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.

Concurrent Sessions and additional Summit details will be added as the Summit approaches so please check back to see what’s new and to build your Summit schedule.

Thank you for registering for the 2024 Summit!

10:30am CST

Environmental Education: Evaluating Impacts for Growth

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

Texas South 118

As environmental educators we strive to connect people to nature through authentic learning experiences – but do we know if it’s working? How can you measure whether your programs have really connected with your audience or made an impact on their knowledge or behavior? How can you know if your work and passion is translating to action or real change, either on learners or on the natural world? Join our session for a recap and resources we’ve studied, applied, AND surveyed. Learn from us and apply it to your tribe.

Speakers

Michelle Wood-Ramirez

Tarrant Regional Water District

Thursday December 12, 2024 10:30am - 11:30am CST
Texas South 118

Concurrent Session, Education

10:30am CST

Promoting Flood Awareness through Engaging STEM Programs for Community and Environmental Connection

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

Texas South 116

Join us for an inspiring session showcasing an innovative nature-based STEM program that incorporates flood safety awareness into an exciting educational journey. In 2023, the San Antonio River Authority’s Education team developed programming to inspire youth living in Flash Flood Alley through positive, hands-on, and place-based activities. Students explored their watershed, assessed flood prevention infrastructure, and learned how STEM protects communities. This program ignites a passion for STEM, encouraging young leaders to develop solutions that preserve natural spaces and places. We’ll share best practices, tools, and resources, and invite participants to discuss their challenges and solutions for implementing impactful programs.

Speakers

Janine Garcia

Education and Engagement Coordinator, San Antonio River Authority

Janine Garcia, a former classroom teacher and park ranger with the National Park Service, has over a decade of experience in both formal and informal education. With a B.S. in Psychology specializing in Family and Child Development, a B.S. in Environmental Science and Ecology, and... Read More →

Emily Rew

Education and Engagement Coordinator, San Antonio River Authority

Emily Rew is a certified educator, science communicator, and musician. Shehas over ten seasons of experience directly engaging youth and adults inoutdoor education programming. As a member of the River Authority’seducation team, Emily informs and inspires learners of all ages to... Read More →

Thursday December 12, 2024 10:30am - 11:30am CST
Texas South 116

Concurrent Session, Education

1:00pm CST

Bringing Texas Schools to Life with Native Plants

Thursday December 12, 2024 1:00pm - 2:00pm CST

Texas North 114

Would you like to create a Texas-native plant garden at your local school or community center? Haeley Giambalvo of the Native Plant Society of Texas (NPSOT) will show you how! You'll learn from examples of schools around Texas that have successfully brought their school campuses to life with native plant gardens. You will also be introduced to various resources and activities to help educators get the most out of their gardens and engage students in the outdoors!

Speakers

Haeley Giambalvo

Thursday December 12, 2024 1:00pm - 2:00pm CST
Texas North 114

Concurrent Session, Education

1:00pm CST

Students Transforming their School Grounds with EcoRise & PBL

Thursday December 12, 2024 1:00pm - 2:00pm CST

Field Session

Field Session: Meet in lobby 5 minutes prior to walk to outdoor area with volunteer. Look for the sign with the name of this session on it.

EcoRise sparks transformation at public-schools through a type of Project-Based Learning (PBL) known as an Eco-Audit Grant. Learn about some of the projects that have blossomed across Texas through student-driven inquiry, teacher-guided innovation, and grants from EcoRise. Participants will do a biodiversity audit of an outdoor space. We will identify and count any living organisms within a designated kingdom. We will discuss findings, develop a visualization of our data, and give ourselves a biodiversity “score”. We will end with a quick brainstorm of ways to increase biodiversity in our own backyards and communities, including with or through K-12 schools.

Speakers

Elizabeth Harper

Senior Program Manager, EcoRise

EcoRise Program Manager for Central & South Texas, always seeking to improve the student experience through empathy and engagement, life-long learner

Thursday December 12, 2024 1:00pm - 2:00pm CST
Field Session

Concurrent Session, Education

2:15pm CST

Our Texas, Our Future: Local Conservation Issues to Inspire Your Learners

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

Texas South 116

Inspire your learners to head outside and explore their local environments through 5 visually breathtaking videos and informative learning guides. H-E-B Presents: an Our Texas, Our Future film series tells the conservation stories of 4 Texas natives: black bears, ocelots, redfish, and bats along with the 100-year history of our state parks. Join this session to learn how to access and use these TEKS-aligned learning resources.

Speakers

Anne Marie Fayen

Curriculum Developer, Fayen Consulting LLC

I create K-12 learning resources for environmental ed materials. Most of my recent projects have been connected to nature documentaries.

Thursday December 12, 2024 2:15pm - 3:15pm CST
Texas South 116

Concurrent Session, Education

3:45pm CST

Inspiring a Connection to the Land: A Continuum of Education through Early Childhood to Adulthood

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

Field Session

Field Session: Meet in lobby 5 minutes prior to walk to outdoor area with volunteer. Look for the sign with the name of this session on it.

Experience three activities for different age groups that foster a connection to the land from early childhood to adulthood. For birth to age five, engage in sensory exploration of natural materials, dramatic play prompts, and wildlife observation. For K-12, become a wildlife/nature interpreter by creating a hidden treasures walking map using math, science, English/language arts, and art.

For young leaders, use NOAA mapping tools to explore community vulnerabilities, conduct water quality testing, and discuss how native plantings can impact water quality. Participants will receive a guiding handout with links to the activities to consider possible application in their own settings. Participants should be comfortable traveling about ½-mile to access the sites.

Speakers

Karen Bishop

Manager, Texas Education, National Wildlife Federation

Karen Bishop is a Manager of Education & Engagement with the National Wildlife Federation. Her current work focuses on helping schools to build and maintain pollinator habitat through NWF’s Monarch Heroes program. Karen works with schools across Austin, Dallas, Ft. Worth, Manor... Read More →

Rebecca Colbert

Senior Director of Design and Engagement, NWF - Early Childhood Health Outdoors

Rebecca Colbert is a licensed landscape architect with 20 years of experience and a doctorate in Design and Planning. She serves as the Senior Director of Design and Engagement for Early Childhood Health Outdoors at the National Wildlife Federation. Dr. Colbert previously served as... Read More →

Abi Cano Perez

Education & Engagement Coordinator, ECHO/National Wildlife Federation

In this role, I help build community partnerships as well as create outreach materials for early education professionals. I attended the University of Idaho and received a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and GIS. I have previously worked for STEM-based youth education... Read More →

Kate Unger

Resilience in Schools Coordinator, National Wildlife Federation

As NWF's Coordinator for the Houston region, I manage the various grant programs active in the area (Monarch Heroes, Outdoor Learning Cohort, & Resilience in Schools & Communities) and prioritize building and strengthening relationships with local partners as well as K-12 schools... Read More →

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

Concurrent Session, Education

Texas Children in Nature Network Summit 2024

From $45.00