2026 LEEF Conference Wakulla Wild

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.

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.

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.