TCiNN Summit 2022: Opening the Doors to Nature for All: Full Schedule

During this three-day Summit, TCiNN will bring together health, education, built environment, faith, conservation, and community leaders to shape an even brighter future for the children of Texas. Over 250 community leaders from across the state will gather to strengthen the network and develop opportunities and policies that will connect more children and families in nature. New this year: special, private film screening of Deep in the Heart and informative half-day workshops are included in your registration.

8:00am CST

Registration

Wednesday December 7, 2022 8:00am - 11:00am CST
M2 Lobby

General

12:00pm CST

Wednesday Workshops Around Austin

*All Dec. 7 workshops were selected at the time of registration for the Summit on Eventbrite and each one has a maximum capacity. These workshops are included with your Full Conference registration or Wednesday-Only, Dec. 7 ticket.

The Green School Parks Tour and the workshop in San Marcos at the Meadows Center are from
12-3pm.

All other workshops are from 1-4pm. Please see the workshop email that was sent last week for more details and information for your specific workshop.

For questions about the Wednesday Workshops, please contact Alice Jansen. ajansen@texaschildreninnature.org.

Wednesday December 7, 2022 12:00pm - 4:00pm CST

Workshop

6:00pm CST

Social & Film Screening of Deep in the Heart: A Texas Wildlife Story

Included with the full, 3-day Summit and Wednesday, Dec. 7 registration is a special screening of the Texas documentary, Deep in the Heart, along with a question-and-answer session with the film makers, at the Stateside at the Paramount Theater.

After the movie we will host a panel discussion with filmmaker Ben Masters and curriculum developer Anne Marie Fayen. You can add questions to the discussion by tweeting us at @TX_Children.

Transportation to the Stateside Theater is not provided. The theater is located approximately one mile from the University of Texas at Austin AT&T Hotel and Conference Center. Walking, carpooling and the use of public transportation, ride sharing (Uber, Lyft), and E-scooter/E bike rentals are encouraged. There is a public parking area across from the theater.

Deep in the Heart is a visually stunning celebration of Texas’ diverse landscapes and remarkable wildlife found nowhere else. Narrated by Matthew McConaughey, the film aims to conserve our remaining wild places, to show the connectivity of water and wildlife, and to recognize Texas’ conservation importance on a continental scale. https://deepintheheartwildlife.com/

Summit attendees will use their name badges to enter.
Social event starts 6:00pm. Movie starts 7:00pm.

The Paramount Theater CLEAR BAG POLICY
Clear bags should not exceed 14″ x 12″ x 6″ in size.
Small, non-clear clutch bags will be allowed, and should not exceed 4.5” x 6.5” in size.
The following personal items are NOT permitted: food or beverage of any kind, weapons of any shape or size (including firearms, explosives, pocket knives, etc.), cameras or recorders of any kind.

Speakers

Anne Marie Fayen

Curriculum Developer, Deep in the Heart

Ben Masters

Film Maker, Fin & Fur Films

Wednesday December 7, 2022 6:00pm - 9:15pm CST
Stateside at the Paramount Theater

Movie Event

7:30am CST

Breakfast

Thursday December 8, 2022 7:30am - 8:30am CST
Ballroom/Salon C

General

8:30am CST

Summit Welcome

Featured Speakers:

Sarah Coles, Executive Director of Texas Children in Nature Network

Rocio Villalobos, Equity and Inclusion Program Manager, City of Austin

Jay Hartzell, President of The University of Texas at Austin

Dr. Stephen Pont, Medical Director, Texas Department of State Health Services

Gina LaMotte, Executive and Founder of EcoRise

Thursday December 8, 2022 8:30am - 9:15am CST
Ballroom/Salon C

General

9:15am CST

Break

Thursday December 8, 2022 9:15am - 9:30am CST

Break

9:30am CST

BOLD: Blindness Outdoor Learning and Development

Feedback Survey

Our team, made up of experts on blindness, will discuss the ways they adapt outdoor activities to make them accessible for blind people. We will then review the layered mentoring approach we use to disseminate these accessible techniques to blind youth.

