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2026 LEEF Conference Wakulla Wild has ended
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Saturday, March 28
 

8:00am EDT

Conference Check-In & Coffee
Saturday March 28, 2026 8:00am - 8:30am EDT
WEI Dogtrot

Saturday March 28, 2026 8:00am - 8:30am EDT
WEI Dogtrot

8:30am EDT

Conference Welcome & Introduction
Saturday March 28, 2026 8:30am - 9:15am EDT
WEI Main Classroom A&B

Saturday March 28, 2026 8:30am - 9:15am EDT
WEI Main Classroom A&B

9:30am EDT

Cultivating Connections with Florida’s Wildflowers: An Updated Curriculum for Environmental Educators
Saturday March 28, 2026 9:30am - 10:20am EDT
WEI Lab
Since first sharing our Wild About Wildflowers! curriculum at the 2018 LEEF conference, the Florida Wildflower Foundation has expanded and refreshed the guide to include new activities, updated resources and deeper connections to Florida standards. Designed for formal and nonformal educators alike, the curriculum introduces students to the beauty, ecology and importance of Florida’s native wildflowers and pollinators through hands-on, inquiry-based learning. This session will showcase highlights of the updated guide, including activities that explore wildflower habitats, pollinator relationships and real-world conservation actions students can take in their communities. Presenters will share strategies for incorporating these activities into a variety of learning settings and provide resources to help participants adapt them for their own students and audiences. Join us to discover how Florida’s wildflowers can spark curiosity, deepen ecological understanding, and empower the next generation of environmental stewards.
Speakers
SM

Stacey Matrazzo

Florida Wildflower Foundation
Stacey Matrazzo joined the Florida Wildflower Foundation in 2015 as its program manager. Before that, she worked for the Foundation for several years as a contractor. She is the co-author of Native Plants for Florida Gardens, which she wrote with botanist/restoration ecologist Nancy... Read More →
MM

Marina Mertz

Florida Wildflower Foundation
Marina Mertz is a native Floridian with a passion for preserving Florida’s beauty for future generations. She began her work with the Florida Wildflower Foundation in 2022 as a contractor, serving as the Panhandle Wildflower Alliance liaison. In 2024, she transitioned to a full-time... Read More →
Saturday March 28, 2026 9:30am - 10:20am EDT
WEI Lab
  Full Session

9:30am EDT

Outdoors Are for Everyone: Supporting Guests with Disabilities in Nature
Saturday March 28, 2026 9:30am - 10:20am EDT
WEI Main Classroom A
Discover how Bonnet Springs Park creates outdoor learning spaces that welcome everyone. This session will highlight common barriers to access, share creative strategies for overcoming them, and showcase the benefits of prioritizing accessibility. Participants will leave with applicable tools, inclusive resources, and examples of how program facilitators can integrate accessibility into uncommon spaces.
Speakers
MC

Moriah Casey

Bonnet Springs Park
Moriah Casey

Moriah Casey is the Education Manager at Bonnet Springs Park, an urban nature in the heart of Lakeland, Florida. She leads the development of inclusive, place-based educational programs that connect visitors of all ages to the natural environment.

Moriah holds a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a Masters of Special Education. Before transitioning to informal education, she spent five years teaching in a self-contained classroom with the Polk County School Board. She is endorsed in Gifted Education, Autism Spectrum... Read More →
avatar for Stephanie Bernal

Stephanie Bernal

Bonnet Springs Park
Stephanie Bernal joined Bonnet Springs Park in 2022 as the Community Engagement Manager and was promoted to Director of Events in 2023 to oversee the Education Department and Events team. In that time, she has developed and directed more than 50 Community & Special events, as well... Read More →
Saturday March 28, 2026 9:30am - 10:20am EDT
WEI Main Classroom A
  Full Session

9:30am EDT

Sustainability Fellows: Applied Research Benefitting Community Partners
Saturday March 28, 2026 9:30am - 10:20am EDT
WEI Dogtrot
The Sustainability Fellows program provides an opportunity for students of any discipline to participate in furthering sustainability efforts on the FSU campus and in the Tallahassee community. Sustainability Fellows can be selected from any major or field of study. Fellows work in collaboration with campus and community partners to actively engage in research, propose strategies, and identify opportunities for sustainability issues.
Speakers
HS

