Recap & Gallery: 2023 EENC Conference
- EENC Staff Team
- Sep 27, 2023
- 2 min read
Updated: Oct 23, 2023
Early this month, EENC friends and members gathered at Rockfish Camp and Retreat Center in Parkton for our 32nd annual conference, guided by the theme, “Unplug and rEEconnect.” It was a meaningful, energizing weekend of networking, learning, and fun, and now that we’re “plugged back in,” the EENC team is excited to share snapshots and highlights from our time together.
Obligatory silly group photo! Lumbee Tribal Council guests. Crossing the boardwalk. Place-Based Projects session Group discussion. iNaturalist BioBlitz session. "Who here loves EE?" All smiles during a session. Enjoying the outdoor spaces! Group activity on Friday. Pre-conference Project WILD. Congrats, award winners! Celebrating our award winners. NC C&NR Secretary Wilson. Cape Fear Botanical Garden. Mallory McDuff during keynote. Pre-conference Project WILD. We have fun here :) Friday Land Acknowledgement. Pre-conference Project WILD. Mallory McDuff's Keynote. Nature Story Time session. Pre-Conference Project WILD. Educator of the Year Awardees. Smiles at the Annual Meeting. Mallory McDuff's Keynote. Pre-Conference Project WILD. Thursday night s'mores. EE in a Social Media Age. Walking Curriculum as EE. Mallory McDuff book signing. Western Section Meeting. Cape Fear Botanical Garden. iNaturalist BioBlitz fun.
2023 EENC Conference By The Numbers:
130 attendees
26 presentations
3 guests from the Lumbee Tribal Council
32 strolls across the boardwalk
1 Keynote Address by author Mallory McDuff
61 silent auction items won
5 generous sponsors
19 drenched – but still smiling! – thunderstorm journalers
88 species observed during the iNaturalist BioBlitz
36 s’mores eaten around the campfire
...and countless memories.
The conference was a blast – but don’t take our word for it! Here’s what some of our attendees had to say about their conference experience:
“It is really hard to pick a favorite moment. I think my favorite moment was games on Thursday night or the Keynote speaker or just getting to talk with so many wonderful people!”
“Meeting my peers in person is always the highlight.”
“For my first EENC conference, this experience has surpassed expectations. I'm grateful I was able to attend, and I look forward to coming back next year!”
“The venue was lovely and perfect for unplugging!”
“I liked the variety of sessions. Some were more informative while others were hands-on. I wish I could have attended them all because they all would have brought value to either my personal or professional life.”
“I thought it was a REALLY wonderful conference!! The attendees were all so friendly and there were so many opportunities to talk and meet with other attendees. Additionally, there was so much wonderful information shared. I really enjoyed the journaling, social media, and EE jobs sessions that I attended. The EENC staff were so wonderful and organized and just so friendly, staying in such great spirits”
“So happy to be with my EE family.”
Session Resources:
Keep learning with the help of these resources, shared by our presenters.
Compilation of Favorite Children’s Books (“Nature Story Time” session)
“Turning Math and Science Instruction Inside Out” presentation
Writing Examples and Resources for Environmental Educators compiled by Margot Lester (“Climate Education: How to Blend Data and Exposition,” Reconnect to Yourself and Nature with Journaling,” and “The Power of Your Ideas: How to Write for Social Change” sessions)
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