Kentucky Environmental Education Council

03/16/2026

As AmeriCorps Week comes to a close, we want to take a moment to celebrate the collective impact of our EELCorps members.

Throughout the week, we shared why our members serve and the stories that drive their commitment to their communities. Together, these voices show the care, intention, and heart behind their service.

Here is the full collage, created from each member’s artwork and paired with their “Why I Serve” statements. We are so proud of our members and deeply grateful for the compassion, energy, and dedication they bring to this work every single day.

Serve Kentucky

03/11/2026

Join us and some new friends for Wildflower Weekend! (registration link below)

Pine Mountain Settlement School, Eastern Kentucky University, and Kentucky Natural Lands Trust will get together for a weekend of botanical exploration and floral findings in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains.

Wildflower Weekend is a multi-day celebration of Appalachian botany, ecology, and conservation, bringing together scientists, educators, land stewards, and community members for guided hikes, talks, and hands-on learning experiences. While staying at the historic Pine Mountain Settlement School campus, you’ll get the chance to explore the old-growth forests of Lilley-Cornett Woods, admire botanical treasures that lie within the James E. Bickford preserve, and learn all about regional plant conservation with botanical experts.

Registration link: https://pmss.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/pmss/event.jsp?event=632&

03/09/2026

Welcome to AmeriCorps Week. This is a time to celebrate service, reflect on impact, and recognize the people who show up for their communities every day.

Throughout the week, we’re lifting up the voices of our EELCorps members and sharing why they chose to serve. Each member brings their own story, perspective, and motivation, and together those stories show the heart of this program.

Below, you can read each featured member’s “Why I Serve” statement. In the attached images, you’ll also see some of our members’ artwork. Be sure to check back at the end of the week to see the full collage, created from all of their pieces. We’re so proud of our members and grateful for the care, commitment, and intention they bring to their work every day.

“I serve because I am AWAKENed to the notion that our little actions make a difference by spreading joy and a sense of community to one another, to ourselves, and to the environment around us. I pass this forward to as many people as possible, finding solace and contentment that together our little actions make big impacts.”
-Sarah Bell, Bluegrass Greensource

“I serve with AmeriCorps to work directly with my community in ways everyday jobs or service does not have the ability to. I believe I have a unique set of skills and expertise that the everyday student may never know about. Through my service I am able to connect with students from a variety of backgrounds and life experiences using nature in aspects of their life that surround their environment. Serving with AmeriCorps gives me a new perspective on how communities interact with themselves and others”
-Mia Murphy, Fayette County Public Schools

“I serve because of my love for the world that surrounds us. This position has placed me within a community that I know I can make a difference in. I hope with all the people I reach that they leave loving the world and beauty of our planet a little more.”
-Christine Argus, Franklin County KY Solid Waste

“I serve to give back to my community and share my passion for environmental science. Everyone deserves access to quality education, and I’m grateful to help students build their scientific literacy.”
-Monica Nokes, The Parklands of Floyds Fork

Serve Kentucky

03/04/2026

EE Nugget: Let nature work for you.

Nature-based learning occurs in natural settings and built environments where elements of nature are incorporated. This is not limited to learning about the natural world, but extends to any subject, skill or interest while in natural surroundings, promoting diversified play, creativity and imagination, pro-social interactions and growth in self-regulation.

Find tips for green school yards and other resources for nature-based learning at Children & Nature Network.

Follow the KEEC page for regular research-based ideas and inspiration.

As cities across the globe implement green schoolyards, many are recognizing that school communities, and teachers in particular, need support to activate these green spaces.

02/28/2026

“Environmental education is most effective when it speaks to local issues, problems, and priorities. People are more likely to participate in and benefit from environmental education if they see the direct link to personal as well as community well-being.” — U.S. EPA

Our professional environmental educators gain a comprehensive understanding of community engagement through their certification process.

To learn more about how to become a certified professional environmental educator, visit our website at keec.ky.gov.

02/23/2026

Teachers, check out these free professional development workshops all coming up in March.

‼️***Attention Kentucky Educators***‼️

Don't miss out on these available March Professional Development opportunities! Register today and share with colleagues!

