ANNUAL STATEWIDE CONFERENCE 2024

Date: May 3-5, 2024

Location: Irvine Ranch Outdoor Education Center, Orange, CA 

Theme: Reinvigorate!

Join us for a weekend of learning, networking, and fun in Orange County! The conference is held Friday evening through Sunday lunch and includes 40+ workshops, a keynote speaker, an awards ceremony, resource fair, EECP presentations, live and silent auction, evening entertainment, and more. Lodging and meals are offered onsite starting with dinner on Friday and going through lunch on Sunday. Both camping and cabin dorm accommodations are available for Friday and Saturday night (BYO linens/camping gear).

1 graduate unit is available to purchase from University of San Diego for those attending the full conference. 

Is this your first time attending an AEOE conference and you aren't sure what to expect? Do you have specific dietary or other needs that you want to make sure we can support? Want to see the draft conference schedule? Please read through our FAQs and contact us at aeoe@aeoe.org if your question or concern isn't addressed. 

Land acknowledgement: Convening on Tongva land

​​We acknowledge that our conference will take place on the unceded, ancestral homeland of the Tongvapeople, some of whom refer to themselves as Gabrieleño, Gabrielino, or Kizh. As the Indigenous stewards of this land and in accordance with their traditions, the Tongva have never ceded, lost, nor forgotten their responsibilities as the caretakers of this place. As guests, we recognize that we benefit from learning on their traditional homeland. We wish to pay our respects by acknowledging the ancestors and relatives of theTongva communities and by affirming their sovereign rights. As guests on their land we will be making a small donation on behalf of our community. We suggest exploring these resources to learn more: 

• Mapping Indigenous L.A. (and the surrounding area)

• Mapping the Tongva Villages of L.A.'s Past

• TONGVA LAND FOREVER: The True First Citizens of Los Angeles – Three Tongva women talk about the community and issues facing them today.

• Tribal History from the Gabrielino-Tongva Indian Tribe

To learn more about the Indigenous caretakers of the land on which you live and work click here.

CONFERENCE KEYNOTE: Isaias Hernandez, Queer Brown Vegan

Isaias Hernandez is an educator and creative devoted to improving environmental literacy through content creation, storytelling, and public engagements.

Isaias is more commonly known by his moniker, Queer Brown Vegan: the independent media platform he started to bring intersectional environmental education to all. His journey to deconstruct complex issues, while centering diversity and authenticity, has resonated with a worldwide audience. He also collaborates with other leaders from the private and public sectors to uplift and produce stories of change for his independent web series, Sustainable Jobs and Teaching Climate Together.

Isaias has been featured in several noteworthy publications, including Vogue, New York Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian, and Yale Climate Communications. His social media advocacy earned him recognition as a top climate creator by Harvard C-CHANGE. As a public speaker, he’s presented for New York Times, Nike, Environmental Media Association, Billie Eilish’s Overheated Summit, Harvard University, Deloitte, and more. He recently co-produced the Symbiocene event series in London and New York City. Isaias is based in Los Angeles, working as a full-time content creator, public speaker, and dog daddy.

CONFERENCE WORKSHOPS

Conference Theme: Reinvigorate!

Conference strands: Celebration, Integration, and Innovation

Learn new skills, strategies, and techniques; practice care for yourself and others; and uplift our community at the statewide conference for environmental and outdoor education!

Conference & Workshop Schedule: The full conference and workshop schedule can be accessed here. Click through the tabs to see the schedules, workshop descriptions, and presenter bios. Note that in addition to the stellar workshop offerings, three field trips are offered Sunday morning to local sites.

ANNOUNCING: PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOP FROM SOLAR SCHOOLHOUSE!

Friday afternoon from 3-5pm | Only available to full conference attendees

By attending this fun and interactive workshop…

Click here for more information

CONFERENCE REGISTRATION

Registration is now open! There are several options available. Members and workshop presenters receive discounted rates, as well as staff of our organizational members (if you are the organizational member contact, click on membership benefits to access the discount code). 

