HEARTLAND AEE CONFERENCE WORKSHOP SCHEDULE
UPHAM WOODS OUTDOOR LEARNING CENTER
MARCH 31-APRIL 2, 2017
Nature Center
Saturday
8:30-10:00
Saturday
10:15 - 11:45
Saturday
2:15 - 3:45
Saturday
4:00 - 5:30
Sunday
9:00 - 10:30
Sunday
10:45 - 12:15
Tree House
Room
Capacity:
20-30
AV: Flat panel
TV with HDMI
Many Hands
Make Powerful
Work
SolutionFocused
Helping Skills
for Group
Facilitators
The Sensory
Experience of
a Lifetime
The Sensory
Experience of
a Lifetime
continued
The Animal
Matrix
Cheap Make
and Take
Equipment
Engaging
Classroom #1
Capacity:
15-20
AV: Flat panel
TV with HDMI
Socioecological
Tangible
Tools in
Creating
Positive
Group
Culture
Engaging
Youth in
Citizen
Science
The Origins
of
Adventure
Education
Facilitating
Brave Space
Question
Strategies
Classroom #2
Capacity:
15-20
AV: Flat panel
TV with HDMI
Engineering a
Project Based
Classroom
The Lens,
Bridge and
Glue of
Permaculture
Read,
Rhyme,
Rhythm
Who Do You
Think You
Are?
It’s All About
Relationships!
Trauma
Informed
Practices
Craft Building
S 8:30-10:00
S 10:15-11:45
S 2:15-3:45
S 4:00-5:30
Su 9:00-10:30
Su10:45-12:15
Room 1
Capacity:
15-20
Tables in
narrow row
AV: None
Adventure
Therapy and
Solution
Focused
Therapy
Breaking out of
Traditional
Education
Service
Learning
Research,
Logistics and
Application
Service
Learning
Research,
Logistics and
Application
continued
Make It! Take
It! Hike with It!
Make It! Take
It! Hike with
It! continued
Dorm
S 8:30-10:00
S 10:15-11:45
S 2:15-3:45
S 4:00-5:30
Su 9:00-10:30
Su10:45-12:15
Basement
large room
Capacity:
25-30
Chairs
available
AV: Flat panel
TV with HDMI
STEM Integrating it
into our
Everyday Lives
Opening the
Door to
Community
Utilizing the
Human
Canine Bond
Play With a
Purpose
Get Moving!
Using
Challenge
and Group
Initiatives
with Young
Learners
Main Lodge
S 8:30-10:00
S 10:15-11:45
S 2:15-3:45
S 4:00-5:30
Su 9:00-10:30
Su10:45-12:15
Conference
Room
Capacity:
10-15
AV: Flat panel
TV with HDMI
Justice in
Education
Wisconsin
High
Schoolers
Celebrate
National
Parks
Workshop Descriptions
Workshop Session 1
Saturday 8:30-10:00
1. Many Hands Make Powerful Work: How Partnerships Build Transformative
Programming
Nature Center - Treehouse Room
We will explain how to build a comprehensive outcomes based program in partnership with an
academic institution. Our example will be the Schuler Scholar Program which is based in the greater
Chicago area. Throughout our workshop we will outline the history of the Schuler Program and it’s
partnership with Camp Manito-Wish, discuss overall staffing, programming & planning logistics as well
as explore the facilitation sequence and activities for the Scholars 10 day experience
Presented by: ​ ​Bryn Lottig, Alex Black & Mark Zanoni
2. Both, And! Engaging Socioecological Justice in Environmental & Outdoor Education
Nature Center - Classroom #1
Are you torn between curricular priorities of social justice and environmental connectedness? Do
you sometimes feel there isn’t time for both? Do you want to learn new ways to more effectively
mesh these topics in your work? This workshop is for you! This session provides tools for blending
social justice and environmental connectedness through a socioecological lens. Participants will
create a detailed road map for building more inclusive, socially just, and ecologically grounded
programming.
Presented by: ​Danny Frank
​3. ​Engineering a Project Based Classroom
Nature Center - Classroom #2
We will be discussing the benefits of project based learning throughout multiple grade levels.
We want attendees to understand the importance of hands on learning and how it can lead to
more critical thinking within the classroom. This type of learning encourages students to
become more independent while promoting the values of teamwork. To demonstrate the
process of project based learning, as a group, we will explore a hands on engineering
experiment and process the the experience together. We will discuss the importance of getting
your students to create and work together while meeting state standards across a variety of
content areas. Attendees should leave our workshop with a better understanding of project
based learning and how to make it a part of their own classroom. They will have many
opportunities to get involved and ask many questions
Presented by: ​Jennifer King, Chad Huggins, Lee Finn, Lindsey Pearson
​4.​ ​Adventure Therapy and Solution Focused Therapy
Craft Building
Adventure Therapists utilize a vast array of resources in order to do their jobs effectively.