Speakers

Norma Crosby

National Federation for the Blind of Texas

Emily Gibbs

National Federation for the Blind of Texas

Mika Baugh

National Federation for the Blind of Texas

Kayleigh Joiner

National Federation for the Blind of Texas

Thursday December 8, 2022 9:30am - 10:30am CST
Salon B

Breakout Session, Equity

9:30am CST

Building Resilient Kids and Communities Through Green Playspaces: A Case Study

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In this panel, you’ll hear Fort Worth ISD and KABOOM! discuss their unique partnership to employ Texas Health and Human Services - COVID-relief funds to support the building of 6 playgrounds for FWISD kids.

Speakers

Olayinka Ojo

Executive Director of Early Learning, FWISD

Sianna Afari

Associate Director Strategic Partnerships, KABOOM!

Thursday December 8, 2022 9:30am - 10:30am CST
Conference Room 301

Breakout Session, Access

9:30am CST

Green Jobs: Exploring STEM Natural Resource Careers

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Learn how to use Project Learning Tree's new Green Jobs guide that is TEKS aligned, and STEM correlated to inspire your students to pursue a future career working outdoors in a natural resource or forestry related career. The guide contains four fun hands on activities to explore this topic with your middle school and high school students.

Speakers

Ted Stevens

Education Director, Texas Forestry Association

Ted Stevens is the Education Director and Project Learning Tree state coordinator for the Texas Forestry Association. He has a passion for the outdoors that started on his family’s cattle farm and pine plantation in Nacogdoches County. He continued to foster his appreciation for... Read More →

Thursday December 8, 2022 9:30am - 10:30am CST
Salon D

Breakout Session, Education

9:30am CST

Healing with Nature: A Social Justice Framework

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We depend on nature for our health, well-being, and survival. There is a growing body of research that proves the many benefits of spending time in nature from simply walking in the park to engaging in clinical ecotherapy interventions. Using a social justice lens, Starla will inspire critical thought about the historical traumas that have impacted the relationship between nature and marginalized communities. We will talk about the power of nature to heal individuals and communities, while honoring the ways people of color have always leaned on Mother Earth to thrive.

Speakers

Starla Simmons

Thursday December 8, 2022 9:30am - 10:30am CST
Ballroom/Salon C

Breakout Session, Equity

9:30am CST

How to Talk to Kids About Climate Change

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Climate change creates a lot of big feelings for kids and adults alike. Come join us to learn more about how to process these feelings and help others do the same. We will be exploring emotions as well as providing pragmatic tools and techniques you can use today!

Speakers

Kate Carmichael

Thursday December 8, 2022 9:30am - 10:30am CST
Classroom 116

Breakout Session, Health

9:30am CST

Mobilizing Middle Schoolers to Envision and Design: EcoRise and the Bedichek MS Peace Garden

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EcoRise mobilizes a new generation to design healthy, just, and thriving communities for all. Our session focuses on our Sustainable Intelligence program and our partnership with Austin ISD through the lens of Bedichek MS. Teachers receive personalized professional learning, groundbreaking curricular resources, and access to our Student Innovation Fund to implement greening projects such as the Bedichek Middle School Peace Garden. Participants can ask questions about the pedagogical, logistical, and systemic challenges of connecting students to such an on-campus project and will walk away with access to EcoRise curriculum and the opportunity to similarly engage their own schools and communities.

Speakers

Christine Mederos

Teacher Ambassador, EcoRise

Elizabeth Stephens

Thursday December 8, 2022 9:30am - 10:30am CST
Classroom 115

Breakout Session, Health, Education, Community, Equity, Access

9:30am CST

Understanding Risky Play

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Brain and behavior research tells us that children gain critical cognitive, physical, and even emotional skills when engaging in child-directed risk. This includes both physical risk (balancing, leaping, climbing) and social risk (inviting a new friend to play). When we prevent all risks in the name of safety. We rob children of the skills to accurately assess and navigate common situations. In this session we will identify the differences between risk and hazards, examine our role in children's play, and develop strategies to support healthy risk.

