2026 CAEE Advancing EE Conference

High-quality outdoor instruction is backed by rigorous data. We’ll dive into the research linking nature-based learning to improved academic, SEL, and nature-connection outcomes. Learn how to translate this evidence into a powerful case for consistent, school-wide outdoor pedagogy.

Engage in motivational activities that explore population ecology, carrying capacity in nature, biodiversity and human impacts on ecosystems. Develop and use 3D models and simulations to explain ecological phenomena and discuss ways to implement these activities in an inclusive classroom/group as part of broadening students’ understanding of sustainability.

Description coming soon.

What happens when agriculture and solar energy share the same land? Agrivoltaics not only reshapes how we use space—it brings together farmers, scientists, educators, and communities in new ways. This session shares a case study of how that intersection can become a powerful tool for student learning.Grounded in real-world practice, we’ll explore how cross-sector collaboration creates authentic opportunities for students to engage with environmental challenges and solutions. Attendees will gain insight into how “messy,” interconnected systems can spark deeper learning and connection.

TBA

This session explores how environmental educators can bring outdoor learning into indoor classrooms while maintaining engagement and effective classroom management. Drawing on our experience teaching with the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies in public elementary schools, we address the growing challenge of student behavioral and emotional needs.Participants will engage in real-world scenarios to collaboratively problem-solve classroom challenges, share experiences, and develop practical strategies they can apply immediately. Small group discussions will highlight both struggles and successes, fostering a supportive learning community.We also emphasize the long-term benefits of integrating environmental education into weekly instruction, helping build environmental literacy from an early age. Attendees will leave with concrete tools and increased confidence to teach environmental education in a classroom setting effectively.

Join us to explore how an innovative partnership between Sustainability and Humanities is reshaping how high school English students address climate issues in Denver Public Schools. Attendees will walk away with concrete strategies for how to build interdepartmental partnerships to empower climate action and increase student’s access to the Seal of Climate Literacy diploma endorsement in their school district. 

Move beyond awareness to systemic action. Use the Wild Rose Education Transformative Praxis Lab to audit your programs for alignment with Colorado’s Climate Literacy priorities. Practice Ethical Observation visual routines that remove learning barriers and identify Action Gaps to transform your teaching and programs into an engine for relational care and civic change.

Culturally responsive teaching begins with understanding your own lens and honoring the cultures children bring into your program. From NAEYC's new book "Becoming a Culturally Responsive Teacher: Sustaining the Cultures of Young Children" this session will provide clear explanations of culturally responsive practices and why they matter to children’s sense of self and their learning and development. Through active learning and reflection practical examples will be presented that show how culturally responsive practices benefit children with a range of identities and contexts. This session will help educators see everyday teaching moments as opportunities to honor culture, build belonging, and support the learning and development of every child.

Reconnect learners with land and meaning through South Platte Park’s Following the Four Directions framework. Explore slow pedagogy, tracking as a way of knowing, storytelling, and dialogic learning—practical, place-based strategies that spark curiosity, foster relationships, and inspire ethical action in every park experience.