Solution Focused Brief Therapy provides them with a solid basis for working with clients. This
presentation will focus on the successful implementation of SFBT into AT programs.
​
Presented by: ​Mark Gillan, Phd.
​5. ​ ​STEM - Integrating it into our everyday lives!
Dorm Basement
How does STEM impact my everyday life? How can I infuse it into various lessons?
Join us as we embark on a fun time learning “what and why” as an instructor you would want
to infuse STEM into lessons. Work together as a team to solve a simple science experiment,
and use that information in the field. Instructors have many years of experience in outdoor
education, recreation management, experiential learning, classroom instruction and youth
development.
Presented by: ​Adam Trunz
Workshop Session 2
Saturday 10:15-11:45
​1. ​Solution-Focused Helping Skills for Group Facilitators
Nature Center - Treehouse Room
Solution Focused Therapy provides many techniques applicable to working with campers,
clients, and staff. The concepts and methods are easily learned and practiced by lay- persons
in the helping fields to enable people to move past problems into solutions. This workshop will
identify and practice these concepts through didactic/large group scenarios, Powerpoint and
discussion. Written synopsis and bibliography provided.
Presented by: ​Gary Cwidak
​ 2.​ ​Tangible Tools in Creating Positive Group Culture
Nature Center - Classroom #1
Help to push your group further by learning to teach team building activities and facilitate
conversations that will help your students and school community come together to work
towards a common goal. These activities will help to build trust and increase opportunities for
meaningful connection and new, deeper conversations.
Presented by: ​Zach Burns
​3. ​ ​The Lens, Bridge and Glue of Permaculture
Nature Center - Classroom #2
What does the word “permaculture” evoke in your mind? Permaculture supports a system to
bring connections seamlessly back to our lives. The three ethics are people care, earth care,
and fair share. How can this improve our daily interactions, personal and professional? Are you
sure permaculture isn’t just fancy farming? Come join an interactive overview of what
PERMACULTURE is, and open to discuss how we can, have, or dream to bridge this
succinctly with our lives.
Presented by: ​Carolyn Stypka
​4​. ​ Breaking out of traditional teaching, one clue at a time
Craft Building
Create an experience sure to engage all learners. This workshop takes interactive lessons to a
new level; incorporating research, problem-solving, and teamwork all into one. Using the
Breakout EDU platform, we will help you “escape” and “breakout of” the traditional lesson
model. While you are decoding the clues, you will also be learning about the Experiential
Education model and how you can incorporate it in your very own "escape room" to meet ANY
curriculum needs.
Presented by: ​Cassie Sturzl, Kelly Buchholtz, Jessica Pfennig
​ 5.​ ​Opening the Door to Community
Dorm Basement
How do you foster a true community as a group facilitator? That is the million dollar question.
In this workshop you will walk through the four stages of community and experience examples
of activities that are culturally relevant and fitting for each stage.
Presented by:​ Jesse Martinez, Cara Masuga, Jessi Hensen, Nicole Love
Workshop Session 3
Saturday 2:15-3:45
1. The Sensory Experience of a Lifetime (SEL in Technicolor, Smellorama &
SurroundSound) - 180 minute workshop
Nature Center - Treehouse Room
The workshop will follow the days of the week, beginning on Sunday and ending on Saturday.
Attendees will experience engagement with each other in a multitude of ways as well as
sensory experiences (lighting, sound, smell, visuals, touch). A new SEL practice will be
presented for each day of the school week as well as the theory behind it and supporting
evidence-based curriculum.
Presented by: ​Kendra Bostick, Phil Edmonds, Jamie McCabe, Carrie Overeem, Aubrey Gullicksrud
2. ​Engaging Youth in Citizen Science: Mobile Technology in Experiential Outdoor Science
Learning
Nature Center - Classroom #1
National literature points to the need for incorporating mobile technology in experiential
education. Congruently, practitioners are seeking educational programs and trainings which fit
that need. This workshop will address how to satisfy demand in this arena through the Digital
Observation Technology Skills (DOTS) program. We will introduce pedagogies, design
considerations, and equipment from the DOTS program and then use hands on activities to
situate how the kits are used in various settings.
Presented by: ​Mark Nutter & Max Myers
3. Read, Rhyme, Rhythm - Engaging children in literacy skills through kinesthetic,
auditory,
and visual processing.
