, including food and garden education, event management, and marketing coordination... Read More →

Ayla Grace

H2Ozarks

Ayla Grace-Project Coordinator:Ayla Grace is the new projects coordinator at H2Ozarks. Prior to joining H2Ozarks, she split her career between water quality research and public education. With an early interest in water quality, she earned a Master of Science degree in Biology at... Read More →

Meghan Post

Beaver Water District

Meghan Post-Education Coordinator: Meghan Post has dedicated her career to environmental education and sustainability. Working as Beaver Water District’s Education Coordinator, she enjoys fostering connections to natural resources and community building. Meghan enjoys gardening... Read More →

Holly Wren

Beaver Water District

Holly Wren-Environmental Scientist:Holly Wren has dedicated much of her early career to improving water quality in Northwest Arkansas. Before joining Beaver Water District, she worked with cities and conservation organizations to improve the quality and reduce the volume of urban... Read More →

Friday March 7, 2025 9:50am - 10:50am CST
Rothwell: Room 206

Concurrent Session

9:50am CST

Improving educational outcomes of at-risk students through environmental education.

Friday March 7, 2025 9:50am - 10:50am CST

Rothwell: Room 207

ATU, in cooperation with the Janet Huckabee Nature Center and the Guy Fenter Education Service Cooperative, have developed and interventionalist program for Kids at Risk. Each of the representative school districts select a group of at-risk students whom they feel will most benefit from the experience. Those students attend the Students Assisting Teachers (SAT) program along with a teacher that has agreed to serve as the interventionalist for the students. Studies have shown that when kids feel a part of the school, have developed a cadre of friends, and have school support, educational performance improves along with student behavior. SAT provides that opportunity by providing students the joy of being “selected” to participate in the program and by participating in group bonding activities with teachers and other students.
Target audience: Classroom teachers, 3-12 grade

Speakers

Curtis J. Varnell, PhD

Arkansas Tech University , Guy Fenter Education Service Cooperative,

Dr. Curtis Varnell, Science Specialist and Adjunct Professor, Dr. Varnell is a life-long educator with more than twenty-five years of experience in the public school classroom. For the past 15 years, he has served as the science specialist of the Guy Fenter Education Service Cooperative... Read More →

Dr. Bret Stone

Assistant Dean of Education, Arkansas Tech University, Arkansas Tech University

Dr. Bret Stone, Assistant Dean of Education. Dr. Stone is the Assistant Dean of Education at ATU where he works with both the college of education and the school of health and physical education. Prior to that, Dr. Stone was the Dean of Education at the University of the Ozarks. Dr... Read More →

Friday March 7, 2025 9:50am - 10:50am CST
Rothwell: Room 207

Concurrent Session

9:50am CST

WILD Passport: A Progressive Wildcraft Curriculum for Child Led Learning

Friday March 7, 2025 9:50am - 10:50am CST

Rothwell: Room 211

This session presents on The WILD Passport Curriculum, a progressive wildcraft curriculum that engages children in hands-on learning through five essential categories: fire, flora and fauna, tools, shelter, and rope skills. We will explore how this curriculum can be used to cultivate child-led programming, allowing youth to take the reins in their outdoor education experience. Targeted toward administrators, educators, and program directors, this session will provide practical insights into fostering autonomy, critical thinking, and resilience in children. Attendees will leave with an understanding of how to structure activities that align with developmental stages, build confidence, and encourage teamwork. Additionally, we’ll discuss how these skills can be integrated into a wide range of outdoor programs, from summer camps to classroom settings, promoting self-reliance and environmental stewardship.
Target audience: Classroom teachers, PreK-higher education, School administrators, Non-formal educators, Program directors

Speakers

Rachel Parker

Ferncliff Nature School

Director of Nature School,Rachel is originally from The Natural State. She graduated from the University of Central Arkansas with a degree in Early Childhood Special Education and worked with preschoolers with severe developmental delays for 8 years before her love of nature led her... Read More →

Friday March 7, 2025 9:50am - 10:50am CST
Rothwell: Room 211

Concurrent Session

10:50am CST

Morning Break with Exhibitors

Friday March 7, 2025 10:50am - 11:20am CST

Rothwell: Room 212

Visit with exhibitors to learn about resources around the state. Find some morning snacks in Room 208.

