2025 Arkansas Environmental & Outdoor Education Conference

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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