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• EE Program Leader Webinar: Funding Pathways in Collaboration with Schools and Districts

  • When
    January 08, 2025
  •  
    4:00 PM - 5:30 PM
  • Location
    Online

  Funding Pathways in Collaboration with Schools and Districts

  What funding opportunities are available for partnering with local schools and districts to provide environmental learning to K-12 students? How do we make connections with school and district contacts? Join us to learn about some opportunities and strategies for strengthening local partnerships and opening up funding pathways to support your EE programs. 
  

  Click here to register

  Part of the free webinar series:

  Building a Strong and Resilient Organization

  A Webinar Series for EE Program Leaders, Fall 2024-Spring 2025

  Join the California Environmental Literacy Initiative’s Community-Based Partner Innovation Hub and AEOE in an online webinar series for Program Leaders of organizations that work to advance environmental literacy. Learn valuable tips and strategies that will help your organization grow and thrive.

  * Presentation will be recorded and shared with all registered participants. 

  Show details
• Webinar: Outdoor Learning in the Early Years

  • When
    January 14, 2025
  •  
    4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
  • Location
    Online

  Outdoor Learning in the Early Years

  CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

  Tuesday, January 14th – 4pm Pacific

  Join a panel of incredible educators, researchers, authors, and practitioners in talking all things Outdoor Learning in the Early Years!

  This free virtual workshop will be packed full of useful tools, resources, and ideas for building your outdoor learning practice tailored specifically for the early years.

  Offered in partnership by The Outdoor Learning School & Store and Outdoor Learning Partners:
  

  

  • Registration is FREE and there will be plenty of draw prizes for attendees!
  • All registrants will receive a discount code to access outdoor learning resources when they register
  • For those who can’t attend live these will each be recorded and posted on the Outdoor Learning School & Store's Recordings Page
  • Following the workshop, participants will receive a link to access a Certificate of Attendance

  Show details
• Winter 2025 eeCourse: Universal Design for Learning in Environmental Education

  • Start
    January 15, 2025
  • End
    February 28, 2025
  • Location
    Online - Moodle

  Register

  Winter 2025 Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in Environmental Education 

  Description: Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a teaching approach that works to accommodate the needs and abilities of all learners and eliminates unnecessary barriers in the learning process. UDL improves and optimizes teaching and learning for all people based on scientific insights into how humans learn. UDL is a framework to guide the design of learning environments that are accessible and challenging for all and that gives all students equal opportunity to succeed. Ultimately, the goal of UDL is to support students and participants to become “expert learners” who are, each in their own way, purposeful and motivated, resourceful and knowledgeable, and strategic and goal-driven.

  This course is designed to encourage you to reflect deeply on your practice to focus on how you plan and teach to support all learners. The course content and associated assignments are geared towards practicing environmental and outdoor educators. We hope this course will inspire you to strengthen your pedagogical practices so they are more welcoming, inclusive, and accessible.

  Timing: This roughly 6-week course takes an approximately 12 hours to complete. The course runs from January 15th through February 28th, 2025. This course is offered on a quarterly basis. 

  Format: This is an asynchronous online course. 

  • All activities must be completed independently on your own time/schedule within the 6-week timeframe. 

  • We will provide a suggested timeline and periodic reminders to encourage the timely completion of assignments. While we want to be flexible, we also want these learning experiences to be meaningful and we think timely and periodic work in the course will benefit participants more than trying to complete coursework at the last minute.

  • Coursework includes watching videos, reading articles, posting on public forums and Padlet boards, and writing/recording personal reflections.

  • The course is managed through Moodle - participants will be sent an invitation to access the course on the start date. 

  The course will be moderated by Amy Williams, Ed.D.

  One graduate unit is available upon completion of the course (the unit costs $79 and is purchased separately from University of San Diego). Note that you must also submit a certificate of competition in order to receive your transcript.

  Course content was designed by Michelle Silvers of Silver’s Lining PLLC, Estrella Risinger with AEOE, Michelle Pearce and Lauren Pyle with the Environmental Educators of North Carolina (EENC), with contributions from Rebekah Jones and the Cooper Center for Environmental Learning.

  Show details
• Program Leaders Annual Retreat - No Lodging

  • Start
    January 31, 2025
  •  
    4:00 PM
  • End
    February 02, 2025
  •  
    11:00 AM
  • Location
    Camp Ocean Pines, Cambria

  Register

  Join your colleagues from across the state for a retreat on the beautiful site of Camp Ocean Pines in Cambria. Professional development, and two meals meals included (Saturday lunch and dinner). With this registration level you are responsible for securing your own lodging. In addition to a structured PD session on evaluation, there will be discussions on hiring and pay, and ample opportunities for networking and conversations around topics of your choice. 