Friday March 7, 2025 10:50am - 11:20am CST
Rothwell: Room 212

Food & Networking

11:20am CST

Discovering Nature's Classroom

Friday March 7, 2025 11:20am - 12:20pm CST

Rothwell: Room 211

Presenters will showcase how environmental education is being implemented across Arkansas through community partnerships involving the Guy Fenter and Dawson Educational Cooperatives, Lake Ouachita State Park, and teachers from Charleston Public School. Participants discover innovative methods of connecting nature as an engaging educational platform while promoting the outdoors and discovering Arkansas’s natural beauty. These workshops bring environmental education lessons to life by connecting concepts with the natural world. These hands-on experiences align with Arkansas Science Standards and provide students with direct engagement with Arkansas’s natural resources. Workshop topics include: Arkansas’s heritage and history, renewable energy, water quality, ecology, geology, fish identification, ornithology, dendrology, and offers a comprehensive approach to environmental education.
Target audience: Classroom teachers, PreK-12 grade, Non-formal educators

Speakers

Missy Stubblefield

Charleston Public School District

Missy Stubblefield has taught math and science in public education for thirty-three years and currently teaches in the Charleston Public School District. For the past 20 years, she has enjoyed conducting STEM camps and teacher workshops across Arkansas. She has recently had the opportunity... Read More →

Sabrina Ketter

Charleston Public School District

Sabrina Ketter has dedicated fourteen years to public education, specializing in middle school science at Charleston Public School. Mrs. Ketter conducts summer camps at UAFS and leads science workshops for educational cooperatives during the summer. She has shared her knowledge and... Read More →

Emily Stubblefield

Lake Ouachita State Park

Emily Stubblefield joined Lake Ouachita State Park as their park interpreter in April of 2021. She has been with Arkansas State Parks since 2019; she started her career as a seasonal interpreter at DeGray Lake Resort State Park. She has combined her passion of being outdoors and helping... Read More →

Friday March 7, 2025 11:20am - 12:20pm CST
Rothwell: Room 211

Concurrent Session

11:20am CST

Emerging Core Competencies for Outdoor Recreation Professionals: Bridging Public and Private Sector Needs

Friday March 7, 2025 11:20am - 12:20pm CST

Rothwell: Room 206

This session will provide an update on the development of new core competencies for outdoor recreation professionals, an initiative supported by major national and federal agencies. Over the next year, these competencies—spanning knowledge, skills, abilities, and experiences—will guide workforce development across both public and private sectors. Key areas of focus include environmental stewardship, leadership, cultural competency, and program management. Attendees will gain insight into how these evolving standards will shape recruitment, training, and professional growth in outdoor recreation. Join us for an informative discussion on the future of the field and its impact on workforce readiness. Participants will understand the key core competencies being developed for outdoor recreation professionals and their role in workforce development. Participants will be able to identify how these competencies will impact recruitment, training, and professional growth in both the public and private sectors.
Target audience: Classroom teachers, PreK-higher education; Program administrators; Non-formal education

Speakers

Dr. Michael Bradley

Arkansas Tech University

Dr. Michael Bradley serves as the Dean of the College of Research and Graduate Studies.

Friday March 7, 2025 11:20am - 12:20pm CST
Rothwell: Room 206

Concurrent Session

11:20am CST

Sensory Kits - Tools for Success

Friday March 7, 2025 11:20am - 12:20pm CST

Rothwell: Room 207

An estimated 20% of the world's population is neurodivergent and often have conditions or preferences that make them stand out or appear different. In some cases these differences make it difficult to include ALL in recreational/educational programming. This session will focus on tips for inclusion that will potentially help reduce anxiety, frustration, and/or resulting behaviors and allow the individual to better focus on the activity at hand.
Target audience: Classroom teachers, 6-higher education, Non-formal educators, Program directors

Speakers

Cathi McMahan

Friday March 7, 2025 11:20am - 12:20pm CST
Rothwell: Room 207

Concurrent Session

12:20pm CST

Optional Dine & Discuss during lunch

Friday March 7, 2025 12:20pm - 1:20pm CST

TBD

Grab your food and join facilitators Monica Woods and Sarah Lewis for an open-format book discussion. The main theme of the book is social psychology, with the hope that environmental educators will find it a useful tool for critical thinking in their fields and at this time in our history. The target audience is any environmental educator interested in this topic and how it relates to their professional and/or personal world. Participants will come away with insight, context and new perspectives of the world in which we are working to educate people about environmental systems. They will also take away connections with others with whom they can network and share ideas, further deepening community as environmental educators. Those interested in this session should read at least of Malcolm Gladwell's Revenge of the Tipping Point before the conference.

