What are the benefits and challenges of a research-practice partnership (RPP)? This presentation focuses on an RPP between university-based researchers and urban environmental educators. We focus on the process of collaboratively investigating a problem of practice: how do relational processes between educators, youth, and place support environmental interest development? Our RPP emphasizes parity between researchers and practitioners, open communication about research design and implementation, and co-design of program interventions. Our setting was a paid summer internship designed to support development of youth environmental interest. Data collection included participant observation, youth and educator interviews, and artifact analysis. We discuss specific strategies for project collaboration, such as early and ongoing project meetings, co-design of program activities that meet both research and educational goals, and the collaborative analysis of artifacts, such as field journals.

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.

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.

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.

Empowering diverse youth and adults towards environmental action is vital to building resilient communities. But, to what degree do citizen environmental efforts in environmental action programs make a collective ecological and community impact? We quantified the impacts of 167 conservation efforts by intergenerational partnerships in UCONN’s Natural Resources Conservation Academy.

Experts predict a gap in STEM workers prepared to deal with complex environmental issues. It’s critical that informal learning centers increase capacity to work with schools. Riverbend’s Philadelphia Children Access Nature program is a catalyst for change, using a comprehensive supports and aquaponics in the classroom.

Experts predict a gap in STEM workers prepared to deal with complex environmental issues. It’s critical that informal learning centers increase capacity to work with schools. Riverbend’s Philadelphia Children Access Nature program is a catalyst for change, using a comprehensive supports and aquaponics in the classroom.

Connecting place, people and story, through the design of inclusive outdoor spaces for schools, communities, and parks. Designing with the 8 senses and the Autism Design Guidelines to allow for collaboration and connections with nature in an educationally intentional way. Discuss types of outdoor space that afford learning for all age groups, nimble spaces with inter-related programming. All of course from the perspective of a landscape architect.

Environmental education is unique in that it brings together place-specific needs and global-scale awareness at the intersections of the physical and social worlds. Yet, how can lessons learned in one location be repositioned elsewhere without applying one-size-fits-all solutions? Attendees will explore and expand upon this question during this session. The file attached to this post is the handout used during the session, and is an excellent starting point for understanding network leadership. Feel free to reach out to me if you would like more information.

Learn about the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) Campbell Creek Science Center’s efforts to welcome and acclimate refugee youth to their new home through a special environmental education program. You’ll also find out about the partnerships that made the program possible and plans for its future.