Nature Center - Classroom #2
This workshop includes an overview of the Read, Rhyme, Rhythm curriculum. Participants will
be lead through the basic design and components for learning within a lesson plan. We will
discuss flexibility in lesson plan design, taking into consideration: time/space availability,
students' grade level, and the teacher's and students' own creativity and imagination.
Attendees will participate in activities from the curriculum and have the opportunity to create
experiential activities from a selection of children's literature.
Presented by: ​Beth Mueller
4. ​ ​Service Learning Research, Logistics and Application - 180 minute workshop
Craft building
This workshop is designed to offer participants a definition of Service Learning, a review of
current research on the academic and emotional effects of Service Learning on elementary
through high school aged students, an opportunity to discuss different types of Service
Learning projects and ideas and an opportunity to participate in a Service Learning Project at
the conference site. Please wear comfortable clothes and shoes for outside work.
Presented by: ​Amy Carran & Rae Lundberg
​5.​ ​Utilizing the human-canine bond as a transformational tool
Dorm Basement
How can interaction with canines be utilized as a transformational tool? This workshop will
delve into how skilled facilitation between dogs and participants can create opportunities for
valuable life skills development in different populations such as youth at-risk, inmates, veterans
and others.
This will be an opportunity to consider philosophical, ethical, scientific and practical
considerations - for both humans AND canines – when utilizing the power of the human-canine
bond in an experiential manner.
Presented by:​ Linda Ball
Workshop Session 4
Saturday 4:00-5:30
1. The Sensory Experience of a Lifetime (SEL in Technicolor, Smellorama &
SurroundSound) - 180 minute workshop CONTINUED
Nature Center - Treehouse Room
The workshop will follow the days of the week beginning on Sunday and ending on Saturday.
Attendees will experience engagement with each other in a multitude of ways as well as
sensory experiences (lighting, sound, smell, visuals, touch). A new SEL practice will be
presented for each day of the school week as well as the theory behind it and supporting
evidence-based curriculum.
Presented by: ​Kendra Bostick, Phil Edmonds, Jamie McCabe, Carrie Overeem, Aubrey Gullicksrud
2.​ ​The Origins of Adventure Education and its Impact on Today's Practices
Nature Center - Classroom #1
Understanding the historical basis that brought forth adventure education as a practice is
fundamental to being a professional in our field. When we know where we come from we have
a better understanding of where we can go, why we should go there and what we might
contribute to our profession in order to continue its evolution. This workshop covers the history
and foundational theories of adventure education and bring them into current practices.
Presented by: ​Eric Howden
3.​ ​Who Do You Think You Are?
Nature Center - Classroom #2
A workshop on identity and how identity impacts facilitation. In the experiential education field,
we often encounter several different identities and intersectionalities of these identities. In
order to be effective leaders and role models, we must understand ourselves and the
perspectives of those around us. In this workshop, you will participate in activities to become
more aware of your identity and discuss how identity can affect how we lead and facilitate.
Presented by: ​Karen Wong
4.​ S
​ ervice Learning Research, Logistics and Application - 180 minute workshop
CONTINUED
Craft building
This workshop is designed to offer participants a definition of Service Learning, a review of
current research on the academic and emotional effects of Service Learning on elementary
through high school aged students, an opportunity to discuss different types of Service
Learning projects and ideas and an opportunity to participate in a Service Learning Project at
the conference site. Please wear comfortable clothes and shoes for outside work.
Presented by: ​Amy Carran & Rae Grosman
5. Play with a Purpose: Connecting Nature to Today’s Changing Classroom
Dorm Basement
With the pressures of academia trickling down into early education, it is imperative to step back
and play with a purpose. That step can and should be taken outside! Learn simple,
straightforward, and successful methods of integrating outdoor educational experiences to
support and surpass the rising expectations of today’s classroom.
Presented by: ​Peter Dargatz
6. ​ ​American Spirit West: Wisconsin High Schoolers Celebrate 100 Years of the National
Parks
Lodge Conference Room
The American Spirit West experience connected a diverse group of youth from Wisconsin to
the National Parks for their Centennial. The University of Wisconsin - Extension partnered with
the National Park Service to provide this unique learning opportunity. Youth gained an
appreciation for the parks and their history, gave back to the parks through service learning
and gained outdoor leadership skills. Participants will learn about logistics, learning outcomes
and reflection pieces for the youth involved.
Presented by: ​Anna DeMers
Workshop Session 5
Sunday 9:00-10:30
1. The Animal Matrix: A Leadership Style Exercise
Nature Center - Treehouse Room
There are many ways to learn about differing leadership styles. The Animal Matrix is a fun
engaging way to determine your own leadership style, how it interacts with other leadership
styles, and what we can do to help others bring their best selves. Come learn your leadership
animal!!