Who Should Attend?
• 4-12th grade Kentucky science teachers
• Student Energy Team Sponsors
• Non-formal educators who teach about energy
• School and district leaders
• STEM-related club advisors, mentors, or coaches

Why Attend?
• FREE hands-on PD aligning with Kentucky Academic Standards
• Certification of PD recertification hours
• Excellent facilitators and guest speakers
• Network with colleagues from other districts and schools
• First 20 registrants may receive substitute reimbursement
• Breakfast, lunch, and snack provided!

Attendees Receive:
• NEED Curriculum Packet
• NEED resources for the classroom
• NEED Science of Energy classroom kit
• Support for classroom activities

Be sure to register at least 10 days prior to the workshop!

📌 March 17, 2026 Workshop
Location: Hilton Garden Inn (Louisville, KY)
PDF Flyer with details: https://www.need.org/new-2026-oep-energy-workshop-louisville-ky-3-17-26/
Register to attend: https://needorg.my.salesforce-sites.com/event/home/oepsep031726

📌 March 19, 2026 Workshop
Location: Mercer County Extension Office (Harrodsburg, KY)
PDF Flyer with details: https://www.need.org/new-2026-oep-energy-workshop-harrodsburg-ky-3-19-26/
Register to attend: https://needorg.my.salesforce-sites.com/event/home/oepsep031926

📌 March 25, 2026 Workshop
Location: Springhill Suites by Marriott Murray (Murray, KY)
PDF Flyer with details: https://www.need.org/new-2026-oep-energy-workshop-murray-ky-3-25-26/
Register to attend: https://needorg.my.salesforce-sites.com/event/home/kyoep032526

The Kentucky Energy Education Program is funded by the Energy and Environment Cabinet, through the combined efforts of the following organizations: Kentucky Office of Energy Policy, the U.S. Department of Energy State Energy Program, and the National Energy Education Development Project.
Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet

02/19/2026

Discover the wild side of learning! 🐝🐻🦇 Join us Wed, Apr 1 at Harold R. Benson Research Farm for the Project WILD workshop EE for WILD Schools and Communities: Bats, Bears, Bees and More! Interactive professional development for K–12 educators, complete with award-winning curriculum guides. Co-hosted with Kentucky State University.

Learn more: kaee.org/events-1/projectwildapril2026

02/13/2026

EE Nugget: Teach local.

There are no polar bears in Kentucky, but there are black bears. Connect your lessons to the community around your students and they will have a better sense of the environmental consequences of their actions.

Follow the KEEC page for regular research-based ideas and inspiration.

02/10/2026

Beyond their beauty, many of our native wildflowers have traditional meanings rooted in folklore, culture, and generations of connections to the land.

Want to learn about what these blooms have symbolized throughout history? Don’t miss this From the Woods Today segment Wednesday at 11 a.m. with Anna Wiker from the Kentucky Master Naturalist Program, who will explore this fascinating subject and share the traditional meanings and symbolic roles that flowers have held over time.

FromtheWoodsToday.com

02/04/2026

EE Nugget: Take care of basic needs first, especially outdoors.

If your students are uncomfortable, fearful, or just feeling ignored, they won’t connect with your lesson. Make sure they have the right gear, access to bathrooms, and a supportive leader, and they will thrive. Microsoft PowerPoint - Stern Powell NAAEE Research Presentation 2019

Follow the KEEC page for regular research-based ideas and inspiration.

01/28/2026

EE Nugget: Meet your audiences basic needs first and foremost.

In partnership with the Kentucky State Parks, Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives, and agencies within the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet, KEEC Environmental Education Leadership Corps (EELCorps) member, Abigail Way created the Kentucky Nature Notebook, an activity book that guides users of all ages to connect to our natural areas in fun and unique ways. By including a page at the beginning about exploring the outdoors safely, Abigail addresses the users’ expectations and offers guidance on general safety concerns.

The Kentucky Nature Notebook is available as a downloadable file or to pick up in person at participating sites.

Follow the KEEC page for regular research-based ideas and inspiration.
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