KAEE 2024 Conference

KAEE is continuing its efforts to establish a network of Kentucky higher education professionals engaged in environmental education (EE) across disciplines (aquatics, biology, early childhood, education, forestry, geology, recreation, natural resources, wildlife, etc.). This network is intended to provide EE and EE-adjacent higher education staff and faculty channels and opportunities to convene, collaborate, and partner at the local level and across the state.

Logistics:

• Pre-registration is required during conference registration at kaee.org/conference.
• Virtual or Summit-only attendees can register here.

Kentucky is home to at least sixteen species of bats, many of which are considered endangered, threatened, or of special concern. Researchers are racing to understand changes in population and habitat ranges, which provides both K-12 and non formal educators with an opportunity to help collect valuable data from our own neighborhoods. In this session, participants will learn how bioacoustics are being used to study bats and how you can engage your community in acoustic bat monitoring projects. Participants will get experience using high-frequency microphones and smartphone apps to collect and analyze bat calls and discus opportunities for your organization to develop a citizen science project.

In spring 2024, students from Rockcastle County High School’s Gifted and Talented program and Eastern Kentucky University’s (EKU) Center for Environmental Education partnered on the students-teaching-students program "Environmental Days at Maywoods." This initiative involved EKU college students working closely with Rockcastle County High School students to deliver environmental education programs to 1st-3rd grade students from Madison and Rockcastle County elementary schools. The program provided significant leadership opportunities for both college and high school students and increased the potential for inspiring future environmental educators by engaging participants as active learners. The initiative also allowed high school students to interact directly with college students, fostering peer mentorship and collaboration. The success of this initiative highlights the value of partnerships between higher education and K-12 schools in increasing opportunities for active environmental education experiences. Moving forward, we aim to expand such collaborations to provide more opportunities for students-teaching-students initiatives in Kentucky, including an environmental education leadership camp for college and high school students. This session will provide an overview and summary of our experiences but will primarily serve as an interactive forum. Participants will share experiences, engage in brainstorming activities, and discuss opportunities for similar collaborative initiatives in K-12 and higher education settings across the state.

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.

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.

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.