Workshop Descriptions

Workshops subject to change, last minute cancellations, revisions and additions

Thematic Strands

• (L) Unless we Practice Sustainability: Living Lightly - Walking our Talk as Environmental Educators - creating sustainable lifestyles, communities and programs. Demonstrating appropriate technology, and finding ways to connect it with the students back at home. Getting kids to go from knowing the words to actually making better choices themselves through lesson, example and community involvement.
• (E) Unless we use Environmental Education Research/Pedagogy: Spreading the word on how EE works and applying what we’ve learned to create more effective programs and lessons. Interpreting and using research results to promote EE and our own programs. Learning from each other’s successes. Collaborating with Universities, Organizations, Foundations, etc. Assessment. Using research and results to get grants and funding for programs.
• (T) Unless we Teach: Making lessons more than words - making them active, hands-on, minds-on, memorable, fun, effective, and relevant to students. Getting students to understand the earth will continue to suffer unless - creating environmentally responsible citizenry through learning experiences - what is working? Service Learning and Action Projects for students.
• (D) Unless we Celebrate Diversity: Reaching ALL populations, ALL students. How do we get there from here? Focusing more on a plan for what is next, not just a critique of what has been. Action plans and practical solutions for reaching diverse audiences (race/ethnicity, religion, physical and mental ability, socio-economic strata, urban - wild, etc), and creating a more diverse group of educators.
• (S) Unless we meet Science Standards: Most EE programs and lessons state they are “aligned with standards” today. Examples of great EE lessons to help achieve mastery of California State Science Standards; Information on Science and Natural History topics to help us more effectively teach. Doing real research and long-term studies with students. Incorporating the scientific method into field lessons.
• (C) Unless we include the Classroom (indoor or outdoor!): Getting kids outside, Using EE to teach standards and improve achievement across the curriculum, creating buy-in from administrators, parents and school board. Ways to follow up outdoor experiences in the classroom and take the lessons home. Incorporating technology, science and environmental education. Teaching across the curriculum with EE. Using the Environment as an Integrating Context. Closing the Achievement Gap. Teaching Science to English Language Learners. Accomodating and Celebrating Differences in the outdoors.

Early Bird

Morning Bird Jaunts! (T) - Katharine Simon - Yosemite Institute. Bird Walk! Start learning to identify birds, and how to teach those skills to children. Participants will walk and observe. Additionally, participants will learn some games they can do with students to help teach the struggles and threats that birds in North America face today.

SESSION #1: SATURDAY 9:45-11:00

101 Beyond Dirt Made My Lunch: Integrating Music in Environmental Education Lessons (T) - Miriam Ban - San Mateo County Office of Education. At San Mateo Outdoor Education the music of Steve Van Zandt and the Banana Slug String Band is an integral part of our environmental education lessons. In this workshop we will share some of our best techniques for incorporating music into lessons including: using songs to introduce concepts and set up lessons and using music to tie lessons together. We will talk about various methods for teaching songs. At the end we will facilitate an open sharing of songs that are education oriented and inspirational for students.

102 Beyond Edibles: Exploring Uses for Fungi (L) - Dani Mazzotta - Sierra Outdoor School. The aim of this workshop is to offer alternative practices that can help us to reach a common goal of creating a simpler and healthier life. We will discuss topics pertaining to Mycroremediation (using fungi to remove toxins from the environment), Mycrogardening (incorporation of fungi to aid in plant growth) and Mycrofiltration (using fungi to filter water.) Together we will even make our own dye and learn how mushrooms can be used to color fabrics. This workshop will make think about mushrooms a whole new way!

103 Dive Into Diversity (D) - Swan Sosky - Monterey Bay Aquarium. Teaching environmental sciences is teaching interconnectedness. Join us in a workshop focused on making connections between nature and audiences of diverse religious, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds. During this workshop, come learn more about the Monterey Bay Aquarium's education programs while learning fun, hands-on activities that incorporate strategies and methodologies for working with a variety of diverse audiences. Be ready to get outside, play, share and discuss ways in which all of us can deliver inclusive environmental programming to inspire the next generation of conservationists.