Speakers

Beth Edwards

Trainer, Green Space Learning

Thursday December 8, 2022 9:30am - 10:30am CST
Salon A

Breakout Session, Education

10:30am CST

Break

Thursday December 8, 2022 10:30am - 10:45am CST

Break

10:45am CST

Creating Environmental Engagement through D.U.E. Diligence

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Environmental education has long been considered an essential part of learning; however, in the past few years, many of us have learned that environmental education was not as “essential” as we originally thought. Fossil Rim Wildlife Center has created a new programming framework for increasing public engagement with the natural world. The D.U.E. (Discover, Understand, Engage) framework allows our staff to incorporate education across our facility as well as establish new ways of engaging with the public regardless of where they might be in their environmental journey.

Speakers

Jennifer Arledge

Director of Environmental Engagement, Fossil Rim Wildlife Center

Andrew Bullard

Environmental Learning Manager, Fossil Rim Wildlife Center

Thursday December 8, 2022 10:45am - 11:45am CST
Salon B

Breakout Session, Education

10:45am CST

Healthy Play with OLE!

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Learn about the OLE! Texas initiative and best practices, and how community organizations can implement changes and programming to connect families with nature and healthy movement.

Speakers

Cheryl Potemkin

Early Childhood Program Manager, Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT) and Fort Worth Botanic Garden

Bella the Begonia, and all connected Bella programs! Outdoor, hands-on, nature play, OLE! Texas, professional development, science learning - rooted in quality children's literature.

Thursday December 8, 2022 10:45am - 11:45am CST
Classroom 116

Breakout Session, Health, Education

10:45am CST

Nature Play in the City: Shifting Mindsets and Changing Policies

Feedback Survey

Nature play is fast becoming a well-known concept for parks, nature centers, and even schools. For the institution, nature play has significant benefits for sustainable planning and can be appropriate for projects with lower operating budgets. However, liability and safety concerns are often a hindrance for organizations and agencies wanting to incorporate nature play features in unmanaged spaces. Learn how the City of Austin’s Cities Connecting Children to Nature initiative has tackled nature play at a city-level, from training, to installing and managing pilot nature play spaces, to the creation of Nature Play Guidelines.

Speakers

Sonny Chandler

City of Austin Parks & Recreations Department

Melody Alcazar

CCCN Program Manager, City of Austin - Parks & Recreation Dept.

Melody Alcazar joined the City of Austin - Parks & Recreation Department in July 2018 as the new permanent, full-time coordinator of the CCCN initiative. She has over a decade of experience working to connect children and families to nature and serves on the Children in Nature Collaborative... Read More →

Thursday December 8, 2022 10:45am - 11:45am CST
Conference Room 301

Breakout Session, Access, Community

10:45am CST

TEKS and SEPs and RT’s, Oh My!

Feedback Survey

The new Science TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge & Skills) are delicious alphabet soup – straight from the schoolyard garden. The new science teaching standards are better than ever for teaching by exploring nature and the outdoors. We’ll cipher the new language and how we can help the teachers meet their requirements while getting their kids outside.

Speakers

Kiki Corry

Project WILD Coordinator, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

Project WILD, Texas Association for Environmental Education, Environmental Literacy Plan, TEEAC Providers, Science Education

Thursday December 8, 2022 10:45am - 11:45am CST
Ballroom/Salon C

Breakout Session, Education

10:45am CST

Texas Family Resource Centers: Strengthening Families through Community-Based Early Childhood Interventions

Feedback Survey

Join us to learn about the Family Resource Center (FRC) approach and efforts by public and private partners in child welfare to grow and support FRCs in communities across Texas. Participants will learn about the FRC approach with a focus on how FRCs are critical links in the social safety net, actively promoting key protective factors in early childhood and across multiple generations that strengthen children and families. FRCs are a compelling approach for communities to partner with families before crisis occurs and provide ample opportunities for nature-based and environmental education organizations to partner to improve child and family wellbeing outcomes.