  Draft Agenda

  • Friday dinner
  • Friday evening social (optional)
  • Saturday breakfast
  • Saturday morning local exploration (on your own or team up with other attendees)
  • Saturday lunch 
    
  • Saturday afternoon: professional development session
  • Saturday dinner
  • Saturday evening: networking, resource share, and prep for open space
  • Sunday morning walk (optional) 
  • Sunday breakfast
  • Sunday open space

  Professional development topic: Evaluation

  Registration options:

  Please select the option that is appropriate for you. Members automatically receive a discounted rate if you are logged in. If you work for an organizational member, contact us at aeoe@aeoe.org for your discount code. The assisted level rate is available for anyone who needs financial assistance to attend. If you need additional assistance and identify as Back, Indigenous, and/or a Person of Color, scholarships are available through our partnership with CAELI in an effort to increase access and decrease barriers to participation. Contact us at aeoe@aeoe.org. 

  Show details
• Program Leaders Annual Retreat - Full Weekend w/ Lodging

  • Start
    January 31, 2025
  •  
    4:00 PM
  • End
    February 02, 2025
  •  
    11:00 AM
  • Location
    Camp Ocean Pines, Cambria

  Register

  Join your colleagues from across the state for an overnight retreat on the beautiful site of Camp Ocean Pines in Cambria. The site is just minutes from the coast, and optional morning excursions can include nature walks around the property, a short hike down to the coastline, or a short drive to see the elephant seals. 

  Professional development, lodging for two nights*, and five meals included (Friday dinner through Sunday breakfast). In addition to a structured PD session, there will be discussions on hiring and pay, and ample opportunities for networking and conversations around topics of your choice. 

  Draft Agenda

  • Friday afternoon arrival and check-in
  • Friday dinner
  • Friday evening social (optional)
  • Saturday breakfast
  • Saturday morning local exploration (on your own or team up with other attendees)
  • Saturday lunch 
    
  • Saturday afternoon: professional development (TBD)
  • Saturday dinner
  • Saturday evening: networking, resource share, and prep for open space
  • Sunday morning walk (optional) and check-out
  • Sunday breakfast
  • Sunday open space

  *Lodging includes shared cabins with bunk beds and their own bathroom. You will need to bring your own linens (bedding or sleeping bag, pillow) and toiletries. 

  Professional development: TBD

  Registration options:

  Please select the option that is appropriate for you. Members automatically receive a discounted rate if you are logged in. If you work for an organizational member, contact us at aeoe@aeoe.org for your discount code. The assisted level rate is available for anyone who needs financial assistance to attend. If you need additional assistance and identify as Back, Indigenous, and/or a Person of Color, scholarships are available through our partnership with CAELI in an effort to increase access and decrease barriers to participation. Contact us at aeoe@aeoe.org. 

  Show details
• Program Leaders Annual Retreat - Saturday night only

  • Start
    February 01, 2025
  •  
    11:00 AM
  • End
    February 02, 2025
  •  
    11:00 AM
  • Location
    Camp Ocean Pines, Cambria

  Register

  Join your colleagues from across the state for an overnight retreat on the beautiful site of Camp Ocean Pines in Cambria. Professional development, lodging for one night*, and three meals included (Saturday lunch and dinner, plus Sunday breakfast). If you would like to arrive on Friday instead to have more time to network and share resources with your colleagues, please select the full Program Leaders' retreat registration. In addition to a structured PD session, there will be discussions on hiring and pay, and ample opportunities for networking and conversations around topics of your choice. 

  Draft Agenda

  • Saturday late morning arrival and check-in
  • Saturday lunch (included)
  • Saturday afternoon: professional development 
  • Saturday dinner (included)
  • Saturday evening: networking, resource share, and prep for open space
  • Sunday morning walk (optional) and check-out
  • Sunday breakfast (included)
  • Sunday open space

  *Lodging includes shared cabins with bunk beds and their own bathroom. You will need to bring your own linens (bedding or sleeping bag, pillow) and toiletries. Please reach out to aeoe@aeoe.org if you prefer to secure your own lodging and meals. 
  

  Professional development: TBD

  Registration options:

  Please select the option that is appropriate for you. Members automatically receive a discounted rate if you are logged in. If you work for an organizational member, contact us at aeoe@aeoe.org for your discount code. The assisted level rate is available for anyone who needs financial assistance to attend. If you need additional assistance and identify as Back, Indigenous, and/or a Person of Color, scholarships are available through our partnership with CAELI in an effort to increase access and decrease barriers to participation. Contact us at aeoe@aeoe.org. 