104 Eco-Phobia (E) - Coleen Ryan - Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Garden. This workshop will introduce the theory of Eco-Phobia highlighted in the book "Beyond Eco-Phobia" by David Sobel. It will be discussion based with some activities focusing how to approach big ideas like endangered animals, climate change and de-forestation with young people.

105 Effective Teaching Strategies to Improve Learning (E) - Laura Vandezande - Hi Hill Outdoor School, Long Beach Unified School District. In this workshop we will cover many techniques of effective teachers, including inquiry-based learning, questioning strategies, assessment techniques, and fun back-pocket tricks. We will learn how to apply the findings of important pedagogical researchers including Benjamin Bloom, Howard Gardner, and Abraham Maslow. Participants will gain useful teaching strategies to engage their students and increase student learning.

106 Exploring the Tidepools (T) - Elizabeth Baker - San Mateo Outdoor Education. Join a tidepool enthusiast for an exploration of the tidepools. Share knowledge with other naturalists, and compare what is found in Southern California tidepools with your own area. The participants will gain an appreciation for tidepool creatures, learn about ways to conduct the activity with a group of children, and share knowledge with other naturalists in a relaxed, non-intimidating environment.

107 Field Journal Fun (C) - Justin Canty - The Outdoor School at Rancho Alegre. This is a workshop for the naturalist wanting to expand their own knowledge and appreciation of nature through fun field exercises utilizing a journal. Includes introduction to "Mind's Eye" technique for remembering flora and fauna; basic birding by ear using a sound map; memory mapping and more.

108 Going Beyond the Week-Long Term Projects for Your Long Term Benefit (E) – Derek Seymour – YMCA of the Redwoods. Are you getting tired of doing the same thing week in, week out or year, in year out? Take matters into your own hands and start a long term project at your site! Track the wildlife, keep track of river quality, or even track the effectiveness of your lessons. Come prepared to share experiences and ideas.

109 Make the Connection! (D) - TBD - Multicultural Education for Resource Issues Threatening Oceans. Multicultural Education for Resource Issues Threatening Oceans (MERITO) has been presenting its MERITO Academy After-school Program to multi-lingual 5-8th graders on California’s central coast since 2002. MERITO educators will share the history of and needs assessment process that lead to the development of the MERITO Academy and will lead the group in MERITO Academy activities intended to inspire ocean conservation.

110 Making Geology Fun (S) - Jennifer Grover - Clemmie Gill School of Science and Education (SCICON). Participate in new hands-on activities for the geology instructional trail. Learn new ways to make learning about the layers of the earth, plate tectonics, and rocks fun for sixth graders. Current California curriculum standards met throughout lesson plan.

111 The Population Connection: Outdoor Human Ecology Activities for a Sustainable Planet (L) - Lissa Eidelman - The Population Connection. Innovative, hands-on activities that examine the connections between human population growth, resource consumption and sustainable ecosystems and communities. Presenter will engage participants in memorable games and simulations for use in outdoor setting. Free activities CD-ROM!

112 Scat is Where It's At!: A Hands-On Approach to Identifying Poop (T) - Kelley Reetz and Evelyn Brown - Irvine Ranch Conservancy. Animals are around us all the time in nature but are rare to see during a hike. What we usually find is their evidence: Scat! Let's take a closer look at the smelly clues animals leave behind to let us know that they are here. Through hands-on activities such as a matching game, a craft project and if time permits, a short hike, we will explore the fascinating world of feces! Each participant will receive a resource packet on animal scat and evidence interpretation to take home!

113 Teaching Compassion and Respect: Connecting Environmental and Humane Education (S) - Liz Maul - Lake Tahoe Humane Society. UNLESS WE TEACH kindness, compassion, integrity, respect, and responsibility toward all people, animals, and the environment...... will we ever achieve harmony and justice in our world? The GOOD NEWS is that we can incorporate humane education into all of our teaching - and empower today’s students to become socially and environmentally responsible citizens. Find out what humane and environmental education have in common. Come and take part in some fun, hands-on activities that focus on the environment and social justice. Take with you copies of the activities (all aligned with California State Standards!) and a list of resources to learn more about humane education!