Speakers

Sarah Elaine Lewis

Founder, Edgewater Coaching & Consulting

Dr. Sarah Elaine Lewis holds a PhD in Environmental Dynamics and teaches Environmental Resiliency at the University of Arkansas. She is Founder and CEO of Edgewater Coaching & Consulting where she helps professionals and organizations navigate complex challenges to reach their goals... Read More →

Monica Woods

AEEA, St. Joseph Center of Arkansas

Monica's focus has been in both traditional and non-traditional outdoor education. As a backcountry guide, classroom teacher and an outdoor preschool director, she has always been passionate about sharing the joy and value of outdoor and nature-based education with students, teachers... Read More →

Friday March 7, 2025 12:20pm - 1:20pm CST
TBD

Book Discussion

12:20pm CST

Lunch

Friday March 7, 2025 12:20pm - 1:20pm CST

Rothwell: Room 138

Friday March 7, 2025 12:20pm - 1:20pm CST
Rothwell: Room 138

Food & Networking

1:30pm CST

Tour Lake Dardanelle State Park Visitor Center and In-Seine Adventure

Friday March 7, 2025 1:30pm - 3:45pm CST

Lake Dardanelle State Park Visitor Center

Join a Park Interpreter to explore the visitor center and get a look at some of the fish and turtle species that call Lake Dardanelle home. After exploring the center, we will get our feet wet and discover what all lives in the lake besides fish and turtles? We will seine for macro-invertebrates and see who is living in the lake. By identifying the macro-invertebrate population of the lake and counting your sample size, you can determine the health of the aquatic environment surrounding them. This activity can be modified for kindergarten to college age students. Come prepared to get wet and wear water shoes.

Speakers

Sasha Bowles

Park Interpreter II, Lark Dardanelle State Park

My name is Sasha Bowles. I grew up in Arkansas. I received a BS in Fisheries and Wildlife Biology from Arkansas Tech University, here in Russellville. I have always had a love of the outdoors and all of nature’s creatures. I grew up chasing snakes and lizards, looking for turtles... Read More →

Friday March 7, 2025 1:30pm - 3:45pm CST
Lake Dardanelle State Park Visitor Center

Field Tour

1:30pm CST

Forest Bathing Session

Friday March 7, 2025 1:30pm - 4:30pm CST

TBD

Forest Bathing is an immersive experience designed to help deepen the connection to your surroundings through your senses. Participants will be given various “invitations”, or prompts, to help facilitate this connection. During invitations we wander independently, then we come back together as a group between invitations. We then end with a tea gathering. This practice is designed to foster deep ways of “knowing” the earth. Instead of naming plants and animals we’re more concerned with who they are. The benefits of the practice include lower blood pressure, easier emotion regulation, and reduced stress among many others. Forest Bathing helps to connect humans to the land and each other. We protect what we love.
Target audience: Classroom teachers, PreK-higher education, School administrators, Non-formal educators, Program directors

Speakers

Lori Carter

Interconnected Forest Therapy

Lori Carter is an ANFT certified Nature and Forest Therapy guide who has lived in Bentonville with her husband since 1993. Lori’s educational background also includes a BS degree in Therapeutic Recreation from Eastern Illinois University. As the owner of Interconnected Forest Therapy... Read More →

Friday March 7, 2025 1:30pm - 4:30pm CST
TBD

Field Tour

1:30pm CST

Nature’s Remedy: Research-Based Actions for Enhancing Well-Being in Environmental Educators LIMITED

Friday March 7, 2025 1:30pm - 4:30pm CST

Rothwell: Room 206

Discover the transformative power of nature to support the well-being of environmental educators. This session explores research-based strategies that harness the natural environment to reduce stress, build resilience, and enhance mental and physical health. Participants will learn evidence-based practices such as mindfulness in nature, restorative outdoor activities and how to create a calming environment inside the educational space. Gain actionable tools and insights to rejuvenate personal well-being while fostering a healthier, more sustainable educational community. Whether you’re seeking renewal or strategies to support your team, this session equips you to thrive in harmony with the natural world.

