Winter Workshop
Teaching for Tomorrow
February 13-15, 2026
Author of "No Child Left Inside" to Keynote
Saturday, February 14
Bryn Lottig, adventure educator and author, will share how we can use outdoor and environmental education as a medium to develop social and emotional skills in learners of all ages. Her best selling book, No Child Left Inside will be available for purchase. 
Teaching for Tomorrow: Preparing Learners and Leaders to Thrive Under Pressure
Drawing on real-world experiences from outdoor education, youth development, and team-based learning, the session explores how leadership under pressure is shaped less by reaction and more by preparation, trust, and the environments we intentionally create. Through story and interactive activities, participants examine the difference between competition and collaboration, the importance of shared vision, and how educators can cultivate resilient, engaged learners. The talk is designed to be practical, reflective, and immediately applicable to classrooms, programs, and communities.
Winter Workshop programming runs Friday night through Sunday noon. Join us for the full weekend of adventure or for Saturday only.
If you cannot attend the workshop, but want to see the keynote and celebrate CWES, register here.
2026 Winter Workshop Schedule and Activities
We are excited to spend a winter weekend learning and celebrating environmental education with you. If this is your first Winter Workshop or your 16th, we hope that this weekend provides you a chance to make new connections and strengthen your environmental education work in 2026.
Friday, February 13:
- 4:00 - Registration opens — come early, hit the trails or settle into Anderson Lodge for the weekend.
- 6:00 - Dinner in Sunset Lodge (ticketed)
- 7:00 - A Guided Walk in the Woods – Becca Franzen and Melissa Ruether
- Join in on an evening walk in the woods! What can we see at night in the winter? How is it different than nighttime in the summer? If there's snow, we'll don snowshoes for our exploration!
- 8:00 - Wood Nettle Fiber Bracelet Making by the fireplace - David Eagan
- 9:00 - Introduction to Nertz, the official game of Winter Workshop
Saturday, February 14:
- 8:00 - Breakfast in Sunset Lodge (ticketed)
- 9:00 - Session 1
- Inside: Teaching Water as a Civic Issue: Interdisciplinary, Inquiry-Based Approaches to Environmental Justice - Taylor Hamblin, UW–La Crosse
- This presentation examines how interdisciplinary, inquiry-based learning supports environmental justice and youth civic engagement. It draws on lessons from social studies and science educators who designed and used Protecting Nebraska Waters, a curriculum focused on water quality and youth citizenship. The session shares educator insights and classroom resources aligned with the C3 Framework and NGSS.
- Outside: Wisconsin's Winter Wonderland: Reading nature's signs in winter – Griffin Bray, UW–Stevens Point
- When the temps drop and the snow flies, Wisconsin's plants and animals often change their lives dramatically. However, if you look closely, you can still find evidence of these hidden lives. Take a hike through CWES and practice reading the book of nature during the coldest and leanest time of the year. The session will be completely outdoors, so please dress for the weather. Your favorite naturalist gear (binoculars,hand lens, camera, etc.) are recommended but not required; a limited number will be available to borrow if desired.
- 10:10 - Session 2
- Inside: Winter Ain't Dead – Dean Sauers, Embarrass River Brigade
- Relaxed introspective discussion about what winter really is through readings, songs, poetry, & discussion. Come share your perspective of the season called "Winter". Readings from:
A Sand County Almanac,
Silent Spring,
The Quiet Season,
Wisconsin Lore,
The Sense of Wonder,
The Cremation of Sam McGee, and more
- Outside: Explore Outdoors
- 11:20 - Session 3
- Inside: What Motivates Young Adults to Get Into Birding? – Sarah Wood, UW–Stevens Point
- What is it that gets young adults interested in birding as a hobby, and how can you better engage them in doing so? I will present the findings of my thesis research - a qualitative analysis of the motivations of young adult birders, lead a discussion on the benefits of birding and how it can lead to more pro-environmental behaviors, and then take participants on a bird walk around CWES. Binoculars will be provided.