114 Using Storytelling Effectively as a Teaching Tool and Much, Much More (T) - Dean R. Thompson - KEEP Ocean. Storytelling is a powerful medium for getting a message across or as Dr. Suess would put it...Throughout time stories have taught us about cultures, taboos; transferring to children rights, wrongs, don'ts and do's. In this modern day kids can get quite depressed when constantly told the earth is a mess. So come SHARE some stories that give hope and inspire, to be told in the cabins or a-round the fire. 'Cause if someone like you tells a story that's hot, it can help students care a whole awful lot.

115 Who Lives Here? Tracking Fun (T) - Lisa Curnett - Camp Campbell Outdoor Science School. As an outdoor educator, have you ever wished that you could get kids more connected to nature in a deeper way? Seeing animals in the wild , of course, is a surefire way to get them excited about nature, but you can't always count on cooperation from the natural world. Tracking, when done holistically, is a great tool for speeding the process of getting kids to love the earth. Using hands on activities, from sensory to conceptual; we'll explore some basics of tracking, and brainstorm ideas on teaching tracking to kids.

116 Winged Surfers (T) - Paul Grafton - The Outdoor School at Rancho Alegre. In this workshop you will learn few bird centered activities that help 5th and 6th grade students learn about and appreciate the local birds. Jays and Juncos, Nuerons, Scrub Jay and Acorn, and Sap Sucker Delight are just some of the activities that help bring the exciting world of birds to children in a kid-friendly way. You will also see a few props and tricks for getting kids familiar with birds, including using binoculars.

117 Writing Wild! (C) - Deanna Erickson - Pathfinder Ranch Outdoor Education Program. Explore, reflect, investigate, experience, enjoy, wonder and....write? Language arts standards often loom over teachers (and naturalist's) heads, keeping them indoors when they'd prefer to be out. Come learn easy innovative ways to incorporate writing into the outdoor experience.

118 Working with Students who are English Language Learners (D) - Bich Trinh - San Mateo Outdoor Education. The workshop will start with role play/immersion. In the beginning there will be a simple trail lesson done in Spanish. (It is okay if those attending do not speak Spanish.) Everyone attending the workshop will be participating as students and I will act as the naturalist leading the trail activity. Afterwards we will discuss techniques used that were effective for students who did not speak the language. We will end the workshop reflecting and brainstorming how to make lessons that are commonly used on trail more ELL student friendly.

SESSION #2: SATURDAY 11:15-12:30

201 Adapting Your Interpretive Approach for Diverse Audiences, Part II (D) - Sonya Padron - Multicultural Education for Resource Issues Threatening Oceans. Multicultural Education for Resource Issues Threatening Oceans (MERITO) has been presenting its Watershed Academy After-school Program to multi-lingual 5-8th graders on California’s central coast since 2002. MERITO educator, Sonya Padron will continue where she left off last year by sharing some of the techniques and strategies she uses to inspire ocean conservation while working with MERITO youth.

202 AGUA PURA Fotonovela Project (D) - Sandra Aldana - Agua Pura, UCCE Santa Barbara County 4-H. The AGUA PURA Fotonovela Project engages Santa Barbara County Latino youth and families in educating the Latino community about local water quality issues through the production and distribution of a fotonovela. Fotonovelas, popular throughout Latin America, are comic-book style narratives that use photographs to tell a story with a message. We create a monolingual Spanish fotonovela that will communicate a message about water quality that is relevant to local Latino communities.

203 Basket Weaving – Jacque Nuñez – Journeys to the Past. Jacque, a Southern Californian Indian from the Acjachemen Nation (Juaneno/Mission Indians) from San Juan Capistrano, will share about the indigenous plants used for ancient baskets and what they were used for. Using some of those materials, participants will have fun learning how to make a round reed basket. (Fee Workshop – Space still available sign up at registration)

204 Bone Up On Bones (S) - Evelyn Brown and Kelley Reetz - Irvine Ranch Conservancy. Bones are plentiful and informative resource at most environmental education facilities. Join us for a rib-tickling good time as we take a crash course in animal bone identification, the cultural significance of bones, finding bones in the field and starting your own teaching collection! Finally, test your awesome osteology knowledge during our spine tingling bone hunt! Each participant will receive a resource packet on animal bone interpretation and their very own bone to take home!

205 Community Decision Making (T) - Hope Swank - Vida Verde. Living and working in a community poses many challenges, even if you love everyone on your staff! This workshop will explore what kinds of decisions educational staffs can make together, and the best methods for making everyone feel empowered. The process is worth it!

