A Look Back at the 2024 KAEE Conference

The Kentucky Association for Environmental Education (KAEE) hosted its 48th Annual Conference from November 13–15, 2024, in Morehead, Kentucky. This year’s conference brought together environmental educators, advocates, and enthusiasts from across the state for three days of learning, collaboration, and celebration. With over 30 workshops and tours covering a diverse variety of topics, attendees had the opportunity to tailor their experience and explore the sessions that best fit their interests and professional goals.

Here’s a look back at the most memorable moments from this incredible event:

Day 1: Pre-Conference Adventures

The conference kicked off with immersive pre-conference experiences that got attendees out into nature and hands-on with creativity. Participants explored everything from birding and fossil collecting to basket-making and environmental workshops. The guided hike through Daniel Boone National Forest and the “Don’t Waste It!” educator workshop stood out as crowd favorites, offering fresh perspectives on sustainability and outdoor education.

The day ended with a warm and lively gathering at the Rowan County Arts Center, where attendees mingled over dinner, shared ideas, and set the tone for the exciting days ahead.

Day 2: Learning, Inspiration, and Laughter

Thursday began with a packed schedule of workshops and breakout sessions addressing critical topics such as equity in environmental education, interdisciplinary teaching, and community-based climate resilience.

Along with the numerous workshops attendees could participate in, there were also Affinity Group meetings throughout the conference. These groups linked participants with a common purpose, identity, or interest, facilitating meaningful networking and fostering an inclusive environment where everyone felt valued and included. From BIPOC professionals to LGBTQ+ attendees, young professionals, and classroom educators, these sessions created space for connection and collaboration within smaller, focused communities.

Keynote speaker, Crystal Wilkinson, an award-winning Kentucky author and poet, left everyone feeling inspired. Wilkinson, a recent fellowship recipient of the Academy of American Poets, is renowned for her works, including Praisesong for the Kitchen Ghosts, a culinary memoir; Perfect Black, a collection of poems; and three acclaimed works of fiction—The Birds of Opulence, Water Street, and Blackberries, Blackberries. Wilkinson’s keynote beautifully intertwined the themes of storytelling, creativity, and environmental advocacy.

The day’s events also included interactive lightning rounds and the much-anticipated evening festivities. A live auction and the Dash for Cash fundraiser kept spirits high, with plenty of laughter and friendly competition—all for a great cause. Jeri Howell and Nat Colten’s Folk/Americana music brought the perfect touch of Kentucky tradition to the night.

Day 3: Celebrating Excellence

Friday wrapped up the conference with more engaging sessions, regional networking opportunities, and the Excellence in Environmental Education Awards Luncheon. It was inspiring to see individuals and organizations recognized for their outstanding contributions to environmental education, including:

• Lifetime Achievement: David Wicks

•  M.K. Dickerson Outstanding Educator: Roberta Burnes

• Rising Star: Rachel Young

• Outstanding Community Partner: Legacy Greenscapes

• Outstanding Business: Forest Pals, LLC

• Kentucky Green School of the Year: Community Montessori

The day ended with heartfelt closing remarks and reflections on the connections formed, ideas shared, and creative approaches sparked throughout the conference.

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The 2024 KAEE Conference was more than an event—it was a celebration of a shared mission to inspire and engage environmental educators across Kentucky. From thought-provoking discussions to moments of pure joy, the conference left everyone feeling recharged and ready to continue the work of fostering sustainability and environmental education.

We’re already looking forward to the 2025 conference (at a location TBD but likely Kentucky Dam Village or West KY) where we’ll continue this journey together. Save the date: November 12–14, 2025. Until then, let’s keep building a brighter, greener future! Learn more and stay up to date on all things conference at kaee.org/conference.

Author and past KY Poet Laureate Crystal Wilkinson as keynote speaker at KAEE Conference

Join us in celebrating; Crystal Wilkinson will be the keynote speaker for this year’s Environmental Education Conference, set for November 13-15 at Morehead State University in Morehead, KY.

Crystal Wilkinson, a recent fellowship recipient of the Academy of American Poets, is the award-winning author of Praisesong for the Kitchen Ghosts, a culinary memoir; Perfect Black; a collection of poems; and three works of fiction—The Birds of Opulence, Water Street and Blackberries, Blackberries.

She is the recipient of an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Poetry, an O. Henry Prize, a USA Artists Fellowship, and an Ernest J. Gaines Prize for Literary Excellence. Named Kentucky’s Poet Laureate from 2021 to 2023, she has received recognition from the Yaddo Foundation, Hedgebrook, The Vermont Studio Center for the Arts, The Hermitage Foundation and others. Her short stories, poems and essays have appeared in numerous journals and anthologies including most recently in The Atlantic, The Kenyon Review, STORY, Agni Literary Journal, Emergence, Oxford American and Southern Cultures. She currently teaches at the University of Kentucky where she is Bush-Holbrook Professor in Creative Writing.

“We are so excited about the opportunity to hear and learn from Eastern Kentucky Native, Crystal Wilkinson,” said Ashley Hoffman, KAEE Executive Director. “Her beautiful writing blends nature, culture, and a sense of place in a way that can inspire all of us as educators to better connect our students with the world around them.”

We are currently accepting session proposals for the conference. Learn more about the event and how to become part of this dynamic program at kaee.org/conference. To learn more about Crystal Wilkinson and her incredible works, visit crystalewilkinson.net.