Putting the EE in STEM Learning at this Summer's STEM Conference

Janice Alexander

Boise, ID; City of Boise Jim Hall Foothills Learning Center

Students making observations at the Foothills Learning Center in Boise, Idaho

The annual STEM conference for Idaho educators will be July 30-August 1, 2025 at Mountain View High School in Meridian. Registration is open NOW and we’d love to see you there! Everyone who registers for the conference under the IdEEA membership will receive a copy of “Drawdown: The most comprehensive plan ever proposed to reverse global warming“ and is invited to an IdEEA-hosted HappEE Hour on Thursday (7/31) at a local establishment.

This will be the third year that IdEEA has proudly partnered with the Idaho Science Teachers Association (ISTA) and the Idaho Council of Teachers of Mathematics (ICTM) to host this important professional development and networking event for educators across the state. As with past years, IdEEA’s primary contribution to the conference is to take learning outside through the organization of field trips. Excursions include a trip to Bogus Basin with leaders from MOSS and PLT, a visit to The Watershed’s newly redesigned climate and water center, STEAM learning at the Idaho Botanical Garden, birding and paddling at Esther Simplot Park, and more!

This year, we’re also helping bring in more presentations on environmental & outdoor education and informal learning environments. Our aim is to enhance the options available to classroom teachers as well as invite more educators from the outdoor and informal learning communities to join the conference.

The benefits of outdoor time for both students and teachers are well documented, as is the importance of STEM proficiency for future careers. Idaho’s evolving economy benefits from a workforce skilled in sustainability and science-based problem-solving, especially in energy, agriculture, engineering, and natural resource management. Incorporating outdoor and EE concepts into STEM teaching can support teachers in preparing students for these emerging economic opportunities. 

Students hiking at Bogus Basin during an environmental experience.

Sharing experiences and techniques across the formal-informal spectrum can also be boon to educators of all kinds. Informal educators benefit from a better understanding of the structure and requirements of classroom teachers, while instructors from more formal environments can increase their confidence in letting students take the lead in their learning. With this in mind, IdEEA is excited to partner with the STEM Ecosystem in hosting a panel discussion on how to strengthen relationships between formal K-12 educators and informal community educators.

A final highlight at this year’s STEM Conference will be a keynote presentation and hands-on sessions with Billy Almon, an Astrobiofuturist and former Disney Imagineer, who will be sharing how to use biomimicry to leverage nature in your classroom. Between the inspiring presentations, instructive workshops, and engaging excursions, we anticipate this year’s event will be a can’t-miss opportunity for all Idaho educators. We hope to see you there!