  Show details
• Webinar: Climate and Sustainability Education Games and Resources

  • When
    February 04, 2025
  •  
    4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
  • Location
    Online

  Climate and Sustainability Education Games and Resources

  
  

  CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

  Tuesday, February 4th – 4pm Pacific

  Teaching about climate change can be daunting for educators. With science-backed, action based approaches – especially those that engage the imagination through play, you can engage learners without instilling fear and inspire them to feel empowered as they learning about climate and sustainability. Whether it’s on a board or through hands-on activities, teaching about climate and sustainability has never been more fun!

  Offered in partnership by The Outdoor Learning School & Store and Outdoor Learning Partners:
  

  

  • Registration is FREE and there will be plenty of draw prizes for attendees!
  • All registrants will receive a discount code to access outdoor learning resources when they register
  • For those who can’t attend live these will each be recorded and posted on the Outdoor Learning School & Store's Recordings Page
  • Following the workshop, participants will receive a link to access a Certificate of Attendance

  Show details
• EE Program Leader Webinar: Equitable Hiring and Retention Practices

  • When
    February 05, 2025
  •  
    4:00 PM - 5:30 PM
  • Location
    Online

  Equitable Hiring and Retention Practices

  Join Candice Dickens-Russell, Executive Director of Friends of the L.A. River and the CAELI Equity Initiative Co-Lead, in an inspiring and informative session on equitable hiring and retention practices. 

  Click here to register

  Part of the free webinar series:

  Building a Strong and Resilient Organization

  A Webinar Series for EE Program Leaders, Fall 2024-Spring 2025

  Join the California Environmental Literacy Initiative’s Community-Based Partner Innovation Hub and AEOE in an online webinar series for Program Leaders of organizations that work to advance environmental literacy. Learn valuable tips and strategies that will help your organization grow and thrive.

  * Presentation will be recorded and shared with all registered participants. 

  Show details
• Webinar: Disability Justice in Outdoor Learning

  • When
    February 11, 2025
  •  
    4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
  • Location
    Online

  Disability Justice in Outdoor Learning

  CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

  Tuesday, February 11th – 4pm Pacific

  Join Julie Nowak (she/they) and Kristie Cabrera (they/them), two accessibility consultants, as they provide a foundation on what Disability Justice is and how it can be used to create accessible and inclusive learning experiences in nature. Disability Justice is a movement and a framework that can guide educators on how to assess and create inclusive nature experiences, as well as how to support disabled and neurodivergent learners. This virtual workshop will review one of the disability justice principles and show you step-by-step how to incorporate the principle into your work. Audience members are encouraged to come with all of their accessibility and inclusion questions! Julie and Kristie’s favorite part of presenting is providing support during Q&A. 

  Offered in partnership by The Outdoor Learning School & Store and Outdoor Learning Partners:
  

  

  • Registration is FREE and there will be plenty of draw prizes for attendees!
  • All registrants will receive a discount code to access outdoor learning resources when they register
  • For those who can’t attend live these will each be recorded and posted on the Outdoor Learning School & Store's Recordings Page
  • Following the workshop, participants will receive a link to access a Certificate of Attendance

  Show details
• Webinar: Indigenous Resources for the Early & Elementary Years

  • When
    February 18, 2025
  •  
    4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
  • Location
    Online

  Indigenous Resources for the Early & Elementary Years

  CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

  Tuesday, February 18th – 4pm Pacific

  Explore the plethora of Indigenous resources available to support all youth in developing core skills in reading, writing, and science all while nurturing social and emotional wellness skills. This workshop will share with educators how authentic Indigenous resources can connect students to place through evidence based literacy, numeracy, and science curriculums. The new Decodables series, developed in conjunction with Dyslexia Canada also specially supports those will challenges like dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia. Join to get inspired on how to embed Indigenous resources into your Early and Elementary education practice.

  Offered in partnership by The Outdoor Learning School & Store and Outdoor Learning Partners:
  

  

  • Registration is FREE and there will be plenty of draw prizes for attendees!
  • All registrants will receive a discount code to access outdoor learning resources when they register
  • For those who can’t attend live these will each be recorded and posted on the Outdoor Learning School & Store's Recordings Page
  • Following the workshop, participants will receive a link to access a Certificate of Attendance

  Show details
• Webinar: Teaching Ideas and Activities for using Sit Spots

  • When
    February 25, 2025
  •  
    4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
  • Location
    Online

  Teaching Ideas and Activities for using Sit Spots

  CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

  Tuesday, February 25th – 4pm Pacific

  Sitting in nature with students is not just a way to pass the time. The sit spot pedagogy is grounded in educational research literature and proven to engage students, deepen their core subject and interpersonal skills and build relationships with themselves and the world around them. 

