CALL FOR PRESENTATIONS
42nd Annual NAAEE Conference
Celebrating the Power of Environmental Education
October 9—12, 2013, Baltimore, MD
Deadline: March 31, 2013
This is the Call for the NAAEE Conference. Click here for the Research Symposium.
NAAEE is seeking proposals for its 42nd annual conference.
We’re looking for dynamic presentations that inform environmental educators about proven practices, push the leading edge of the profession, and motivate the pursuit of excellence.
- Conference Strands
- Session Formats
- Audio-Visual Equipment
- Preparing Successful Proposals
- How to Submit a Proposal
- Important Notes
Conference Strands
Presentation proposals must be submitted under one of the seven thematic strands that characterize this year’s conference. Each strand explores a different aspect of the environmental education profession.
Click on the strand titles below to read a full description, intended focus, and guiding questions to be explored. Reviewers will use these detailed descriptions as criteria to evaluate presentation proposals and ensure they support the conference themes.
The strands for 2013 are:
-
Citizen Science & Public Participation in Scientific Research
Engaging members of the public in citizen science, volunteer monitoring, and other forms of organized scientific and environmental research -
Connecting Kids and Nature
The benefits and challenges of connecting kids with nature and learning in the outdoors -
Conservation Education and Behavior Change
Achieving conservation goals through innovative education, communication, social marketing, and civic tourism strategies -
Greening Formal Education
Exemplary practices that enhance student achievement and service-learning, conserve natural resources on campus, engage K–12 students and teachers, prepare teachers and professors to integrate environmental concepts into their curriculum, and support national education trends -
Leadership and Innovation
Programs and projects that exemplify excellence in environmental education and move the field forward in creative and proven ways -
Sustainable Communities
The role of education in achieving environmental integrity, economic prosperity, and social equity -
Teaching about Environmental Issues
Innovative ways to teach about current environmental challenges such as climate change, water quality, water quantity, forests, food and agriculture, biodiversity, and more. Educating for informed participation in key current environmental issues
Session Formats—Changes this year!
We’re listening! NAAEE has made changes in session formats this year, and we’ve added an exciting new opportunity called "Bright Spots and Great Ideas." We will also be offering fewer simultaneous sessions at the conference. While this means there may be fewer opportunities to present longer sessions, we have made other formats more substantive. We continue to make every effort to include as many people as possible on the conference program.
Please read the following descriptions carefully and apply for the format most appropriate to your presentation. The approximate number per strand of each type of session is indicated.
Workshop (Full day or half day)
Workshops are in-depth sessions that actively develop specific professional competencies and have widespread potential for implementation. All workshops are scheduled on Wednesday, October 9, 2013, prior to the start of the formal conference. They can be full day (7 hours) or half day (3½ hours, morning or afternoon) in length. All workshops are supported solely by participant fees and are subject to cancellation due to insufficient enrollment. (1 per strand)
*Note: While most workshops are held at the Baltimore Convention Center, NAAEE will consider a small number of offsite workshops where visiting resources specific to the Baltimore area is essential to the educational value of the workshop.
Symposium (90 minutes)
Symposia are panel discussions presenting different perspectives on a topic or question related to one of the focus points for each strand. Panels must include a minimum of three panelists and a moderator, together representing a minimum of three different organizations. A/V equipment is provided. (1 or 2 per strand)
Hands-on Presentation (90 minutes)
Hands-on sessions provide participants with an opportunity to engage in teaching activities and interactive discussions about a particular topic. A/V equipment is provided. (3 or 4 per strand)
Traditional Presentation (40 minutes)
Traditional presentations focus on a single topic or program, typically including a talk or media presentation followed by a short discussion. A/V equipment is provided. (12 to 15 per strand)
Roundtable Discussion (40 minutes)
Roundtable discussions are informal presentations that emphasize spirited discussion between the presenter(s) and session attendees. Presenters start the discussion by sharing information about the program/question they wish to explore, and then open discussion for input and exchange of ideas. Examples and interactive materials are welcome. No A/V equipment or electricity is available. (15 per strand
*New this year: Roundtable discussions will be held throughout the conference and there will be a total of seven or eight tables in the same room.
Poster (40 minutes)
Posters are 4-foot x 4-foot two-dimensional printed presentations illustrating research studies, programs, or other work. Posters are fixed to portable bulletin boards for conference participants to review at leisure. In addition, the conference program will include a set time for poster presenters to stand at their posters and interact with attendees. No A/V equipment or electricity is available. (15-20 per strand)
*New this year: Small tables will be provided to accommodate samples and interactive materials during scheduled poster presentations.
