Conference Presentations

The 2026 Call for Proposals - Closed

Each year we select over 50 amazing sessions for the conference. Sessions that connect people to nature. Sessions that create experiences to help learners solve problems. Sessions that will make our world a better place to live. We believe that everyone has wisdom to offer. We are looking for sessions that highlight real-world learning, from successful collaborations to curiosity driven discussions. Your lived experience, at any stage of your career, is a vital part of our Common Roots. Your perspective helps our community grow stronger and see our shared world more vividly.

Submit your proposal(s) by March 31. We will be reaching out to all presenters who submitted proposals at the end of May with next steps. If you have any questions email [email protected]!

Presenter Information:

As a presenter, YOU are advancing environmental and outdoor learning all over the state by sharing new ideas, research, successful strategies, and more. The conference offers a variety of sessions, inspiring speakers, and many opportunities for networking and discovering new ideas, tools and techniques. Click here to learn more about the overall conference.

If you have specific questions after reading this information, please email info @caee.org

Click on the following links to go to these specific sections.

What we look for in Sessions

Environmental and outdoor learning occurs in many forms by a variety of environmental and outdoor learning providers and supporters, including formal educators (pre-service teachers, in classrooms, school districts, higher ed), non-formal educators (nature centers, parks, non-profits, youth groups, state agencies, community groups, etc.), as well as other sectors (business, consultants, media, etc).

Selected session proposals highlight environmental and outdoor learning approaches from a variety of backgrounds, sectors, focus areas, and experience levels, and in particular the connections between environmental education research, practices and collaborations that offer tangible takeaways for participants.

STRANDS & TOPICS:

The annual conference features session strands and tracks to encourage a more broad and inclusive representation of environmental and outdoor learning innovation, research, approaches and resources. Session presentation formats include traditional presentations, hands-on, workshops, roundtable discussions, panels, and lightning presentations that are intended for different knowledge and experience levels.

Session Strands and Example Topics:

Conservation - Sessions that focus on strategies that increase environmental knowledge, improve environmental awareness and attitudes and inspire positive actions to lead to improvements in environmental issues including water, fire, flooding, climate change, energy, pollution, overpopulation, etc.
Connection to Nature/Health and Wellness- Sessions that focus on increasing people’s connection to the outdoors to ensure physical, mental, emotional and social health. Topics could include health and wellness connected to outdoor experiences, understanding of personal and environmental health, hands-on learning, place based education, food/agriculture, behavior change, lifelong learning, urban/rural community approaches, etc.
PreK-12 Education - Sessions that focus on improving academic performance, including greater STEM literacy, increased school engagement for students; programs that support teacher professional development and direct improvement of school grounds and other learning spaces. Topics could include academic standards, curriculum, student achievement, interdisciplinary approaches, projects, extracurricular activities, school grounds, buildings, healthy environments, STEM, homeschooling, and collaborations among schools/universities, EE providers, families, communities, etc.
Youth Development - Sessions that focus on strategies guiding young people as they grow into responsible, engaged citizens that care for the environment and their communities. Topics may include professional, leadership, or character development through outdoor experiences or community service, youth engagement, moving forward EE career paths, etc.
EE for All - Sessions that focus on strategies for providing access and opportunity to outdoor experiences, improved urban green space, and the development and support of environmental educators and leaders from traditionally underrepresented groups.
Early Childhood Outdoor and Environmental Learning- Sessions that focus on strategies for learners ages birth-3rd grade including nature preschools, place-based schools, nature kindergartens, forest kindergartens, or other early childhood programming that promotes child development and environmental literacy, using nature as the central learning theme.
Skills and Professional Learning - Sessions that focus on building the skills and capacity of professionals within the EE community. Topics may include organizational infrastructure, management, fundraising, evaluation, advocacy, messaging/marketing, volunteers, community outreach, developing and expanding alliances, collaborations, networks, etc.

Session Formats

1 hour Traditional Presentation: Traditional presentations focus on a single topic or program, typically including a talk or PowerPoint (or other media) presentation followed by questions and answers or a short discussion.
2 hour Hands-on Presentation: Hands-on presentations are designed to actively engage participants in teaching activities, interactive discussions, project development, or take participants outdoors.
Group Gatherings or Roundtable Discussion: Gatherings or roundtable discussions typically occur during conference meals. Roundtable discussions emphasize spirited discussion about a central question between the presenter(s) and session attendees. Presenters briefly introduce the baseline idea or question they wish to explore and then open the discussion for input and exchange of ideas. Gatherings offer an opportunity for existing groups to meet during conference activities.
Morning Activities: Activities taking place before concurrent sessions begin. Examples include: bird walk, morning yoga, nature walk, etc.
15 Minute Bright Spot: Bright spots are succinct talks that celebrate specific triumphs and showcase things that work. These sessions highlight successful and innovative programs, community partnerships, conservation achievements, expanded audiences, research and evaluation findings, civic engagement, and more. Bright spots may include PowerPoint presentations or still images (such as posters). Presentations are limited to a maximum of 15 minutes.
Not offering in 2026 - Evening Activities: Activities taking place after concurrent sessions end. Examples include: star gazing, night hike, etc.

Submit your Proposal HERE!
Submit your proposal(s) by March 31. We will be reaching out to all presenters who submitted proposals at the end of May with next steps. If you have any questions email [email protected]!

Other Conference Information

Interested in Sponsoring the Conference? Click here for more information. Sponsorship requests will be due Summer 2026.

Interested in Exhibiting at the Conference? Please contact [email protected] Online information will be available soon.

Other conference information is currently being updated and will be available on the main conference webpage (see left hand sidebar for specific conference components.)