  In this workshop, presenter Lauren MacLean will build on her picture book work ‘Me and My Sit Spot’ to share her new educator’s guide on how to implement the sit spot pedagogy, whatever your experience level of outdoor learning is. Suitable for primary and intermediate level educators, Lauren will introduce the framework beneath sit spot pedagogy, how to get started, and how to build your practice including weekly sit spot activities and connections to the First Peoples’ Principles of Learning.

  Offered in partnership by The Outdoor Learning School & Store and Outdoor Learning Partners:
  

  

  • Registration is FREE and there will be plenty of draw prizes for attendees!
  • All registrants will receive a discount code to access outdoor learning resources when they register
  • For those who can’t attend live these will each be recorded and posted on the Outdoor Learning School & Store's Recordings Page
  • Following the workshop, participants will receive a link to access a Certificate of Attendance

  Show details
• Spring 2025 eeCourse: Universal Design for Learning in Environmental Education

  • Start
    April 30, 2025
  • End
    June 15, 2025
  • Location
    Online - Moodle

  Register

  Spring 2025 Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in Environmental Education 

  Description: Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a teaching approach that works to accommodate the needs and abilities of all learners and eliminates unnecessary barriers in the learning process. UDL improves and optimizes teaching and learning for all people based on scientific insights into how humans learn. UDL is a framework to guide the design of learning environments that are accessible and challenging for all and that gives all students equal opportunity to succeed. Ultimately, the goal of UDL is to support students and participants to become “expert learners” who are, each in their own way, purposeful and motivated, resourceful and knowledgeable, and strategic and goal-driven.

  This course is designed to encourage you to reflect deeply on your practice to focus on how you plan and teach to support all learners. The course content and associated assignments are geared towards practicing environmental and outdoor educators. We hope this course will inspire you to strengthen your pedagogical practices so they are more welcoming, inclusive, and accessible.

  Timing: This roughly 6-week course takes an approximately 12 hours to complete. The course runs from April 30th through June 15th, 2025. This course is offered on a quarterly basis. 

  Format: This is an asynchronous online course. 

  • All activities must be completed independently on your own time/schedule within the 6-week timeframe. 

  • We will provide a suggested timeline and periodic reminders to encourage the timely completion of assignments. While we want to be flexible, we also want these learning experiences to be meaningful and we think timely and periodic work in the course will benefit participants more than trying to complete coursework at the last minute.

  • Coursework includes watching videos, reading articles, posting on public forums and Padlet boards, and writing/recording personal reflections.

  • The course is managed through Moodle - participants will be sent an invitation to access the course on the start date. 

  The course will be moderated by Amy Williams, Ed.D.

  One graduate unit is available upon completion of the course (the unit costs $79 and is purchased separately from University of San Diego). Note that you must also submit a certificate of competition in order to receive your transcript.

  Course content was designed by Michelle Silvers of Silver’s Lining PLLC, Estrella Risinger with AEOE, Michelle Pearce and Lauren Pyle with the Environmental Educators of North Carolina (EENC), with contributions from Rebekah Jones and the Cooper Center for Environmental Learning.

  Show details
• Save the Date: Statewide Conference 2025!

  • Start
    May 02, 2025
  •  
    3:00 PM
  • End
    May 04, 2025
  •  
    1:00 PM
  • Location
    Walker Creek Ranch, Marin County

  Announcing the annual statewide conference for environmental and outdoor educators!

  May 2-4, 2025 | Walker Creek Ranch, Petaluma

  Save the date for a weekend of learning, connection, and fun! 

  Find more details at aeoe.org/conference-2025

  
  

  Show details
• Resource Fair @ Statewide Conference 2025

  • When
    May 03, 2025
  •  
    4:30 PM - 5:30 PM
  • Location
    Irvine Ranch Outdoor Education Center

  Registration is closed

  Share your resources and job opportunities with the statewide conference attendees! Conference sponsors and organizational members have free access to table at this conference session. If you are not an organizational member of AEOE yet, you can either choose to become one and join our awesome statewide network, or register as an individual member or a guest. 

  Date: Saturday, May 3, 2025

  Time: afternoon (TBD)

  Location: Walker Creek Ranch

  Address: 1700 Marshall Petaluma Road, Petaluma, CA., 94952

  Note: If you are only joining for the resource fair and not attending the statewide conference, please don't arrive before 4:00 PM. You are responsible for set-up and clean-up of your materials, although a member of our team is happy to offer assistance. We are expecting approx. 300 attendees so please plan accordingly. 

  Show details