2007 AEOE Statewide Spring Conference: Connecting with Community Through Outdoor & Environmental Education Sierra Outdoor School, Sonora, CA April 27-29, 2007

General Conference Information:

Index: General Information: Date and Place | Cost | Scholarships | Registration | Deadlines | Getting There | Events | Workshops
Participate: Volunteer

• Date and Place: April 27-29, 2007 at the beautiful Sierra Outdoor School in Sonora, CA

• Theme: "Connecting with Community"

• Cost: $165 Regular registration includes lodging, meals Saturday breakfast through Sunday lunch, speakers, entertainment, workshops and more! Family rates and no meals/no lodging rates may be available. See registration packet in the Spring 2007 newsletters for details..

• Registration
  • $ 200 for on site (walk-in) registration
  • Regular registration DEADLINE PASSED April 13, 2007
  • There is MORE room in premium housing only $50 for the weekend!
  • No mail-in registrations after April 13, 2007 (on site registration only)
  • Before you register keep in mind that Sierra Outdoor School is a public school and there is no alcohol, drugs or smoking allowed on site at all.

• Deadlines:
  • The workshop presenter deadline has passed it was February 16th, 2007, thank you to those that applied.
  • Conference Registration Deadlines:
    • No mail-in registrations after April 13, 2007 (walk-in registration only - contact us to make sure there is space)
  • Scholarship Application Deadline was March 23, 2007
  • Talent Show / Skit Contest Entry Deadline: April 23, 2007
  • Job Fair Registration Deadline: April 23, 2007

• Participate!
  • Volunteer to help at the conference - contact , Volunteer Coordinator
  • Attend the AEOE Board Meeting! Friday 9am-2pm RSVP to
  • Help promote the conference: Pass out a Conference Flier
  • Enter the Talent Show and Skit Contest, go for the glory! Deadline April 13th
  • Photo Contest: It's once again time for the Annual AEOE Photography Contest! Bring your labeled prints to the registration table by Saturday 11 am to enter. The category for this year is “Connecting with Community”. Choose photos that exemplify this year’s conference theme. Submit up to 3 entries, size 8x10 to 11x14inches. Judging will be held at 1pm Saturday and prizes will be awarded. (AEOE not responsible for lost or damaged photographs). For more information contact Coleen Ryan at
  • Gardeners’ Seed Swap: Are you an avid gardener? Does your school have a children's garden? Bring any and all of your surplus seeds to the conference for the First Annual AEOE Seed Swap. We'll get together at the picnic tables during Saturday Lunch to trade or give away surplus seeds whether they are store bought or saved from you garden. Questions? Contact Mark Kudrav at

Conference Events

• Guest Speakers
  • Keynote Address on "Connecting with Community": Saturday afternoon we’re pleased to welcome keynote speaker Dr. Carlos Cortés. A UC Riverside Professor Emeritus of history and nationally recognized speaker, author, consultant and actor, Dr. Cortés is widely regarded as one of the founders of the multicultural education movement in California. Building on his personal experience growing up as a person of mixed ancestry, Dr. Cortés will be sharing his insights on how to best connect with California’s multicultural student populations.  Before the conference we encourage you to check out his most recent books, The Children Are Watching: How the Media Teach about Diversity and The Making—and Remaking—of a Multiculturalist, both published by Teachers College Press. Dr. Cortés will also be performing his autobiographical one-man play, "A Conversation with Alana: One Boy’s Multicultural Rite of Passage," on Friday evening.
    Read more about Dr. Cortés here.
    
    
  • Opening Words: We are honored to be kicking off the conference on Saturday with a very special guest, Miwok-Paiute elder, Julia Parker.  Julia has been a cultural demonstrator and interpreter at Yosemite Indian Museum since the late 1950s, and is a renowned basket weaver.  If you’d like to attend her basket weaving workshop, be sure to sign-up early as there will be limited space. Read more about her here.
    
    
  • Saturday afternoon we’ll be joined by adolescents and instructors from Headland Institute’s Teen Environmental Action Mentorship (TEAM) and the San Francisco Wilderness Arts and Literacy Collaborative (WALC) charter school for a panel discussion about urban youth’s Community Involvement. What motivates these youth to think critically about, and enact change within their own communities? How can we inspire our students to take lessons home with them, and take action in their own neighborhoods? Come find out!

• Entertainment:
  • Friday evening entertainment will include a performance of  A Conversation with Alana: One Boy’s Multicultural Rite of Passage, an autobiographical one-person play by our Keynote Speaker, Dr. Carlos Cortés.
    
    
  • Friday night you can look forward to being entertained by the music of Rhymin’ Reason.  This ever-talented duo of Tonya and Rich Mandl, accompanied by the new Eco-maniacs, will have you laughing and singing along to their inspiring environmental songs.  They are very excited to be releasing their 2nd CD, ”Metamorphos-US,” and will have it available for you!
  
  
  • Saturday afternoon options will include a performance of"Friendly Fire," a one-man play put on by Duende Drama.  This amazing drama company performed a different play at the Northern fall conference, and they’re back by popular demand with a performance that tells the story of a 49er’s life with the Me-Wuk.
    
    
  • Saturday evening enjoy our ever-popular annual event showcasing the talents of our members, the Talent and Skit Contest - sign up to participate here!
    
    
  • Another Saturday evening option is the screening of "Buyer be Fair: The Promise of Product Certification," a film about the Fair Trade movement
    
    
  • Saturday Night: After the Saturday night skit contest, we’ll be rockin’ the house down with the groovable tunes of Alma Melodiosa. Alma blends an original mix of Flamencadelic Latin Passion, Belly Dance, Trance, Rock and World Beats to create an original cutting edge dance music.  
    
    
• The Annual Conference Job Fair will be held during the last part of and after dinner on Saturday evening - bring your resumes for a chance to meet potential employers! Click here to find out more and sign up to participate as an employer

• Schedule - Click Here for a Schedule of Events

Workshops:

• For more information on workshops click here.

Getting There:

• Map and Directions from Sierra Outdoor School's website - click here
• Rides Need a Ride/Got Space? Ride Share Forum: Find a Ride, Offer a Ride - cut down on emissions, greenhouse gases, oil consumption, congestion, parking problems and arrive at the conference with a clean conscience! (And save a little money on gas, too!) Click here to go to the forum and find/offer a ride to share

Check back here for updates!!