KAEE 2024 Conference

1. Restoring Ecological Function Through Pollinator Habitat Establishment: The Relative Efficacies of Several Pollinator Habitat Establishment Systems, Kristin Conrad, Kentucky State University
2. Comparing Accuracies of LiDAR and Multi-spectral Equipped Drones to Traditional Field Assessment for Determining the Spatial Extent of Amur honeysuckle in Central KY Forests, Kasia Bradley, Kentucky State University
3. An Analysis of Litter, Urbanization, and the Emerging Role of Citizen Science in Beargrass Creek, Louisville, KY, Ella Swigler, University of Louisville
4. Children's Access to Nature: A Comparison Study, Becky Johnson, Fayette County Public Schools
5. Understanding Misconceptions about Caves: Improving the Learning, Jeanine Huss, Western Kentucky University
6. Is Goat Browsing as Effective as Traditional Brush Management Methods, Jody Thompson, Kentucky State University
7. Assessing environmental education: evaluating the impacts on student knowledge and attitudes about Ohio River Conservation, Lillie Daniel, Thomas More University
8. Children’s Access to Nature: Central Kentucky, Brooke Crenshaw, Eastern Kentucky University
9. Branching Out: Cultivating Social Skills Through Play and Forest Schooling, Brooke Crenshaw, Eastern Kentucky University and Trail Tots

Environmental stewardship with opportunities for community involvement abound, but urban, community-based stewardship projects also experience high failure rates. Labor requirements, lack of appropriate experience, resources, and lack of long-term planning leads to low quality implementation and lack of continued interest. This session will describe two successful environmental stewardship projects with different levels of community involvement. Participants will be asked to describe their own experiences, and presenters will provide their formula for improving environmental stewardship projects.

The Frankfort/Franklin County Joint Task Force on Invasives was formed in 2021 with a goal to develop a structured invasive species plan and framework for regular community and agency activity on the issue. This community led initiative has resulted in an approved city plan, mapping of county-wide priority areas, fundraising, and planning for paid positions with partnering agencies to address task force needs.

Olmsted Parks Conservancy in partnership with Kentucky State University began a brush management demonstration trail in 2022 in Louisville, KY to address citizen and agency questions about whether using small ruminant livestock (goats) can be an efficient, sustainable habitat management tool compared to traditional, herbicide-based methods. Preliminary results and the methods used to address community interest have generated additional support toward expanding natural areas management while also addressing community concerns.

Successful, long-term environmental stewardship requires experience, evidence-based methods, and a structured process. Sustainable community engagement requires persistent efforts, immersive opportunities, and a focus on community needs. Although these two can be at odds, they can be effectively combined with a structured approach.

Conference Presentation Proposal: Inspiring Change Through "This is the Ohio: Life, Death, and Rebirth of our Beautiful River"
Presented by: Dr. David Wicks
Introduction
This session will explore the transformative power of documentary filmmaking in environmental advocacy and community engagement. We will delve into Morgan Atkinson's documentary, "This is the Ohio: Life, Death, and Rebirth of our Beautiful River." This powerful film not only captures the essence of the Ohio River but also serves as a catalyst for several significant initiatives aimed at preserving and revitalizing this vital waterway.

About the Documentary
Morgan Atkinson, an award-winning filmmaker recognized with the Governor's Award for the Arts, brings to life the story of the Ohio River through his documentary. "This is the Ohio" offers a profound narrative that intertwines the river's ecological history, current challenges, and the hopeful efforts to restore its health and beauty. Morgan also directed Wonder; The Life of Anna and Harlan Hubbard.

Segments Viewing
We will start by viewing selected segments from the documentary, which highlight key aspects of the Ohio River's journey. These segments will set the stage for understanding the various initiatives inspired by the documentary.

Initiative 1: Ohio River Way
The first initiative we will discuss is the Ohio River Way, a collaborative effort with the National Park Service to designate the Ohio River as a national water trail. This initiative aims to enhance recreational opportunities, promote conservation, and boost local economies along the river. By establishing the Ohio River as a national water trail, we can ensure its protection and accessibility for future generations.

Initiative 2: Kentucky Ohio River Regional Recreation Authority (KORRA)
Next, we will explore the formation of the Kentucky Ohio River Regional Recreation Authority (KORRA), which was officially signed into law by Governor Brashear in April of this year. KORRA's mission is to develop and manage recreational facilities and activities along the Kentucky portion of the Ohio River, fostering community engagement and sustainable tourism. This initiative highlights the potential for regional cooperation in promoting environmental stewardship and economic development.

Initiative 3: Ohio River Ecological Restoration
Finally, we will discuss the Ohio River Ecological Restoration initiative, led by the National Wildlife Federation and the Ohio River Basin Alliance. This initiative focuses on comprehensive ecological restoration efforts to improve water quality, restore habitats, and enhance biodiversity along the river. The documentary plays a crucial role in raising awareness and garnering support for these vital restoration projects.