Speakers

Tiffany Greco

Chelsy Alexander

Anjulie Chaubal

Department of Family and Protective Services - Prevention and Early Intervention

Thursday December 8, 2022 10:45am - 11:45am CST
Salon A

Breakout Session, Health, Community Equity

10:45am CST

Using Community Engagement to Enhance Outdoor Education Activities

Feedback Survey

Human rights and environmental justice issues are a platform for teaching youth the importance of knowing local environmental conditions in outdoor education settings. Using simple strategies and inexpensive materials, children and young adults can perform outdoor environmental data collection activities to learn about local human rights and environmental justice issues. The pedagogy promoted in this workshop is consistent with local and national teaching standards and adds equity, diversity, and inclusion to the curriculum. In this hands-on workshop, participants will be guided through the processes behind adding human rights or environmental justice issues to environmental monitoring activities.

Speakers

Brian Shmaefsky

Thursday December 8, 2022 10:45am - 11:45am CST
Classroom 115

Breakout Session, Community, Education

11:45am CST

Lunch

Thursday December 8, 2022 11:45am - 1:15pm CST
Ballroom/Salon C

General

12:15pm CST

Tai Chi Class

Lesa Walker, MD, MPH and 4th degree black sash in Tai Chi and 5th degree black belt in Kung Fu is offering a tai chi class focused on meditation and movement. Learn some fundamentals of tai chi and how we can use tai chi to relate to nature and improve our health and well-being. It is a wonderful way to find some calm and relaxation during your day!

Wear comfortable exercise clothing and shoes. No special equipment needed. Lesa is long-time student and teacher at the Austin Kung Fu and Tai Chi School, https://austinkungfu.com/, which offers kung fu and tai chi classes for children and adults.

*In the event of inclement weather this class will be cancelled.

Thursday December 8, 2022 12:15pm - 1:00pm CST
Amphitheater Patio

Group Exercise Class

1:15pm CST

Community Centered Program Design

Feedback Survey

Learn how to flip the traditional Program Design Model to a Community Centered Program Design approach. Everyone will come away with tools and resources to bring this simple but transformative model back to their organization, increasing the community relevance and inclusive reach of their institution. Participants will learn the basic structure of the Community Centered Program Design approach and have the opportunity to start outlining this method for their own programs and partnerships. This presentation has been updated to reflect the assets and needs of a society transformed by COVID-19.

Speakers

Emily Weerts

Thursday December 8, 2022 1:15pm - 2:15pm CST
Conference Room 301

Breakout Session, Equity, Community

1:15pm CST

Making Connections Between Field Investigations in Science, Academic Performance, and Mental and Physical Health

Feedback Survey

As evidence of the mental, physical, and academic benefits of nature grows, calls for more natural spaces are becoming widespread. This presentation describes how the STEM Environmental Education Center provides urban teachers and students with the opportunity to have meaningful encounters with nature while they explore important science concepts.

Speakers

Mark Broughton

Director, Dallas ISD STEM Environmental Education Center

Thursday December 8, 2022 1:15pm - 2:15pm CST
Classroom 115

Breakout Session, Health, Access

1:15pm CST

Pathways to Green Careers Panel: Conversations with Austin’s Young Eco-Professionals

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Austin’s young leaders from different environmental groups share their experience working in the environmental field. Youth representatives from Austin Civilian Conservation Corp, Austin Youth River Watch, City of Austin’s Youth Forest Council, Park Ranger Cadet Program, and Youth Leadership Working Group provide a broad look at pathways to green careers. They will speak on topics related to special projects, equitable hiring and recruiting, barriers to access, and work culture in the outdoor field. This panel session has been designed and presented by young people.