- Outside: Explore Outdoors
- 12:20 - Lunch (included)
- 1:30 - Session 4
- Inside: Jumping into Junk Journaling – Alaina Allen, Wis Corps
- Looking for a new way to repurpose meaningful materials? Join " Jump into Junk Journaling". In this workshop we will learn what junk journaling is, the environmental impact it makes on the planet, and learners will get the opportunity to start a junk journal for 2026. The materials to make a basic junk journal will be provided but feel free to bring a specific journal / materials to customize your journal.
- Inside: Environmental Education in Higher Education Roundtable Discussion – Victoria Rydberg-Nania, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, Becca Franzen, UW–Stevens Point, Shannon Davis-Foust, UW–Oshkosh, and Amy Lindgren
- Outside: Winter Tree ID: Applying the Three Bs – Griffin Bray, UW–Stevens Point
- Identifying trees in winter can be a fun way to learn about one’s local ecosystem and connect people to the outdoors. This workshop will cover the “three Bs” of winter tree identification through hands-on activities and practical experience. We will discuss how you can get to know your woody neighbors and go outdoors to practice our identification skills.
- 4:00 - Keynote Presentation: Teaching for Tomorrow: Preparing Learners and Leaders to Thrive Under Pressure by Bryn Lottig, author of No Child Left Inside
- 5:30 - CWES Birthday Party, LIVE music by the wind quintet Poinsettias, networking, and book signing
Note: If you want to see the keynote and celebrate CWES, but cannot attend the full event, register here.
- 6:00 - Dinner (ticketed)
- 7:00 - Fireside relaxation and games in Anderson Lounge
Sunday, February 15:
- 8:00 - Breakfast in Sunset Lodge (ticketed)
- 9:00 - Session 5
- Inside: Porcupine Needle Embroidery on Birchbark – David Eagan and Becca Franzen
- Stitch a colorful floral design on a small square of birchbark using porcupine quills—which would be made into a refrigerator magnet.
- Outside: Cross-country skiing
- 11:20 - Reflections, Intentions & Action
- 12:00 - Lunch (ticketed)
Workshop adjourns after lunch.
Registration
Two Options for Registration:
1) Complete Package - Member Rate: $200 (Be sure to log in for the member rate!)
- Non-Member Rate: $240
Idea for those who want a weekend retreat away!
Includes:
- Lodging for Friday and Saturday
- Dinner on Friday and Saturday
- Breakfast on Saturday and Sunday
- Sunday Lunch
OR
2) Workshop-Only - Member Rate: $75 (Be sure to log in for the member rate!)
- Non-Member Rate: $115
Ideal for those who can commute or who can't attend all days.
Includes:
- Workshop sessions Friday, Saturday, Sunday
- Saturday lunch
Lodging and meals on Friday or Sunday not included. You can customize your choices with these Workshop-only Add-ons :
- Lodging - $30/night (Available for Friday and Saturday)
- Dinner - $15/meal (Available for Friday and Saturday)
- Breakfast - $10/meal (Available for Saturday and Sunday)
- Sunday Lunch - $12
If you choose "Complete Package" registration option, you do not need to select the add-on items as they are already included in Complete Package registration.
Location
The Central Wisconsin Environmental Station (CWES) is a 200-acre teaching and learning center located 17 miles east of Stevens Point overlooking glacial Sunset Lake. Since 1975, CWES has been an integral part of the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point College of Natural Resources Environmental Education and Interpretation program. CWES features two lakes, hiking and snowshoe trails, and Scandinavian-style log cabins. The nearby Iola Winter Sports Club features affordable equipment rentals and over 20 kilometers of groomed cross country skiing trails for an optional Nordic ski adventure during the workshop.
Propose a Session
This Winter Workshop centers the voices of the next generation and asks participants to reflect on the future of environmental education. Winter Workshop welcomes presenters from across the region sharing knowledge, expertise and innovations in environmental education through hands-on sessions, indoor and outdoor activities, resources, and ideas.