Reflecting on KAEE’s 2025 Annual Conference: Three Days of Connection, Inspiration, and Momentum

From November 12 to 14, 2026, the Kentucky Association for Environmental Education community gathered in Owensboro, Kentucky, for an unforgettable three days of learning, collaboration, and connection. This year marked a meaningful milestone as it was our first time hosting the annual conference in Owensboro. The stunning Owensboro Convention Center overlooking the Ohio River became an integral part of the experience, inviting participants to reflect, recharge, and root their work in a meaningful sense of place.

Pre Conference: Kicking Off With Curiosity and Hands On Discovery

The event opened with an engaging pre-conference day filled with field experiences, workshops, and interactive opportunities for professional growth. Participants explored regional environmental challenges, visited local sites, and engaged in hands-on sessions that highlighted conservation efforts, community partnerships, and innovative approaches to environmental education.

The theme “Bridging the Gaps” began to take shape as attendees connected with one another, exchanged ideas, and grounded their learning in the distinct natural and cultural landscape of Owensboro. The pre conference set an energized foundation for the days ahead.

Day 2: A Full Day of Inspiration, Learning, and Riverfront Reflections

Day 2 welcomed attendees into the heart of the conference experience. Throughout the morning and afternoon, participants drew inspiration from the Ohio River, whose presence reminded everyone of the interconnected systems they work to protect. The river’s significance underscored the importance of environmental education in supporting healthy ecosystems and resilient communities.

One of the day’s most memorable moments was the keynote address by Jordan Lubetkin, the Ohio River Basin Director for the National Wildlife Federation. Jordan shared meaningful insight into the essential role of the Ohio River Basin, an area spanning fourteen states and two Tribal Nations and home to more than thirty million people. He highlighted the environmental challenges facing the Basin and the collaborative efforts needed to restore and protect its waters.

Sharing experiences from thirty one community listening sessions held between 2022 and 2023, Jordan discussed the process behind the 2024 report titled Community Priorities for Ohio River Basin Restoration and Protection. His keynote emphasized the importance of decisions shaped by community knowledge and reminded attendees of the critical role environmental educators play in strengthening a more resilient region.

The rest of Day 2 offered more than twenty five opportunities for hands-on learning and

professional collaboration. Sessions centered on access and belonging, community engagement, thriving organizations, and the intersection of education and research. Educators explored inclusive teaching strategies, engaged in conversations about partnership building, and learned new ways to strengthen environmental literacy in Kentucky. The day was filled with energy, practical tools, and meaningful connections.

Day 3: A Day of Celebration, Leadership, and Looking Forward

The final day of the conference featured one of KAEE’s most cherished traditions, the Excellence in EE Awards Ceremony and Panel. This inspiring event honored the 2025 Excellence in EE Award Winners, celebrating individuals and organizations who are advancing environmental education in innovative and powerful ways. Their dedication, creativity, and leadership serve as shining examples of what is possible when passionate people work together to support environmental literacy.

The accompanying panel offered attendees the opportunity to hear directly from awardees, learn about the challenges and triumphs of their work, and gain fresh inspiration from their stories. This gathering served as a heartwarming reminder of the impact environmental educators have across Kentucky and the importance of strengthening this work year after year.

Congratulations, 2025 Excellence in EE Award Winners!

• Joseph Baust, Lifetime Achievement​

• Wesley Bullock, M.K. Dickerson Outstanding Educator

• Willa Dawn Bayne, Rising Star

• Lewisburg School, Kentucky Green School of the Year

• Salato Wildlife Education Center, Outstanding Community Partner

• FoodChain, Outstanding Business

  
  

Day 3 also marked the celebration of forty nine years of KAEE gatherings, a reflection of the strength and resiliency of Kentucky’s environmental education network. Participants left the conference energized and inspired, carrying new ideas, strengthened relationships, and a renewed sense of purpose as they returned to their communities.

Looking Ahead to 2026

As the conference came to a close, it was clear that KAEE’s community continues to grow stronger, more connected, and more aligned in purpose each year. Thank you to everyone who attended, presented, volunteered, and supported this gathering. Your dedication is what makes this conference so meaningful and what continues to drive environmental education forward in Kentucky and beyond.

We look forward to another year of collaboration, learning, and impact as we prepare for KAEE’s 2026 conference in Lexington, November 11-13. Stay up to date on all the details at kaee.org/conference.

Keynote Spotlight: Jordan Lubetkin to Speak at 2025 KAEE Conference

We are excited to announce that Jordan Lubetkin will be the keynote speaker for the 2025 Kentucky Association for Environmental Education (KAEE) Conference this fall in Owensboro, Kentucky. This year's conference will include environmental educators from around the state and beyond, for an incredible few days of learning, connecting with others, and finding inspiration. 

Jordan Lubetkin serves as the Ohio River Basin Director for the National Wildlife Federation, and brings perspective, experience, and passion to this year's keynote. In this position, he leads the work to restore and protect the interrelated waters of the Ohio River Basin.

This is a critical and impactful area that covers parts of 14 states and two federally recognized Tribal Nations. The Basin is home to more than 30 million people, whose drinking water, jobs, and overall quality of life depend on the waters of this Basin.

Over the past few years, Jordan has helped lead a planning process to develop a plan for a regional restoration plan that addresses the environmental challenges and threats facing the Basin. He organized and facilitated 31 community listening sessions across the Basin in 2022 and 2023 with the Ohio River Basin Alliance. These sessions shaped a 2024 report titled Community Priorities for Ohio River Basin Restoration and Protection. This work will help make sure future investments in the Ohio River Basin are supported and guided by community knowledge and the lived experience of people most affected by these issues. 

Jordan was involved with not only the regional planning work but he has also spent time developing relationships with Tribal Nations that reside in or historically have a connection to the Basin, with an emphasis on making sure the restoration process will both protect natural resources and guide programs that will improve economic opportunities that better sustains and honors tribal nations' historical and ancestral ties to the land and water.

Before his current role, Jordan worked as the communications director for the Healing Our Waters - Great Lakes Coalition. Jordan's professional history includes being a journalist and editor for community newspapers, a marketing and development leader for the Toledo Jazz Society, and overseeing media relations for a nonpartisan public engagement effort based in Washington, D.C. Jordan obtained a degree in English from Case Western Reserve University and engages in the craft of storytelling and community-engagement through everything he does.

Join us in Owensboro for the 2025 KAEE Conference and be part of a growing movement to advance environmental education across Kentucky and beyond. Registration opens soon!

Learn more at kaee.org/conference.

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.