AEOE upcoming events

Virtual Workshop: Understanding Outdoor Play (October 13, 2026)

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 23:00:00 GMT

Virtual Workshop: Understanding Outdoor Play

Tuesday, OCTOBER 13 | 4-5pm Pacific

Join this FREE virtual workshop for an overview of the evolution of the active outdoor play movement over the past decade.

This workshop will highlight how this movement, together with emerging global, intersectoral challenges (i.e., climate change, digitalization, widening social inequities) prompted the Outdoor Play Canada team to lead a global update to the 2015 Position Statement on Active Outdoor Play. We will discuss the process, methodology, outcome, impact, and next steps of the 2025 Position Statement on Active Outdoor Play. While focused on the successes of our neighbors to the north, there should be plenty of valuable takeaways that educators based in California can apply to their settings.

Click here to register

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

All registrants will be able to access the recording in case you can’t join the session live. And all attendees will be able to access a Certificate of Attendance and will be entered to win some great prizes!

Fall 2026 Regional EE Meetup: Los Angeles County (October 25, 2026)

Sun, 25 Oct 2026 19:00:00 GMT

Fall Regional Meetup - Los Angeles County

Join environmental and outdoor education professionals from across Los Angeles County and southern CA to connect, learn, and explore.

Participants will tour the Audubon Center at Debs Park learn about the site's programs, explore the trails, network with fellow environmental educators, and participate in hands-on activities while sharing ideas and resources for environmental education. Join a guided nature walk exploring local birds, native plants, and how to inspire others to strengthen their connection to nature. Then explore activity kits designed to inspire curiosity in local wildlife.

The event includes snacks, networking activities, and shared learning with colleagues from across the county.

Environmental educator professionals in any role and setting are all encouraged to attend.

Site accessibility: ADA-accessible parking and restrooms are available on site. The parking lot and the path to the restrooms are paved.

MEETUP LOCATION: Audubon Center at Debs Park

Address: 4700 N Griffin Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90031

Timing: 12-4PM (note the alternate timeframe from other regional meetups) – bring your lunch and chat with other EE professionals from your region before the official welcome and activities start at 1PM.

Fall 2026 Regional EE Meetup: Shasta County (October 25, 2026)

Sun, 25 Oct 2026 20:00:00 GMT

Fall Regional Meetup - Shasta County

Join environmental and outdoor education professionals from across Shasta County and northern CA to connect, learn, and explore.

Participants will tour Whiskeytown Environmental School; learn about the site's history, programs, and future; explore the campus and trails; network with fellow environmental educators; and participate in a hands-on macroinvertebrate investigation while sharing ideas and resources for environmental education. Click here for the complete schedule.

The event includes snacks, networking activities, and shared learning with colleagues from across the county.

Environmental educator professionals in any role and setting are all encouraged to attend.

Site accessibility: ADA-accessible parking and restrooms are available on site. The parking lot and the path to the restrooms are paved. The remainder of the campus includes a mix of terrain, including compacted earth, uneven surfaces, and some rocky inclines. Please let us know if you have any accessibility needs or accommodations you would like to discuss.

MEETUP LOCATION: Whiskeytown Environmental School

Address: 10106 Paige Bar Rd, Redding, CA 96001

Timing: 1-5PM

Thanks to Shasta County Office of Education Environmental Education and CREEC North for partnering on this event.

Fall 2026 Regional EE Meetup: San Diego County (October 25, 2026)

Sun, 25 Oct 2026 20:00:00 GMT

Fall Regional Meetup - San Diego County

Join environmental and outdoor education professionals from across San Diego County to connect, learn, and explore.

Participants will tour the Mission Trails East Fortuna Field Station learn about the site's programs, explore the trails, network with fellow environmental educators, and participate in hands-on activities while sharing ideas and resources for environmental education.

The event includes snacks, networking activities, and shared learning with colleagues from across the county.

Environmental educator professionals in any role and setting are all encouraged to attend.

