An overview of the four day conference
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Jump down this page for:
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Conference information
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Latest conference updates
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Submitting a workshop proposal
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About the conference theme
Questions? Contact the Conference Committee
HELP SPREAD THE WORD!
Print and post the conference flyer at your
school, organization, public library, or community bulletin board.
CONFERENCE INFORMATION
Who is this conference for?
. Teachers
. Outdoor Educators
. Naturalists
. College Students
. Administrators
. Home-Schoolers
. Pre-service Teachers
. Scout Leaders
. Anyone who enjoys the outdoors!
What we’re seeking:
. Exhibitors
. Vendors
. Volunteers
. Workshop presenters
Brookhaven National Laboratory
Crowne Plaza Hotel
Information & forms to submit for overnight guests.
Dinner & continental breakfast are included for each night reserved.
Register before September 19, 2012 to guarantee a room at the special conference rates.
Join us for any of the conference dinners and evening activities,
even if you are commuting or staying off site.
Use the following form to order one or more dinners.
Please submit form before October 8, 2012.
Keynote Speakers
Jaimie Cloud
Jaimie Cloud is the founder and president of the Cloud Institute for Sustainability Education. The Cloud Institute’s mission is “to ensure the viability of sustainable communities by leveraging changes in K-12 school systems to prepare young people for the shift toward a sustainable future.” For more information on the Cloud Institute visit http://www.cloudinstitute.org/.
Patti Wood
Patti Wood is the co-founder & Executive Director of Grassroots Environmental Education, a NY based non-profit organization aimed at educating the public about links between common environmental exposures and human health problems. For more information on Grassroots visit http://www.grassrootsinfo.org.
Carl Safina
Long Island resident and world-renowned scientific writer, Carl Safina is the “author of six books, and more than a hundred scientific and popular publications on ecology and oceans, including featured work in National Geographic and The New York Times, and a new Foreword to Rachel Carson’s The Sea Around Us.” For more information visit: http://www.carlsafina.org.
Special Events
Welcome to Long Island Event
Thursday 8-9pm at Crowne Plaza Long Island Hotel
Join us after dinner for a fun and interactive introduction to Long Island. Investigate a giant floor map of the Island and visit displays sponsored by top environmental organizations with live marine and terrestrial creatures. Participate in a scavenger hunt to test your local knowledge.
NYSOEA’s Got Talent
Thursday ~9pm at Crowne Plaza Long Island Hotel
Bring your musical, magical, poetic, or comedic ability to show off your hidden (or not so hidden) talent. This variety show will be a totally impromptu way for you to share whatever you would like. So bring your props and be ready for a lot of fun!
Book Swap
Brookhaven National Laboratory
Throughout the NYSOEA conference there will be an ongoing book swap. To refresh your own bookshelf, simply bring your gently used books of any genre. Don’t miss out on this great opportunity!
People Scavenger Hunt
Have you ever fallen in skunk cabbage? Or caught a dragonfly? Get to know other conference attendees with a People Scavenger Hunt! With tickets for special raffle prizes as your incentive, try to find people at the conference who have done some of the wacky items on our list!
STEM EXPO
Friday 5-6pm at Brookhaven National Laboratory
A casual hors d’oeuvres and wine reception to learn about STEM-related programs and activities! Exhibitors will be challenging participants to complete STEM activities to qualify for a special raffle prize. You won’t want to miss this opportunity to share your thoughts and ideas with other attendees!
Live Music with County Line
Friday ~9pm at Crowne Plaza Long Island Hotel
As a dance-centric band, County Line is a hybrid between a traditional live Country Music band and a Country Music DJ. From Abilene to Zjozzys Funk, they learn the songs for the dances you love and balance their set to provide you the greatest variety of dances. This allows CountyLine to play the country music you love to dance to all night long!
Saturday 5-6pm at Brookhaven National Laboratory
Join us for this casual wine & cheese reception to meet these Authors and Artists. Find out about all the amazing ways to incorporate their books, artwork, photographs, music into the education process….directly from the Authors and Artists themselves!
About the conference theme
WORKSHOPS
THE WORKSHOP LIST 
We are currently seeking workshops for the 2012 conference.
If you would like to be a presenter, please fill out a WORKSHOP PROPOSAL FORM:
We are gathering the final surge of workshop proposals. If you have already discussed your workshop with someone on the conference committee, please submit your proposal ASAP.
If you have not had previous contact about your workshop idea, please send a short email to the committee chairs (via this website), to inquire if it is still possible to submit a full proposal. The committee will reply promptly.