206 Ecological Footprint Lesson and More! (L) - Jacob Sackin - Sempervirens Outdoor School. Participants will go through a hands-on activity which compares how many resources the average person in four different countries uses. We will also discuss journal activities and strategies for teaching about conservation issues.

207 Exploring Impermanent Nature Art (T) - Lindsay Fromme - Sierra Outdoor School. This workshop is influenced by British Artist/Naturalist Andy Goldsworthy, who produces temporary sculptures using found natural objects to enhance and connect with the surrounding environment. We will be discussing his techniques, materials and philosophies, looking at examples of his art and discussing how these principles can be applied to environmental and outdoor education. As a final conclusion we will set off on our own environmental exploration and create a collaborative impermanent natural art piece. For environmental educators this will be a great way to gather ideas on how to get your students outside, involved with their surroundings as well as incorporate human impact and the impermanence of nature.

208 How to Make the Outdoor Classroom Rock! (T) - Mark Hubbard and John Shea - YMCA Camp Campbell. Upon completion of our workshop, participants will be able to: 1) collaboratively work with a partner to create a new interactive camp song and 2) understand how to make use of simple guitar chord structure and percussion rhythm and rhymes to effectively link music to outdoor education.

209 Is There a Doctor in the Woods? (T) - Patrick Maltba - Exploring New Horizons. A fun, effective way of teaching first aid to students of all ages using survivor inspired challenges, campy humor, and real life situations.

210 Keeping the Magic Alive (T) - Steve Van Zandt - San Mateo Outdoor Education. From stories of inspiration and magic to teaching ideas that you can use tomorrow, this workshop is designed to renew your love for the art of teaching. We will look at outdoor ed. guiding principles each with hands on examples to explain, planning a flow using “Into, Through and Beyond”, ways to infuse a theme, “Framing” ,“Kinesthetic Focusers” and an understanding of the classics. Join Steve Van Zandt, Principal of San Mateo Outdoor Ed. (& member of the Banana Slug String Band) for a thought provoking and active session. Handouts Provided. (This workshop includes past workshops but always with new ideas)

211 Making Community Connections (D) – Kalila Feineman – Headlands Institute. As EE programs diversify their audiences, educators must learn to tailor their teaching styles and curriculum to insure that lessons are relevant and accessible to the students they are teaching. Participants will learn strategies and sources for gathering information on student communities and incorporate this information into their teaching.

212 Natural Hysteria: Humor for the Doom and Gloomer (T) - Tom O'Dowd - Adelante Spanish Immersion School. Sometimes environmental educators can come off rather...unhappy. Endangered this, polluted that, invasive whatever, you know what I mean (I sound like the Once-ler!). This workshop is all about enjoying our dirty little planet while the sky is still blue. Come learn how to teach The Four F's of Mother Nature, share a joke, join the OTHER air cycle club, and take a load off Frann.

213 Ocean Odyssey (T) - Emily Mastellone-Snyder - San Mateo Outdoor Education. This workshop will explore creative, theatrical, musical, interactive, FUN ways to teach students about different marine habitats. Come see the SMOE way we get students psyched for beach day and learning about the ocean. Through the use of costumes and skits, songs, and silliness, we will see how something that could be boring is now fun!

214 Practical Permaculture (L) - Jacob Scheidler and Sara Cartwright - Catalina Environmental Leadership Program. You don't need a farm to start practicing permaculture. This workshop will highlight simple, practical ways that permaculture, permanent agriculture, can go beyond the garden to improve the sustainability, efficiency, and aesthetics of your community. Topics will include: how to make sustainable development fun and easy; how to utilize free resources that are easily within reach; how to turn any problem into an asset; how to recruit help from the community; and how to adopt principles of permaculture into all aspects of your program. This workshop will be informative for both seedlings (those just starting to think about sustainability) and full grown trees (leaders in the field).

215 Rocking the Standards: Earth & Physical Science Lessons to Meet State Standards (D) – Lalo Guerrero – Headlands Institute. Participants will learn fun approaches and activities that cover geology and other earth and physical science standards that can be easily adapted.

