Welcome to the 2024 Texas Children in Nature Network Summit held in Waco, Texas!
After registering for the Summit and making your Wednesday Workshop selection, you will be enrolled in your selected workshop by TCiNN staff. You will see your workshop on your schedule after you have been enrolled.
You do not need to select and add your workshop to your schedule.
All workshops are "frozen" and only staff can manage enrollment.
If you do not see a workshop option on the registration form that is listed on the workshop PDF, that means it is full and no longer available.
Regular registration ends November 30.
Late registration begins December 1.
Once late registration begins, any cancellations will not be refunded.
Sarah Coles, Executive Director of Texas Children in Nature Networ Dr. April Torres Conkey, Board Chair of the Texas Children in Nature Network Rachel Caldwell Hill - Land Acknowledgement Mayor Jim Holmes - Welcome to Waco Jaime González - Presentation of Champions Award Winners
Thursday December 12, 2024 8:00am - 9:00am CST
McLennan Hall
Growing up in the farmlands of Southeast Texas, David Vela enjoyed his youth fishing with a cane pole at a reservoir, playing football in his neighborhood, and picking pecans in nearby fields. However, a trip with his family to Yellowstone National Park would forever change his life and career interests. As the first Latino to be nominated by the President of the United States to lead the National Park Service, David will share his experiences across the country, and what he learned about engaging diverse youth in the outdoors.
David Vela retired from the National Park Service in September 2020 after 30 years with the agency, most recently serving as Deputy Director, Exercising the Authority of the Director. He also served as Chair of the Committee for the Preservation of the White House. David was the first Latino to be nominated by the President of the United States to serve as Director of the National Park Service. David held numerous leadership and executive-level assignments in the National Park Service, including as a Superintendent, Regional Director, and Associate Director. In addition, he served as Director of the Texas Child Support program under the Attorney General of Texas. In retirement, David serves on several national nonprofit boards and is the founder and president of Vela Heritage Consulting, LLC.
Thursday December 12, 2024 9:15am - 10:15am CST
McLennan Hall
Educators and designers have long used the concept of ‘low floors and high ceilings’ to create experiences that are easily accessible for users yet boundless in their potential. Join a 30+ year educator now working with an architectural firm as we explore this concept as it relates to outdoor areas and try our hand at a few aligned activities. An annotated list of resources will be shared for outdoor space design and aligned activities targeted at K-higher education.
Through the journey of transforming St. George's into a natural haven for early-childhood education we explore some of the common barriers to planning, fundraising, building, and maintaining these facilities over time.
Jerri Thompson has 40 years of experience as an early childhood educator, administrator, trainer, and consultant. She is currently an administrator at a NAEYC accredited early childhood program in Austin. Jerri has developed a passion for teaching adults, consulting, advocacy, and... Read More →
Before joining St. George's in March, 2024, I helped transform the playgrounds and gardens as the project manager for a local design/build landscaping firm. While I bring a pragmatic approach to building and maintaining outdoor learning spaces, I thoroughly love dreaming up new ideas... Read More →
Thursday December 12, 2024 1:00pm - 2:00pm CST
McLennan Hall
Which describes your nature activity journal best: 1) Uninspiring, 2) Non-existent, or 3) Capable of changing a child’s life? Self-guided activity booklets are a cornerstone of effective nature education and one of the most cost-effective. When done right, they can change a child’s life as they prompt families to explore, connect with, and protect nature. This session covers the essentials of interpretive planning, creating engaging and educational content, and effective design. Learn from real-world examples and participate in hands-on demonstrations to develop your own booklet ideas. Leave with practical strategies to develop self-guided experiences for your site or program.
Presenters: Alicia Fontenot - Texas Children in Nature Network, Michael Valdez - National Wildlife Federation, Craig Gilden - Texas Department of State Health Services
Join us for "Building Green Workforce Pipelines: Connecting Young Professionals with Community, State, and Federal Entities." This workshop will focus on creating inclusive pathways for green workforce development in the Texas Gulf Coast region. Participants will explore strategies to overcome socioeconomic barriers and engage in hands-on activities, including reviewing success stories and developing actionable networking plans. By fostering connections and leveraging real-world examples, attendees will gain practical insights for enhancing career opportunities and diversifying the environmental sector. Ideal for professionals, educators, and community leaders committed to building a more inclusive and resilient green workforce.
Gulf Coast Health & Nature Liaison, Texas Children in Nature Network
Alicia serves as the Health and Nature Liaison in the Gulf Coast Region for Texas Children in Nature Network. As a native Houstonian, she takes pride in her city’s cultural diversity and growing environmental awareness. With a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Texas Southern... Read More →
Thursday December 12, 2024 3:45pm - 4:45pm CST
McLennan Hall
Posters: A Children's Urban Nature Magazine Presenter: Aasya Peera, Maritimus Magazine Basil and Bixie - Let's explore the world together! Presenters: Dr. Victoria Fields and Dr. Mary E. Wingfield, Field of Mind, LLC DIVE With Us into the REEF (Reaching for Environmental Education Frontiers) Presenters: Katie Doyle, Larisa Ford, Dara Orbach, Shirley Thornton - Flour Bluff ISD How to Show Children’s Learning Through Documentation in a Nature-Based Preschool Presenter: Deb Tamez, The Eagle's Nest Play to Learn Center Planting Seeds: An innovative nature advocacy curriculum for pediatricians in training Presenters: Michelle Gallas, Jennifer Duc - Department of Pediatrics, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin The Campsite at Shield Ranch: Where Community & Nature Meet Presenter: Chad Timmons & Addie Broussard, Shield Ranch Foundation The Garden Friend Presenter: Mary Frances Baker
*The posters will be set up in the hallway in front of McLennan Hall.
Thursday December 12, 2024 4:45pm - 6:00pm CST
McLennan Hall
