WAEE Events

Past Fall Conferences

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

Theme:
No Child Left Inside

Dates:
October 18-20, 2007

Location:
Country Springs Hotel and Convention Center - Stevens Point, Wisconsin

Summary:
"Many kids today are the first generation to grow up with virtually little or no contact with nature." A packed house of nearly 800 people listened as Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder, eloquently explained this troubling phenomenon in his kickoff speech to the 2007 Midwest Environmental Education Conference (MEEC) in Stevens Point. Following Louv’s keynote presentation, nearly 600 MEEC registrants participated in 3 days of engaging sessions and workshops jam-packed with ideas on how to get our children into the outdoors again. Participants attending from 14 states had wonderful networking opportunities and even shared some of their most fond memories of just being outside and playing. One participant wrote of childhood: “In my youth… [I remember] hopping on bikes with pals, riding to nearby woods, playing for hours in backyards: No rules, no adults to “structure” our plans, just pure, free fun and discovery in the outdoors!”
Full conference summary (PDF)

Participant List (PDF)
Participant List (Excel)

What did participants say when asked to write down an experience they had in nature that helped make them who they are? Story Wall Comments (PDF)

This conference was powered by 100% renewable energy from Wisconsin Public Service Corporation's NatureWise Program.

Photos:
View Conference Photos

Sponsors:
Conference Partner ($5000 and Above)
- Wisconsin River Academy - http://www.wisconsinriveracademy.org/
Conference Sponsors ($500 and Above)
- Central Wisconsin Environmental Station - http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr/cwes/
- EarthWonders - http://www.earthwonders.net/
- Environmental Resources Center - http://www.uwex.edu/erc/
- Global Environmental Management Education Center (GEM) - http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr/gem/
- GEM Rural Leadership and Community Development Program - http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr/gem/RuralLeadership.htm
- Izaak Walton League of America - Wisconsin Division - http://www.iwla.org/index.php
- Learning, Experiences, & Activities in Forestry (LEAF) Program - http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr/leaf
- The Natural Resources Foundation's C.D. Besadny Conservation Grant Program - http://www.wisconservation.org/index.php?page=About_the_Program
- The Nature Conservancy - Wisconsin Chapter - http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/wisconsin/
- Plum Creek - http://www.plumcreek.com/wisconsin/
- Quality Deer Management Association, North Central Wisconsin Branch - http://www.qdma.com/
- Riverworks Discovery - http://www.riverworksdiscovery.org/
- Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation - http://www.rmef.org/
- Safari Club International, Wisconsin Chapter - http://www.sciwi.org/
- Travelwisconsin.com - http://www.travelwisconsin.com/
- University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, College of Natural Resources - http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr/
- Whitetails Unlimited - http://www.whitetailsunlimited.com/
- The Wisconsin Environmental Education Board - http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr/weeb/
- The Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education - http://www.uwsp.edu/wcee
- Wisconsin John Muir Chapter of the Sierra Club - http://www.wisconsin.sierraclub.org/
- Wisconsin Society of American Foresters - http://www.wisaf.org/
Conference Supporters (up to $500)
- Acorn Designs - http://www.acorndesigns.org/
- Acorn Naturalists - http://www.acornnaturalists.com
- KEEP - K-12 Energy Education Program - http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr/wcee/keep/
- Solin Bros Forest Products
- University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, School of Health, Exercise Science, and Athletics - http://www.uwsp.edu/hesa/

Committee:
Conference Co-Chairs
- Jeremy Solin, WI School Forest Education Specialist, LEAF Program
- Sterling Strathe, Director of LEAF K-12 Forestry Ed Program
Program Committee
- Jennie Lane, Program Director KEEP - Program Committee Chair
- Carrie Bea Ziolkowski, KEEP Program Coordinator - Concurrent Sessions
- Sara Windjue, KEEP Energy Education Specialist - Concurrent Sessions
- Jeremy Solin, WI School Forest Education Specialist, LEAF Program - Concurrent Sessions
- Dennis Yockers, Environmental Education Specialist WCEE - Conference Fieldtrip Coordinator
- Patricia Marinac, WEEB - Conference Workshop Coordinator
- Theresa Ford, KEEP - Journaling & Story Wall
- Jamie Hiler, KEEP - Journaling & Story Wall
Site Committee
- Sterling Strathe, Director of LEAF K-12 Forestry Ed Program - Committee Chair
- Scott Johnson, Director Central WI Environmental Station
- Sara Windjue, KEEP Energy Education Specialist
- Carol Weston, WAEE Office Administrator
Publicity Committee:
- Susan Ermer, GET Program Coordinator - Committee Chair
- Bobbi Kubish, CNR International Programs Coordinator
- Melissa Rickert, KEEP Associate Outreach Specialist
- Sterling Strathe, Director of LEAF K-12 Forestry Ed Program
Entertainment
- Angela Lemar, Natural Resource EE Program Assistant
Special Events
- John Heusinkveld, Treehaven - Auction
- Carrie Bea Ziolkowski, KEEP Program Coordinator - Bake-Off
- Scott Johnson, Director Central WI Environmental Station - Exhibits
- Scott Johnson, Director Central WI Environmental Station - Exhibit Fun Time
- Angela Lemar, Natural Resource EE Program Assistant - Exhibit Fun Time
- Becca Franzen, UWSP Student Involvement and Employment - Volunteers Coordinator