Moderators

Chanel Davis

Program Manager, Austin Youth River Watch

Britney Huynh

Youth Program Specialist, City of Austin Urban Forest Program

Speakers

Jennifer Cerda

ACCC Specialist, City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department

Jose Rodriguez

ACCC Specialist, City of Austin - Parks & Recreation Dept

Jamie Young

Youth Forest Council Intern, City of Austin

Sheridan Ray

ACCC Specialist, City of Austin - Parks & Recreation Dept

Thursday December 8, 2022 1:15pm - 2:15pm CST
Salon A

Breakout Session, Community

1:15pm CST

SPARK Park Case Study - Mandarin Immersion Magnet School, Houston TX

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For almost 40 years, SPARK Parks have engaged public schools and surrounding community, providing space for outside recess and instruction during school hours, as well as park space for the surrounding community to exercise, enjoy the outdoors, and for children to play after school hours, on weekends, and holidays. SPARK has 158 active SPARK Parks in the greater Houston metropolitan region. The SPARK team will present a case study of the SPARK Park at the Mandarin Immersion Magnet School in the Galleria Area of Houston. They will present the process and discuss the steps involved, providing ample time for questions.

Speakers

Kathleen Ownby

Elizabeth Howley

Assistant Director, SPARK School Park Program

SPARK School Park Program works with public schools to create community parks, open to the public after school and on the weekends/holidays. I'm interested in park equity, playgrounds, health, and all things relating to park and park usage. I look forward to networking with others... Read More →

Thursday December 8, 2022 1:15pm - 2:15pm CST
Salon D

Breakout Session, Health, Community, Equity

1:15pm CST

Youth Birding Camp: Connecting Children to Nature Through Summer Camp

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In June 2022, Travis Audubon piloted a day-long Youth Birding Camp aimed at connecting kids ages 8-12 to nature through the lens of birds and birding while being as accessible, fun, and inspiring as possible. This presentation will review the strategies used by a collaborating body of staff and volunteers to create a successful camp, lessons learned to create smoother logistics for future camps, and best practices for others interested in creating similar programming opportunities.

Speakers

Caley Zuzula

Program Manager, Travis Audubon

Thursday December 8, 2022 1:15pm - 2:15pm CST
Classroom 116

Breakout Session, Access, Education

2:15pm CST

Break

Thursday December 8, 2022 2:15pm - 2:30pm CST

Break

2:30pm CST

Keynote Speaker - Rae Wynn-Grant, PhD

An overview of Dr. Wynn-Grant’s most notable wildlife adventures will segue into a personal story of her moment of realization that the greater environmental community was lacking the intersectional perspectives that can best support its scientists - starting with our youth. She will then define intersectional environmentalism and give several examples of how her own work has taken a turn for the better since adopting this lens, as well as detail her most recent forays into supporting opportunity for youth inclusion in the outdoors.

RAE WYNN-GRANT is a wildlife ecologist and National Geographic Explorer who researches how human activity influences the movement and behavior of wild animals. As an active scientist, she spends long periods in the wilderness tracking and observing black and grizzly bears in the western United States, and African lions in rural Kenya and Tanzania. Her wildlife exploration and media work has taken her to six of seven continents and over 25 countries. A native Californian, Wynn-Grant attributes her interest in wildlife and conservation from the nature shows she watched on television as a child, and today she uses media to increase representation of Black scientists and explorers. Wynn-Grant received her BS in Environmental Studies from Emory University, her MS in Environmental Studies from Yale University, and her PhD in Ecology and Evolution from Columbia University. She is a faculty member at the Bren School of Environmental Science and Management at University of California at Santa Barbara. Wynn-Grant envisions a near-future where the outdoors is a safe, equitably accessible, and positively transformative space for all people. She is a scientist, conservationist, equity and justice advocate, and storyteller.