Holly Smith

FSU Sustainable Campus
Holly Smith (she/her) is the Sustainability Manager at FSU Sustainable Campus. She oversees all Sustainable Campus programming as well as environmental metrics. She was previously a middle school science teacher and her favorite part of her job is the education and community buil... Read More →
Saturday March 28, 2026 9:30am - 10:20am EDT
WEI Dogtrot
  Full Session

9:30am EDT

2 Hr. Workshop - AWE: A Watershed Event, a new curriculum for teaching interdependence in ecosystems
Saturday March 28, 2026 9:30am - 11:30am EDT
WEI Main Classroom B
The AWE curriculum is developed around an anchoring phenomenon of harmful algal blooms. The short AWE unit begins with a watershed lesson, followed by a longer lesson on food webs/trophic levels/interconnectedness. The unit culminates in an investigation in which students use what they have learned to discover how nutrient loading can affect aquatic habitat quality and return to the anchoring phenomenon to figure out its causes. All lessons meet the call for ambitious science teaching practices and the national NGSS frameworks and standards and builds on required Florida NGSSS standards (Windschitl et al, 2018; NRC, 2012; NGSS 2013). The unit has been successfully pilot-tested through several iterations by many experienced teachers and revised based on their input. Participants will get to experience some of the activities and discuss the entire curriculum.

This workshop requires pre-registeration. Adding the workshop to your agenda in Sched is not the same as registering for the workshop!

To register, please email [email protected] before March 20.
Speakers
avatar for Ellen Granger

Ellen Granger

Director, Office of STEM Teaching Activities, Florida State University
Ellen Granger earned her doctorate in neuroscience and has been a practicing scientist and science educator since then. She has worked in teacher professional development for over 25 years with both preservice and inservice teachers at secondary and post-secondary levels. She is the... Read More →
BS

Barbara Shoplock

Florida State University


Saturday March 28, 2026 9:30am - 11:30am EDT
WEI Main Classroom B
  Workshop

10:00am EDT

Silent Auction
Saturday March 28, 2026 10:00am - 8:00pm EDT
TBA

Saturday March 28, 2026 10:00am - 8:00pm EDT
TBA

10:30am EDT

Beyond Storytime: Creating Your Own Children's Picture Book to Promote Place-Based Literacy
Saturday March 28, 2026 10:30am - 11:20am EDT
WEI Main Classroom A
Have you ever heard of a children’s book that features an endangered snail kite as its main character? At our Everglades-focused, South Florida nature center, neither had we – and we needed one! – so we decided to create our own. Join us to learn from our center’s experience writing and illustrating *Sam the Snail Kite and the Secret of the Everglades* as a springboard for creative, place-based literacy programming and community outreach. We will share tips and cautionary tales about writing your own book, as well as techniques for using children’s picture books to engage young readers in the natural world at your site.
Speakers
LB

Lauren Butcher

Grassy Waters Preserve - City of West Palm Beach
Lauren Butcher enjoys sharing the Everglades with students, teachers, and visitors as an Environmental Education Coordinator at Grassy Waters Preserve (West Palm Beach, FL). She also currently serves as a member of the board of directors for Audubon Everglades. Lauren has over 16... Read More →
Saturday March 28, 2026 10:30am - 11:20am EDT
WEI Main Classroom A
  Full Session

10:30am EDT

Explore with the Florida Geological Survey
Saturday March 28, 2026 10:30am - 11:20am EDT
WEI Lab
Have you ever wondered where the sand on the beaches in Florida originates? Why are there rolling hills between Tampa and Orlando? What is the reason shark teeth occur in rocks far from coastlines? Florida’s geologic history provides answers. Connect with geologists and educators at the Florida Geological Survey (FGS) to learn about Florida’s geology, explore the work that the FGS does and discover resources we provide to educators, including 3D scans of Florida fossils and virtual museum tours.
Speakers
MG

