12th Annual IdEEA Conference
Natural Partners: Environmental Education and Green STEM

March 2-3, 2012
Owyhee Plaza Hotel - Boise, ID
1109 Main Street, Boise, Idaho - 208-343-4611 -http://www.owyheeplaza.com
Ask for IdEEA's Discounted Room Block

Conference Overview - Download PDF
Call for Exhibitors
Conference Scholarships | Showcase of Students Work
Greening the IdEEA Conference
2011 Idaho Environmental Educator of the Year Award Nominations
Online Registration

The environment, it’s where we live! As Idahoans, we must ensure our students and teachers both appreciate and understand our rich natural and cultural heritage and are prepared to lead the way in the 21st Century.

The Idaho Environmental Education Association (IdEEA) is proud to once again host the Idaho Environmental Education Conference in Boise. As the state’s premier gathering for those passionate about learning and our environment, the conference attracts over 125 formal and nonformal educators from around the state. IdEEA is a non-profit organization serving as the voice for environmental literacy and education in Idaho.

This year attendees will gather under the theme “Natural Partners – Environmental Education and Green STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).” Every year the conference highlights effective, affordable Idaho programs, especially those which are local, hands on, and encourage kids to get outside and learn about Idaho’s Great Outdoors. This year special attention will be paid to the importance of STEM as a key component of an effective interdisciplinary educational approach.

Serving Idaho’s EE Community

• Continuing Education Units (CEUs) available for teachers! One professional development credit will be available for certified and pre-service teachers participating in the Idaho Environmental Education Conference. This service is provided for an additional fee and will require completion of a short written evaluation in addition to attendance on both days of the conference, including one of our field trips. ISU, BSU and UI will provide credits. Academic registration forms and payment of required academic fees will be available at the conference.
• Scholarships available for formal & non-formal educators!

2012 Conference Overview
Conference Welcome: City of Boise Mayor David Bieter will address the importance of environmental education and STEM opportunities for Boise-area students, teachers and citizens.

Keynote Panel: Idaho experts explore the complimentary roles of environmental education and green STEM. Confirmed panelists include Dr. Louis Nadelson (BSU), Dr. James Gregson (UI), Chris Taylor (Boise junior high teacher), Dr. Karla Eitel (UI/McCall Outdoor Science School), Virgil Moore (Director, Idaho Department of Fish and Game), and a Micron Technology, Inc. representative.

Concurrent Sessions: Confirmed sessions to date include Wilderness Investigations in the Classroom, Grant Writing Essentials, Winter Ecology, Teens Restoring Earth’s Environment Club (Timberline High School) and Ecocaching, Alternative Energy in the Classroom, i-STEM regional centers, Solar for Schools, and The Missoula Children’s Theater.

Field Investigations: Half-day, off-site field trip options include: 1) behind the scenes at the Idaho Department of Fish and Game’s Eagle Fish Genetics and Health Lab, 2) Building Green (straw bale house, LEEDS building & carbon offsetting in Africa), 3) winter ecology on snowshoes at Bogus Basin Snow School, 4)'Best of Boise Environmental Education with Boise WaterShed and Foothills Learning Center, and 5) an intimate visit to The Peregrine Fund/World Center for Birds of Prey.

Friday Night EE Celebration: The renowned Missoula Children's Theater (MCT) will bring their talents to the Idaho Environmental Education Conference plus offer 3 school assembly workshops and host a week-long residency at a local Title 1 school in a Boise area school. MCT’s visit will culminate Friday evening with a performance at the conference of The Secret Garden featuring the children trained during MCT’s school residency. The Secret Garden is the quintessential story of children discovering a neglected environment and nurturing it back to health and abundance. The performance will be open to the public. In addition, MCT will offer a session at the conference.

Environmental Educators of the Year Award: Outstanding primary, secondary and non-formal educators and green schools will be recognized for their achievements. Sponsored annually by the Idaho Conservation League.

Showcase of Student Work: Idaho students will present inspiring examples of service-learning and project-based work and be on hand to share their research and discoveries with attendees. The showcase is a potent reminder of the power of inspired education.

Exhibitor Tables: Environmental education, sustainability and conservation resources offered by non-profit organizations, businesses, and local, state and federal agencies will be highlighted.

Conference Overview - Download PDF

GREENING THE IDEEA CONFERENCE

IdEEA works hard every year to reduce our conference’s environmental impact. We reduce, reuse and recycle in every way we can, but we need the help of all our attendees to make our conference more sustainable.

When you come to the Idaho Environmental Education Conference:

• Bring a reusable mug for coffee and refreshments during our breaks
• Carpool to the conference and walk once you’re there – the majority of our activities are at the Owyhee Plaza Hotel or within walking distance
• Take only those handouts that you’ll really use from presenters and exhibitors
• Take advantage of our on-site recycling bins

IdEEA and our host hotel, the Owyhee Plaza Hotel, have made many efforts to keep our conference as green as possible. We want you to know how our hard work is paying off for our environment!