Speakers

Rae Wynn-Grant, PhD

Research Faculty, Bren School of Environmental Science & Management University of California Santa Barbara

Thursday December 8, 2022 2:30pm - 3:30pm CST
Ballroom/Salon C

Keynote Speaker

3:30pm CST

Break

Thursday December 8, 2022 3:30pm - 4:00pm CST

Break

4:00pm CST

Early Play and Learning - In any and all weather!

Feedback Survey

As temperatures rise – or when it’s cold – we can be less motivated to be outdoors engaging with young children. But spending time in dynamic outdoor spaces all year long supports healthy child development in so many ways. In this session, participants will learn how to enhance outdoor learning environments to help offset heat and make spaces more comfortable and inviting for both young children and adults. We will explore barriers to outdoor play in different weather, think through potential solutions, and provide examples of guided activities to engage children in outdoor play and learning year-round.

Speakers

Jessica Yuill

Thursday December 8, 2022 4:00pm - 5:00pm CST
Salon D

Breakout Session, Health, Education, Equity, Access

4:00pm CST

Experiential Environmental Eductation for Teachers - Connecting Formal and Informal Educators

Feedback Survey

The Steve Lewis project, a group of San Antonio-area organizations and its education service center, are developing an experiential environmental education program dedicated to getting kids and teachers outdoors. Come hear about how the group was formed, how they developed their program model, how the partnerships work, and their future plans. The group will also address the peaks and valleys along the way and the guidance they received from the namesake of the group. You will leave with an understanding of their work and how to effectively execute action to increase access to nature for students in their community.

Speakers

Kassi Scheffer-Geeslin

Director of Formal Education, Texas Wildlife Association

Kassi Scheffer-Geeslin is the Director of Formal Education for the Texas Wildlife Association. Since joining TWA in 2008, she has been working to increase the capacity of their statewide stewardship programs to include Discovery Trunks of hands-on materials and resources, live videoconference... Read More →

Stephanie Regets

Director of Programs, Cibolo Nature Center

I love working camp, planning events for children and families, and meeting other nature nerds!

Irma Guerra

Coordinator, Education Service Center, Region 20

Amanda McMickle

Director, Cibolo Center for Conservation

Sara Ramirez

Director of Nature Equity & Engagement, San Antonio River Foundation

Thursday December 8, 2022 4:00pm - 5:00pm CST
Salon A

Breakout Session, Education

4:00pm CST

Flipping the Script - Creating a Preschool within a Nature Sanctuary

Feedback Survey

The Alief Early Childhood Center #2 Project, located in Houston's Alief community, is a revolutionary project whose aim is to create a campus where nature is rich, dispersed, and big. The campus opened in August 2022 and sports over 190 trees and 4.5 acres of prairie wetlands. This campus flips the script on establishment and maintenance of nature on a campus and also the size of nature that can be built on campuses. Presenters will provide an overview of the process of designing and building this innovative campus, how it's being used and interpreted, and the many quantified benefits it will bring to the students and community.

Speakers

Jaime Gonzalez

Community & Equitable Conservation Director, The Nature Conservancy in Texas

Jaime González is the inaugural Houston Urban Conservation Programs Manager for The Nature Conservancy in Texas. His work prioritizes building partnerships, designing and managing projects, and assisting communities and other organizations to help make Houston a more healthy, resilient... Read More →

Melissa Turnbaugh

Thursday December 8, 2022 4:00pm - 5:00pm CST
Ballroom/Salon C

Breakout Session, Community, Health, Ed, Equity, Access

4:00pm CST

Inclusive Social Media: Remember Y'all Means All

Feedback Survey

Want to see a wider variety of humans having fun at your programs? Feeling overwhelmed with social media? Struggling to figure out better approaches to marketing? Join me to discuss the “who, what, where, when, how, and why’s” of social media for marketing to different audiences.

