12th Annual SEEA Conference & Research Symposium

This session will detail the results of a cross-sectional research study that explored
environmental educators’ conceptualization of cultural relevance in environmental education, the pedagogical theories and practices environmental educators use when working with students from racially, culturally, and socioeconomically diverse populations, and the ways in which the concepts of multicultural environmental education are being incorporated by environmental educators. This fits within the environmental education through a societal lens strand as it invites attendees to explore justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion among environmental educators. By the end of this session, attendees will have an understanding of perspectives of other environmental educators as well as a foundation for engaging in critical self reflection about their own pedagogical practices.

Recognizing the significant pressures placed on classroom teachers from day one, including ongoing evaluations by administrators and parents, how can we, as external partners, make a difference for both educators and their students? Join us for a workshop exploring the powerful role of informal and formal educators in bringing environmental science concepts to life within the existing curriculum to improve science learning.

Sharing how the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum introduces environmental education to preschool aged children in a fun and engaging way. They use the history of the Fortenberry-Parkman farmstead featured at the museum to bring to life what is happening in a book about farm life or other topics that impact the environment. The Story Time with Uncle Story program includes interacting with the content of the book and an enjoyable activity and or craft. They will also share how this program impacts the guests they meet and how that impact will make environmental education more appealing as the children grow. Participants will get to experience Story Time with Uncle Story and see environmental education through the eyes of a child.

Join The Local Authority for an interactive session that integrates literature, visual arts, and creative writing to inspire Mississippi students to fall in love with reading and storytelling. This session showcases how culturally relevant stories and art-focused curriculum guides can enhance comprehension, creativity, and self-expression in the classroom.
Participants will explore sample lessons from our curriculum guides, designed around our original Mississippi-based books. Each guide integrates authentic arts experiences—such as creating character collages, story-based skits, and poetry writing—while aligning with state standards for comprehension and writing. These activities provide innovative strategies to engage students in meaningful discussions about culture, identity, and storytelling, fostering their skills as readers, writers, and artists.
The session will include:
Interactive Exploration: Participants will engage in a hands-on mini-lesson combining reading, comprehension, and art activities.
Curriculum Design Demonstration: Insights into how our curriculum guides connect literature to visual and performing arts, making learning both meaningful and enjoyable.
Student Voice Showcase: Examples of student-created work to illustrate how these lessons encourage self-expression and celebrate diversity.
Practical Implementation: Strategies for integrating our resources into classrooms, with flexible options for all grade levels and learning environments.
Participants will leave with ready-to-use tools, including an exclusive curriculum sample, strategies to foster a love of reading, and ideas to inspire students to tell their own stories through art and writing.

Join us for an interactive workshop designed to immerse participants in the world of environmental science through hands-on activities. In this session, you'll engage in exciting lessons like the DIY Watershed, Estuary Survivor Game, and the Edible Aquifer in a Cup. We will explore the scientific concepts behind each activity while experiencing them as students do.

Attendees will leave equipped with detailed lesson plans and additional resources for teaching earth science and environmental topics effectively in their classrooms. This session is perfect for educators looking to enhance their curriculum with engaging, experiential learning opportunities that foster a deeper understanding of our planet's ecosystems. Take advantage of this chance to inspire the next generation of environmental stewards!

FoodChain invites conference participants to explore the dynamic intersection of environmental education and hands-on urban agriculture in this highly interactive session. Drawing on FoodChain’s pioneering 7,000-gallon aquaponics system—the first of its kind in Kentucky—attendees will discover how middle and high school students are transforming their learning experiences through the Bluegrass Urban Farm Friends (BUFF) program. Under the guidance of dedicated staff and volunteers, these students work up to ten hours per week on tasks such as seeding, transplanting, water quality management, and fish care, all while connecting critical environmental concepts to real-world applications.
Anchored in the conference strand Bringing Environmental Education to the Classroom, this session will highlight how FoodChain overcomes common obstacles—ranging from funding limitations to space constraints—by cultivating partnerships with local schools and community stakeholders. Presenters will share strategies for replicating key elements of BUFF in diverse settings, including actionable tips for securing support, integrating technology, and leveraging student-driven research projects. Participants will engage in small-group discussions to brainstorm creative approaches for weaving aquaponics and other high-impact agricultural practices into school curricula.
By the end of the session, attendees can expect to leave with concrete resources, including lesson plan templates, volunteer engagement frameworks, and storytelling techniques that capture the transformational power of urban agriculture. This professional development opportunity offers more than information-sharing: it immerses participants in a holistic model of experiential learning that fosters environmental stewardship, promotes healthy food choices, and empowers the next generation of environmental leaders.

With federal and traditional funding sources shifting rapidly, many of us are finding ourselves in unfamiliar, unstable territory. How do we build a sustainable future when the old funding models are no longer reliable? This session will dig into strategies for cultivating individual donors, writing and managing grants, building foundation relationships, and thinking strategically about where your next dollars can come from. You'll leave with real-world examples, templates for your own fundraising strategy, and tips you can immediately put into action—whether you’re an all-volunteer organization or part of a larger team.  Change can be tough, but it can also spark new ideas, new partnerships, and new opportunities.

The Mississippi Coastal Cleanup Program (MSCCP) is bringing hands-on experiences to Coastal Mississippi classrooms! MSCCP is a non-profit educational program that promotes the conservation of the local marine environment by facilitating active stewardship within coastal Mississippi. The MSCCP was formed with the mission of preventing and removing litter from the coastal environment through education, outreach, research, and cleanup events.

MSCCP hosts and facilitates cleanups throughout the year, bringing together volunteers of all ages and backgrounds to help keep Mississippi beaches clean and beautiful. Our volunteers make a huge difference in our understanding of the types and quantities of litter found locally, but reducing litter and marine debris starts long before a beach cleanup. While cleanups are important to collect data and possible sources of debris, the cycle will never end if we do not stop it at its source. A critical step toward this end is education.

MSCCP visits classrooms in K-12 schools as well as community organizations to teach students about the hazards associated with marine debris and ways to reduce the amount of waste we produce in our daily lives. MSCCP engages students in learning through hands-on activities, including microplastic filtration and observation, the "Fishing with Trash" game, and opportunities to participate in cleanups on or off campus. All presentation materials and activities are aligned to Mississippi College and Career Readiness Standards.

This session relates to the conference strand “Bringing EE to the Classroom” as it incorporates standards, supports teachers with activity guides, and is nature-based. It also opens pathways to partnering with school districts for long-term, sustainable programming through alignment with state standards.

Participants can expect to learn the details of each activity as well as receive activity guides, if desired. Participants will also take part in playing the "Fishing with Trash" game.

NEED offers a vast number of activities that combine our desire to have energy and the impact it has on the environment. We will work through activities and explore the NEED website.