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.

Animals feature prominently in the lives of children. What type of messaging are educators sending to children when they guide encounters with animals? Are children truly learning to care and respect the more-than-human world or are we further disconnecting children from nature and unknowingly promoting the idea of human exceptionalism?

Teach-ins were an important tool to mobilize citizens for first Earth Day in 1970. For the 50th anniversary in 2020, we are calling on educators around the world to host teach-ins on locally important environmental issues. Come get resources and ideas on how to integrate environmental education and civic action.

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.

Games that model ecosystems provide an enjoyable way for students to become more comfortable thinking at the systems level, a necessary skill for understanding environmental problems and solutions. Attendees will receive a list of ecosystem games, details for several games, and suggestions for adapting them to other systems

Knowledge of biological systems can connect the practical application of designing products, addressing environmental concerns, and demystifying science to spark the imagination of young learners. Technologies inspired by nature (biomimicry) and the design of safer products and processes (green chemistry) provide an avenue to teach STEAM concepts in a dynamic manner.

What is the role of nature centers in the age of climate change? This session is designed for nature center staff who are interested in collectively problem solving how we can play a critical role in mobilizing people to take action on climate change at the community scale. Approximately 30 participants worked in groups to brainstorm responses to the big question, as well as: How do nature centers communicate their role as climate conveners to their communities? and Who else do we need to work with? See attached notes from the session. We have a follow-up Zoom call with participants on November 21 to discuss what progress we have made in our efforts to be relevant in the age of climate change. We hope to build a network that will come together periodically to support each other and track progress. Please contact Michelle Eckman if you would like to join that Zoom call.

This paper argues that education is necessary but insufficient for creating a just and sustainable future because of the wealth-gap between the global North and South. Three factors are assessed to make this argument: lack of access to resources, the South-to-North brain drain, and nation-specific government policy.