Initiative 4: Payne Hollow on the Ohio
Payne Hollow, the home of Anna and Harlan Hubbard, is a new educational facility in Trimble County that focuses on the confluence of Art, Culture and the Environment. It has been made possible in part by Morgan’s early movie Wonder.

Conclusion
Through the lens of "This is the Ohio," we witness the power of storytelling in inspiring action and fostering community engagement. Each of these initiatives—the Ohio River Way, KORRA, and the Ohio River Ecological Restoration—demonstrates a commitment to preserving the Ohio River's natural beauty and ecological integrity.
As we conclude this presentation, I encourage you to reflect on how we can leverage similar storytelling tools and collaborative efforts in our own communities. Together, we can create a ripple effect of positive change, ensuring a sustainable and vibrant future for our natural resources.
Q&A Session
We will now open the floor for questions and discussions.

How can community partners collaborate to "forge paths" and make impactful environmental education experiences that are relevant to place and support the priorities of partners and schools, formal educators, and student learning expectations? Dive into the planning processes, considerations, and implementation of environmental education collaborations in Woodford County. Vivian and Rachel will share stories and examples of how their organizations-- an EE non-profit and conservation district-- have supported (and continue to support) formal educators and students in their community! Participants will view photos and engage in hands-on experiences, leaving with a better understanding of available resources and creative "Reese's Pieces" (resource piecing-together) ideas.

Harnessing younger students’ innate curiosity about the natural world and desire to protect it can be done with hands-on classroom activities that build STEM skills, increase environmental literacy, foster environmental stewardship and encourage creative thinking about sustainable paths forward.

In this session, the presenter will facilitate a series of interdisciplinary lessons that involve collecting and analyzing data, creating 3D models and concept maps, and working collaboratively on solving authentic problems related to human ecology. Activities support Kentucky Academic Standards, especially Earth and Human Activity (Disciplinary Core Idea - ESS3C). Participants will receive lesson plans and background materials in an electronic format, along with links to digital tools that can be used in and out of the classroom and environmental education center.

After a brief introduction on the ecology concepts to be presented, the presenter will lead participants in several hands-on activities. These include:
• an interactive story about a local river, how different communities have affected that ecosystem over time and strategies for taking care of the area.
• small groups will create concept maps connecting cause-and-effects relationships between people’s activities and environmental trends.
• participants play a game on sustainable research management

The presenter will lead discussion on how the activities can best be incorporated into classroom and nonformal education programming.

You put a lot of work into your newsletters, social media posts, PowerPoints and website -- but are they accessible to people with disabilities? Roberta Burnes will show you how a few simple steps can improve accessibility of your socials, email announcements, PowerPoints and more, to ensure that EVERYONE gets your message. Topics covered will include writing appropriate alt text for images, effective use of color and contrast, and using Microsoft's built-in accessibility checker. Bring your smartphone or laptop for some hands-on practice.

Environmental educators are light bearers in a world that can, at times, feel dark. Global and national events can feel overwhelming and make it seem like our work isn’t making a difference. Staff of the Kentucky Environmental Education Council will lead an interactive discussion about the strategies they use to stay positive and make meaningful impacts in local communities. They will share hopeful stories from the Environmental Education Leadership Corps, Professional Environmental Educator Certification Program, and Master Plan for Environmental Education in Kentucky. Participants can bring examples from their own work to share in this crucial conversation about how positivity, mindfulness, and seeking community can have a ripple effect in the work we do.

Nonformal education sites offer enriching educational experiences for students. The McDowell Farm School (MFS) exemplifies this by providing students with immersive encounters in a working farm environment. Despite their educational value, many nonformal education sites lack sufficient evidence of their impact. This session presents a research study aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of MFS programs on visiting students. By utilizing pre-visit/post-visit surveys and interviews, this study provides valuable insights into program efficacy and offers transferable evaluation methods for similar nonformal education programs. This session will explore the study’s methodology, findings, and implications to contribute to a deeper understanding of program evaluation in nonformal education contexts. This will be done using results and survey responses taken from the visit to the MFS that document the program’s impact on participants’ knowledge, attitudes, and behavior. By showcasing the positive impact of MFS on students and providing transferable evaluation methods, the session advances our understanding of the value of experiential learning beyond traditional educational settings.
The research study utilized the EE21 survey as part of the program evaluation to document program impacts of the MPS on visiting students. The EE21 is available for other EE program providers to use. Researchers will share how the survey can be validated and used for program evaluations of conference attendees allowing them to include this valuable tool in their own program evaluations.