Bright Spots and Great Ideas (12 minutes)
*New this year! Bright spots and great ideas are succinct talks that celebrate specific triumphs and showcase things that work! Each presenter will have 12 minutes to highlight such things as important research findings, family programs, school programs, community partnerships, conservation achievements, expanded audiences, civic engagement, and more. Six great ideas, related by strand, will be presented back-to-back during a 90-minute session. (12 per strand)
Audio-Visual Equipment
Rooms for all presentations except roundtable discussions and poster sessions are equipped with a PC laptop (with Office Suite loaded), LCD projector, and screen. No audio-visual equipment is available for roundtable discussions and posters, but presenters may use their own laptops or tablets. Rooms for all presentations, including roundtable discussions and poster sessions, will have wireless Internet access.
Preparing Successful Proposals
NAAEE is looking for dynamic presentations that celebrate our successes, challenge our thinking, and push the environmental education field forward.
A team of peer reviewers for each strand evaluates and rates all concurrent session proposals. Strand leaders conduct a final review. Reviewers consider the following questions when evaluating proposals; please consider them carefully as you write your session descriptions. Provide enough detail for reviewers to fully understand your plans.
- Does the presentation inform environmental educators about proven practices, push the leading edge of the profession, and motivate the pursuit of excellence?
- Does the proposal adequately explain what will occur in the session? How engaging is the presentation likely to be?
- How well does this proposal deliver positive, solution-oriented outcomes supported by research and/or program evaluation?
- How well suited is the proposed presentation to the preferred session format?
- How well does this presentation fit the strand description and focus points?
All proposals must be received by 11:59 p.m. on March 31, 2013. Proposals must be submitted online.
To help maximize the number and diversity of presenters and perspectives, each individual or team of individuals is limited to three proposal submissions. Reviewers will consider your first three completed proposals as determined by time of submission. In most cases, only the two highest-ranked proposals will be selected for the conference program.
How to Submit a Proposal
Proposals must be submitted online. You may find it helpful to download this form and use it to draft your proposal. Then save the form on your computer, and transfer the information to the online submission system.
-
You must have an NAAEE account and be logged in on the NAAEE website before you can submit a proposal. Note: All individuals associated with your proposal will also need to have an NAAEE account before you will be able to add them to your online proposal.
Already have an NAAEE account? Login >>
Need an NAAEE account? Create a new account >>
Not sure or need help with login? Email loginhelp@naaee.net or call 202-419-0412 or 202-570-2671. It’s important that you avoid creating multiple accounts in the system, so please don't hesitate to contact us for help!
-
After login, click on the "Submit/Edit Proposals" link to connect to the conference proposal management system.
-
Select “conference” and follow the directions for online submission. Click on the “Accept and Continue” button on each page until you reach the final confirmation page.
-
When your proposal is successfully submitted, you will receive a confirmation message at the email address in your NAAEE profile.
- You can edit any of the information in your proposal until the March 31 submission deadline. Just (1) login to your NAAEE.net account and (2) click on 'Submit/Edit Proposals' link.
Important Notes
All presenters and co-presenters are required to register and pay published conference fees. As NAAEE is dependent on registration fees to cover conference expenses and there are typically 400-500 presenters on the program, we cannot afford give waivers or discounts to presenters.
Fees are not yet finalized, but the early bird, full conference registration for current NAAEE members is expected to be about $430 for a professional and $280 for a student. Nonmember and daily rates will also be offered. Nonmember rates include a one-year NAAEE membership. There is a separate registration fee for the Research Symposium.
All presenters must confirm their conference participation by registering for the conference by the July 22, 2013 presenter deadline.
If your proposal is accepted, you will have an additional opportunity to finalize session information after you receive your acceptance notice.
If you have questions about the submission or review system, please contact NAAEE at proposals@naaee.net. For information specific to your strand, please contact the strand leader listed below.
Citizen Science & Public Participation in Scientific Research
Strand Leaders: Anne Burnett (aburnett@naturebridge.org) and Sandi Funke (sfunke@pepperwoodpreserve.org)
Connecting Kids and Nature
Strand Leader: Tanya Oznowich (Tanya.Oznowich@dep.state.nj.us)
Conservation Education and Behavior Chang
Strand Leaders: Janet Ady (janet_ady@fws.gov) and Drew Burnett (Drew_Burnett@fws.gov)
Greening Formal Education
Strand Leaders: James McGirt (jmcgirt@forestfoundation.org) and Al Strenstrup (AStenstrup@forestfoundation.org)
Leadership and Innovation
Strand Leader: Eddie Gonzalez (gonzalez.eddie@gmail.com)
Sustainable Communities
Strand Leader: Thomas Eatmon (teatmon@allegheny.edu)
Teaching about Environmental Issues
Strand Leader: Kristen Poppleton (kristen@willstegerfoundation.org)