Mabry Gaboardi Calhoun

Florida Geological Survey
Dr. Mabry Gaboardi Calhoun earned her Ph.D. at the Florida State University (FSU) Department of Geological Sciences, examining past climate signals in herbivore tooth enamel and developing a method to analyze extraterrestrial materials embedded in aerogel. At FSU's Learning Systems... Read More →
ML

Michelle Ladle

Florida Geological Survey
Michelle Ladle is a Professional Geologist with the Florida Geological Survey, where she has worked for 27 years. She has worked on a number of geologic investigations, manages multiple data preservation projects, and runs the FGS internship program. She holds Master’s degrees in... Read More →
Saturday March 28, 2026 10:30am - 11:20am EDT
WEI Lab
  Full Session

10:30am EDT

From Vision to Funding: Grant Writing Through a Logic Model Approach
Saturday March 28, 2026 10:30am - 11:20am EDT
WEI Porch
Environmental educators often rely on grants to fund their work. The logic model is a foundational tool that not only strengthens grant proposals but also is fundamental to program planning, implementation and evaluation. This workshop will use the collaborative, inclusive power of liberating structures with the rigor of the logic model approach to co-create and teach environmental educators how to write an effective grant proposal. This will be a hands-on, highly interactive format designed to move participants from abstract ideas to concrete, fundable project plans.
Speakers
RT

Rebekah Tucci

Bonnet Springs Park
Rebekah Tucci is a native Floridian. She is the Grants Manager at Bonnet Springs Park (BSP) in Lakeland, Florida. She specializes in securing grant funding, while establishing the fundamentals of program management and grants management. Ms. Tucci earned a law degree from Stetson... Read More →
KH

Kirsten Hein

Bonnet Springs Park

Saturday March 28, 2026 10:30am - 11:20am EDT
WEI Porch
  Full Session

11:30am EDT

From Badges to Action: Engaging Scouts in Community Action Projects for the Environment
Saturday March 28, 2026 11:30am - 12:20pm EDT
WEI Lab
This session highlights a University of Florida Extension project that integrates the Community Action Project for the Environment (CAPE) framework with youth from Scouting America, Girl Scouts of the USA, and other groups. Parents and troop leaders are equipped to guide youth through multi-month, community-based environmental action projects. Evaluation results demonstrate growth in youth scientific literacy, skills, and efficacy, illustrating how CAPE empowers meaningful, long-term environmental action.
Speakers
avatar for Yue Li

Yue Li

Assistant Professor, University of Florida
Dr. Yue Li is an Assistant Professor of Environmental Education in the School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences at the University of Florida. Her research focuses on AI integration into environmental education, professional development for environmental educators, environmental... Read More →
AK

Arya Karumanthra

Post Doctoral Researcher, University of Florida
Dr. Arya Karumanthra is a Post-Doctoral Researcher in the School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences at the University of Florida. Her research focuses on integrating Artificial Intelligence into science classrooms to support teaching and learning around global challenges... Read More →
EB

Emily Blum

Florida Project Learning Tree Coordinator and Education Training Specialist, UF/IFAS School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatic Sciences
Emily Blum is the Florida Project Learning Tree Coordinator and Education Training Specialists at UF/IFAS's School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatic Sciences. She also is an adjunct professor at Florida State College at Jacksonville. She earned her B.A. in Education with a minor... Read More →
Saturday March 28, 2026 11:30am - 12:20pm EDT
WEI Lab
  Full Session

11:30am EDT

Growing Up WILD: How We Are “Growing” Our Next Generation That Cares
Saturday March 28, 2026 11:30am - 12:20pm EDT
WEI Main Classroom A
What do 15 years of growing look like and where we are finding our next generation?
Sharing our story about using Growing Up WILD in our Florida Youth Conservation Centers Network (FYCCN) and evaluation of this national program from educators to the children that benefit from the curriculum. We will ‘show and tell’ how you can bring this award-winning early childhood education curriculum to your classrooms, centers, and business that work with children ages 3-7.

