Texas Children in Nature Network Summit 2024

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.

Thank you for registering for the 2024 Summit!

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10:30am CST

Birding is for Everyone: Tips for Creating an Inclusive Birding Experience for Children of All Ages and Abilities

Thursday December 12, 2024 10:30am - 11:30am CST

Texas North 115

Learn some hands-on activities and experiences to engage learners of all abilities in learning more about birds. Enjoy going outside to do some birding and learn how to guide children to identify birds.

Speakers

Jennifer Fetter-Matthys

Director, K-2 teacher, Ecologist School Houston

Jennifer Fetter-Matthys is the director of Ecologist School Houston, a microschool for neurodiverse PK and elementary students. She has several teaching certifications and a Bachelor’s in Psychology. She is currently working on a Master’s in Early Childhood Education.

Thursday December 12, 2024 10:30am - 11:30am CST
Texas North 115

Concurrent Session, Nature for All

2:15pm CST

Fostering Collaboration to Promote Recess Policies for Healthy, Happy Children

Thursday December 12, 2024 2:15pm - 3:15pm CST

Texas North 115

Presenter: Lisa Mitchell-Bennett, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) School of Public Health

UTHealth Houston School of Public Health in Brownsville will share collaborative strategies for promoting the adoption of district-wide recess policies to promote daily, unstructured outdoor play for elementary school students. The presenter will share several case studies to highlight how the nonprofit organization, It’s Time Texas, and an academic institution are working together to advocate for and support the implementation of local recess policies, as well as develop a comprehensive toolkit to help parents, school district staff, and community members participate in these efforts across the Rio Grande Valley.

Thursday December 12, 2024 2:15pm - 3:15pm CST
Texas North 115

Concurrent Session, Health

3:45pm CST

Leveraging Partnership to Support a Public School Outdoor Learning Center

Thursday December 12, 2024 3:45pm - 4:45pm CST

Texas North 115

Seguin ISD recently purchased the former Seguin Outdoor Learning Center. As we approach the first year of ownership we recognize that collaboration and partnerships are necessary in the pursuit of our goals. In this presentation we will discuss lessons learned, and challenges and triumphs in our pursuit of creating a sustainable nature based public school outdoor learning center.

Speakers