Speakers

Crystal Green-Braswell

Coordinator of Staff Wellness and Culture, Little Rock School District/ crystal.braswell@lrsd.org

Crystal Green-Braswell, Ed.S., is a dedicated educational leader with over 25 years of experience. Committed to humanizing education, she focuses on meeting the needs of staff and students. Her career spans roles as a teacher, school, district, and state leader, with expertise in... Read More →

Friday March 7, 2025 1:30pm - 4:30pm CST
Rothwell: Room 206

Workshop

1:30pm CST

The Art of Nature: The Basics of Nature Journaling LIMITED

Friday March 7, 2025 1:30pm - 4:30pm CST

Rothwell: Room 211

Nature journaling is a fantastic way to get away from the everyday hustle, bustle, and rush; and practice patience, observational skills, and creative expression. It can be an opportunity to get out and experience the great outdoors. Keeping a nature journal is a great way to become acquainted, or get reacquainted, with our natural world. Journaling helps: • Improve your mood • Gain mental clarity • Unplug from technology • Boost memory • Reduce stress levels • Practice presence • Improve critical thinking and problem solving • Deepen appreciation for nature Participants will make their own field journal, use their senses to explore our environment, practice basic sketching techniques, and create a nature poem. No art skills needed! Materials, supplies, resources and door prizes will be provided.
Target audience: Classroom teachers, 3-12 grade, Non-formal educators, Program directors

Speakers

Rob Beadel

Director of Forestry Education, Arkansas Forestry Association Education Foundation

With 30 years in the environmental field, Rob Beadel has been the Director of Forestry Education for the Arkansas Forestry Association Education Foundation since 2008 and serves as the Project Learning Tree State Coordinator. Rob, a Certified Interpretive Guide, has served on several... Read More →

Friday March 7, 2025 1:30pm - 4:30pm CST
Rothwell: Room 211

Workshop

5:00pm CST

Evening Social LIMITED

Friday March 7, 2025 5:00pm - 7:00pm CST

Pasta Grill

Drop by the Pasta Grill in downtown Russellville for casual social time with fellow conference attendees. Attendees will receive 1 drink ticket for an alcoholic or non-alcoholic drink and appetizers. We will also have a few special items in a basket raffle. Come with cash or credit cards!

319 W Main St, Russellville, AR 72801

Friday March 7, 2025 5:00pm - 7:00pm CST
Pasta Grill 319 W Main St, Russellville, AR 72801

Food & Networking

6:00pm CST

Art Walk

Friday March 7, 2025 6:00pm - 9:00pm CST

Downtown Russellville

Grab a buddy and enjoy a spring evening strolling around downtown Russellville with the quarterly Art Walk. Local stores and restaurants will be open late as well as artists booths on the sidewalk. A great way to unwind from the day.

Friday March 7, 2025 6:00pm - 9:00pm CST
Downtown Russellville

Food & Networking

8:30am CST

On-site Check-in

Saturday March 8, 2025 8:30am - 9:00am CST

Rothwell: Room 138

Check in at the AEEA table in the Doc Bryan Rotunda. Get your name tag, confirm your afternoon schedule, and get ready for the day!

Saturday March 8, 2025 8:30am - 9:00am CST
Rothwell: Room 138

9:00am CST

Welcome & AEEA Update

Saturday March 8, 2025 9:00am - 9:15am CST

Rothwell: Room 138

Speakers

Sophia Stephenson

Executive Director, Arkansas Environmental Education Association

Sophia Stephenson is Executive Director of the Arkansas Environmental Education Association. Sophia has been involved with environmental education for almost two decades, working at nature centers, an educational farm, and a local government department where the focus was solid waste... Read More →

Saturday March 8, 2025 9:00am - 9:15am CST
Rothwell: Room 138

9:25am CST

1. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission: Fostering Healthy Lifestyles and a Sustainable Future Through Outdoor Experiences 2. Let's Create a "GREEN" Classroom Environment