The State Coordinator for Project WILD in Florida, Yatska Valentin, will bring resources, only for presentation participants, on how you can become a facilitator or become educators for the program. Learn more about Project WILD, Aquatic WILD and Flying WILD opportunities in your area. Patricia Brown, Assistant Director at the Joe Budd Youth Conservation Center in Midway, Fl. will share the success of the program in their monthly program both on site and in schools. We will tell the story of FYCCN and how you can become a partner with some great resources for you to use.
This presentation will include activities that you can immediately use.
Speakers
PB

Patricia Brown

Florida Youth Conservation Centers Network, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
For over 25 years, I have worked in the environmental education field. Between a BS in Biological Sciences from Southern Illinois at the University at Edwardsville, Illinois and master’s in environmental education, I had been the education director for over 15 years at The Nature... Read More →
YV

Yatska Valentin

Florida Youth Conservation Centers Network, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Yatska is an experienced and passionate environmental educator. She has a BS in Environmental Sciences from Universidad Metropolitana in Puerto Rico and an MS in Environmental Education from Nova Southeastern University in Florida. She has lived in Tampa with her family for the last... Read More →
Saturday March 28, 2026 11:30am - 12:20pm EDT
WEI Main Classroom A
  Full Session

11:30am EDT

The Wakulla Springs Lab: Connecting University Resources and Research-Supported Storytelling for Local Environmental Education
Saturday March 28, 2026 11:30am - 12:20pm EDT
WEI Main Classroom B
This presentation will explain how the FSU Wakulla Springs Lab connects students, scientists, and media experts to produce educational materials, tours, and presentations about Wakulla Springs, an International Geological Heritage Site in Wakulla County, Florida. The presentation will also provide useful tips for enlisting college students to help build effective environmental communication materials.
Speakers
KK

Kellie Keys

Florida State University
Kellie Keys is the communication director for the FSU Wakulla Springs Lab. She studies
and teaches about the ways environmental communicators can use trust-building, visual and spoken storytelling, and research-supported communication techniques to explain important concepts in environmental science... Read More →
Saturday March 28, 2026 11:30am - 12:20pm EDT
WEI Main Classroom B
  Full Session

12:30pm EDT

Lunch
Saturday March 28, 2026 12:30pm - 1:15pm EDT
WEI Main Classroom A&B

Saturday March 28, 2026 12:30pm - 1:15pm EDT
WEI Main Classroom A&B

1:30pm EDT

Birds & Binoculars
Saturday March 28, 2026 1:30pm - 2:20pm EDT
WEI Porch
Educators can't always take participants outside to look for birds... and sometimes when we do, the birds don't always cooperate! See how easy it is to teach the skill of using binoculars and the basics to identify birds. Not only is this a fun & easy way to introduce bird watching & identification, but it will also prepare them to look at details when you can go outside to look for birds. Join me on the Great LEEF (fake) Bird Count!

Note:Change in Presenter
Speakers
PO

Pam Owens

LEEF Director 2, Elementary Teacher and Green School Coordinator
Pam has been an elementary school teacher for 18 years and serves as the Green School Coordinator. She has sponsored several environmental clubs, including the Green Eagles, EverGreen Club, STEM Club, and Jr. Birding Club. She also leads the school and students in annual Bird Counts... Read More →
Saturday March 28, 2026 1:30pm - 2:20pm EDT
WEI Porch
  Full Session

1:30pm EDT

Integrating AI into Environmental Education: Exploring New Tools and Strategies
Saturday March 28, 2026 1:30pm - 2:20pm EDT
WEI Main Classroom A
Environmental education faces critical challenges in keeping pace with rapidly evolving technological landscapes. AI offers support in planning, content creation, evaluation, and teaching, creating opportunities for innovative and timely content to engage students. This session introduces ways environmental educators can integrate AI into their practice through hands-on activities with various AI tools, while addressing ethical considerations. Participants will gain practical skills to critically apply AI for lesson planning, content development, assessment, and instruction, fostering innovation in the field of environmental education.
Speakers
AK

Arya Karumanthra

Post Doctoral Researcher, University of Florida
Dr. Arya Karumanthra is a Post-Doctoral Researcher in the School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences at the University of Florida. Her research focuses on integrating Artificial Intelligence into science classrooms to support teaching and learning around global challenges... Read More →
EB

