ANNUAL STATEWIDE CONFERENCE 2025

Date: May 2-4, 2025

Location: Walker Creek Ranch, Petaluma, CA 

Theme: Roots and Branches: Strengthening Community and Expanding Impact

Join us for a weekend of learning, networking, and fun in Marin County! The conference is held Friday afternoon through Sunday lunch and includes 40+ workshops, a keynote speaker, an awards ceremony, resource fair, live and silent auction, EE Certification Program presentations, 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 Coast Miwok land 

This year’s conference will take place on the traditional land of the Coast Miwok, who have stewarded the area for generations. From the Walker Creek Ranch: “These hills are part of a storied landscape, and one that is filled with layers of human connection to this place. The idea of people using this place for a source of nourishment, identity, and community is an ancient idea, and one that owes deep respect to the Indigenous people.” The Coast Miwok are recognized today as the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, a group that includes the Southern Pomo people. 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 the Coast Miwok and by affirming their sovereign rights. Learn more about the land here and the original inhabitants here.

CONFERENCE KEYNOTE: Dr. Lisette Arellano

Lisette Arellano is an ecologist, naturalist, and educator committed to collaborating towards a thriving enterprise of science that connects people to each other and the natural world. Lisette works at the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy as the Associate Director of Community Science, leading One Tam’s participatory science portfolio and the Golden Gate Raptor Observatory. She has contributed to strategic planning and governance efforts within the Conservancy and its partners. Lisette has also taught in the Natural History & Sustainability program at Merritt College and worked previously at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science and at the California Academy of Sciences.

Raised in the San Francisco Bay Area and Mexico City, Lisette developed a fascination with the intersection of nature and the built environment. She holds a Doctorate in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Colorado at Boulder and a Bachelor’s in Biology from the College of Creative Studies at UC Santa Barbara. Lisette is an avid trail runner and mountain biker and loves salamanders, native plant gardening, and exploring new places with her friends and family. You can read a bit more about her on iNaturalist here.

Keynote title: Count birds, tag blanks: How community science in the parks can connect people and nature in difficult times

The Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy has engaged in community science for nearly 40 years developing and carrying out conservation science studies designed to fill critical data gaps, spark curiosity, and engage a more diverse cross-section of Bay Area residents in the quest to understand how to improve the climate resilience of our parks as temperatures and seas rise. Science is done by people and with that comes an understanding that the gateway to inquiry and curiosity is our own senses, our connection the world around us, and our connection to each other.

CONFERENCE WORKSHOPS

Are you interested in sharing your knowledge and talents with our community? The call for workshop presenters is now closed. Click here to learn more if you want to apply next year. 

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, log in and then click on membership benefits to access the discount code or contact aeoe@aeoe.org). Non-participating adults and youth are also welcome to attend (youth must be in accompanied by a guardian at all times). 

• Early bird deadline: March 1, 2025
• Regular registration deadline: April 20, 2025 (walk-in available through May 3, 2025)

Registration rates Click the option at right to register	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	$255 / $285 / $335	$205 / $235 / $285	$170 / $185 / $200
Organizational member staff	$265 / $295 / $345	$215 / $245 / $295	$180 / $195 / $210
Non members	$270 / $300 / $350	$220 / $250 / $300	$185 / $200 / $215

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 and ten $50 scholarships are available based on expressed need. 

Scholarship funds have all been awarded. If you would like to contribute to our scholarship fund, please click here to make a donation. 

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:

• Affinity group leaders (Multiple people needed, presenter registration discount applies, all positions filled): Job-alike affinity groups: formal educators, early childhood educators, program leaders, novice outdoor educators, and experienced outdoor educators. Identity-based affinity groups: Black, Indigenous, and/or Person of Color, LGBTQIA+. You are also welcome to propose an additional group. Affinity group session leaders must have strong facilitation skills and experience managing large groups. Learn more and apply here. 
• Live auction auctioneer (filled, registration discount applies): 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 applies
• Talent show MC (filled, registration discount applies): 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 applies. 
• On site medic (1 needed for Friday 2pm-Saturday 2pm shift, registration discount applies): Conference attendee who is on-call to assist with any first aid or medical emergencies. Medic must have current EMT, WFR, or WFA. Must be able to provide your own first aid kit. 

• 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 co-chairs Nadia Van Lynn and Brandy Lively as well as committee members Mindy Schwartz, Emelie Traub, Robb Stolberg, and Elizabeth Hueter-Willoughby for serving on our Conferences & Awards Committee, helping us to make this a great event!

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

See the FAQs for the schedule overview (note that this is subject to change). The detailed workshop schedule will be available in the spring. 

Friday afternoon deep-dive workshops (optional, offered from 3-5pm)

Life on Planet Solar (offered by Solar Schoolhouse)

The Life on Planet Solar project is just wrapping up its one year pilot, testing new activities at 12 Outdoor Education Centers throughout California. In this workshop, we’ll share highlights from the pilot and how the activities are being adopted within existing programs. We’ll also demonstrate several of the activities including Biomimicry-focused Think-Like-A-Tree, where students design a solar circuit that works in the shade or on a cloudy day, based on observations of how leaves are connected to trees. Additional activities include the Solvann Solar water pumping challenge, the Climate Resiliency Expert game, Solar Spinart, and a reflection activity called the Group Solar Circuit. Solar Spinart and copies of the Magic of Solar Cells poster will be provided for FREE. 

Explore, Collect, and Create to Connect with New People and a New Place (offered by Zach Pine, Create with Nature)

While sauntering together to explore Walker Creek Ranch, we will collect leaves, sticks, rocks, and more and use these treasures to create collaborative ephemeral artwork in several special spots along the way. Towards the end of our time, we’ll bring our collected natural bounty to a spot near the Conference Center to set up a Create-With-Nature Zone for all conference attendees to use throughout the weekend. Facilitated by Zach Pine, a socially engaged environmental artist who has worked for over 20 years connecting people with the natural world and each other.

Friday evening entertainment: Special showing of Wild & Scenic Film Festival

Saturday afternoon features a Resource Fair, where organizational members, guests, sponsors, and vendors can showcase resources, job openings, and offer products and swag to conference participants. Advance registration is required. Click here to register. 

CONFERENCE SPONSORS

Mary A. Crocker Trust

  

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS OUR SPONSOR PACKET

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

CONFERENCE AUCTION

The statewide conference features a live, silent, and online auction. Some of the featured items are listed below. 

• Gift certificates to Sports Basement and Farm Fresh to You
• Books for children and adults
• Passes to premier attractions like Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Plunge San Diego, Great Wolf Lodge, Oakland Zoo, Walt Disney Museum, Six Flags Magic Mountain, and more
• Signed Copies of PBS's Dinosaur Train by Paleontologist Dr. Scott
  
• Two-night stay in Julian, CA
  
• Tropical Indonesian Paradise in Amed, Bali for Eight Days & Seven Nights - click here for details
• A Mexican Oasis With a Stay in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico for Eight Days & Seven Nights - click here for details
• Swing or Surf in Playa Herradura or Playa Hermossa, Costa Rica for Seven Days & Six Nights - click here for details
• Escape the Ordinary in Valle, Arizona for Four Days & Three Nights at the Clear Sky Resort - click here for details
  

SEEKING AUCTION ITEMS

Do you have goods, services, experiences, 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. 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.