Site accessibility: ADA-accessible parking and restrooms are available on site. The parking lot and the path to the restrooms are paved.

MEETUP LOCATION: Mission Trails East Fortuna Field Station Visitor Center

Address: One Father Junipero Serra Trail, San Diego, CA 92119

Timing: 1-5PM

Fall 2026 Regional EE Meetup: SF Bay Area (October 25, 2026)

Sun, 25 Oct 2026 20:00:00 GMT

Fall Regional Meetup - SF Bay Area, Fremont

Join environmental and outdoor education professionals from across the SF Bay Area to connect and learn. Participants will explore Fremont Central Park, home of Lake Elizabeth and Mission Creek. Come see our “Native Plant Nerds” activity and conduct a mini-bioblitz while searching for galls in Stivers Lagoon Nature Area. Study our taxidermy collection and practice Nature Journaling at our Nature Learning Center.

The event includes snacks, networking activities, and shared learning with colleagues from across the county.

Environmental educator professionals in any role and setting are all encouraged to attend.

Site accessibility:

There are several public restrooms and water fountains available near the Facility, including a recently updated gender-neutral family facility a short walk from the classroom.
Terrain is relatively flat and most areas we will be exploring are accessible via paved walkways, with the exception of a small portion of our Nature Area where we will be walking on dirt/wood chips and grasses.

MEETUP LOCATION: Nature Learning Center, Fremont

Address: 40224 Paseo Padre Parkway in Central Park

Timing: 1-5PM

The Nature Learning Center is an urban nature center, located in Fremont's largest community park-- Central Park. Home to the City of Fremont's Environmental Education Field Trips, Junior Rangers Recreation Programs and a variety of Ranger-led Interpretive Activities, The Nature Learning Center hopes to inspire you to connect with nature in your neighborhood.

Fall 2026 Regional EE Meetup: Greater Sacramento (October 25, 2026)

Sun, 25 Oct 2026 20:00:00 GMT

Fall Regional Meetup - Greater Sacramento Region

Join environmental and outdoor education professionals from across the Greater Sacramento Area to connect, learn, and explore.

Participants will tour the Effie Yaw Nature Center learn about the site's programs, explore the trails, network with fellow environmental educators, and participate in hands-on activities while sharing ideas and resources for environmental education. Topics/activities may include: how to shrink our disturbance zone and increase our awareness zone, bird language, how to protect the watershed from your home, exploring phenomena, mindfulness at the river, nature journaling, and a live animal presentation.

The event includes snacks, networking activities, and shared learning with colleagues from across the county.

Environmental educator professionals in any role and setting are all encouraged to attend.

Site accessibility: Three ADA parking spots are available, and there is a paved path with a ramp leading to the Assembly Building, where we will meet. We have a picnicking area and restrooms available. Some construction may be taking place on site to improve ADA access. The trails are not wheelchair accessible and closed-toe shoes are recommended.

MEETUP LOCATION: Effie Yaw Nature Center

Address: 2850 San Lorenzo Way, Carmichael, CA 95608

Timing: 1-5PM

Fall 2026 Regional EE Meetup: Humboldt County (October 25, 2026)

Sun, 25 Oct 2026 20:00:00 GMT

Fall Regional Meetup - Humboldt County

Join environmental and outdoor education professionals from around Humboldt County to connect, explore, and create! After community building and regional program updates, we'll venture into the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge for an immersive tour of their Shorebirds Program. Birdwatch, discover wetland creatures, test your skills in a migration obstacle course, and finish the day with a relaxing fall-themed art project. This meeting is offered in collaboration with Humboldt County Office of Education Environmental Education Community of Practice.

The event includes snacks, networking activities, and shared learning with colleagues from around the region.

Environmental educator professionals in any role and setting are all encouraged to attend.

Site accessibility: ADA-accessible visitor center, parking, restrooms, and trail.

