Missouri Environmental Education Assocation 2024 Conference

In this hands-on unit, students delve into the hidden world of soil organisms right in their schoolyard. Through engaging activities and observations, they'll uncover how these tiny creatures impact soil health and how human actions influence their environment. It’s a practical, eye-opening exploration of ecosystems and sustainability.

Three Back-to-Back Presentations in 1 Hour:

Human Impacts to Our Water Cycle (Katie Bruegge, Missouri Water Environment Assn) - Information and resources educators can use to incorporate water/wastewater/stormwater concepts into their curriculum. The message will highlight human impacts to our water cycle and the opportunities for students to participate in the Stockholm Junior Water Prize competition. 

Explora tu Ambiente: Guía de Actividades K-8 (Melanie Carden-Jessen, Projects WET, WILD, and Learning Tree) - There are an estimated 57 million Spanish speakers in the United States today. Project Learning Tree United States, Mexico PLT,  and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative are working to address the need of the Spanish speaking community. Their latest effort has just been introduced, Explora tu Ambiente: Guía de Actividades. This K-8 guide is not just a translation, this resource was written for Spanish speakers. We will be discussing why providing resources for the Spanish speaking community is so important and how this resource helps address the need.  

Prairie Strips to Protect Farmland (Lilly Germeroth, Missouri Prairie Foundation) - Prairie strips are strategically placed prairie grass and wildflower plantings within row crops, and offer a powerful tool for enhancing soil health. We will explore the science behind prairie strips and their ability to reduce water runoff, nutrient loss, and soil erosion, as well as provide habitat for wildlife. 

What can the past teach us about sustainability and environmental quality in the present? And how can we use this information to engage and inspire our community of learners? This session will explain what archaeology tells us about precolonial human-environment interactions and provide easy-to-implement strategies for bringing these concepts back to your classroom. 

We'll wrap up the conference all-together with this youth-led call to action. Kids from across the state will tell us about projects they are working on or environmental issues they are concerned about....and some specific help they need to move forward with their ideas. In real-time, attendees will be able to sign up to provide specific supports to help these young change agents. You don't want to miss it!