Outdoor Learning Symposium

The Kentucky Association for Environmental Education (KAEE) has announced that it will host the annual Outdoor Learning Symposium June 1 at North Calloway Elementary School in Murray, Kentucky. The event is designed to meet the needs of PreK-12 administrators and teachers interested in exploring ways to engage students in environmental education (EE) experiences and cross-curricular outdoor learning.
 
Set for 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Central Time, the symposium offers interactive sessions that provide research-based insights, practical integration tips, support for aligning curriculum with standards and more.
 
Administrators and teachers are encouraged to communicate and plan to attend the event together as a team. Teams who attend and participate are eligible to apply for a mini-grant of up to $250 for their school or district to help fund outdoor learning projects.
 
Session topics at the symposium include Teaching & Managing Students Outdoors; Funding Opportunities & No Cost Ideas for Outdoor Learning; Green Schools; Assessment & Environmental Education; Exploring Water & Wildlife in Your Schoolyard and more. Local community partners will also be onsite to share resources they have which support PreK-12 outdoor learning either at schools or as part of a field experience.
 
Participants who attend will receive a certificate of completion for six hours of professional development. Effective Instructional Leadership Act (EILA) credits will be available for administrators. Sessions also have been pre-approved for ECE TRIS credits for early childhood educators.
 
“This event is guaranteed to inspire both teachers and administrators,” said Ashley Hoffman, Executive Director of KAEE. “Attendees will learn about the many available resources for area schools and gain valuable insights into this exciting field of education.”
 
Registration for PreK-12 teachers and administrators is now open, while registration for non-formal educators and community partners opens on May 15th. Registration closes May 29th. Tickets are $50 with a sliding scale “pay what you can” scholarship option available at checkout.
 
To register, visit www.kaee.org/outdoor-learning.