Interpreting Virginia's Rich Natural Heritage

2008 Virginia Environmental Education Conference
& Professional Development Meeting for Virginia Naturally Partners

September 17 - 18, 2008
Virginia Museum of Natural History

Dear Friends of Virginia Naturally & Virginia Environmental Education,

The conference theme, "Interpreting Virginia's Rich Natural Heritage" serves as a rallying call for inspired interpretation of our state's natural and cultural resources. The conference proceedings will feature examples of community initiatives emphasizing the concept of "Think Global, Act Local."

The event kicks off at the Museum for inspiring keynote presentations and concurrent sessions; participate in hands-on outdoor activities and field trips; network with colleagues from across the state; and, be enlightened as we join in dedication to our common goal of excellence in environmental education.

The conference strands for this year are Outdoor Recreation and Field Activities; Environmental Education (EE) Resources Inside and Outside of the Classroom; Conserving Community Resources; and Leadership and EE. A major thread running through the conference will be getting children outdoors.  The topics for presentations are listed below. Each strand is meant to be suggestions only; certainly other presentations may be submitted. We surely hope you will consider sharing your professional talents with others at this important conference.

• Outdoor Recreation and Field Activities (Sessions that place outside and help attendees improve their interpretive skills and natural history knowledge). Examples include:
  • Designing programs for Ecotourism
  • Incorporating education into outdoor adventure programs
  • Land and People—Connecting Children to Nature
    
• EE Resources Inside/Outside the Classroom (Sessions that help providers align their programs with VA SOLs; improve academic achievement, address service learning and connect EE to various content areas). Examples include:
  • K-12 Classroom Connections
  • Solving History’s Mysteries (also new archaeology SOL)
  • MWEE and Inquiry-based learning
  • Connecting Standards to EE
  • Service Learning and restoration projects
  • Tricks, Tips and Tools for Successful Grant Writing
  • Virginia’s Children and Nature Initiative and No Child Left Inside
    
• Conserving Community Resources… Think Global, Act Local (Sessions that discuss effective tools and techniques for building community partnerships and regional collaboration to attract and involve citizens in local grassroots efforts). Examples include:
  • Collecting and Preserving Natural and Cultural Resources
  • Community Education
  • Children’s Health
  • Sustainability of Your Organization
  • Social Marketing
  • Foundations/and or Partnerships and other ways to sustain your Organization
  • Community Partnerships: Models to Benefit Natural and Historic Resources
    
• Leadership and EE (Sessions that include organizational and leadership skills development EE professionals, team building, and other content knowledge that aids professional achievement). Examples include:
  • Stewardship for Sustainability: Leadership for the Future
  • Developing accountable local leaders
  • Goals and Applicability of EE
  • eadership role in design, development, and implementation of EE programs connecting the classroom, curriculum and campus/community based organizations.
  • Overview of VA Office of EE and NC’s Office of EE and  MAEOE (panel)
  • Showcase VA and NC Coastal Zone Management Programs
  • Showcase VA Citizen Water Monitoring Program and Tennessee’s
    
• Integrating The Arts to Teach EE (Sessions that include opportunities to use creative techniques in teaching and communicating using various media). Examples include:
  • Literature and theatre
  • Art
  • Music
  • Storytelling
  • Photography
  • Journaling discovery, and responsibility for our natural and cultural worlds                                                                      

• Relevance to professional growth
• Potential to attract, stimulate and educate participants
• Clarity of idea, content, presentation method(s)
• Originality and creativity of topic, technique
• Inclusion of hands-on activities, techniques and audience involvement
• Appropriateness of topic to audience targeted by presenter
• Re-enforcement of the conference theme
• Inclusion of a valuable reference or evidence of previous outstanding performance

Call for Presenters Submission Deadline is June 1, 2008. A team of professionals in the education and naturalist fields will evaluate each proposal. Please submit your proposals online. 

Conference information:

• Registration will be available by August 1, 2008
• Conference fee: $30 which includes the opening reception, 2 lunches and 2 breaks.
• Lodging: $45/night, double occupancy at the Martinsville Quality Inn/Dutch Inn or The Jamison Inn
  Be sure to mention the Virginia Environmental Education Conference at the Virginia Museum of Natural History.
• Exhibit tables are $100 for businesses and complimentary for non-profit organizations
• All presenters/exhibitor need to register for the conference by August 15, 2008