EECO Annual Conference

Registration Deadline Fast Approaching for the 47th Annual EECO Conference Mt. Sterling, OH – The 2014 Environmental Education Council of Ohio (EECO) Conference is scheduled for March 27-30, 2014. Registration deadline is March 14.The conference is sponsored by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) and the Ohio Environmental Education Fund (OEEF).
Children are spending less and less time outdoors, both at home and at school. Yet there are more and more resources and programs dedicated to reversing this trend. This year’s theme helps support the basics of Environmental Education by offering strands that help educators in all settings learn more about nature and how to utilize nature in their lessons, programs and projects. Conference strands include Ohio’s Natural History, Using the Outdoors as a Classroom, Citizen Science, Environmental Careers and Program Learner Assessment.
The keynote speaker on Friday is Lonnie Thompson, PhD., of The Ohio State University, Byrd Polar Research Center. Join us as Dr. Thompson presents the latest information on climate change and education. Saturday’s keynote is Carolyn Watkins, Chief of the Office of Environmental Education, Ohio EPA and the administrator of the Ohio Environmental Education Fund. Carolyn will present on the new Career Ambassador Program. The three partner organizations, Ohio EPA, EECO and The Ohio State University School of Environment and Natural Resources will recruit volunteer environmental career ambassadors who will mentor and present information to students or provide opportunities for them to shadow an environmental professional on the job.
College credits through Ashland University will be available as well as Registered Sanitarian (RS) Credits. Educational field experiences will include the Columbus Zoo, Deer Creek Wildlife Area and Grange Insurance Audubon Center in Columbus, Ohio Native American Earthworks and Natural History Tour, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Deer Creek Lake Dam Tour.
The conference will take place at Deer Creek State Park Lodge, 22300 State Park Road 20, Mt. Sterling, OH 43143. Contact the Lodge at 1-800-282-7275 to book a room. Contact Deer Creek Lodge directly for additional information about lodging.
If you have any questions about the program, the registration process, or any other topics or issues, contact Brenda Metcalf at 740-653-2649, director@eecoonline.org or Jen Dennison, conference chair, at 614-265-6316, jen.dennison@dnr.state.oh.us  for assistance. Online registration and conference agenda and fees can be found at www.eeco-online.org.

For further information, contact:
Jen Dennison, ODNR Division of Wildlife
614. 265. 6316

Brenda Metcalf, Director EECO
740. 653. 2649

Kathy Garza-Behr
Wildlife Communications Specialist
1076 Old Springfield Pike
Xenia, OH 45385
V: 937-347-0920
F: 937-376-3011