EE Conference

Plan on joining AEEA in 2024 for hands-on workshops, breakout sessions, and field experiences. The conference is a great learning and networking opportunity for classroom teachers, non-formal educators, college students, naturalists, and conservation professionals from across the state.

About the Conference

AEEA’s Environmental and Outdoor Education Conference is a gathering that brings together classroom teachers, non-formal educators, higher education students, Master Naturalists, and conservation professionals from around Arkansas. This professional learning event consists of hands-on workshops, field experiences, concurrent presentations, and networking opportunities.

In addition to hands-on learning, exhibitors feature available resources and programs, and the silent auction showcases Arkansas-made goods, education resources, and sustainability-focused products. The silent auction funds the AEEA mini-grant program. The conference brings together diverse attendees in some of the most beautiful locations that Arkansas has to offer.

If you have never attended an AEEA conference, you can view highlights from the 2023 conference which was co-hosted with the Arkansas Master Naturalists in Eureka Springs. Links are below.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ~ FELLOWSHIP ~ FUN

Registration

Conference attendance requires pre-registration. Registration will close a few weeks prior to the conference, and no on-site registration will be available. Note that AEEA members receive a discounted registration fee. Membership to AEEA is open to all. If you are not yet a member, you may become an AEEA member first and then register the conference. You are also welcome to register as general public.

What is included in conference registration?

• Tuesday Evening Social at St. Joseph Center of Arkansas – a casual outdoor dinner and one drink ticket included
• All day Wednesday – conference sessions including the Awards Luncheon

What additional options are available with registration?

Exhibitor registration – conference registration for one individual plus exhibit space 

• Step 1 – Fill in this exhibitor information form
• Step 2 – Use the registration button below

Tuesday field trip and workshops – additional fees are required 

• Step 1 – See the details on workshops and field experience for descriptions of Tuesday’s session
• Step 2 – Use the registration button below and include the Tuesday sessions you would like to attend

Guest Tickets – Bring a guest to the Tuesday Evening Social and the Wednesday Awards Luncheon. 

Scholarship

A limited number of scholarships will be awarded on a rolling basis until funds are utilized. Individuals interested in scholarships should complete the Scholarship Request Form and be notified by AEEA before completing full conference registration.

Audience

AEEA’s conference draws attendees from across the state and occasionally neighboring regions. Most attendees are educators, either in classrooms or non-formal education settings. The conference also draws conservation professionals, naturalists, researchers, education administrators, professors, and college students. Attendees range in their knowledge and practice of environmental education (EE). Some are looking for beginning steps to incorporate EE while others are more seasoned and are looking for new ways to expand their programming. All attendees are interested in acquiring resources and tools to increase their effectiveness in EE and connecting with others to expand the network of EE across The Natural State.

Session Format

All sessions will be in person. Tuesday sessions will be field experiences or interactive workshops that last 2-3 hours. Wednesday sessions will be concurrent conference sessions that are 60 minutes. For details of sessions and schedule, see the Conference Information Packet. Additional details will continue to be added.

Lodging

A block of rooms are being held at the Best Western Plus in North Little Rock at a rate of $107/night. Conference attendees are responsible for securing their own lodging. Rooms can be reserved by calling the number below and mentioning our group name and ID or using this link.

Best Western Plus JFK Inn & Suites
2500 Main Street
North Little Rock, AR 72114
501.246.3300

Group name: Arkansas Environmental Education Association
Group ID: 1597

Sponsors

The success of this event depends on our sponsors. We greatly appreciate our 2024 conference sponsors. If you are interested in supporting this event, view the 2024 Sponsor Packet below, which describes the different levels of sponsorship and the benefits involved with each level, and become a sponsor today.

2023 Exhibitors 

• Arkansas Audubon Society: What’s Good for Birds Is Good For People
• Arkansas Department of Agriculture
• Arkansas Environmental Education Association & Project WET
• Arkansas Forestry Association Education Foundation: Project Learning Tree
• Arkansas Master Naturalists
• Beaver Water District
• Boston Mountain Solid Waste District
• The Diana Project: Saving Arkansas’s State Butterfly
• Entegrity
• H2Ozarks: Cleaner Water Together! – Striving to protect the Upper White River Basin lakes and watershed through monitoring, research, public policy, outreach, and education
• ORE Recovered Materials: Educating Communities About Plastic Recycling
• Pollinator Partnership: Gardening for Pollinators – Programs, Partnerships, and Resources
• Summit Utilities