Fall Conference 2011

Theme:
Celebrating Wisconsin's EE Partnerships

November 3-5, 2011

Location:
Wisconsin Lions Camp - Rosholt, WI 

Summary:
This conference offered a plethora of opportunities to learn, share, and network. A dynamic keynote speaker, David Rendall, kicked off the event with his highly engaging talk, The Freak Factor: Discovering Uniqueness by Flaunting Weakness. He explained how to turn our weaknesses into strengths. Following Rendall’s “kick off,” 38 workshops, field trips, and concurrent sessions were offered. Three exhibit socials provided time for sharing and networking.

 

The WAEE and Wisconsin School Forest Awards Ceremonies Friday night honored those from around Wisconsin who have made significant contributions to environmental education. Special events included a wine and cheese social, the mentorship program, and the WAEE Auction which brought in over $3,000 for student scholarships! New this year was the Black Bear Plunge and seven people were nominated to jump into the frigid Lions Lake to help raise $330 for teacher scholarships.

 

Fitting with the theme of partnerships, it was a prime year to unveil three significant statewide, environmental education initiatives: Wisconsin’s Plan for Environmentally Literate and Sustainable Communities, Wisconsin’s Plan to Advance Education for Environmental Literacy and Sustainability in PK-12 Schools, and Cultivating Education for Sustainability in Wisconsin.

 

A special thank you to the hardworking 2011 WAEE Fall Conference Planning Team: Jesse Haney, Jodi Hermsen, Karla Lockman, Jamie Mollica, Victoria Rydberg, Susan Schuller (chair), Dennis Yockers, and Carrie Ziolkowski.

 

Full summary with photos (PDF)

Sponsors:
Watershed Sponsors ($5,000): Conserve School and the Wisconsin Green School’s Network
Raging River Sponsors ($1,000+): Alliant Energy, Didion, Plum Creek, Organic Valley, the Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education, and the Wisconsin Environmental Education Board
Stream Sponsors ($500): Wisconsin Environmental Education Foundation and the Wisconsin Envirothon
Babbling Brook Sponsors ($300): Acorn Naturalists, Environmental Resources Center, and Wisconsin Wildlife Federation
Groundwater Spring Sponsors ($100): The Izaak Walton League of America, Leopold Education Project, The Natural Conservancy, and Science Kit and Boreal Laboratories
Special Sponsorship: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources & Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction