Winter Solstice is the annual conference and workshop of the Iowa Conservation Education Coalition, an organization that strives to improve environmental literacy and learning opportunities for formal and nonformal educators. This year’s event features 30 presentations offered during five concurrent sessions and two field sessions, some of which quality for professional development credit. Keynote speakers include “Grandmother Nature” Thea Nicholas, a professional storyteller, gardener, naturalist and theologian; and David Stokes, Wiconsin’s Association for Environmental Education Teacher of the Year and an “Aldo Leopold” award winner.

A preconference workshop from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday will focus on “Teaching Outdoors with Aldo Leopold.” The curriculum materials are designed for use by teachers, interpreters, naturalists, park rangers, zoo educators, youth group leaders and private citizen and are based on Leopold’s writings.

Link: http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/news/calendar/2012-02-03/listening-land-discovering-stories-through-science-winter-solstice-2012