2018 Outdoor Education Conference

https://nysoea.org/2018-conference/

The New York State Outdoor Education Association

This year will be the 50th anniversary of “The Conference.” The theme is Learn it…Live it… Pay It Forward! and will be held on September 20-23 2018 at the Greenkill Outdoor Education & Retreat Center in Huguenot, N.Y. There will be workshops, speakers, exhibits, an auction and other activities.

It is a great opportunity to learn, have fun and spend time in a beautiful place.

The Conference, Outdoor Education at its Best

Fifty years ago the modern environmental movement was beginning to have a positive effect and the health of the land, air and water was improving. In order to continue this progress, New York needed citizens that loved and understood the natural resources of our state. Knowing this, a group of educators came together at Syracuse University in 1958 to support those efforts through outdoor and environmental education. They envisioned an association that would help outdoor environmental educators reach more people, one that was not solely focused on nature centers but would support outdoor environmental education in urban, suburban, and rural areas. They wanted to work with museums, schools and other venues. Their idea grew into The New York State Outdoor Environmental Association, with an annual membership of one dollar.

The founders understood that outdoor education is essential, with benefits that are multifaceted. On an individual level outdoor environmental education has significant cognitive, social and physical benefits. As a society we all benefit from an educated public that can make knowledgeable decisions about the complex environmental issues needed to protect natural resources and human health. Also, with positive experiences outdoors people will have a greater sense of wonder, connection to and stewardship for the natural world. There is no way that this can happen indoors. The founders understood this, and wanted to integrate outdoor experiences into the education of children and adults across New York State.

NYSOEA is a professional membership organization supporting outdoor and environmental interpretive services in New York. The mission is to promote interdisciplinary life-long learning, in, for and about the outdoors and seeks to inspire appreciation for the environment by all people.

The goals of NYSOEA are to promote public awareness of the value of outdoor and environmental education and interpretation. They work to foster a lifelong appreciation, sense of stewardship for the environment and help classroom teachers and youth leaders use the outdoors to enrich their curricula and programs. NYSOEA assists members in expanding their knowledge and skills in using the environment for responsible educational purposes and act as a unified voice supporting the fields of environmental education, outdoor education, interpretation and outdoor recreation. NYSOEA has 44 affiliate organization across New York, 275 members and the association is still growing.

NYSOEA provides many resources and opportunities for learning. They publish an online magazine, Pathways, that highlights the work of member affiliates and is a resource for outdoor environmental educators to learn new teaching methods and improve their knowledge of New York State natural history. Through the course of the year NYSOEA hosts weekend workshops and other local events to further the goals of the Association. To celebrate the work that is being done in outdoor education, NYSOEA honors exceptional educators and artists through its awards program.

Early in my career as a naturalist someone suggested I go to “the conference.” I did not know what to expect. “The conference” is NYSOEA’s signature event. An annual gathering that is a phenomenal opportunity for outdoor educators, Pre K-12 teachers, and life-long learners. For me it was an amazing experience that ended up having an enormous influence both professionally and personally. At the conference I realized there was a whole community of outdoor environmental educators across New York State. The workshops and the informal conversations, the friendships and the experiences showed me that a life-long career in outdoor education was possible. I gained knowledge and ideas that made me a better educator. By meeting folks from across the state it was a great opportunity to network and learn about quality programs and work of other outdoor educators.

Even as I made the transition from working in a nature center to being a classroom teacher. I continued to attend the conference year after year. At each one I learned a great deal that has enabled me to find more ways to integrate outdoor education into my classroom teaching. The conferences were also a wonderful opportunity to share some of the lessons and ideas I had developed over the years. It felt good to give back.

There are three strands to the workshops. Learn it are workshops to learn and appreciate more about the natural world and help educators strengthen their own sense of wonder. Live it are workshops that will give participants opportunities to consider new ways to experience or educate in the outdoors that will make them more effective. Pay it Forward workshops are for making the field of outdoor education stronger for the future so that the work continues.

The keynote speakers are Judy Braus and Bill Hammond, PhD. In keeping with the theme of the conference, Dr. Hammond will share his wisdom on the history of outdoor education and what we can learn from our past. Dr. Hammond has worked in outdoor environmental education for over 50 years. He began his work as a science teacher at the Lee County School District in Fort Myers, Florida. Dr. Hammond went on to become the Science Supervisor and Coordinator of Environmental Education until becoming the Director of the Department of Curriculum Services. After his retirement from Lee County, Dr. Hammond started his own consulting firm, Natural Context and became a professor at Florida Gulf Coast University. He has shared his knowledge through presentations and workshops in all 50 states and around the world.

Ms. Braus’s presentation will focus on a vision for the future of outdoor environmental education and where the field is headed. Ms. Braus is currently the Executive Director of the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE), a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing environmental literacy and civic engagement. Prior to NAAEE, she successfully managed the education and outreach departments at three national and international conservation organizations: the National Audubon Society, World Wildlife Fund, and the National Wildlife Federation.

New York State has been gifted with incredible natural resources and wonderful outdoor recreation opportunities. While there are still environmental problems there has been much success. To preserve and continue we need citizens who will be effective stewards of the land and water. NYSOEA plays an important role in helping people gain the knowledge, skills and love to do just that.