Annual Conference

Conference Theme

Environmental education is a process that helps individuals, communities, and organizations learn more about the environment while developing skills and understanding about how to address global challenges and inspire change. But if EE is not accessible to everyone, the potential impact is limited.

As we endeavor to support authentic and meaningful educational opportunities for all learners, we embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion as central to our work. EENC is taking steps to become more equitable and inclusive in order to support this transformation of the field of environmental education.  We want to invite the EE community in North Carolina to join us on this journey! EENC is working to make good on our Diversity Statement by developing new projects outlined in our strategic plan, offering board training, and creating a diversity, equity, and inclusion working group. EENC wants to help our membership tackle these often difficult and sometimes uncomfortable topics by seeking quality professional development and resources that will help our members and environmental educators across the state promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in their programs and work environments.

At the 2018 EENC Conference, we will have a workshop focused on inclusion, sessions related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and a keynote speaker who dedicates his energy to empowering, exploring, and creating positive change. All of this, and more, will help us take steps to make EE for All!

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

The preliminary conference schedule is now available!  The current schedule includes the dates, presentation titles, and the presenters.  We'll add more details, including the schedule and the full descriptions, soon!  

Please note that the dates of the presentations are subject to change over the next few months.

Workshops and Field Trips

We have one workshop and three field trips for your learning and enjoyment at the 2018 conference!  All of the following will take place Thursday, September 27.

Workshop: Why Inclusion Matters For Your Teaching, Programs, and Facility.  
9:00am-5:00pm, $25 (includes lunch)

Are your programs accessible to all?  Is your facility accessible? Who isn't there and why?  Why should they be there? EENC wants to help our membership tackle these often difficult, and sometimes uncomfortable, topics to help our members and EEers across the state consider diversity, equity, and inclusion within their work environments and their programs. Join Desiree Adaway and Ericka Hines for an introduction and self-assessment on this hot topic in environmental education.

Field Trip: Fort Macon State Park
9:30am-4:00pm, $15 (includes lunch)

Visit Fort Macon and see a live musket demo and listen to a talk on the history of the fort.  You will tour the fort, walk the trails and see the beautiful beach beside the inlet that leads to Beaufort.  

Field Trip: Cape Lookout National Seashore
8:45am-3:00pm, $40 (includes transportation from hotel, ferry, and lunch)

Board the ferry at Beaufort and travel to Shackelford Banks.  Sue Stuska, a wildlife biologist will give a presentation about the wild horses, their history and future.

Field Trip: Hammocks Beach State Park
9:00am-5:00pm, $25 (includes transportation from hotel, lunch)

Bear Island is 4 miles of undeveloped beach with a great view of native wildlife.  Enjoy a program led by a park environmental educator and learn about the flora and fauna of North Carolina's coast.

Field Trip: Nature School of Camp Albemarle

1:00 to 4:00 pm, Free (requires registration)

Nature School at Camp Albemarle is an outdoor school in Newport, NC where learning takes place outside, rain or shine. See a class in action, discuss ways to get students outdoors at your facility or bring nature indoors, learn the benefits of nature play, and discuss ways to keep students safe in all weather elements.

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