2019 EEAI Conference: Rooted For Life
Thursday, March 21-Saturday, March 23, 2019
Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center & Douglas-Hart Nature Center
Mattoon, IL. 
This conference is a strong connection of formal and non-formal education, plus administrative and management strands for extraordinary professional development. ISBE PD hours will be available for formal educators for all sessions. Conference includes: 
  • Off-site Field Sessions
  • Workshops
  • Concurrent Sessions
  • Keynotes
  •  Awards Banquet and Dinner
  • And more!

Call for Presenters

The Environmental Education Association of Illinois (EEAI) is pleased to announce the Call for Proposals for the 2019 Conference and Annual Meeting, to be held in Mattoon, Illinois. EEAI invites you to submit proposals now through November 30, 2018. Submitting presenters will be notified of the outcome of the proposal review process no later than December 15, 2018. EEAI is a statewide, nonprofit, professional organization with the purpose of maintaining a vital network that supports and advances quality environmental education throughout the state. Our membership consists of classroom teachers, non-formal educators, natural resource professionals, professors, university students and nature enthusiasts.

Participants attending the 2019 Annual Meeting and Conference will attend sessions designed around the theme “EE: Rooted for Life.” We invite you to participate by submitting a proposal for a session that can impact educators from across Illinois. The Conference Chairs are specifically looking at proposals that can possibly fit one of the following strands: administration/management, formal educators, and non-formal educators.
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Concurrent speakers will present Friday, March 22 or Saturday, March 23 at the Lumpkin Family Center for Health Education at the Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center.

For more information, please contact Pam Evans, Conference Program Chair at eastcentralregioneeai@gmail.com. Visit www.EEAI.net for conference updates.

Call for Exhibitors

​Showcase your environmentally-themed facility, programs, resources and products. Become an exhibitor at the 2019 EEAI annual conference. The exhibit area will be open Friday, March 22 and Saturday, May 23. (Exhibits do not need to be manned at all times)
 
The exhibit area will be at the Lumpkin Family Center for Health Education in Mattoon, IL.
 
Exhibit space is $50 for each 6 ft. table or floor space. Please fill out the form below and either mail your payment in by check or pay with credit card at this link: https://squareup.com/store/environmental-education-association-of-illinois. Please mail checks made out to EEAI to:
Anita Purves Nature Center
Attn: EEAI 
1505 N. Broadway Ave.
Urbana, IL. 61801
 
For more information, contact Jennifer Tariq at enveddhnature@consolidated.net.
 
All exhibitors registering by February 8, 2019 will be listed in our conference program and on the EEAI website. 

Pricing

Full Conference: $125 (Friday and Saturday) includes concurrent sessions, keynote speaker, and the following meals: lunch and dinner on Friday, lunch on Saturday.
 
Daily Rate: $50 per day (Friday or Saturday)
 
Additional charges on Thursday for pre-workshops and field trips

Hotel

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Accommodations reserved with SuiteDreams Hotel in Mattoon. Hotel will serve as overnight accommodations and site for Awards Banquet and Dinner. Rooms range from $68-$75 + plus. To reserve your room, call SuiteDreams at 217-234-8600 and mention Environmental Education Association.

Keynote Speaker: Monica Genta

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​Monica is the author of two books, Game Changers and 180 Days of Awesome, a middle school science teacher, and nationwide educational consultant and motivational speaker. She has earned a Masters in Curriculum & Instruction and a Masters in Educational Leadership & Administration. Her goal is to transform education as an ordinary job into an extraordinary adventure. Genta is full of energy, full of passion, and full of love for helping others on their journey in life and learning.

Featured Field Trips

​Aikman Wildlife Adventure
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Aikman Wildlife Adventure is the perfect place for a group outing! As a guest you will ride on a Wagon Tour where you will feed and interact with the animals in the Drive Thru. The tour is supervised by a knowledgeable guide who will educate you about the animals as you go along. You will then explore the Walk Thru, including the Petting Zoo, playground, and other animal habitats. For more information please visit their website at aikmanwildlife.com!
Prairie Ridge State Natural Area: Prairie Chicken Viewing​
​Are you ready for a once in a lifetime opportunity at the 2019 conference?! 12 spots in viewing blinds have been reserved at Prairie Ridge State Natural Area in nearby Jasper County just for us!