Saturday March 8, 2025 9:25am - 10:25am CST

Rothwell: Room 211

1. This session explores how the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission utilizes outdoor experiences to cultivate healthy lifestyles and foster a sustainable future for all Arkansans. Target audience: Educators, outdoor recreation professionals, and community leaders. Topic focus: Integrating outdoor education into curricula, promoting physical and mental well-being through nature-based activities, and developing environmental stewardship. NGSS alignment: Crosscutting concepts of systems and system models, stability and change, and patterns. Participants will gain: Practical strategies for incorporating outdoor learning into educational settings. Resources for accessing AGFC programs and educational materials. Understanding of the connection between human health and environmental health. Skills for developing and implementing community-based outdoor education initiatives.
Target Audience: Classroom teachers, PreK-higher education, School administrators, Non-formal educators

2. During this session, you will receive information about funding available to create outdoor learning environments and for recycling stations. I realize due to curriculum demands that the importance of environmental education is sometimes overlooked. There are also many environmental agencies that offer grants and classroom education programs throughout the year. There are ways to create a “GREEN” classroom. I will share my experiences and knowledge with you during this session. You will take away the names of agencies, grants, websites, and other resources I have used to create an environmental and outdoor classroom setting.
Target audience: Pre-K through 8th grade.

Speakers

Kimberly Armstrong

Wynne Primary School

Kimberly Armstrong is a National Board Certified educator and was a regional finalist for the 2018 Arkansas Teacher of the Year. Even though she has these awards, she feels her greatest accomplishments have happened in the classroom with her students. Kimberly has spent the last 10... Read More →

Raven Harris

Assistant Chief in Education Division, Arkansas Game & Fish Commission

Raven Harris, Assistant Chief in Education. Raven Harris is the Assistant Chief for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC), overseeing key education programs including caves and virtual learning, adaptive recreation, and the "Becoming an Outdoor Woman" programs. She leads a... Read More →

Heather Pitman

Facility Manager, Arkansas Game & Fish Commission

Fred Berry Crooked Creek Nature Center Facility Manager. Heather Pitman’s professional career began in public education. She taught many grades and many subjects, including chemistry, physics and the natural sciences. Her goal as a science teacher was to engage students in the natural... Read More →

Saturday March 8, 2025 9:25am - 10:25am CST
Rothwell: Room 211

Concurrent Session

9:25am CST

Mindfulness and Nature: Why & How to Incorporate Them into Our Lives

Saturday March 8, 2025 9:25am - 10:25am CST

Rothwell: Room 206

This Mindfulness and Nature session will begin with a slideshow presentation with background information, research evidence of the many wellness benefits of both mindfulness activities and exposure to and interaction with nature, as well as recommendations for including mindfulness and nature in schools, informal education settings, and ideally all people’s daily lives! Following the slideshow, Liz Hill will lead participants through multiple hands-on mindfulness-based activities which are particularly suited to outdoor/natural environments. While Liz has primarily led these activities with elementary aged children, they are adaptable to any age group, and she has tried them in both formal and non-formal settings, thus this session has no specific target audience. Attendees will be inspired to integrate more mindfulness and nature into their lives.
Target audience: Classroom teachers, PreK-12 grade, Non-formal educators

Speakers

Liz Hill

Ozark Natural Science Center

Education and Community Program Manager: Liz Hill grew up in the Ozarks and has always loved nature, which grew into a career path after attending the AEGIS Wet’n’Wild camp at ONSC in high school. She has over 18 years of informal environmental education experience (including... Read More →

Saturday March 8, 2025 9:25am - 10:25am CST
Rothwell: Room 206

Concurrent Session

9:25am CST

Outdoor Education: Enhancing Learning Beyond Classroom Walls

Saturday March 8, 2025 9:25am - 10:25am CST

Rothwell: Room 207

Outdoor Education: Enhancing Learning Beyond Classroom Walls will cover a variety of topics. We will define what outdoor education is and is not. We will look at the variety of educational benefits of outdoor education. The session will cover a variety of ideas and best practices when incorporating outdoor activities to classrooms regardless of age. We will look out to align outdoor education with NGSS standards. The session will also cover a variety of resources for teachers that include other PD offerings, books on outdoor education, the Outside for 5 program, and other opportunities.
Target audience: Classroom teachers, PreK-12 grade, School administrators, Non-formal educators, Program directors