Emily Blum

Florida Project Learning Tree Coordinator and Education Training Specialist, UF/IFAS School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatic Sciences
Emily Blum is the Florida Project Learning Tree Coordinator and Education Training Specialists at UF/IFAS's School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatic Sciences. She also is an adjunct professor at Florida State College at Jacksonville. She earned her B.A. in Education with a minor... Read More →
avatar for Yue Li

Yue Li

Assistant Professor, University of Florida
Dr. Yue Li is an Assistant Professor of Environmental Education in the School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences at the University of Florida. Her research focuses on AI integration into environmental education, professional development for environmental educators, environmental... Read More →
CN

Caleb Nyatuame

University of Florida
Caleb Atsu Nyatuame is a PhD student in Interdisciplinary Ecology at the University of Florida. His previous research examines how teacher educators, especially in Ghana, incorporate environmental issues and place-based education into their teaching practices. Caleb is currently doing... Read More →
Saturday March 28, 2026 1:30pm - 2:20pm EDT
WEI Main Classroom A
  Full Session

1:30pm EDT

Marine Specimens in the Classroom
Saturday March 28, 2026 1:30pm - 2:20pm EDT
WEI Lab
We will teach about the marine specimens that we supply to universities and how they can be used as teaching tools in educating children about marine science, embryology, cellular reaggregation, and different phyla of organisms.
Speakers
CR

Cypress Rudloe

Gulf Specimen Marine Lab
The Executive Director of Gulf Specimen Marine Lab that serves 30,000 school children every year and teaches them all about marine environments and how to best protect and preserve them.
HE

Hunter Eichler

Gulf Specimen Marine Lab
Hunter Eichler is the Lead Aquarist at Gulf Specimen Marine Lab
Saturday March 28, 2026 1:30pm - 2:20pm EDT
WEI Lab
  Full Session

1:30pm EDT

2 Hr. Workshop (fee-based) - Florida Project Learning Tree - Together For Birds (Pre-Register)
Saturday March 28, 2026 1:30pm - 3:30pm EDT
WEI Main Classroom B
In this workshop, attendees will go through one of the new Project Learning Tree Collection books - -Together for Birds Target Grades K-2 

https://www.plt.org/curriculum/theme-based-activity-collections/

Each collection offers hands-on activities for teachers and non-formal educators, youth group leaders and home schoolers, to connect youth to nature and the outdoors.Each Collection is designed to be flexible, and the activities that comprise each collection can be used as individual, stand-alone lessons, or all together as a cohesive unit of instruction using a storyline technique.

This workshop requires pre-registeration and a $6 fee. Adding the workshop to your agenda in Sched is not the same as registering for the workshop!

To register, please email [email protected] before March 20.
Speakers
EB

Emily Blum

Florida Project Learning Tree Coordinator and Education Training Specialist, UF/IFAS School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatic Sciences
Emily Blum is the Florida Project Learning Tree Coordinator and Education Training Specialists at UF/IFAS's School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatic Sciences. She also is an adjunct professor at Florida State College at Jacksonville. She earned her B.A. in Education with a minor... Read More →
Saturday March 28, 2026 1:30pm - 3:30pm EDT
WEI Main Classroom B
  Workshop

2:30pm EDT

Curating Florida’s Natural History: Educator-Centered Digital Strategies
Saturday March 28, 2026 2:30pm - 3:20pm EDT
WEI Lab
This presentation will discuss the use of digital technologies at the University of South Florida Libraries to transform archives from the Florida Environment and Natural History (FLENH) collections into openly accessible resources for educational purposes. The presentation will highlight an approach to digital curation that centers educators and researchers as the key audience. Rooted in strategic archival acquisitions and explored through educator-led partnerships, the team has developed an online repository with more than 74,000 records. This presentation will describe our workflow and openly accessible resource, as well as three key outputs that might be immediately useful to Florida educators. First, the Tampa Through Time Portal is a place-based interactive mapping portal that provides new ways to explore digitized FLENH materials. The ekphrastic Creekshed project, hosted by USF Libraries, uses FLENH archives to inspire local authors and students to write creative works grounded in the local watershed. Finally, the Botanical Gardens 360 Tours and USF Greenways map illustrate new approaches to capturing environmental spaces and pairing them with historic documents to produce immersive contemporary tours.
Speakers
SJ