Speakers

Susana Cruz

Community Relations Specialist, Cedar Hill State Park

Thursday December 8, 2022 4:00pm - 5:00pm CST
Classroom 115

Breakout Session, Equity, Access

4:00pm CST

Placemaking and Green Space: How to use pilot projects to incorporate nature into public space

Feedback Survey

Join Kristin Leiber, Senior Project Manager for The Better Block Foundation, as she explores case studies for incorporating nature in community-led demonstrations for public spaces. We will explore strategies best used for quick-win civic projects using low budgets and volunteer elbow grease, and how to use landscaping elements in pilot projects to justify permanent civic investment in urban green spaces.

Speakers

Kristin Leiber

Senior Project Manager, The Better Block Foundation

Let's talk placemaking, tactical urbanism, project management, and community advocacy!

Thursday December 8, 2022 4:00pm - 5:00pm CST
Salon B

Breakout Session, Community

5:00pm CST

Poster Session & Happy Hour

Feedback Survey

Outdoor Explorers - Presenter: Adrian Dearmond, Candlelight Ranch
Evaluating the Current Status of Nature-Based Climate Anxiety Treatment in Mental Health Services in the United States of America and Identifying Future Strategies - Presenter: Anika Shethia, Houston Youth Climate Strike (in conjunction with the Climate Is Health Campaign and the International Social Science Conference for Youth)
An Examination of the Relationship Between Childhood Experiences in Nature and Time Spent in Nature in Adulthood – Presenter: Dr. Deb Kellstedt, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Nature Challenge - The Future of Nature Engagement - Presenter: Jacey Tosh, Texas A&M Forest Service
Trash Talk - Presenter: Janine Garcia, San Antonio River Authority
Bridging the Access to Nature Gap with Storytelling and Exploration - Presenter: Jayshree L Patel, One Drop, Many Ripples Author
Trinity River Crew 2022: An Overview of a North Texas Youth Conservation Educational Work Program – Presenter: Jimena Vivanco, Trinity Park Conservancy
Building Grit, Resiliency and Promoting Social-Emotional Learning in Historically
Live Life Without Egrets: Creating Collaborative Projects Between Friends of Redhead Pond WPA and Flour Bluff ISD Oceans Program - Presenters: Katie Doyle & Larissa Ford, Flour Bluff Intermediate School & Texas A&M University- Corpus Christi
Girl Scout Explorers - Presenter: Kayla Robinson, Girl Scouts of Central Texas
The Practice of Doing Sit Spots in Nature to Improve Mental Well-Being- Presenter: Leah Marsh, Trinity University Education Department
Science Outside! Program Creates Impactful Outdoor STEM Experiences for Rural Communities – Presenter: Rachel Grotte, The Science Mill
Bringing the Outdoors In - Presenter: Sara Ramirez, Dallas ISD
Picnics en el Arroyo. Access to Austin’s creeks and green spaces for underserved Hispanic families – Veronica Godoy, A Rocha USA
Forging a Valuable Connection: Texas Master Naturalists - Presenter: Linda Welsh, Lost Pines Master Naturalist Chapter

Thursday December 8, 2022 5:00pm - 6:00pm CST
Ballroom Prefunction

Poster Session

7:30am CST

Breakfast

Friday December 9, 2022 7:30am - 8:30am CST
Ballroom Prefunction

8:30am CST

Austin - Regional Breakout

Meet with your regional collaboratives.

Friday December 9, 2022 8:30am - 9:45am CST
Ballroom/Salon C

Regional Breakout Groups

8:30am CST

Caprock- Regional Breakout

Meet with your regional collaborative.

Friday December 9, 2022 8:30am - 9:45am CST
Ballroom/Salon C

Regional Breakout Groups

8:30am CST

Coastal Bend - Regional Breakout

Meet with your regional collaboratives.

Friday December 9, 2022 8:30am - 9:45am CST
Salon A

Regional Breakout Groups

8:30am CST

Heart of Texas- Regional Breakout

Meet with your regional collaboratives.

Friday December 9, 2022 8:30am - 9:45am CST
Conference Room 301

Regional Breakout Groups

8:30am CST

Houston - Regional Breakout

Meet with your regional collaboratives.

