Annual Conference

Strong Roots, Igniting Change

⸺ November 13 – 15, 2025 ⸺

 Beaver Creek Reserve, Fall Creek

Man holding binoculars looking through pine branches surrounded by birds

Birding is for Everyone: A Journey Through Joy, Nature, and Belonging

Friday, November 14, 2025


Join Dexter Patterson—also known as the Wisco Birder—for a heartfelt and inspiring session exploring birdwatching's power to bring people together. Drawing from his new book Birds of the Great Lakes, along with his dynamic storytelling and joyful energy, Dexter shares how connecting with birds helped him find healing, purpose, and community. From beginner tips to inclusive outreach strategies, this talk is perfect for anyone curious about how birding can promote mental wellness, environmental stewardship, and social connection. Discover how the simple act of watching birds can open hearts and build bridges.

Event Overview

Thursday:

  • 8:00 - 11:30 Field Trips and Workshops
  • 1:00 - 4:00 Registration Opens
  • 1:00 - 3:30 Virtual Administrator Sessions
  • 2:00 - 4:00 Sense of Place Activities
  • 4:00 - Opening Remarks, Keynote Address, Exhibits
  • 6:00 - Dinner
  • 7:00 - WAEE Member Meeting and Student Social
  • 8:00 - Evening Activities


Friday:

  • 7:00 - Morning Activities
  • 8:00 - Breakfast
  • 9:00 - 11:15 - Grounding Remarks and Concurrent Sessions
  • 11:15 - Keynote Address
  • 12:15 - Lunch, Exhibits, and Silent Auction
  • 2:00 - Field Trips and Workshops
  • 5:00 - Poster Session, Exhibits, and Silent Auction
  • 6:00 - Dinner
  • 7:00 - Trivia and Live Auction
  • 8:00 - Evening Activities


Saturday:

  • 7:00 - Morning Activities
  • 8:00 - Breakfast
  • 8:30 - 12:00 - Project WILD Educator Workshop
  • 9:00 - 11:15 - Grounding Remarks and Sessions
  • 11:00 - Exhibits and Silent Auction
  • 12:00 - Lunch
  • 1:00 - Workshops and Concurrent Sessions
  • 3:00 - Keynote Address  and Closing Remarks
Prairie Plants reaching down into the soil

Order a Conference T-Shirt

Order online by 10/23 to pick up at the conference!

Thursday

Field Trips

Thursday - 8:00 - 11:30 AM

Capacity is limited. Sign up during registration to ensure a spot.

Urban Nature Adventure Tour

Guided Geomorphology Paddle of the Eau Claire River

Connecting Youth with the Ice Age Trail

Explore the River Doc Nature Conservancy

Administrator Track

Thursday - 1:00 - 4:00 PM

Join us for a half-day virtual track designed especially for administrators to explore program evaluation and community engagement.


Tentative Schedule

1:00 - Welcome!
1:15 - Program Evaluation
2:30 - Break

2:45 - Community Engagement
3:30 - Networking


  • This track is free for full conference attendees
  • $20 for members not attending the full conference
  • $40 for non-members not attending the full conference.


More details to come!

Friday

Field Trips

Friday - 2:00 - 4:00 PM

Capacity is limited. Sign up during registration to ensure a spot.

Forest Bathing

The Rooted in Place: A Justice-Centered Walk Through Nature

Bryophyte Buddies

Off-Grid Living

Saturday

Educator Workshop

Saturday - 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM

Capacity is limited. Sign up during registration to ensure a spot.

Project WILD Educator Certification

Take learning outside as a certified Project WILD educator! The Project WILD K-12 Curriculum Guide contains over 80 standards-aligned activities. With WILD Work and In-Step-With-STEM connections, students will learn about wildlife management in a fun, engaging, and thorough manner. Significant portions of the workshop will be spent outdoors. Footwear and attire should be selected for comfort and moderate activity. 


Additional Information:

This workshop will be held in the Woodland Room at Beaver Creek Reserve. This session is free to attend, but to receive Project WILD educator certification and printed guides, participants should bring a $50 check payable to FIELD Edventures. 

Conference Logistics

Registration Options

About Beaver Creek Reserve

Lodging

Financial Support

Auction Donation

Exhibits

Become a Sponsor!

Sponsorships and in-kind donations help us achieve our mission, provide high-value keynote speakers, and plan exciting, enriching experiences during our conference, all while keeping event costs low for educators. We have a wide range of sponsorship levels and exclusive benefits, and your donation may be tax deductible!


Consider supporting in the following ways:

  • Becoming a financial partner
  • Donating services (such as printing or advertising)
  • Donating goods (such as coffee and snacks for breaks)
  • Donating items for our silent or live auction. Auction proceeds support our scholarship fund.


Connect with our Executive Director to discuss sponsorship options or download our sponsorship packet to learn more:

*About the Equity Rate: This deeply discounted rate was previously limited to members who are students, seniors, and veteran. The WAEE board made the decision to offer it to any WAEE member facing financial barriers to attend the conference in an attempt to make the event more accessible. Please only submit a discount request if you need it, WAEE is a small nonprofit that relies on conference registration and sponsorship as our largest source of income each year. A reduced membership rate is also available for those who need to join to request this rate.


Institutions purchasing registration for employees should use the full rate. A reduced rate is available to organizations who meet two of three following criteria: 1) Cannot afford the conference registration,  2) Primarily work with communities who are economically disadvantaged (more than 75% of those served), and/or 3) Primarily work with populations historically excluded from environmental education (more than 75% of those served).


To receive the equity rate, please complete this form to request a coupon code. The deadline for all WAEE 2025 Conference Equity and Scholarship Requests is October 15, 2025. Recipients must register by October 22nd or forfeit their award.