Speakers

Jackie Scott

Science Teacher; Soccer Coach, Mann Magnet Middle School (LRSD)

Jackie Scott is a middle school science teacher at Mann Magnet. She has worked extensively with her lab students with outdoor education with a native plant garden, vegetable garden, and a variety of community science-based projects associated with each grade level as well as various... Read More →

Saturday March 8, 2025 9:25am - 10:25am CST
Rothwell: Room 207

Concurrent Session

10:25am CST

Morning Break with Exhibitors

Saturday March 8, 2025 10:25am - 10:55am CST

Rothwell: Room 212

Visit with exhibitors to learn about resources around the state. Find some morning snacks in Room 208.

Saturday March 8, 2025 10:25am - 10:55am CST
Rothwell: Room 212

Food & Networking

10:55am CST

1. Learning from recess: What the Green Schoolyard Study is finding about children & their physical activity 2. Place-Based Education: Synergizing Social-Emotional Well-being and Nature Connection

Saturday March 8, 2025 10:55am - 11:55am CST

Rothwell: Room 206

1. Recess provides children with the opportunity for outdoor learning, socialization, and play. Physical activity during recess contributes to children’s overall physical activity. An ongoing research study by UAMS in partnership with UA Fayetteville is producing new insights on greenspace and playground design to improve recess among K-5 students. The purpose of this panel session is share insights from this study. Specifically, conference participants will learn about the following: (1) Playground features conducive to physical activity during recess and differences by age and gender. (2) Whether recess experiences differ meaningfully for children who have obesity or severe obesity. (3) The impact of temperature and air quality on physical activity during recess. (4) Recess best practices for schools to improve recess experiences and promote physical activity.
Target audience: Classroom teachers, PreK-5 grade, Classroom educators, higher education, School administrators, Non-formal educators, Program directors

2. This interactive presentation explores the synergy of a place-based pedagogy, emphasizing mindful social-affective nature pedagogy with culturally and linguistically diverse learners aged 5-75. The presentation will showcase new research, advancements in practice, and innovative ideas that demonstrate the powerful connection between health and nature, fostering audience conversation and exploration through concrete examples. Experience nature-based activities that nurture social-emotional growth while recognizing our interconnectedness with well-being and the sustainability of our planet. If you are an educator, environmental professional, or work with underserved communities and are passionate about place-based education, nature instruction, and integrating social-emotional mindfulness, we encourage your participation.
Target audience: Classroom teachers, PreK-higher education, School administrators, Non-formal educators, Program directors

Speakers

Amber Kaufman

Director of Programs, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Amber Kaufman is the Program Director for the Center for the Study of Obesity. She possesses expertise is in planning and implementing public services and programs, especially for children. A native Arkansan, Amber completed her undergraduate studies in Public Administration at the... Read More →

Donna Owen

AEEA and University of Arkansas

Donna Owen is a University of Arkansas instructor, preparing future educators to work with K-12 students, with a particular focus on supporting the needs of elementary students from marginalized backgrounds.

Michael Thomsen

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Michael Thomsen is a professor and directs the Center for the Study of Obesity in the UAMS Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health. He joined UAMS in 2021 after 23 years on the faculty with the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and the University of Arkansas System Division of... Read More →

Saturday March 8, 2025 10:55am - 11:55am CST
Rothwell: Room 206

Concurrent Session

10:55am CST

Well Being with the Water

Saturday March 8, 2025 10:55am - 11:55am CST

Rothwell: Room 207

Those seeking to further your personal stewardship of your watershed or to inspire stewardship in others, we’re here to give you “why”s and “how”s!

Presenter Jane Hurley will draw connections between engagement in watershed stewardship and community wellbeing, such as benefits to education outcomes, mental health, and lifelong relationships to their environment. Presenters Kristen Crawley and Suzanne Murphy will then share activities and projects they have found effective in developing this connection to the watershed. Through the sharing of experiences in using visual art to explain water flow and connectivity, participants will learn how to engage new audiences. Classroom educators and non-formal educators will come away with resources and strategies to recreate these and more activities.
Target audience: Classroom teachers, PreK-higher education, School administrators, Non-formal educators, Program directors

Speakers

Kristen Crawley

Stormwater Educator, University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension - NWA Stormwater Education

Kristen Crawley has worked as a Stormwater Educator for the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service’s Northwest Arkansas Stormwater Education (“Know the Flow”) program since 2022. Know the flow contracts with seventeen NWA cities, Benton and Washington County, and... Read More →

Suzanne Murphy

Illinois River Watershed Partnership

Suzanne Murphy: Youth Education Specialist and Water Quality Program Manager.

