LEEF Fall Mini-Conference

The development and implementation of Brevard Zoo's Master Interpretive Plan in 2022 established new goals and outcomes for guests and volunteers visiting the Zoo. Our Senior Manager of Guest Learning and Interpretation worked with other departments of the zoo to create an interpretive framework that represented the zoo's many conservation, wellbeing, and community initiatives. The MIP made interpretation more consistent and thematic across the Zoo to better facilitate learning through repeated  and meaningful encounters with the Zoo's core messaging. The MIP is a useful too to guide informal programs, including animal encounters, guided tours, and learning events. Creating an MIP is also a strong opportunity for multiple departments to collaborate on creating meaningful themes for interpreters to share with visitors and the community.  

This Florida Wildlife Corridor session will ignite curiosity through learning opportunities with Path of the Panther–a ground-breaking conservation campaign and film telling the story of the recovery of the Florida panther and the vital need to protect its habitat. Participants will learn about new, free Educator Guides for middle and high school to adult learning, featuring life science concepts, geography, and STEAM connections to help students connect to real-world issues and problem-solving. This session will showcase the new resources and provide experience with selected activities designed to enthrall students through the astounding yet endangered Florida panther, the vast biodiversity of the Florida Wildlife Corridor, and the critical challenges facing the environment as Florida gains 1,000 + residents per day. Path of the Panther is a National Geographic film available on Disney+. These new educator guides, film clips, a film discussion guide, and a podcast series are all available on PathofthePanther.com.

”A Week in the Field" is a transformative camp offered by Sanibel Sea School, part of the SCCF family, designed to inspire high school students to pursue careers in STEM fields through hands-on, real-world experiences. Join us to learn how to design and implement immersive field programs that connect students with actual environmental research and conservation efforts, fostering practical skills and knowledge, and explore the benefits of partnering with local organizations and scientists to enrich educational programs and provide students with valuable mentorship and real-world insights. With accessibility and inclusivity in mind, we will also discuss our strategies for breaking down financial barriers, ensuring all interested students have the opportunity to participate.  

Funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and Pisces Foundation, the project included a comprehensive study of the environmental education already happening on the ground, enabling the states involved to identify gaps and barriers to access that prevent successful implementation in some areas. The final report provides recommendations and next steps for increasing environmental literacy efforts in the southeast based on an inventory of model programs and initiatives happening nationwide.   
This analysis and tailored state recommendations included in the report also equip organizations and schools conducting environmental and conservation-related work in the southeast with the materials they need to address gaps, allocate resources more effectively, and, ultimately, meet the goal of increasing environmental literacy levels and stewardship behaviors.

 This presentation will highlight the value of Interdisciplinary Social Sciences in Environmental Education. In a world where highly interrelated Social, Economic, and Political processes are deeply tied to the growing complexity of environmental issues, environmental sustainability requires a holistic approach that seeks to integrate diverse perspectives across multiple disciplines and epistemological backgrounds. Throughout the presentation, key concepts of Interdisciplinary Research will be related to real-world examples from the micro to the macro level to further expand on the value of Context and the Scientific Method. The course structure, which combines various forms of media in course lectures and collaborative group work, will be presented as a foundation for educators and students to expand on environmental education and to gain a better understanding of complex environmental issues.