216 Science in the Schoolyard and the Backyard: Observing Nature in Any Setting (C) - David Edwards - Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. Think you need to take a field trip to introduce children to nature? Think again! In this workshop, we'll learn fun hands-on activities that will help your students enhance their observational skills and appreciation for local wildlife without leaving the schoolyard.

217 Unless We Experience, Learn About and Love the Ocean, We Cannot Protect the Earth! (S) - Jesse "Jellyfish" Wernick - YMCA Point Bonita. This workshop is for anyone interested in Oceanography and Marine Biology in general, AND specifically of Northern California. We will learn about waves, tides, currents, upwelling, primary productivity, trophic levels and intertidal zonation. If you want a better understanding of the Oceans, from the waves we ride to the critters we explore and admire come to this workshop!

218 Water! It's Everywhere (L) – Emily Pratt – Heal the Bay. Water! It's Everywhere! Or is it? This workshop will discuss water on our planet, watersheds, and marine debris. We will also learn how to teach these concepts in an exciting manner so that children may adequately learn about the problems and solutions in our environment. Material will be addressed through hands-on activities, demos, and an interactive story.

SESSION #3: SATURDAY 3:00-4:15

301 After-school Nature Program (4th-5th Grade) (E) – Marilyn E. Judson – City of Santa Monica CREST After-school Program. This workshop will provide hands-on experience and step-by-step instructions for games, art, music, and other activities taken from two years of weekly lessons on the natural world for 4th and 5th graders. Dubbed “Nature Club” subjects include gardening, marine mammals, local beach ecology, butterflies, birding, etc.

302 Alpha Beta: Conflict & Understanding (D) – Drew “Shangu” Schenck – Pathfinder Ranch. This workshop is an activity role play between two fictitious societies where participants will experience how an ethnocentric viewpoint leads to prejudices. This workshop will be most helpful for understanding various cultures and sub-cultures. Great for Staff Trainings and with students.

303 Cage-free Kids: Addressing Parent Fear in Reconnecting Children to Outdoor Play (T) - Elaine Gibson - Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. Parents are afraid for their children to be outdoors. In two generations, outdoor play has ceased to be associated with childhood. There are ways to address adult fears and allow children to experience the creativity and exploration that only natural areas can provide. Participants will discuss the causes of parental fears and learn ways to overcome them. Participants will also learn ways to encourage everyday outdoor play in children's neighborhoods.

304 Environmental Initiative Activity for Young Students (C) - David Hamilton, Katherine Hislop, Kristall Hevener - Whispering Rocks. At Whispering Rocks, we agree with the philosophy that values we import on today's youth are the values we will see in tomorrow's society. With this in mind we have developed a very effective science learning activity, that kids absolutely love, that promotes that ideal. With our patented "Martian Magnet-Heads" we start with a make believe story about Martians and why there is no global warming on Mars. From there we have a fantastic outdoor activity with the Martian Magnet-heads that connects pretend play of childhood to earth and space science concepts, taking environmental initiative, social responsibilities, power of one, and that solving problems like global warming will take holistic understandings and solutions. Learn More At: WhisperingRocks.net

305 GoPopsi Helping Hand (L) - Geraldine B. Leiwis - GBL&CLjr Publishing. Popsi, The Daughter of Mother Nature is the title of a story book with a free educational teacher's program guide that teaches, environmental lesson using Reading, Writing, Science, Art, Math and Critical Thinking. A recycled plush toy name Popsi reinforces the lesson within the book. In addition the workshop will introduce a free Eco-Pen Pals Program titled GoPopsi Helping Hand. The greatest thing about GoPopsi is that she can visit her eco-friends by traveling in an envelope. Children write how they helped Popsi and Mother Nature clean up our Earth and these stories are sent all over the globe by conventional mail and e-mail.

306 High School Cabin Leader Forum (E) - Kathleen Utter - San Mateo Outdoor Education. Cabin leaders can make or break a program. In this workshop participate in a forum discussing how to share effective ideas and strategies for successful high school cabin leader programs. Also learn ideas on training, selection processes, evaluations for continual growth for cabin leaders, recruiting methods, ideas on how to make them strong leaders, and how to support cabin leaders while they're at O.E. Handouts/Material will be available.

