The Rock Pack experiment combines STEM topics of engineering, ecology, geomorphology, and mathematics in stream ecosystems through the world of the net-spinning caddisfly. Interactive and hands-on activities can be used indoors or outdoors in a 7th-12th grade lesson plan to get students excited about insects and rocks in streams and to learn interdisciplinary science skills and real-world science research applications.

The faces, experiences, and abilities of your visitors are changing. Are you stumped by how to create activities that are great for all learners? Join this session to discover and apply instructional strategies for English Learners and students receiving Special Education services to your teaching in the outdoor classroom.

Let's inspire people to take action on climate through a focus on solutions and hope, rather than data and fear. Come get a dose of optimism as we take about the climate solutions happening around the World that provide the sense of empowerment and agency we need to tackle the climate issue.

Sustainable Classrooms integrates sustainable living into the classroom using standards aligned curriculum, project-based learning, and student home investigations. Sustainability can be used to encourage social emotional learning, career exploration, 3-dimensional learning, and community engagement. Attendees will explore applications of sustainability education that inspire students to become agents of change.

Discover the forest and all that comes with the US Forest Service youth engagement efforts across the country. Participants will learn about the strategy for youth engagement, efforts to engage people of color and different socio-economic communities, and provide time to identify partner opportunities with the Forest Service.

Maine conducted a "state of the state" initiative for environmental education in both formal and informal learning contexts. This poster will share our process for developing a survey and strategy to engage multiple audiences and findings from our state that are helping to inform needs for the field moving forward.

Maine conducted a "state of the state" initiative for environmental education in both formal and informal learning contexts. This session will share findings from our state that are helping to inform needs for the field moving forward and lessons learned for those interested in conducting similar initiatives in their states.

Thinking about resilience in an education context is an emerging practice and one that is critically important for supporting both students and communities as they face challenges resulting from the impacts of climate change and extreme events such as floods and fires, as well as social challenges related to socio-economic conditions and access to educational opportunities. Resilience is a lens through which educators and our audiences can consider both the social-ecological components of a system and use this systems-oriented approach to consider inclusive solutions for current and future challenges. Session participants will be engaged in thinking about, questioning, and discussing ways in which environmental education programming currently connects to resilience and explore opportunities to expand upon these connections. We will describe an inclusive, concrete approach to environmental literacy programming known as the Meaningful Watershed Education Experience.

As schools provide students with choice, support the development of critical thinking skills and promote project-based learning, incorporating a focus on sustainability is a natural progression of the learning process. In 2012, the US Department of Education (DoE) developed a federal outreach initiative entitled Green Ribbon Schools (GRS) that promotes sustainability, healthy living, and collaborative efforts. This research focuses on case studies of K-6 schools that have been awarded the Green Ribbon School designation and how these schools build a foundation for adopting and continuing sustainable principles. Nine thematic categories were found to be the driving factors that supported the GRS success in their sustainable policies. The themes from this research help to articulate the conditions needed to create and advance sustainability initiatives.

When researching, evaluating, and designing environmental education programs we often focus on knowledge, attitude, and behavior changes. This session will challenge participants to look at current research processes (including their own) to identify the pros and cons of these measures of effectiveness, with particular emphasis on affective measures.