MEETUP LOCATION: Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge

Timing: 1-5PM

Address:

Richard J. Guadagno Headquarters & Visitor Center

1020 Ranch Road

Loleta CA 95551

Virtual Workshop: Supporting Risky Play in Schools (November 10, 2026)

Wed, 11 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Virtual Workshop: Understanding Outdoor Play

Tuesday, NOVEMBER 10 | 4-5pm Pacific

Join this FREE virtual workshop that will offer clarity on what risky play is and is not, particularly when supervising other people’s children as a professional educator in group learning environments.

The presenters will offer guidance for creating conditions and building capacity for risky play in schools, which serves to support the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive growth of children. Bring your questions!

Click here to register

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

Virtual Environmental Education Career Fair (December 07, 2026)

Tue, 08 Dec 2026 00:30:00 GMT

Calling all job seekers and employers! Join us for a virtual environmental education career fair. Site leaders will be grouped into breakout rooms, where they will make a pitch for their organization/worksite, share any current or upcoming employment opportunities, and end with Q&A. Job seekers will choose several rooms to attend. Interviews will not be conducted during the event, but if you make a connection you can exchange contact information and plan to follow up. Find your next dream job in environmental and outdoor education!

The primary focus is on employers based in California, but all are welcome to attend.

Deadline to register as an employer is December 2. Job seekers can register up until the event start.

Participating employers TBD

Note: you don't have to be actively seeking new employment to attend - it can be beneficial to learn about different programs and opportunities even if you're happily employed where you are or haven't entered the field yet!

Virtual Workshop: How to be Hopeful: Empowering Practices to Overcome Despair and Act for Climate Justice (December 08, 2026)

Wed, 09 Dec 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Virtual Workshop: How to be Hopeful: Empowering Practices to Overcome Despair and Act for Climate Justice

Tuesday, DECEMBER 8 | 4-5pm Pacific

Join this FREE virtual workshop to hear author and expert Dr. elin kelsey explain the importance of being hopeful and offer tips on where to look for motivation in difficult times and how we can share this with students of all ages.

With the existential threat of climate change, it’s only natural to feel overwhelming emotions of anxiety, fear, or anger. But at the same time it is critically important to find sources of hope that can allow us to imagine a better future and work towards it.

Click here to register

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

Program Leaders Annual Retreat - No Lodging (January 29, 2027)

Sat, 30 Jan 2027 00:00:00 GMT

Join your colleagues from across the state for a retreat on the beautiful site of Camp Ocean Pines in Cambria. Professional development and meals meals included. With this registration level you are responsible for securing your own lodging. In addition to a structured professional development session, there will be discussions on statewide efforts to advance environmental literacy, and ample opportunities for networking and conversations around topics of your choice.

Agenda

Friday dinner
Friday evening social (optional)
Saturday breakfast
Saturday morning: Nature Journaling with Wild Wonder Foundation / local exploration to see the elephant seals (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: 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.

Program Leaders Annual Retreat - Full Weekend w/ Lodging (January 29, 2027)

Sat, 30 Jan 2027 00:00:00 GMT

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 professional development session, there will be discussions on statewide efforts to advance environmental literacy, and ample opportunities for networking and conversations around topics of your choice.

Draft Agenda

Friday dinner
Friday evening social (optional)
Saturday breakfast
Saturday morning: Nature Journaling with Wild Wonder Foundation / local exploration to see the elephant seals (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: TBD

Registration options:

*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.

Program Leaders Annual Retreat - Saturday night only (January 30, 2027)

Sat, 30 Jan 2027 19:00:00 GMT

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 professional development session, there will be discussions on statewide efforts to advance environmental literacy, and ample opportunities for networking and conversations around topics of your choice.

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:

Save the Date: Statewide Conference 2027 (May 07, 2027)

Fri, 07 May 2027 22:00:00 GMT

Announcing the annual statewide conference for environmental and outdoor educators!

May 7-9, 2027 | YMCA Camp Jones Gulch, San Mateo County

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

Find more details at aeoe.org/conference-2027