2026 LEEF Conference Wakulla Wild

Indigenous youth in the Amazon navigate rapid social and environmental changes while sustaining traditional knowledge and territorial stewardship. This study collaborates teachers, students and community members of a multiethnic Indigenous territory in the Colombian Amazon. Working alongside Indigenous teachers, researchers explore integrating traditional ecological and biocultural knowledge with K-12 science and environmental education through curriculum co-design. The collaborative process integrates a needs assessment done to understand the community views on education, conservation science, environmental issues and current practices for traditional knowledge articulation. Findings highlight the importance of community-based and traditional knowledge to root learning in the local context and facilitate nature stewardship. The researchers share about their co-design experience and the strategies developed to articulate indigenous and local knowledge with scientific and global perspectives of territories and conservation.

Broward County has a large, diverse group of residents and a limited number of natural areas for people to enjoy. Those that exist are small and not well known by residents. The North Natural Areas Naturalist group has created programing within natural areas, regional parks and libraires to educate the public on the importance of native nature while also promoting wellness, environmental education, and building community.

*NEW Session
Looking for a fun activity to connect all ages to nature and learn more about birds.  This is the session for you.  Can be an extended lesson from the PLT workshop on Saturday or stand alone.  Come learn how to create your own nature journals, and use them to learn more about birds and nature in general.  Go home with your own nature journal and agendas for multiple PLT nature journaling workshops.