307 Improv for Outdoor Ed (T) - Glenn Etter – Woodleaf Outdoor School. Improv is fun and often hilarious, but it also can be a great tool for outdoor education. In this workshop, led by a former professional improviser, you will learn some basic improv principles and play a number of outdoor-themed improv games. You will also explore how improv can teach kids to work together, engage with nature, and ultimately save humanity.

308 Learning With Lynne Cherry $ - Lynne Cherry – Keynote Speaker. Meet the Author! Following the Keynote Address stay with Lynne and have a discussion about her most recent book, upcoming tour, and being a children’s author. (Fee Workshop – Space still available sign up at registration)

309 Mountains Beginning Guitar Workshop (T) - Mountain Mike Merritt - Pigeon Point Environmental Education. That’s right, your time has come to learn how to play guitar. If you have been thinking about adding this skill to your outdoor/indoor teaching or just want to be included in your friends music or make your own, than this is for you. This workshop is absolutely for beginners and is tailored toward people with little or no music experience. I will get you up to speed on the basics such as chords, rhythm, and singing, but most importantly, on how to teach yourself. So bring, borrow, or steal yourself a guitar and join me for some fun music under the sun.

310 Not Your Average Squid Dissection! (T) - Martha Barbee and Ben Klitzkie - Camp Ocean Pines. Squid dissection – what a great activity! This is an unforgettable opportunity for you to get hands-on experience dissecting a giant Humboldt squid! You know they can reach 8 feet long and weigh over 100 pounds! As a group we will dissect a Humboldt squid, followed by individual dissections of market squid for comparison. Throughout the workshop we will share tips and techniques for bringing squid dissections into your classroom or outdoor program. We'll provide lesson plans and other handouts. Activities presented are appropriate for fourth grade to college age students.

311 The Organic Café (L) – Scott Klein – Exploring New Horizons. The Organic café begins with a brief description about organic leadership, a model of leadership that allows all individuals in a group to be empowered to create the vision of where that group might grow. We will then split into small groups and practice organic leadership by brainstorming about certain topics that fit within the topic of sustainability.

312 The Stars as a Reflection of Cultural Diversity (D) - Jason Hammond - Natural History Museum. You've probably heard of the Big Dipper and Orion but have you ever heard of the Great Torch or the Hunter? If not this is the workshop for you. Join me as I discuss the relevance of the stars to different cultures around the world and how they shaped their diversity through the stories they tell. If there is time and if weather permits their will be telescope viewing or if we can find a dark enough room a mini-planetarium lecture.

313 Unless We Express (D) - Rebecca Troon – Summer Songs. This is a method that makes Songwriting accessible for all ages. You will learn how to create songs, and a simple method for teaching songwriting at the same time. Songwriting is a great way to celebrate diversity and build community.

314 Where Have All the Stars Gone? (L) - Chris Milford – Astrocamp. Conservation takes on many shapes and forms, from water conservation, to natural resources conservation. One very overlooked avenue of conservation is the night sky. How can we all make a difference in saving the stars for our kids? Give a Hoot, Don't Light Pollute!

315 WOW! The Wonders of Wetlands (T) - Leeta Latham – Inside the Outdoors. Come be "WOW"ed by wetlands by playing wetland games, eating recipes from a bog and take home a wetland in pan. These interactive activities are great for the field and the classroom. In addition to a fun workshop, you'll go home with a curriculum guide full of over 40 great indoor and outdoor activities to help your students better appreciate wetlands.

SESSION #4: SATURDAY 4:30-5:45

401 20K Miles on Veg oil and still going! (L) - Stephen (Hoppy) Hopkins - Community Oil. Lower your emissions and slide past your local filling station on your own filtered waste vegetable oil (WVO). US Restaurants and snack food industries discard over 11 billion liters of this oil each year. Workshop Participants will have the opportunity to view a converted car and discuss the opportunities and challenges of switching from crude to canola. Stop by and smell the French fries.

402 Connecting With Students Through School Outreach (E) - Daniel Sudman, Adam Hammes, Will Steinreide - Catalina Environmental Leadership Program. Through researching, interviewing and visiting the schools that attend our EE programs, we are able to generate a better understanding of the teaching strategies that will empower students to make a difference in their community. By taking into account the environmental, regional, cultural, social and developmental diversity represented in our students, we are able to prepare lessons that students can connect to and are applicable to their lives back home. This workshop will outline strategies for gathering information about the schools that attend your program, while also providing hands-on demonstrations of how your lessons can adapt according to your research.