Sydney Jordan

University of South Florida Libraries
Sydney Jordan is a Coordinator of Collections and, in her current role, she utilizes information science methods to better connect patrons to resources, build openly accessible digital collections, and teach with primary sources. Her research interests include climate justice, interdisciplinary... Read More →
DA

Dr. Amanda Boczar

University of South Florida
Dr. Amanda Boczar is Associate Director for Digital Initiatives at the University of South Florida (USF) Libraries. Boczar is a trained historian with a Ph.D. from the University of Kentucky, an MLIS from USF, and over a decade of experience developing large-scale Digital Humanities... Read More →
DW

Denise Wright

University of South Florida
Denise Wright, MA, is a GIS Analyst with the University of South Florida Libraries Digital Initiatives Unit. She holds a Master’s Degree in Geography, is a certified GIS Professional (GISP), and is licensed as an FAA Part 107 drone pilot. Denise specializes in integrating geospatial... Read More →
Saturday March 28, 2026 2:30pm - 3:20pm EDT
WEI Lab
  Full Session

2:30pm EDT

Engaging the Next Generation of Conservation Leaders
Saturday March 28, 2026 2:30pm - 3:20pm EDT
WEI Main Classroom A
Conservation Pathways is a nonprofit organization that serves high school and college students interested in pursuing careers in conservation. We work with students to develop field research, science communication, and professionalism skills. Through our science communication focus, we provide field trips, presentations, and other environmental education opportunities for communities in Florida’s Big Bend region. This presentation will introduce our model for inspiring the next generation of conservation leaders, share best management practices for internship programs, and engage participants in a discussion about creative ways to use citizen science and experiential learning as tools to foster students’ and the general public’s connection to local ecosystems. Our fellows will practice their communication skills by sharing their personal experiences as well.
Speakers
avatar for Rebecca Means

Rebecca Means

Executive Director, Conservation Pathways
Rebecca Means is an ecologist and science educator with a passion for rock climbing, live music, and supporting future conservationists. She has worked in conservation biology field for 25 years with wildlife ranging from fire ants to Florida panthers. As Executive Director of Conservation... Read More →
CE

Carolina Espejo

Intern, Conservation Pathways

Saturday March 28, 2026 2:30pm - 3:20pm EDT
WEI Main Classroom A
  Full Session

2:30pm EDT

Love Where You Live: Creating Lifelong Connections Between Children and Nature
Saturday March 28, 2026 2:30pm - 3:20pm EDT
WEI Porch
Discover how Bonnet Springs Park’s student-centered approach to exploring outdoor spaces fosters deeper connections between children and their local heritage, culture and native landscape. Participants will receive a behind-the-scenes look at our most successful programs and resources, as well as applicable strategies to cultivate a sense of place, belonging and personal meaning while making outdoor learning more relevant and impactful.
Speakers
MC

Moriah Casey

Bonnet Springs Park
Moriah Casey

Moriah Casey is the Education Manager at Bonnet Springs Park, an urban nature in the heart of Lakeland, Florida. She leads the development of inclusive, place-based educational programs that connect visitors of all ages to the natural environment.

Moriah holds a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a Masters of Special Education. Before transitioning to informal education, she spent five years teaching in a self-contained classroom with the Polk County School Board. She is endorsed in Gifted Education, Autism Spectrum... Read More →
avatar for Stephanie Bernal

Stephanie Bernal

Bonnet Springs Park
Stephanie Bernal joined Bonnet Springs Park in 2022 as the Community Engagement Manager and was promoted to Director of Events in 2023 to oversee the Education Department and Events team. In that time, she has developed and directed more than 50 Community & Special events, as well... Read More →
Saturday March 28, 2026 2:30pm - 3:20pm EDT
WEI Porch
  Full Session

3:30pm EDT

General Member Meeting & Installation of Officers (All Welcome)
Saturday March 28, 2026 3:30pm - 4:20pm EDT
WEI Main Classroom A&B

