C1 EcoScience Works
Kara Wooldrik, Environmental Education Director, Maine Audubon
Middle schoolers across Maine are field-testing an innovative ecology curriculum. EcoScienceWorks builds on Maine's laptop program for 7th and 8th grade students and will be distributed to 150 science teachers and 17,000 middle-schoolers statewide. The product of non-traditional partnering among government and non-profit organizations, educators, and educational software developers, the EcoScienceWorks curriculum engages students in virtual and real experiments on local ecosystems and issues of environmental concern.

C2 Environmental Education for K-3
Cameron Sutton, Science Teacher/Environmental Educator, Auburn Land Lab, Maine
What can you do with young children to get them engaged and exploring the natural world? This workshop will explore a variety of activities specifically geared to our youngest students in early elementary. Join us to explore, discover, create and play!

C3 Pre-Service Teachers, Service Learning and Project WET Join in Stewardship
Janice Rey, Ed.D., Assistant Professor, Saint Joseph's College of Maine
Creating sustainable change in the field of environmental education begins with teachers-in-training. Project WET, a national research-based water education program, is available in Maine through a partnership with the Portland Water District. Educators and students from Saint Joseph's College of Maine will share activities and outline their service learning project with the Portland Housing Authority.

C4 The People Connection: Human Ecology Activities for a Sustainable Planet
Douglas Maker, Science Teacher, Lake Region Middle School, Naples, ME
Discover innovative, hands-on activities from the Population Connection that examine the connections between human population growth, resource consumption and sustainable ecosystems and communities. The presenter will engage participants in memorable games and simulations for use in the classroom or nature center. Participants will explore innovative ways to teach students about population growth trends, natural resource use and carrying capacity. Free activities CD-ROM included!

C5 Meet & Brainstorm with the New NEEEA Administrator
Meg Edstrom, NEEEA Administrative Manager and Amy Yeakel, NEEEA Board President
Now that the New England Environmental Education Alliance has hired a part-time administrator, the potential for better marketing, membership, databases, and fundraising for the environmental education field in New England has been increased. The NEEEA board invites members from all 6 New England state EE organizations to join us, meet Meg, and plot out future support projects and collaboration.

C6 Laughing While Learning: Humor as a Teaching Tool in Environmental Education
Rob Sanford, Professor of Environmental Science & Policy, University of Southern Maine and Lisa Purcell, Four Winds Nature Institute, Chittenden, Vermont
Laugh out loud! Research shows that humor increases learning speed, aids in the retention of new information and improves problem solving. In this workshop we'll share strategies including puppet shows, skits, silly songs and games for incorporating humor into our EE programs. Participants are invited to share examples from their own experiences. (Limit 35)

C7 How Can We Better Teach about Global Climate Change?
Deb Avalone-King, Maine DEP; Jim Chandler, Auburn Land Lab Director; Molly Schauffler, University of Maine Climate Change Institute; Zach Smith, Program Coordinator, Wright Center for Science Education, Tufts University
Learn from a panel of climate change educators on how they are engaging students and teachers and the general public in climate change issues. Learn about sources of activities you can use with a wide range of audiences from K-12 to adults. We'll also discuss and brainstorm where we can go from here in making a difference in this most important issue.

C8 Transforming School Grounds into Green Learning (and Play!) Spaces
Laura Newman, School Ground Greening Coordinator, Portland Trails, Portland, ME
School Grounds are often sterile manmade environments, devoid of natural features. They are also significant spaces for children and community. We will share a range of examples of school ground greening projects, some strategies for working effectively with schools, organizations and municipalities, and some research that explains the importance of this issue.

C9 Creating Equitable Relationships: Exploring Democratic Systems Within Educational Environments.
Audubon Expedition Institute, Atlantic Coast Learning Community (Brad Davis and Students & Faculty at Lesley University)
Students and faculty of the AEI traveling learning community ("The Bus") will share experiences of, and ideas for, building bridges across the divides of power that lie between students and teachers in the educational process. The goal of this process is to develop democratic relationships that can be applied towards transforming our culture into a more life affirming society.

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