403 CREEC Network: EE Resources to Enhance Student Learning (E) - Celeste Royer and Candice Russell - CREEC Network. The CREEC Network resources and services will be described in this presentation. Highlights will include the CREEC website featuring calendars of EE events, grants, professional development opportunities, and the online, searchable Resource Directory with thousands of EE providers and programs. Statewide EE programs and initiatives will be showcased including an update of the EEI Model Curriculum project.

404 Getting in Sync: Rythym Skills & Games (T) – Burton Lang – Camp Whittier. Using easy to make and play instruments, we will create a rhythmic progression and include everyone in the merriment. Come find out that musical basics will evolve just as easy as laughter. Participants will build rhythmic skills and discover drumming games as teambuilding activities.

405 How to Walk Silently With Children (T) - Bryan Snyder- Rancho Alegre Outdoor School. This session is a study of the techniques, gimmicks and tools a naturalist can use to successfully get a group of students to walk silently along a stretch of trail without degenerating into a gaggle of inattentive, rock-throwing, screaming hoodlums. Participants will learn group management skills specifically relating to leading portions of trails in "silent mode." This is useful for increasing observational abilities, for stalking animals, for limiting distractions, and for giving enough mental space for "a sense of wonder" to be kindled in your students.

406 Ideas for Providing Outdoor Experience to Underserved Students (D) – Tim Ward -Vida Verde Nature Education. This workshop is a strategy session for providing outdoor education to low-income and under-served students. Participants will learn some basic ideas for fundraising for programs that aid low-income populations. Also included is a preview of other programs that provide different sorts of opportunities to similar populations.

407 Mosquito Madness (T) - Kim Taylor - Yosemite Institute. Have your ecology lessons stagnated this season? Are you itching to try something new and bug out of the complacency pool? Now’s your chance….Mosquito Madness is Back! Find out what the buzz was all about last spring and join Kim Taylor for a highly interactive, multi-modal workshop designed to enhance your understanding of “our most persistent and deadly foe” and get your creative juices flowing. Chances are you might never fully appreciate mosquitoes unless…

408 Sense of Place Event Map (T) – Dan Webster – Foothill Horizons Outdoor School. This workshop will teach a unique creative style of mapping the many wondrous events we witness in the outdoors from a spider spinning a web to a red tailed hawk soaring. Participants will begin with an individual stroll using journals, pencils, markers, and crayons.

409 Supervisor's Circle: Hiring Great Staff and Keeping Them! (T) - Traci Fesko - Sierra Outdoor School. Did you once find yourself in front of a group of 6th graders on trail or in front of families at a campfire program and now find yourself in front of a computer? Did your legs used to ache from miles of hiking and now your back aches from hours in an office chair? If so, your one of many outdoor & environmental educators who have stepped into administration. If you'd like support in your position, to bounce ideas off others in similar positions, to share problems & possible solutions, and to be part of collaborative network, then please attend! This workshop will be confidential space in which program coordinators/lead naturalists/field supervisors can discuss the sometimes perplexing issue of staffing outdoor and environmental education programs. Bring your ideas, concerns, successes and questions!

410 Team Building Initiatives (D) - John Elliott- Arrowhead Ranch Outdoor Science School. During this session we will be learning about how to get a group of people of all ages to be able to work together, find each others strengths and weaknesses. In this workshop we take the time to show that differences are not a bad thing and you can always find a common ground. There will be lessons on Initiatives that need supplies and ones that you can do as a spur of the moment activity.

411 Using Stories to Teach Concepts & Motivate Students (T) - Greg Hill - San Diego County Office of Education. Stories have the potential to deeply involve students in a lesson at both a heart and mind level. Participants will hear three stories that can be used to augment concepts in their classes. Each story will be preceded by a description of the goals in telling it to students, as well as some background on the story itself. Workshop will finish with some general ideas about the power of using story telling as a teaching tool.

412 Working with English Language Learners (D) – Emily Wang – Headlands Institute. This workshop addresses working with the diverse student population of California. Participants will examine myths about ELL students and indicators of language proficiency. They will also learn and practice techniques to help ELL students understand and communicate content taught in outdoor schools.