• Early bird deadline: March 1st, 2024
• Regular registration deadline: April 25th, 2024 (walk-in available through May 4th)

	Full weekend with lodging (Early bird / regular / walk-in)	Full weekend without lodging (Early bird / regular / walk-in)	Saturday only (Early bird / regular / walk-in)
AEOE Members	$250 / $280 / $330	$200 / $230 / $290	$165 / $180 / $195
Organizational member staff	$260 / $290 / $340	$210 / $240 / $290	$175 / $190 / $205
Guests	$265 / $295 / $345	$215 / $245 / $295	$180 / $195 / $210

CONFERENCE SCHOLARSHIPS

Conference scholarships are available through Joie's Daisies Scholarship Fund, named after beloved outdoor educator Joie Armstrong. Joie was a bright light to all who knew her. In her words: "My passion lies with teaching children about their environment, and I have dedicated all of my efforts toward it." In honor of her legacy, AEOE offers scholarships to support the attendance of environmental and outdoor educators who need financial assistance. A minimum of 50% of scholarships will be offered to individuals who identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC) and/or LGBTQIA+ to decrease barriers and increase access to participation.

• Ten $100 scholarships are available for individuals whose employers will NOT be contributing to their registration fee.
• Ten $50 scholarships are available for individuals whose employers WILL be contributing to their registration fee.

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION PRIORITY DEADLINE: March 1, 2024. Applications submitted after March 1 will considered on a rolling basis if funds allow. Click here to apply for a scholarship. 

Volunteering Opportunities

Interested in directing your talents and skills towards helping us to put on a successful conference? Consider being a volunteer! We need support in a number of areas:

• Break-out session leaders (4 total; registration discount applies; all positions filled): One lead for each group: formal educators, early childhood educators, program leaders, novice outdoor educators , and experienced outdoor educators. Breakout session leaders must have strong facilitation skills and experience managing large groups. 
• On site medic (filled): Conference attendee who is on-call to assist with any first aid or medical emergencies. Can be held by two people (split into two 24-hour shifts). Medic must have current EMT or WFR. Must be able to provide your own first aid kit. 
• Live auction auctioneer (filled): Help generate enthusiasm and manage winning bids with the crowd during Saturday night's live auction in coordination with the talent show MC. Experience hosting a live auction strongly preferred. Registration discount does not apply. 
• Talent show MC (filled): Help generate crowd enthusiasm and manage the line-up during Saturday night's talent show in coordination with the auctioneer. Experience managing or performing in front of a crowd strongly preferred. Registration discount does not apply. 

• On-site support (multiple): We will also need assistance with arrival/welcome, sign crew, registration, parking, and clean-up. While these roles don't come with a registration discount, they are a great way to connect with other participants and get involved in a meaningful way. 

Please contact aeoe@aeoe.org if you are interested in volunteering. And thank you to board co-chairs Mindy Schwartz and Brandy Lively as well as community members Emelie Traub, Robb Stolberg, Chandler Barger, and Elizabeth Hueter-Willoughby for serving on our Conferences & Awards Committee, helping us to make this a great event!

CONFERENCE SPONSORS

Click here to learn about Santa Barbara Adventure Company's outdoor education program!

 

Are you interested in supporting this event and sharing your brand with our community? Click here to access our sponsor packet. Contact AEOE's Executive Director Estrella Risinger at director@aeoe.org if you are interested in sponsoring this premier event. 

SEEKING AUCTION ITEMS

The statewide conference features both a live and silent auction. Do you have goods, services, or items that would be of interest to our community? Consider making a donation for our annual auction! All proceeds benefit AEOE, which allows us to offer conference scholarships through Joie's Daisies Scholarship Fund, named after beloved outdoor educator Joie Armstrong. Joie was a bright light to all who knew her. We are calling on our community to reach out to their contacts for in-kind donations. Click here to share your in-kind donation for the auction or contact AEOE's Executive Director Estrella Risinger at director@aeoe.org to discuss the opportunity. 

Thanks to the many individuals and companies that have already supported the auction through in-kind donations. Featured items include:

• 6-night retreat to the Ezulwini Lodges in South Africa crowned as the Winner of Tripadvisor Traveler's Choice 2023!
  

• Two tickets to Janet Jackson's Together Again Tour on Wednesday, Jun 12, 2024 · 8:00 PM at the Chase Center — San Francisco

• Sports Basement gift certificate
• Gift Certificate for Private In-Home Wine Sampling Experience from PRP Wine International
• Camelback hydration systems
• One-Day Ticket for 2024 Season at Six Flags Magic Mountain
• Family Planning Session + $250 Towards Your Family's Estate Plan from Lungu Law Group
  
• Adventure gear from Patagonia
• Unlimited ride passes at Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier
• Guest passes to the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History & Sea Center
• Pair of adventure sandals from Bedrock Sandals
• Voucher for Fine Art Family Portrait from Rosalind Guder Photography
• Lifetime membership to Unstoppable Guitar System from YourGuitarSage