In Growing Gorillas: Building Capacity for Conservation in Community participants will learn to find and collaborate with local organizations that share their conservation mission, hear examples of how the Louisville Zoo is working with partners to increase their audience and capacity for conservation while promoting an accessible entry to global wildlife conservation. The project offers the perfect medium to connect local schools, community groups, and organizations to an international conservation effort through its involvement with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Western Lowland Gorilla SAFE Project and its associated partners. During the session participants will learn how to effectively connect global conservation projects to local issues, practice strategies for mutually beneficial collaboration, and brainstorm ideas to get diverse age groups excited in the same conservation project.

Join us for an interactive presentation that showcases fun and inspiring ways to encourage children to step outside and engage with the natural world. This session will feature a variety of hands-on activities designed to spark curiosity and foster a love for nature. Attendees will learn effective strategies to motivate kids to explore their surroundings, from fun nature scavenger hunts to exciting wildlife observation games. Additionally, the presentation will delve into the wonders of gardening, offering practical tips on how to involve children in growing their own plants and understanding the life cycle of a garden. Whether you’re a teacher, parent, or community leader, this presentation will equip you with creative tools to help kids discover the joys of outdoor adventures and the satisfaction of nurturing a garden.

Early Childhood Education for Sustainability (ECEfS) "explores sustainability and its educational responses in Early Childhood Education (ECE [Davis, 2022]). Through Environmental Education and incorporating nature in classroom learning, teachers enable children to have positive experiences in nature and encourage respect for our planet. Sustainability is an abstract concept for young children. How do we implement classroom practices that are meaningful to children and encourage them to engage in sustainability practices? This prospect becomes complex as Early Childhood Educators work with with children from increasingly diverse cultural, socioeconomic, and linguistic backgrounds. Participants in this session will engage in dialogue about what ECEfS looks like in practice for teachers of young children and in teacher preparation programs. We will engage in activities that can be easily replicated in classrooms with young children.

Ripple Effects is a photography contest designed to encourage young people from the greater Kentuckiana area to connect to water in their communities. This interactive session will describe the process contest organizers have developed for conducting this contest with the hope of encouraging others to establish similar projects in their own communities. One key aspect of Ripple Effects is the way diverse team members have come together to promote the contest, including staff from local governmental agencies, academic institutions, and arts and cultural organizations. In addition to the contest itself, photographers from the team offer workshops designed to teach strategies for creating effective photographs. Other members of the team have worked with members of the Kentucky Native American Heritage Commission to create a Land Acknowledgement as part of our exhibit at last year’s Kentucky State Fair. And the team participated in a strategic planning process to create a shared vision and mission. There are also efforts to extend the project to other countries through the establishment of Ripple Effects International. The Ripple Effects team believes that by using photography to encourage young people to observe the natural world more closely they will be encouraged to develop a deeper appreciation of the importance of protecting local water resources and taking action to address environmental issues. Session participants will have opportunities to create similar collaborations in their communities and how to build on those connections to support youth in exploring local waterways through photography

Come learn how to bring America's best idea to your classroom or school! OutSCIder Classroom (https://www.youtube.com/@OutSCIderClassroom) is a web-based video series that teaches students science concepts and environmental stewardship through videos and paired instructional materials. Our goal is to Impact student science learning outcomes, increase student interest in STEM careers, inspire the next generation of scientists and conservationists. Participants will partake in a OutSCIder inquiry-based lesson and learn how to access instructional materials for implementation in the classroom.

Rethinking Recess provides practical examples of how to reframe our concept of outdoor learning. This session teaches how to remove common barriers to stepping outside of the traditional classroom and working to create the type of learning environment that allows both students and teachers to succeed (with more regulated nervous systems)! Through interactive, hands-on small group sessions, participants will work through real-life examples of challenges as well as success stories of teachers who were bold and brave enough to lean into rethinking recess. Sometimes "new" and innovative approaches are simply a return to honoring childhood.

This session will focus on multiple approaches to creating meaningful, engaging, purposeful, and joyful programs or lessons. Building off of the basic "fundamentals" of a quality lesson, attendees will think about ways to bring their lessons to the next level of success. Utilizing song and dance, rhythm and rhyme, kinesthetics and earworms, we'll approach topics from a joy building view with the final goal of attaining a higher level of comprehension, retention, and action from lessons.

Whether you’re interested in getting your foot in the door and/or being invited back for more, this interactive session will have you thinking about ways to ensure that your EE presentations are standards-based and include research-based best teaching practices. With pressure to address state standards during every lesson and prepare students for high-stakes testing, teachers want to know that your lesson meets the strict criteria expectations of their administration and is worth giving up a day away from the prescribed curriculum. During this session you will participate in a popular EE curriculum activity and practice using a tool to examine it, as well your own lessons, to see if they tick all the boxes for success. This session is appropriate for “Newbies” to EE, folks interested in becoming KY Green Schools mentors, and “Old Pros” wanting to examine the effectiveness of their current EE programming.