About the Summit

https://www.nextinnature.org/

Join us for the 2nd Annual Next in Nature Youth Conservation Summit, created by and for people ages 13-18. This year’s summit features keynotes from naturalist and researcher Corina Newsome and entomologists/educators The Bug Chicks, as well as youth-led sessions on nature and conservation. Connect through discussions, brainstorming, and games, and share conservation messages through video screenings and a digital art gallery. Learn about green career opportunities and what you can do to make a difference right now. 

The Next in Nature summit will take place entirely online and is free for all. You can lead or participate in a session, or just attend and watch. Pre-registration is required for all attendees and participants. 

Register to Attend

Registration is free for all. You do not have to organize or participate in the presentations to attend. 

https://www.nextinnature.org/register

Propose a Session

Do you have an idea for a conference session? We’d love to hear from you! Organizing a conference session is a great way to share your perspective and get professional experience. All conference sessions will be 30 minutes long and take place on Zoom. You can organize a session individually, with a group of peers, or as a school or community group. Any conservation topic is welcome.​

Conference sessions can take one of three forms:​

1. Think Tank

• Lead a peer to peer brainstorming session. Present a conservation-related problem and open up the discussion for everyone to think of possible solutions together. 
• 10-minute presentation, 10 minutes of small group breakouts, and 10 minutes of group discussion 
• EXAMPLE: Recycling Rates — Many cities, including mine, only recycle a small percentage of items from household recycling bins. Do you have similar problems in your city? What steps can we take to address this issue?  

2. Roundtable  

• Organize and moderate a discussion with 2-4 presenters. Presenters could be peers, professionals or experts that have various perspectives on a conservation issue. 
• Each presenter gives a 5-10-minute presentation. The session ends in a 10-minute Q&A led by moderator. 
• EXAMPLE: Is fashion too fast? How can our clothing choices affect the environment? A marine biologist, a textile designer, and a student advocate for upcycled clothing provide their perspectives on how what we wear can make an ecological difference. ​

3. Share Out  

• Present a conservation-related project that you’ve researched, created or participated in. 
• 10-minute presentation (presentations will be grouped together by conference planners to make a 30-minute session) 
• EXAMPLE: PLANTING FOR POLLINATORS The students of Oakdale High School’s Green Club started a garden project on their school grounds to boost the local pollinator population. Learn about their research and adventures in citizen science. 

Proposals should include: 

• Session Title 
• Format (Think Tank, Roundtable or Share Out) 
• 1 paragraph describing the topic of your session, why you are interested in it, and who you’d like to include as co-presenters or panelists 
• Contact information so we can reach you 

Please email your proposals to nextinnature@cincynature.org by September 18, 2020. Have an out-there idea? Need some help? We’d be happy to work with you, your colleagues, and your teachers to help make your session ideas a reality.  

Share a Video

Are you between 13-18 years old, and into videography, social media or acting?  We’d love to share your conservation-related videos with conference attendees and the public. Submitted videos will be featured on our conference website and included in a live screening during the conference. Let your creativity run wild! 

Please send your videos as shareable YouTube, Vimeo, Instagram or TikTok links to nextinnature@cincynature.org by September 25, 2020.

Create a T-Shirt or Poster Design

Calling all artists and designers ages 13-18! Use your talents to spread a conservation message by creating a t-shirt or poster design. Submitted designs will be featured on our website’s digital art gallery, and may be printed or used as designs for future Next in Nature conferences. Designs can be drawn by hand or created digitally; hand drawn artworks will need to be scanned in or photographed and submitted digitally. 

Please send your designs in jpeg or PDF format to nextinnature@cincynature.org by September 25, 2020.