EPN Field Trip - Monday, July 21st, 2025: From Classroom to Career: Connecting Ohio Educators and Environmental Professionals for Student Pathways

Registration is limited to the first 100 participants and opens on April 28th at 10:00 a.m.!

Agenda:

9:00 a.m. Arrive and check-in at Nationwide and Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center.

Coffee and light snacks will be provided for attendees (participants are requested to bring their own reusable and sealable coffee containers).

9:20 a.m. Depart for Blacklick Woods Metropark's Eagleview Facility (7309 E Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH)

10:00 a.m. A panel of presentations on engaging 5th-12th grade students with environmental education opportunities, including remarks from leaders in environmental education from across Ohio. Presentations from:

• Award Winning Ohio Environmental Educators
• Columbus City School District
• Columbus and Franklin County Metroparks
• Ohio State University Environmental Education Researchers

11:30 a.m. Catered lunch is served to participants.

12:15 p.m. Depart for Columbus City School District's Spruce Run Nature Center (4175 Sunbury Rd, Galena, OH) for an extended environmental education session.

1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Participate in three rotating sessions related to environmental education resources, networking, and learning:

• Session A: Tour of Spruce Run Nature Center and its Environmental Education Curricula, led by Heather Allen, Coordinator, Spruce Run Nature Center.  

• Session B: Networking session to connect classroom educators with environmental professionals to initiate future environmental-focused field trips for students, and a highlight of the Environmental Career Ambassadors program, led by Nicole Jackson and EPN Staff.

• Session C: Showcase of environmental education opportunities led by state coordinators for Project Wild (Abby Ditomassi, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife), Project Learning Tree (Heather Sheets, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry), and Project Wet (Dennis Clement, Ohio EPA), each spanning 20 minutes of in-the-field learning.

4:10 p.m. Buses depart for Nationwide and Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center.

4:45 p.m. Arrival at Nationwide and Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center and conclusion of event.

After the program, all attendees will receive a printed Environmental Education Resource Guide, which will include a list of Ohio-wide opportunities for environmental education that formal and informal educators alike can apply to their own teaching.

Additional Information 

We strive to host events that are inclusive and accessible to everyone. If you have a disability and require accommodations to fully participate in this activity, please reach out to Hallie Stelzle, EPN Program Assistant (stelzle.2@osu.edu). Requests made five business days in advance will generally allow us to provide seamless access. However, we will make every effort to meet requests made after this time frame. You will be contacted by someone from our staff to discuss your specific needs. 

Masks are optional for all event attendees at this event, in accordance with Ohio State’s Safe and Healthy Protocols as of this date. In-person attendees will be expected to follow Ohio State protocols regarding the prevention of COVID-19 transmission. More health and safety information available on this Personal Safety Practices page.