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in the state of IL! 

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Environmental Education Association Of Illinois
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EEAI is the proud state partner for:
EEAI is proud to serve as the Illinois affiliate of the North American Association for Environmental Education. The Affiliate Network promotes collaboration for maximum effectiveness and efficiency and a unified voice for Environmental Education across North America and beyond.

Welcome!

In 1972 a group of committed and concerned citizens -- both conservationists and teachers -- founded the Environmental Education Association of Illinois. Since that time, members of EEAI have provided leadership on this front at the national, state and community levels. The strength of EEAI comes from the involvement of its members. Their participation in state and regional events raises the profile of environmental education and challenges decision-makers to give environmental literacy higher priority.

Get Ready for Fall!

EEAI Board of Directors, Executive Director and Projects Coordinator have really out-down themselves this year putting together some incredible events for this Summer and Fall! Many of these events are grant funded so they are being offered at NO COST!
Just a few of the events include:

Reflecting on Practice - Severson Dells
EdVentures for Educators - Touch of Nature Environmental Center
NAI & EEAI Collaborative Event - Rockford Park District
Non-Formal Educator NAAEE Guidelines for Excellence Workshop - Lincoln Memorial Garden
Formal Educator NAAEE Guidelines for Excellence Workshop - Lincoln Memorial Garden
And more being added every week!
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Be sure to check out EEAI Events Page for all the details. 

October 3-5, 2019
Science Museum of Minnesota, St. Paul

​MEEC is a professional development collaboration between four states (IA, IL, MN, WI) to provide a space for local field studies, educational sessions, training, and workshops focused on environmental, cultural, and historical interpretation and education.
 
This year's conference will be held at the Science Museum of Minnesota in St. Paul. The theme “Access Nature: Promoting Inclusion and Diversity in Environmental Education” will explore barriers that prevent educators and learners from accessing natural areas and having valuable learning experiences in the outdoors. Full conference schedule will be posted soon. 

Meet the new EEAI Board Members!

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EEAI President - Jessica Prince
Please share a bit about your past and current involvement with the field of EE. 
Previously on the board as NE Regional Director and then served as Government Liaison for 2 years after.  That was a lot of fun. Just starting up a term as President.  I’m very honored and excited for the year ahead.
What is your favorite natural spot within your region and what is your favorite thing to do there?
There is a small pond trail at a preserve in Mokena: quiet and off the radar.   It has brought me many moments of reflection, wisdom and healing. 
What are some of your favorite hobbies or outdoor activities?
Birding, kayaking, looking for salamanders this time of year - general nature lover stuff.    Love my lichens! I also enjoy doing endurance fitness events so I have logged in many miles of running and biking on the trails. Last summer I discovered bike-packing.  Something fun and different.
What do you hope to contribute to EEAI while serving as a Board member?
I hope to increasing the awareness and reach of the organization via creative and new avenues to engage students and those early in their career.   I love working with those entering the field.  The idea of mentoring the next generation of environmental leaders and advocates is most rewarding, so I hope to offer some new avenues to the students of IL to learn about EE.  The best resource of EEAI has always been the members themselves.  I hope to work with many of you in my time as President.  It’s going to be a fun ride.
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EEAI West Central Regional Director - Marvin Warner
Please share a bit about your past and current involvement with the field of EE. 
I taught middle school science for fifteen years (1975 - 1990). During that time I received training in Project Learning Tree and used the activities frequently with my students.  I then went into education administration, but worked a great deal with science curriculum, and kept an EE focus where possible.  More recently I have worked for a Regional Office of Education and had the opportunity to be retrained in PLT. That rekindled my interest in EE, and since have become trained in Project Wild, Growing Up Wild, and Project Aquatic.  Consequently, I facilitate these workshops in the southwestern region of the state.
What is your favorite natural spot within your region and what is your favorite thing to do there?
My favorite natural spot in my region is Pere Marquette State Park. Enjoy hiking there, especially in the spring and fall.
What are some of your favorite hobbies or outdoor activities?
Hobbies include, camping, hiking, and gardening.
What do you hope to contribute to EEAI while serving as a Board member?
I hope to contribute a formal educators perspective to the efforts of EEAI
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EEAI East Central Regional Director - Abby de Buhr
Please share a bit about your past and current involvement with the field of EE. 
I am an Environmental Educator at Douglas-Hart Nature Center in Mattoon, IL, and I love my job! I get to do something different every day, and I am always learning something new. My job allows me to express my inner child - digging for worms, building forts, playing hide and seek in the Prairie, and much more! But what I love most of all is getting to share my favorite place with kids of all ages. It is very satisfying watching kids discover and learn new things on a daily basis, and knowing I had a part in their experience makes it just that much better.  
What are some of your favorite hobbies or outdoor activities?
In my free time, I enjoy playing with my fur babies, reading, and crafting. Recently, I have developed a new interest in birding and photography.
What do you hope to contribute to EEAI while serving as a Board member?
I have been a member of EEAI for a couple years now, and I am very excited to start my new position as East Central Regional Director. As I take on this position, I hope to reach out to members in my region and host local events to keep them engaged in EEAI!
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EEAI Northeast Regional Director - Kelli Parke
Please share a bit about your past and current involvement with the field of EE. 
We are still developing our site for more public programs.  I work at McKinley Woods Forest Preserve in Will County.  One day last year in May I saw 50 birds in one section.  I call it Warbler Ridge.  I feel like I am the most mindful when I’m birding.
What are some of your favorite hobbies or outdoor activities?
I do a lot!!  I love birding, traveling, reading, watching movies and shows, hiking, cooking, Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, crafts, games… 
What do you hope to contribute to EEAI while serving as a Board member?
I have great adoration for the group of the people who lead EEAI and have for many years. Their love and friendship has and does mean a lot to me.  I hope that I can connect people and give others the same opportunity through out the year. ​
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EEAI West Central Regional Director - Ramona Puskar
Please share a bit about your past and current involvement with the field of EE. 
I am currently the Education Director at The Nature Institute in Godfrey, IL. My journey to my current position has been long but super enjoyable. After graduating from McKendree University with a bachelors in biology, I was accepted as an experiential intern at the Cincinnati Nature Center in Milford, Ohio. I stayed there for a year and fell in love with the field of environmental education. From there I interned at the Dunes Learning Center in Chesterton, Indiana and was a seasonal interpreter at Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site in Collinsville, Illinois. I also randomly lived on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon for six months. After all that traveling and gaining numerous experiences along the way, I came back home and started volunteering at The Nature Institute with Patti Brown. She recognized a passion and desire in me to share my love of nature with those around me and became my mentor in all things outdoor ed.
What is your favorite natural spot within your region and what is your favorite thing to do there?
One of my favorite natural spots within my region is Cahokia Mounds. Not only does it hold significant historical value, but it is a great place to go birding and look for animals. You are nearly guaranteed to see a deer and waterfowl when you walk around their trails. I love listening to the meadowlarks during the summer.
What are some of your favorite hobbies or outdoor activities?
My two favorite outdoor activities are kayaking and birding. I do not get to participate in either one as much as I would like to though.
What do you hope to contribute to EEAI while serving as a Board member?
I hope to contribute my experience gained from working in different parts of the country and different types of organizations to the work of EEAI. I have working for institutions that do mostly day programming, I worked with residential education programs and have worked with in the museum environment as well. All of these different places have different ways of doing what they do and I have learned along the way that there in not only one way to be successful in educating the public about our resources.