Presented by: ​Mo Kappes
2. ​Facilitating Brave Space: Framework for Social Justice + Experiential Education
Nature Center - Classroom #1
We’ll discuss Arao & Clemens’ foundational 2013 piece, “From Safe Space to Brave Spaces: A
New Way to Frame Dialogue Around Diversity and Social Justice” and explore interdisciplinary
theories supporting brave space. We’ll dig into practical activities, metaphors, comics, and
videos to take home for immediate facilitation use. Great for beginner through advanced, and
those interested in being more intentional & just facilitators in any setting: in the field,
classroom, or boardroom.
Presented by: ​Anna Czarnik-Neimeyer
3.​ ​ ​It’s All About Relationships!
Nature Center - Classroom #2
We all have had that one student who just cannot seem to connect to the classroom
community. This workshop offers some activities and tools that might just help! We will give
you real life examples of how to build a classroom community for all learners in elementary
and middle school settings. We focus specifically on reaching students with social, emotional
and behavioral challenges and engaging them with exciting, interactive and applicable
community building activities.
Presented by:​ Lindsay Charles & Heidi Schleicher
4.​ ​Make it!-take it!-hike with it!: a walking stick workshop - 180 minute workshop
Craft Building
This playshop offers participants an opportunity to create their own WALKING STICK!--a
unique, yet functional folkart piece with interdisciplinary applications! Participants will design,
carve, paint/stain and embellish an heirloom walking stick. You'll intuitively explore line,
texture, color, and composition with your designs-add an art aesthetic to your physical fitness
routine, promote a healthy lifestyle by walking! Experience the success of using simple carving
tools and save the planet by artistic recycling! Rank beginners welcome! No experience
necessary.
Presented by: ​Margaret Mary Gerhardt
5. ​Get Moving! Ways to Incorporate Movement into the Classroom
Dorm Basement
This Interactive session will include:
- Evidence of positive effect of movement on learning
- Instruction on different types of movement and their effect on learners
- Make-and-take movement activities for use in the classroom
- Resources for activity breaks and ways to incorporate movement into the regular education
curriculum
Presented by:: ​Amy O’Connor, Sandi Bongard & Kara Hoelker
Workshop Session 6
Sunday 10:45-12:15
1. Rags to Riches. Trash to Treasure. Cheap Make and Take Equipment
Nature Center - Treehouse Room
Are you looking for ways to spice up your equipment without breaking the bank? Come to a
creative and interactive session where you will gather ideas for easy to make tools to use in
popular facilitation activities! You will leave with a few new items to put into your facilitation kit
and ideas for several more.
Presented by: ​Emily Stangle
2. ​Question Strategies to improve participant engagement and educational effectiveness
Nature Center - Classroom #1
Question Everything! Join this workshop to focus on how question strategies can engage
reflection, promote discussion and impact the thinking and learning of your participants.
Review research based content on the art of good questions, practice question strategies with
peers, and provide time to develop your own "best questions" for your programming.
Presented by: ​Max Myers
3.​ ​Trauma Informed Practices for Non-Clinicians
Nature Center - Classroom #2
Do you want to best meet the needs of individuals you serve? Are you unsure how trauma
relates to your work? Together we will collaboratively explore definitions of trauma and its
mental, physical and emotional impacts. As experiential educators we have a unique avenue
to provide support for those who have experienced trauma. Through discussion and initiatives,
you will walk away with ways to make school, ropes course and expedition style work more
trauma informed.
Presented by: ​Ann Carter
4. ​ ​Make it!-take it!-hike with it!: a walking stick workshop - 180 minute workshop
CONTINUED
Craft Building
This playshop offers participants an opportunity to create their own WALKING STICK!--a
unique ,yet functional folkart piece with interdisciplinary applications! Participants will design,
carve, paint/stain and embellish an heirloom walking stick. You'll intuitively explore line,
texture, color, and composition with your designs-add an art aesthetic to your physical fitness
routine, promote a healthy lifestyle by walking!-experience the success of using simple carving
tools and save the planet by artistic recycling!-Rank beginners welcome!--no experience
necessary
Presented by: ​Margaret Mary Gerhardt
5.​ ​Using Challenge and Group Initiatives With Young Learners
Dorm Basement
Experience team building and cooperative activities designed and adapted for younger
students during this hands-on session. Learn how, with minimal equipment and funds,
preschool and elementary classroom teachers use activities to make connections with the
academic subjects plus build important social/emotional skills. Pick up some helpful hints and
see for yourself just how fun a challenge can be! Hands-on, interactive, and active session.
Presented by:​ Vicky Prusinski