Saturday March 8, 2025 10:55am - 11:55am CST
Rothwell: Room 207

Concurrent Session

10:55am CST

Show & Tell Informational Tables

Saturday March 8, 2025 10:55am - 11:55am CST

Rothwell: Room 211

Interact with 4 different presenters at your own pace in this Show & Tell Session.

1. Foraging in Arkansas: Individuals will have the opportunity to taste test a variety of recipes that highlight easily accessible and safe foraged foods and leave with valuable resources, including recipes and foraging guidelines, empowering them to integrate these natural ingredients into classroom lessons and programs, making environmental education both delicious and memorable!

2. Increasing Accessibility in Nature: Until recently, accessibility in outdoor spaces was mostly limited to short, paved trails. Today, adaptive equipment is becoming increasingly available and is changing the way in which we achieve accessibility in nature – for people of all disabilities. This session will provide information on the All-Terrain Wheelchair Program that is providing access to hiking trails in Arkansas for people with mobility limitations.

3. Building Profeesional Capacity: Have you wanted to increase your credentials as an environmental educator? This session will provide information and answer questions about AEEA's new online eeCredential Program. Attendees will learn about the program and courses offered to help expand their knowledge of EE and applications to their professional careers.

4. Creating a STEAM Night: One of the benefits of STEAM education is an expanded appreciation of environmental education because of the interdisciplinary approach to weaving science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics into experiences. Join us in the session as we describe the approach and learnings from initiating a STEAM Night at Leverett Elementary School in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Learn how to set it up, how to organize your partners, and how to mobilize families to come out for the event - connecting students and their families with environmental education.

5. Creating Awe in Arkansas Using Children's Literature

Speakers

Dr. Rita Littrell

Bessie B. Moore Center for Economic Education Director, UofA and NWA MN

Dr. Rita Littrell has more than 40 years of experience serving as a teacher, curriculum coordinator, an administrator, and a professor. Currently retired, she likes learning and teaching about science. Plus, cooking, eating, entertaining, and learning!

Amanda Dessert

Accessibility Across Arkansas

Amanda Dessert is the Founder & President of Accessibility Across Arkansas. Born and raised in Arkansas and a naturalist at heart, she has spent countless hours outdoors observing wildlife, learning to identify birds and plants, and simply enjoying being immersed in nature. Following... Read More →

Sarah Elaine Lewis

Founder, Edgewater Coaching & Consulting

Melissa Moore

US Fish and Wildlife Service

Melissa has worked as a biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service since 2014. Her engagement with diverse audiences interested in threatened and endangered species and field work around the state has given her a deep appreciation for the natural resources of Arkansas. Combining... Read More →

Cathy Wissehr

Associate Clinical Professor, AEEA

Associate Teaching Professor (University of Arkansas)

Saturday March 8, 2025 10:55am - 11:55am CST
Rothwell: Room 211

Show & Tell

12:00pm CST

Awards Luncheon

Saturday March 8, 2025 12:00pm - 1:15pm CST

Chambers West

Recognize some of the outstanding educators who are bringing to life environmental and outdoor education around Arkansas.

Saturday March 8, 2025 12:00pm - 1:15pm CST
Chambers West

Food & Networking

1:20pm CST

Native Gardens and Meadows, Our Master Naturalists Experience

Saturday March 8, 2025 1:20pm - 4:20pm CST

Rothwell: Room 207

This session will have a classroom component and a field tour. The classroom session will focus on native plant gardens (smaller plots with individual plants in a structured format) and native plant meadows (larger, randomly planted wildflowers, often interspersed with native grasses) and Q & A. Participants will then carpool to Dardanelle Lock and Dam (Old Post Park-Russellville side of the Arkansas River, about 10 minutes drive). Arkansas Master Naturalists planted about 300 potted plants and broadcast more than 7 million seeds on the site in. Resources will include multiple native plant nurseries in our region and native plant seed sources. Participants will go through the steps of preparation and planting and discuss the biodiversity implications of native plants. Target audience: Classroom teachers, 3-5 grade, Classroom teachers, 6-8 grade, Classroom teachers, 9-12 grade, Non-formal educators