Are you on Facebook?

Be sure to follow EEAI on Facebook! Find us here. 

There are Groups on the page where you can engage with educators from your region. This is a great spot to hear about local events, share events you are hosting, ask questions of PLT/GUW facilitators, get insights on how to implement environmental education in your classroom and so much more. 

There are also monthly Resource Review and Giveaways where you could win an amazing resource for your school or home library. No purchase or membership necessary, just comment on the post for a chance to win!

New Member Incentive! 
Discount Code for Acorn Naturalists

Acorn Naturalists is generously offering all EEAI Members a 10% discount on one purchase in 2019. 

Acorn Naturalists is one of the largest providers of high quality educational resources for both inside and outside the classroom. With a wide array of equipment, replicas, books, educational resources, identification guides and science inquiry tools, Acorn Naturalists is a one-stop-shop for environmental educators. 

Find your discount code on the EEAI Member Login page. 

​Questions? Contact EEAI Executive Director, Abbie Enlund

Registration Now Open
Nature Explore Workshop
Using Your Outdoor Classroom and Moving to Learn
Saturday, June 1st, 2019; 9:00am - 4:00pm
Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve, Mahomet, IL 

EEAI and Nature Explore are thrilled to be offering a full day of professional development on utilizing outdoor classrooms more effectively and movement as a tool for learning.
Find out more and register at Nature Explore.
Registration open until May 30, 2019. 
Professional  Development credits (6 credit hours) available through EEAI. 
Space is limited so register soon! 

EdVentures for Educators
New professional development opportunity!

Enjoy two-days at the beautiful Touch of Nature Environmental Center and receive high-quality professional development training from Shawnee National Forest field experts, Touch of Nature Center education staff and Project Learning Tree facilitators. All expenses covered through grant funding! 

Check Trainings and Events Page for all the details and to register. Space is limited to register soon!

Online Project Learning Tree Training

Can't make it to an in-person workshop? Complete an online training in your own time. Illinois PLT now offers both in-person and online training opportunities. Learn more here.

Professional Development

EEAI is the proud state partner or supporter of the following professional development opportunities: