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.
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
Adam shares compelling research and anecdotal evidence that demonstrates how greening school environments and community spaces can enhance children's development, improve immune system health, and promote environmental regeneration. He integrates conversations about natural playground equity, early childhood development, natural playground design, living landscapes to regenerate biodiversity, mitigating the heat island effect, the fascinating link between the soil & gut microbiomes, and the endless benefits of connecting children to nature year-round.
Adam is an internationally acclaimed designer, builder, and researcher of nature-based play spaces and the founder of Bienenstock Natural Playgrounds. Adam has traveled globally to advocate for children’s rights and nature play and to design spectacular natural parks and playgrounds... Read More →
Friday December 13, 2024 8:45am - 10:00am CST
McLennan Hall