We hope the following list of “workshop series” ideas will help you create your workshop:
- The “Green Movement” and Lessening Human Impact on the Environment (Energy, Food, Transportation, Consumption, etc.)
- Kids As Hands On Scientists – Citizen Science
- Watersheds, Weather, Geology, and Astronomy
- Understanding our Oceans and Beaches
- Focusing on Long Island’s Plants and Animals
- Art and Design in STEM and Outdoor Education
- Reading and Writing to Make Field Trips “Pop”
- Adventure Education and Group Problem Solving
- Hands-On History and “Feet-On” Geography
- Cradle to Career STEM – Connecting K-12 Outdoor Education to Job Skills
If you’re not sure if your title fits into any of the above “subject” categories, not to worry. We will be cross grouping workshops according to the audiences for whom they are designed (such as administrators and teachers of informal education programs), and the age groups being taught, such as programs for early childhood, elementary, middle school, high school, and families.
Email us at conferencecommittee (at) nysoea.org if you have any questions.
LATEST CONFERENCE UPDATES
March 2012
- The STEM EXPO will occur during a conference-wide one-hour reception at Brookhaven National Laboratory on Friday, October 19, from 5-6 PM, as workshops come to an end for the day. Individuals and agencies will showcase their STEM-related programs and engage attendees in a short indoor activity (5-10 min long). Attendees will be challenged to participate in as many activities as possible during this one-hour event, in order to have their names entered into a special STEM EXPO raffle. If you would like to offer a STEM EXPO activity, please contact the conference committee via this website.
- Workshop Proposals are under review and many have been approved!
February, 2012
- “Pre-Conference” Workshops for Thursday October 18th:
Several to choose from along Long Island’s scenic north shore – including:
- Canoeing and a discovery cruise, with lunch-on-your-own options in historic, quaint towns.
- An afternoon at world famous Jones Beach on the south shore.
- A museum that features the history of aviation and a state of the art digital planetarium show.
- A shuttle bus will provide transportation between Brookhaven National Lab and the Crowne Plaza Hotel (after breakfast and before dinner). Transportation will be provided to some field trips, too.
- There are 125 school districts on Long Island. The conference committee, working through the local BOCES, is inviting every one of those districts to the NYSOEA 44th Annual Conference to learn about the amazing outdoor education resources on Long Island and around the state. Have you invited your own local district? Let us know if you need assistance!
- While at Brookhaven National Lab, lunch can be purchased daily at the cafeteria on site. As an alternative, some field trips may provide lunch (for a fee) at scenic locations. (Note: Lunch is not included in the hotel fee)
- Some of the Sunday morning workshops and entertainment will be designed to include children and will be open to attendees and their families.
- The Crowne Plaza, our host hotel, offers karaoke on Saturday night for post-live-auction fun.
January, 2012
- January is Workshop Proposal Month! Please submit yours today!
- Keynote Speaker, Carl Safina, has released a new book The View from Lazy Point: A Natural Year in an Unnatural World.
- Keynote Speaker, Jaimie Cloud, was interviewed on January 4th on Progressive Radio Network by Bhavani Jaroff of ieatgreen. Scroll down to “Archives” and choose 1-4-12. The interview begins at 13:10 http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/eating-green/
December, 2011
- Inspiration for workshop content was sent to the membership and is on the website.
- Keynote Speaker, Patti Wood, Executive Director of Grassroots Environmental, contributed to the passing of historic 2011 legislation, the first of its kind in the nation, which prohibits the use of chemical pesticides on open spaces and playing fields at all schools, public and private, from kindergarten through 12th grade, and daycare centers.
- Brookhaven National Lab has travel information on its website. Links are provided for driving directions, Long Island Railroad, ferries, plane, etc.
- We will begin activities at 9AM at BNL on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. (Some pre-breakfast activities may start earlier at BNL!)
November, 2011
- The Crowne Plaza Hotel in Holtsville will house our guests, and provide breakfast and dinner.
- Lunch will be “on your own” and conveniently available in our main conference building which houses the Brookhaven National Lab cafeteria. (M-F 7:30-2:30, Sat- Sun 7:30-2:00)
October, 2011
- Brookhaven National Lab (BNL) will be our host site.
- Crowne Plaza Hotel in Holtsville will be our host hotel.
- Jolene Thompson (DEC), Eric Powers (Your Connection to Nature), and Mary Miller will co-chair the 44th Annual Conference.