Speakers

Larry S Price

Habitat Restoration Coordinator, Foothills Arkansas Master Naturalists

Retired emergency physician, Arkansas Master Naturalist 16 years, Former board president AMN, AR Master Naturalist of the year 2010, Project Wingspan lead seed collector 2020, 2021

Saturday March 8, 2025 1:20pm - 4:20pm CST
Rothwell: Room 207

Field Tour

1:20pm CST

Trail Safety Considerations for Outdoor Education & Tour of Pine Knob Mtn Bike Park LIMITED

Saturday March 8, 2025 1:20pm - 4:20pm CST

TBA

This session has two parts beginning with an indoor presentation on trail safety considerations for outdoor education. What are safety concerns when taking students on trails? We all want our outdoor education experiences to be safe. This session will examine ways educators can help keep your students safe and ready to head out onto the trail. What equipment can be useful? What knowledge can help the educators and students?

For the second part of the session, participants will carpool to Pine Knob Mountain Bike Park. This park was built in collaboration with Russellville Recreation & Parks Dept and the River Valley Ozark Off-Road Cycling Club (RVOORC). Now ATU Tourism students have used this park as an outdoor classroom for trail management. How would you use similar spaces for your students? In the event of inclement weather the outdoor portion will be canceled.

Target audience: Classroom teachers, PreK-higher education, School administrators, Non-formal educators, Program directors

Speakers

Jay Post

Arkansas Tech University

Professor for ATU Tourism. I focus on recreation, parks, and trail management.

Saturday March 8, 2025 1:20pm - 4:20pm CST
TBA

Field Tour

1:20pm CST

Climate, Water, Resilience with Project WET workshop LIMITED

Saturday March 8, 2025 1:20pm - 4:20pm CST

Rothwell: Room 206

Climate change is a complex topic that can be intimidating to teach. However, understanding climate, including the ways it is changing and how that impacts the environment, is crucial to making informed decisions and building resilience. This training will introduce the Climate, Water, Resilience educator guidebook
from Project WET which include 9 activities to incorporate climate change topics into your lesson plans or programs. This training is open to formal and non-formal educators and activities are created with Middle and High School age students in mind.
Target audience: Classroom teachers, 6-8 grade; Classroom teachers, 9-12 grade; Non-formal educators

Speakers

Jane Hurley

Central Arkansas Water

Saturday March 8, 2025 1:20pm - 4:20pm CST
Rothwell: Room 206

Workshop

1:20pm CST

Mini Intro to Permaculture The Best Farming System to Feed the World LIMITED

Saturday March 8, 2025 1:20pm - 4:20pm CST

Rothwell: Room 211

This three-hour interactive workshop is a miniature introduction to permaculture. It will inspire health and eco-conscious Earth stewards to provide for their own needs, growing their own food in the most productive, sustainable way using permaculture methods. It will challenge the participants to move beyond main stream conservation theories to embrace permaculture concepts for the most sustainable, social, rewarding, and spiritual approach to feeding and providing habitat for humans and wildlife. This workshop will educate and prepare its attendees to create better physical and mental health, the highest land fertility possible, water conservation strategies, never-ending surplus of food for humans and animals, the most diverse wildlife habitat imaginable and restoration of our planet’s life-support systems. It will be a life-changing experience for all who attend.
Target audience: Classroom teachers, 9-higher education, Non-formal educators, Program directors, Conservationists, naturalists, lecturers, gardeners

Speakers

Stacey Russell

Sacred Solutions Ecological Landscaping

Stacey Russell is an Arkansas native, Arkansas Master Naturalist, and Arkansas Wild Spaces Habitat Advisor. She has her own ecological landscaping business called Sacred Solutions. She specializes in pollinator and rain gardens, permaculture design, edible landscapes, wild & native... Read More →

Saturday March 8, 2025 1:20pm - 4:20pm CST
Rothwell: Room 211

Workshop