SESSION #5: SUNDAY 9:00-10:30

501 Anti-Racist Teaching (D) – Nicole LaCount – YMCA Point Bonita. This workshop celebrates diversity through directly focusing on populations that many teachers do not truly “know” because of the disparate differences in culture and class. Many of us shy away from dealing with these differences perhaps because we don’t want to be “racist”. Participants will discuss these pre-conceived notions and discuss how a teacher can interact more effectively with the diverse cultures of their students.

502 Behavior Conference with a Student (E) - Aaron "Red Tail" Clegg - Walden West Outdoor Education. How can we use a one-on-one conference to effect positive changes in a student's behavior? This workshop will be a round-table discussion and role-play session for participants to share and practice their experiences and ideas. What works, and what doesn't? The presenter will share method and some of successes, including a few almost miraculous transformations in student behavior. Participants will receive a handout with the presenter's content and some blank space for writing down the ideas that we will invent together.

503 Bird Language: Interpreting Ecology Through the Voice of Birds (S) - Mark Kudrav - San Mateo Outdoor Education. In a presentation that is half lecture and half experiential, participants will receive some basics of bird language. We will explore the five voices of the birds and what each one means. Together in the field, we will interpret what the birds are "saying" and how they respond to disturbances (i.e. people, predators). We will end the workshop with a discussion of how to teach this exciting topic to students at our schools.

504 California's Bitchin' Bees (E) - Mary Schindler and Dr. Gordon Frankie, Ph.D. - University of California, Berkeley. There are more to bees than the honey bee – as many as 1600 native California species! Gordon and Mary will present a colorful slideshow revealing the immense diversity and importance of California native bees and the research they have conducted on these crucial pollinators. They will also talk about how this information may be used to enhance school garden programs and animate students and teachers to use school gardens in new ways. Bees are a critical link to California ecosystems – including food systems.

505 Faces of Change: Inspiring our Youth through Cultural Connections (D) – Amoreena Treff – Headlands Institute. This workshop provides two concrete lesson ideas which are designed to help educators reach all students. Session will include exposure to diverse eco-heroes that students can identify with, discussions on sharing personal stories to connect with each other and the environment, and brainstorm new ideas on how to inspire and empower the youth that we serve.

506 Introduction to Wildland Firefighting (T) - Frank Padilla, Jr - California State Parks. This informative workshop will provide attendees on the basic equipment used by wild land firefighting personnel during a wildfire or prescribed burn. This is an opportunity to learn and understand what is happening during a wildfire and encourage students to be careful with fire, in order to prevent loss of life, property and resources. Unless we don't care, we will continue to have damaging fires.

507 Nominal Group Technique: Addressing Staff and Community Issues and Goals Safely & Efficiently (D) – Patrick McLaughlin – Orange County Outdoor Science School. Nominal group technique is a community development technique used to help large groups of people with differing views create common goals and identify issues. This method allows staff and community members help others deal with issues (interpersonal, environmental, etc.) in a safe way that promotes participant involvement with minimal argument.

508 The Pneumatic Car (L) - Ben Walker - Green Meadows Outdoor School. Over 50% of a traditional car’s fuel is wasted on just moving all of the engines parts and systems. Imagine a car with no transmission, no gears, no reciprocating pistons, no radiator, no spark plugs, no oil lubrication system, and no gasoline. And no biodiesel. And no electric motor. This motor runs on a tank of clean compressed air. Hands-on workshop.

509 Student Stories: Our Trail Groups below the Surface (D) - Erin Blanchard - San Joaquin Outdoor Education. This interactive, simulation-based workshop will focus on students' stories, encouraging naturalists and field teachers to take time to think about their kids below the surface. We will begin with discussion, then participate as students for a short hike and debrief, and conclude with a collective visioning session looking at how we can be most effective in creating inclusive learning communities.

510 Using Games to Hit the Point Home (T) - Meg O'Neill - Yosemite Institute. Many environmental education programs use games to emphasize points in lessons. This workshop will outline tips for awesome game facilitation, as well as basic frameworks for creating your own games to suit your lessons. Come prepared to run around and play!

Workshop Materials are PDF files -