2026 CAEE Advancing EE Conference: Full Schedule

1:15pm MDT

Co-creating Environmental Civic Actions with Youth

Thursday September 17, 2026 1:15pm - 2:15pm MDT

Earth Force will highlight three key elements of Environmental Action Civics: investigation to identify issues, developing effective strategies for civic action and planning to “Ask for Change” in partnership with youth. Participants will take away resources that will help scaffold experiences and build skills to prepare youth to become responsible and engaged citizens.

Presenters

Alyssa McConkey

CPO, Earth Force

Alyssa's focus at Earth Force is aligning strategy and programming. She oversees all program delivery and evaluation to ensure frameworks are grounded in evidence-based practices.

Taylor Ruffin

Implementation Strategy Lead, Earth Force

Taylor brings a background in environmental education, natural resource management, and youth development. He is dedicated to helping others foster a connection to their community and nature. During free time, Taylor enjoys rock climbing and cooking for his family. Taylor supports... Read More →

Thursday September 17, 2026 1:15pm - 2:15pm MDT
Bear Creek | Hydro Building 2nd Floor CSU Spur Campus | 4777 National Western Drive, Denver, CO 80216

Youth Development

2:30pm MDT

Outdoor Homeschool Enrichment - Creating Second Spaces in Nature for Homeschool Youth

Thursday September 17, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm MDT

Spring Creek | Hydro Building 2nd Floor

Explore how state-funded homeschool enrichment programs can be spaces of community connection and growth through Bluff Lake Nature Center’s case study. This session examines how long-term, place-based learning provides a vital "second place" for youth. Gain tangible strategies for integrating ecological literacy, stewardship, and social-emotional learning into K-8 outdoor programs.

Presenters

Casey McCabe

School Programs Manager, Bluff Lake Nature Center

Casey McCabe is the School Programs Manager at Bluff Lake Nature Center. She is passionate about creating welcoming learning environments where people can build meaningful connections to the natural world. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Earlham College and a Master of... Read More →

Thursday September 17, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm MDT
Spring Creek | Hydro Building 2nd Floor CSU Spur Campus | 4777 National Western Drive, Denver, CO 80216

Youth Development

9:00am MDT

Helping Every Teen See Themselves in Green Careers

Friday September 18, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am MDT

Cottonwood Creek | Hydro Building 2nd Floor

Imagine if every teen understood how their interests, talents, and passions could lead to a meaningful career with opportunities to care for the environment. Explore the newly expanded and redesigned Green Pathways website and brand new classroom ready tools to help you integrate career exploration and workforce readiness into your instruction.

Presenters

Lisa Eadens

Program Coordinator, Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education

Lisa grew up in a small mountain town on Colorado’s Western Slope where she developed a love for outdoor recreation and a respect for our natural world. She earned a B.S. in Biology from Davidson College and an M.S. in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation from the University of Florida... Read More →

Friday September 18, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am MDT
Cottonwood Creek | Hydro Building 2nd Floor CSU Spur Campus | 4777 National Western Drive, Denver, CO 80216

Youth Development

12:45pm MDT

What's the Dirt on DIGS?

Friday September 18, 2026 12:45pm - 1:45pm MDT

Rock Creek | Hydro Building 2nd Floor

During this session, you’ll learn about DIGS (Developing Individuals, Growing Stewards) an interactive, agricultural literacy and environmental education curriculum designed for the 3rd through 5th grade audience. Get moving with our hands-on activities, then take home the materials to share what you’ve learned with your students.

Presenters

Toby Swaford

4-H STEM State Specialist, Colorado State University-Fort Collins

Toby Swaford has specialized in informal educational programming for over 30-years. He has designed interactive, hands-on experiences for a variety of zoos, aquariums, and museums; as well as serving as the STEAM program manager for the Denver Comic Con. He currently works for Colorado... Read More →

Friday September 18, 2026 12:45pm - 1:45pm MDT
Rock Creek | Hydro Building 2nd Floor CSU Spur Campus | 4777 National Western Drive, Denver, CO 80216

Youth Development

2:00pm MDT

What Comes Next? - Teen Engagement Programs

Friday September 18, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT

Rock Creek | Hydro Building 2nd Floor

From storytimes to summer camps, kids love being at The Gardens. As the years go by, they start to wonder...what comes next when they get to middle or high school? This session explores stewardship focused programs that bridge the gap and keep teens engaged in their passion for the outdoors.

Presenters

Hannah Krikorian

Volunteer Coordinator, The Gardens on Spring Creek, City of Fort Collins

Hannah Krikorian is the Volunteer Coordinator at The Gardens on Spring Creek in Fort Collins, Colorado, where she’s been working with volunteers for the past seven years. Prior to coordinating volunteers, she spent time in environmental education at The Gardens and Walt Disney World... Read More →

Britt Mowen

Youth Programs Coordinator, Gardens on Spring Creek - City of Fort Collins

Britt Mowen is the Youth and Teen Programs Coordinator at The Gardens on Spring Creek botanic garden in Fort Collins, Colorado. She has been through many roles during her time at The Gardens including volunteer, education intern, seasonal teen mentor, and now coordinator. Her primary... Read More →

Friday September 18, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT
Rock Creek | Hydro Building 2nd Floor CSU Spur Campus | 4777 National Western Drive, Denver, CO 80216

Youth Development

3:15pm MDT

Water Education Exemplars Explained

Friday September 18, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT

Bear Creek | Hydro Building 2nd Floor

Today’s children will be adults in 2050, when the Colorado Water Plan will be fully implemented. In support of the plan and water literacy, we’ve built an external evaluation system, using the Guidelines for Excellence in EE. We’re identifying 100 "Water Education Exemplars" with a team of 35 youth evaluators.

Presenters

Matthew Greves

Solstice Impact Group

Alexia Lor

Youth Reviewer, Water Education Exemplars Project

Environmental science student passionate about applying classroom knowledge on water resources, sustainability, and ecological systems in real-world environmental challenges through hands on experience. Eager to expand and deepen understanding of environmental issues through collaborative... Read More →

Donny Roush

Project Manager, Colorado Watershed Assembly

As a career capstone after 30+ years in environmental education, I am leading the Water Education Exemplars Project which will -- for the first time -- create empirical evidence of quality for Colorado's water education programs and materials. Identifying the best of the best -- Water... Read More →

Friday September 18, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT
Bear Creek | Hydro Building 2nd Floor CSU Spur Campus | 4777 National Western Drive, Denver, CO 80216

Youth Development

1:15pm MDT

2:30pm MDT

9:00am MDT

12:45pm MDT

2:00pm MDT

3:15pm MDT

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