This nature preserve is an example of an area dedicated primarily to maintain a population of an endangered animal. In Illinois, efforts to save the greater prairie chicken began in 1959 with the organization of the Prairie Chicken Foundation of Illinois. This group, along with The Nature Conservancy, and the Department of Natural Resources purchased several blocks of property to protect the prairie chicken population. Today, two sanctuary systems, one in Jasper County and one in Marion County, are maintained as grassland habitat for prairie chickens. Fewer than 100 prairie chickens remain in Illinois. Several other rare or endangered species of grassland birds occur at the prairie chicken sanctuaries including Henslow's sparrow, grasshopper sparrow, dickcissel, upland sandpiper, short-eared owl and northern harrier.

​This is an incredible experience and a big thank you to our friends at Prairie Ridge for partnering with us for this field trip opportunity. 

Featured Workshop: Project WILD

​It’s here! The long awaited revision of Project WILD, updated with NGSS, STEM, Field Investigations, and more! Formal and non-formal educators will love adding this national curriculum resource to their collection! Every participant will receive the new WILD book, activity starter kits, resources, certificate, and more!

Sponsorship Opportunities

EEAI is seeking sponsors for the 2019 EEAI Annual Conference.
 
The Conference attracts over 100 participants ranging from nature center directors and staff, public school teachers, university staff, governmental agencies, and the general public. EEAI members are an energetic group, passionate about environmental education. We invite you to take advantage of this opportunity to reach new clientele by sponsoring the 2019 EEAI Annual Conference. Your tax-deductible donation assists EEAI in keeping expenses reasonable for attendees and providing high-quality sessions throughout the Conference.
 
To sponsor by credit card please visit https://squareup.com/store/environmental-education-association-of-illinois. If you would prefer to send a check please mail it to:
Attn: EEAI
Anita Purves Nature Center
1505 N. Broadway Ave.
Urbana, IL. 61801
Please make checks out to EEAI and indicate on the check that it is for 2019 Conference Sponsorship.
 
Questions about sponsoring? Please contact Jennifer Tariq, EEAI President at enveddhnature@consolidated.net or 217-235-4644. 

Sponsorship Levels

All sponsors will have their logo included on EEAI conference material
Forest $5000
Your gift will provide the following: 
  • WILD Sponsor:  provide at least twenty educators a free WILD workshop during the conference. Includes facilitator, national  curriculum books and resource kits
  • Keynote Sponsor:  includes special acknowledgment during the Friday morning kickoff with keynote: Monica Genta, a dynamic Mattoon Middle School teacher
  • Exhibit Room Sponsor: this sponsorship includes complimentary exhibit space and one free conference registration
  • Off-site Field Trip Sponsor: your gift will provide hands-on professional development out in the field
  • Break Sponsor: this sponsorship will allow your organization to distribute information to our group during interactive snack breaks
  • Teacher Scholarship Sponsor: your gift will sponsor a teacher with full conference registration and substitute pay for the school 

Savannah $200
Your gift will provide the following: 
  • Networking Luncheon Sponsor: this sponsorship includes one additional conference registration and the opportunity to network with our group during lunch and other speaking arrangements
  •  Exhibit Room Sponsor: this sponsorship includes complimentary exhibit space and one free conference registration
  • Off-site Field Trip Sponsor: your gift will provide hands-on professional development out in the field
  • Break Sponsor: this sponsorship will allow your organization to distribute information to our group during interactive snack breaks
  • Teacher Scholarship Sponsor: your gift will sponsor a teacher with full conference registration and substitute pay for the school
 
Oak $1000
Your gift will provide the following: 
  • Exhibit Room Sponsor: this sponsorship includes complimentary exhibit space and one free conference registration
  • Off-site Field Trip Sponsor: your gift will provide hands-on professional development out in the field
  • Break Sponsor: this sponsorship will allow your organization to distribute information to our group during interactive snack breaks
  • Teacher Scholarship Sponsor: your gift will sponsor a teacher with full conference registration and substitute pay for the school 
 
Sapling $500
Your gift will provide the following: 
  • Off-site Field Trip Sponsor: your gift will provide hands-on professional development out in the field
  • Break Sponsor: this sponsorship will allow your organization to distribute information to our group during interactive snack breaks
  • Teacher Scholarship Sponsor: your gift will sponsor a teacher with full conference registration and substitute pay for the school 
 
Roots $250
Your gift will provide the following: 
  • Break Sponsor: this sponsorship will allow your organization to distribute information to our group during interactive snack breaks
  • Teacher Scholarship Sponsor: your gift will sponsor a teacher with full conference registration and substitute pay for the school 

In-kind Donations

While monetary donations help our educators tremendously, in kind donations are needed as well for community engagement and fundraising activities. Activities include a scavenger hunt through the city of Mattoon, a raffle and a silent auction. Please contact EEAI President, Jennifer Tariq at 217-235-4644 with any questions or in kind donations. ​

Thank You To Our 2019 Conference Sponsors