Saturday March 28, 2026 3:30pm - 4:20pm EDT
WEI Main Classroom A&B

4:30pm EDT

Leading with Nature: Youth Inclusion in Environmental Spaces
Saturday March 28, 2026 4:30pm - 4:45pm EDT
WEI Main Classroom A&B
This presentation, led by the WILD teen stewards, explores how programs like WILD promote inclusive leadership by engaging teens from diverse backgrounds in environmental education and action. Through immersion trips, community programming, and leadership engagement, WILD teens develop professional skills while deepening their connection to Florida’s natural systems, all as high school students. Presenting their stories illustrate how inclusive, youth-centered programming can transform environmental spaces into platforms for growth and leadership. This presentation highlights the importance of cultivating spaces where every teen can engage, lead, and make an impact in environmental education.
Speakers
AH

Alex Hopf

Community Engagement Specialist, Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens
Alex Hopf (Community Engagement Specialist) leads the WILD program, guiding teens through environmental education and leadership development. .
KC

Kayla Charde

Community Engagement Assistant, Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens
Kayla Charde (Community Engagement Assistant) leads the WILD program, guiding teens through environmental education and leadership development. 
Saturday March 28, 2026 4:30pm - 4:45pm EDT
WEI Main Classroom A&B
  Lightning Session

4:50pm EDT

Professional Development for Environmental Educators in Africa: A CEE-Change Project
Saturday March 28, 2026 4:50pm - 5:05pm EDT
WEI Main Classroom A&B
This lightning presentation highlights a project from the 2025 Civic-Environmental Education (CEE) Change Fellowship of the North American Association of Environmental Educators (NAAEE). The project aims to provide professional development workshops that integrate Traditional Ecological Knowledge into environmental education with the support of AI tools for environmental educators in Africa. Lessons learned from these international workshops will offer valuable insights into professional development for educators in Florida and beyond.
Speakers
avatar for Yue Li

Yue Li

Assistant Professor, University of Florida
Dr. Yue Li is an Assistant Professor of Environmental Education in the School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences at the University of Florida. Her research focuses on AI integration into environmental education, professional development for environmental educators, environmental... Read More →
CN

Caleb Nyatuame

University of Florida
Caleb Atsu Nyatuame is a PhD student in Interdisciplinary Ecology at the University of Florida. His previous research examines how teacher educators, especially in Ghana, incorporate environmental issues and place-based education into their teaching practices. Caleb is currently doing... Read More →
Saturday March 28, 2026 4:50pm - 5:05pm EDT
WEI Main Classroom A&B
  Lightning Session

5:10pm EDT

Why Native Plants are Important & How to Add Them to the Landscape
Saturday March 28, 2026 5:10pm - 5:25pm EDT
WEI Main Classroom A&B
Learn why native plants are so important – and how to add them to the landscape. For example, plant keystone tree species or create a butterfly garden. Learn of helpful native plant websites and small grant programs for school plantings.
Speakers
LA

Lynn Artz

Sarracenia Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society (FNPS)
Lynn Artz is a life-long gardener, now native plant advocate. In 2018, she led a team of volunteers to create the native plant gardens at Sopchoppy Depot Park, a 1.7-acre city park. The gardens expanded in 2021 with a Viva Florida Landscape Demonstration grant from the Florida Wildflower... Read More →
Saturday March 28, 2026 5:10pm - 5:25pm EDT
WEI Main Classroom A&B
  Lightning Session

5:30pm EDT

AI use in environmental education: Do ecological values really matter?
Saturday March 28, 2026 5:30pm - 6:00pm EDT
WEI Dogtrot
As environmentalists, our goal is to engage in activities that improve the well-being of the environment and promote the conservation and preservation of natural resources.  If environmentalists use AI, it raises important questions about whether this use aligns with their ecological values. Using correlation and regression analysis, I investigated how the ecological values of environmentalists influence their use of AI. Results will answer the question: “How environmentalists’ perceived usefulness of AI and their familiarity with AI's environmental impacts predictive factors of their AI usage?”.
Speakers
CN

Caleb Nyatuame

University of Florida
Caleb Atsu Nyatuame is a PhD student in Interdisciplinary Ecology at the University of Florida. His previous research examines how teacher educators, especially in Ghana, incorporate environmental issues and place-based education into their teaching practices. Caleb is currently doing... Read More →
Saturday March 28, 2026 5:30pm - 6:00pm EDT
WEI Dogtrot
  Research Poster Session

5:30pm EDT

Immersive Green Spaces: A 3D Virtual Tour of the USF Botanical Gardens as an Interactive Resource for Environmental Learning
Saturday March 28, 2026 5:30pm - 6:00pm EDT
WEI Dogtrot
This poster showcases how geospatial technologies and immersive media can enhance environmental education. Using high-resolution 360° imagery and virtual-tour software, the USF Botanical Gardens were captured and transformed into an interactive virtual experience. Visitors can navigate the gardens and click embedded buttons that link directly to the USF Plant Atlas, providing authoritative information on featured plant species.  The tour serves as a dynamic teaching and outreach resource: it allows students, researchers, and the public to explore Florida’s diverse plant communities anytime, while deepening understanding of native ecosystems.
Speakers
DW

Denise Wright

University of South Florida
Denise Wright, MA, is a GIS Analyst with the University of South Florida Libraries Digital Initiatives Unit. She holds a Master’s Degree in Geography, is a certified GIS Professional (GISP), and is licensed as an FAA Part 107 drone pilot. Denise specializes in integrating geospatial... Read More →
Saturday March 28, 2026 5:30pm - 6:00pm EDT
WEI Dogtrot
  Research Poster Session

5:30pm EDT

Stormwater Outreach
Saturday March 28, 2026 5:30pm - 6:00pm EDT
WEI Dogtrot
Content is created each month to educate the campus community on various ways they can positively impact stormwater systems and keep our watershed free of pollutants. Presenters will explain their research, collaboration with partners, and methods of communication.
Speakers
HS

Holly Smith

FSU Sustainable Campus
Holly Smith (she/her) is the Sustainability Manager at FSU Sustainable Campus. She oversees all Sustainable Campus programming as well as environmental metrics. She was previously a middle school science teacher and her favorite part of her job is the education and community buil... Read More →
CC

Camila Campos Lam

Camila worked as the Sustainable Campus Graphic Designer for a year while she completed her Bachelor's degree. She is now working toward a Master's in Urban and Regional Planning, but she still works for us as a Stormwater Liaison and collaborates with our partners to create content... Read More →
Saturday March 28, 2026 5:30pm - 6:00pm EDT
WEI Dogtrot
  Research Poster Session

5:30pm EDT

Urban Forestry Exploration Camp: Opening Doors for Youth
Saturday March 28, 2026 5:30pm - 6:00pm EDT
WEI Dogtrot
This week-long summer camp is designed to introduce youth to and help them discover the world of urban forestry and related green industry jobs, through engaging, educational programming. The camp provides upper elementary and middle school youth experiences to explore the importance of forestry and urban trees for health and community benefits, the importance of nature being part of our cities, and the camp will inspire a new generation of urban forestry stewards.
Speakers
EC
Saturday March 28, 2026 5:30pm - 6:00pm EDT
WEI Dogtrot
  Research Poster Session

5:30pm EDT

Youth Development Through Immersive Conservation Research in the Tropics
Saturday March 28, 2026 5:30pm - 6:00pm EDT
WEI Dogtrot
Brevard Zoo’s Puerto Rico expedition empowered teen volunteers through hands-on conservation research, real-world field experience, and mentorship from scientists, strengthening their environmental stewardship, teamwork, and interest in conservation careers while gaining new transferable life skills.
Speakers
JK

Jen Katona

Brevard Zoo
Saturday March 28, 2026 5:30pm - 6:00pm EDT
WEI Dogtrot
  Research Poster Session

6:00pm EDT

Dinner & Keynote, Dr. Christopher Werner
Saturday March 28, 2026 6:00pm - 8:00pm EDT
WEI Main Classroom A&B

Speakers
DC

Dr. Christopher Werner

Executive Director, Woodville Karst Plain Project
We are thrilled to welcome our Keynote Speaker, Dr. Christopher Werner—a world-renowned cave explorer, researcher, and filmmaker. His work has taken him into some of the most extreme environments on Earth, and his storytelling will inspire us to see education and exploration in... Read More →
Saturday March 28, 2026 6:00pm - 8:00pm EDT
WEI Main Classroom A&B
 

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