The theme of this year’s conference –  Golden Year, Greener Future commemorates our 50th anniversary and honors the joy and dedication that educators in our field have demonstrated throughout our history. This milestone year invites us to reflect on our shared past, renew our commitment to a brighter future, and advance environmental thinking and literacy for generations to come. We welcome presentations that highlight experiences and initiatives from community events, school and nonformal programs, advocacy efforts, and professional development.  

Conference Tracks include: 

Nature for All: Environmental education is strongest when everyone can participate and thrive. This track explores strategies for designing and advocating for programs that are accessible and inclusive for people of all backgrounds, abilities, identities, and learning styles.  Discover practical tools, adaptive teaching techniques, and universal design approaches that help create outdoor and classroom experiences for every learner.

Growing Green Leaders: Nourish the foundational roots of career growth. This track offers guidance and inspiration for early-career environmental educators/students through resume building and interviewing, program planning, enhancing soft skills, workplace success, networking, and professional development. Learn from experienced professionals while building the skills and relationships that will support your journey to a meaningful career.

Nurturing Organizational Skillsets: Behind every impactful EE program is a strong organization full of people with multifaceted skillsets. This track will help to strengthen the leadership and skills that keep environmental education organizations moving forward. Learn from peers about building effective teams, marketing to your audience, writing grants, managing volunteers, and navigating change while staying true to your mission and goals.

Programs in Practice: Why talk about great programming when you can experience it? This interactive track brings environmental education lessons to life through hands-on participation. Presenters will share their favorite place-based activities, demonstrating innovative, STEELS-aligned lessons, successful school partnerships, and instructional strategies that seamlessly integrate environmental literacy, sustainability, and outdoor learning into K–12 classrooms and nonformal education programs. 

Tech for Tomorrow: Technology is transforming how we explore, teach, and protect the natural world. This track explores innovative digital tools, including artificial intelligence, iNaturalist, GIS, drones, apps, and digital storytelling that enhance environmental education while strengthening learners' connections to nature. Discover practical ways formal and nonformal educators can use technology to increase accessibility, engage audiences when getting outdoors isn't possible, and inspire community science, environmental stewardship, and positive action. Together, we'll explore how these tools can be used not just to access information, but to turn knowledge into meaningful impact for people and the planet. 

Session info: All sessions will be scheduled 45 minutes in length.

Other details:

* Maximum of 2 speakers per presentation - we also understand that some presentations may need more. Email stacey@paee.net to discuss needing additional presenters. 

* One submission per person. More than one automatically disqualifies all submissions from that person.

* Organizations can submit as many as they want as long as it is one per person, but no more than two will be selected from any organization. Larger organizations such as universities, government agencies, and statewide organizations may submit under schools, departments, or specific geographic projects. 

* Final decisions are made by the program committee chair and the conference committee chairs

The deadline to apply to be a presenter is Friday, October 16, 2026.

(Note: There is no registration or fee required if you intend to solely present and not attend any of the conference. We are unable to provide registration discounts to presenters who also attend the conference.)