Friday December 9, 2022 8:30am - 9:45am CST
Salon B

Regional Breakout Groups

8:30am CST

North Texas - Regional Breakout

Meet with your regional collaboratives.

Friday December 9, 2022 8:30am - 9:45am CST
Salon D

Regional Breakout Groups

8:30am CST

Piney Woods - Regional Breakout

Meet with your regional collaboratives.

Friday December 9, 2022 8:30am - 9:45am CST
Classroom 115

Regional Breakout Groups

8:30am CST

Rio Grande Valley - Regional Breakout

Meet with your regional collaborative.

Friday December 9, 2022 8:30am - 9:45am CST
Classroom 116

Regional Breakout Groups

8:30am CST

San Antonio - Regional Breakout

Meet with your regional collaboratives.

Friday December 9, 2022 8:30am - 9:45am CST
Ballroom/Salon C

Regional Breakout Groups

9:45am CST

Break

Friday December 9, 2022 9:45am - 10:00am CST

Break

10:00am CST

Keynote Speaker - Jesús Aguirre

In his presentation, Jesús will share about his journey as an immigrant to this country and how his experiences, and careers in education and parks and recreation have solidified a belief in the power of parks, open spaces, and nature to improve health, build strong communities, and support a healthier environment – especially for historically underserved communities. He will share some insights into how equity can be brought into practice in large municipal systems and will also share some of the national perspective on this work from his involvement with the Children and Nature Network and the National Recreation and Parks Association.

Speakers

Jesús Aguirre

CEO, Waterloo Greenway

Friday December 9, 2022 10:00am - 11:00am CST
Ballroom/Salon C

Keynote Speaker

11:00am CST

Break

Friday December 9, 2022 11:00am - 11:15am CST

Break

11:15am CST

Health and Nature Liaison Panel

We know that children and families who play and learn in nature are healthier, happier, and smarter and that is what the Texas Children in Nature Network strives in achieving.

Join in as David Buggs, TPWD's Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, moderates as we hear from TCiNN's Health and Nature Liaisons, Marisa Oliva from the Rio Grande Valley, Robyn Kebede from the Gulf Coast, and Jennifer Larios from the North Texas regions, as they discuss their experiences and the work they do in the regions and communities they support. The goal of the Health and Nature Liaison program is to address barriers to nature access in three regions across the state, build partnerships between the health and nature communities, and provide resources and guidance to local communities seeking to connect children to nature.

The initiative is showing great results and is garnering interest from organizations across the country - learn about the work TCiNN is engaging in and how progress has been made during this panel session.

Moderators

David Buggs

Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

Mr. Buggs is the Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), an agency of the state of Texas. His role is developing and managing the execution of TPWD’s Diversity and Inclusion strategy. David is also the former Chief Diversity and Inclusion... Read More →

Speakers

Robyn Kebede

Health and Nature Liaison, TCINN

I am advocate of community health and education. As well as bridging any gaps that may be present, specifically with maternal and infant child health. I am a proud wife and girl mom that enjoys dancing, doing karaoke, and collecting recipes. I take pride in working in my community... Read More →

Jenny Larios

Health and Nature Liaison, Texas Children in Nature Network

Recent college graduate from Ithaca College where I received my B.A. in Environmental Studies and Politics. As an undergraduate student, I became a member of Advocates for Youth where I worked on several projects that helped engage and create youth activists across the country. I... Read More →

Marisa Oliva

RGV Health & Nature Liaison, Texas Children in Nature Network

Marisa Oliva-Rodriguez serves as the Rio Grande Valley Health and Nature Liaison for the Texas Children in Nature and Network. She previously managed the Edinburg Scenic Wetlands and World Birding Center, helping to establish it as one of the premier environmental education sites... Read More →

Friday December 9, 2022 11:15am - 12:15pm CST
Ballroom/Salon C

HNL Panel Forum

12:15pm CST

Summit Close

Friday December 9, 2022 12:15pm - 12:30pm CST
Ballroom/Salon C

General