EEASC 2026 Conference Camp Compass

Artificial Intelligence (AI) must serve environmental education, not redefine it. Yet most professional development focuses on how to use AI, not whether or when we should. This interactive session examines AI through three lenses: the good, how it might support idea generation and data analysis; the bad, how it can mislead, oversimplify, or weaken authentic connection to people and place; and the ugly, the hidden environmental, social, and ethical costs with its use. Rather than promoting or dismissing AI, this session initiates the process for environmental educators to critically assess AI’s role, if any, in their work.
Participants will engage in small and large group discussions and collaborative brainstorming to evaluate real-world examples in using AI. Through guided reflection and movement-based activities, attendees will practice asking the essential questions that must come before adopting AI tools. Participants will leave with a Before You Use AI Field Card, a concise tool to help environmental educators pause and evaluate AI decisions before adopting them.

For this session, we will need an indoor space to do the primary compass education, and possibly the knots...if it is really hot out.  We will also need outdoor space for the orienteering, setting up shelters and  definitely the fire starting.  However, if there is inclement weather, all can be done indoors.  We will start off with parts of a compass and how to use it, discover how many steps it takes to go 10 feet and basic orienteering.  Then we will run a simple course and discuss how a compass could help with no bearings or even knowing where you are.  We will then go into how long a human can generally survive without certain things and what to secure first in a survival situation.   We will learn 3 knots that can be used to secure a tarp for shelter and then try our hands at getting smoke with a fire bow and board, flint and steel, and glasses lens, plastic bag with water, or magnifying glass.  

In this hands-on, interdisciplinary session, I will facilitate classroom activities that help elementary students explore interconnections in nature and introduce concepts of environmental stewardship and sustainable resource management. At the same time, these activities build academic skills in elementary mathematics, science, social studies and English language arts.
After a brief introduction on the ecology concepts to be presented, I will lead participants in several hands-on activities. These include a cooperative board game based on the Dr. Seuss classic, The Lorax, to model reforesting an area to restore biodiversity; a 3-D activity to model resource extraction and environmental considerations for the area; an interactive story on a local habitat and a game of strategy on managing a shared resource. All presented activities are matched to state standards for several subject areas. The presented activities use a variety of strategies and modalities to be inclusive of all types of learners in a formal or informal educational setting. Participants will receive activity instructions and background materials in an electronic format, with access to a password-protected website.

The presenter will talk about  the hobby of Geocaching and how to incorporate it into Environmental Education programs. After this short talk, participants will track a nearby cache to get a feel for how to participate. 

Taboo is titillating. Engage learners with a hands-on wildlife ecology activity that uses measurement and modeling to recreate accurate scat samples from edible, classroom-safe dough. Participants will practice the full activity, discuss extensions for different grade levels, consider accommodations for allergies and diverse learning needs, and explore ways to integrate the lesson into STEM, natural resources, and environmental education programs. Leave equipped with a ready-to-use, standards‑aligned activity that sparks curiosity and invites learners to investigate the natural world.

Come and experience several NASA created environmental related games to gain a greater understanding of the planet Earth and its place in our solar system. Participants will also explore numerous NASA environmental online resources to learn about the Earth's atmosphere, water resources, land use, weather & climate, and much more. Time will also be spent comparing Earth's with its closest planet neighbors - Mars and Venus.

Learn about a real history-changing trip while you learn to make a compass so easy even an adult can dot it!  All materials supplied, but if you already have a nature journal, you may want to bring it along to capture the essence of the voyage.

Join Rick Huffman for an engaging guided walk exploring the beauty and importance of native plants in South Carolina landscapes. Participants will learn to identify a variety of native species while discussing their ecological benefits, role in supporting wildlife and pollinators, and use in sustainable landscape design. Along the way, Rick will share insights from his extensive experience in landscape architecture, environmental stewardship, and outdoor education. Whether you are new to native plants or an experienced plant enthusiast, this walk offers a wonderful opportunity to deepen your connection to the natural world and gain ideas for bringing native plants into your own community, school, or outdoor space.

Project Learning Tree (PLT) workshop is where you will participate in hands-on, multi-disciplinary, and STEM-focused training to integrate environmental education into your curriculum. This workshop will focus on active learning, modeling activities that encourage students to explore, discover, and communicate while meeting academic standards. Participants will leave with the guide and materials to start using PLT in their lessons.

Join us as we explore this unique space that excites, engages, and educates students and the public through hands-on learning and discovery. Director of Education John Schmid will lead a tour of the facility and share information about on-site programs, outreach opportunities, and community engagement efforts. Participants will also have the opportunity to share ideas and discuss future programming possibilities for the science center.