Kansas Association for Conservation & Environmental Education

10/30/2026

That’s a wrap on the 2026 Kansas & Missouri Environmental Education Conference!

What a STELLAR couple of days in Kansas City. Thank you to everyone who joined us as presenters, attendees, sponsors and exhibitors. We hope you’re feeling as motivated and inspired as we are after our time together.

Please stay connected with Kansas Association for Conservation & Environmental Education and Missouri Environmental Education Association and each other!!

And always remember —

From the soil to the stars: Systems connect us all. 💫

10/30/2026

10/16/2026

Mandy Kern of Kansas Wetlands Education Center will be presenting "Collaborative Summer Library Program" at the 2026 Kansas & Missouri Environmental Education Conference!

"Each summer, local libraries use a central theme for their youth programming. The Kansas Wetlands Education Center will take you through the books, hands-on activities, crafts, and live animal ambassadors used in the most recent themes: Unearth a Story, Color Our World, and Adventure Begins at Your Library. Gain ideas for offering your own library program and brainstorm ideas for the 2027 theme: Mysteries Await at Your Library."

Register by Friday, October 16th at: https://www.kacee.org/event-details/2026-conference

10/16/2026

Marcel Harmon of BranchPattern, Tony Barron of Johnson County, KS Government, Michael Ralph of DLR Group, and Rachel Wahle of KACEE will be participating in a panel discussion on "Schools as Green Ecosystems" at the 2026 Kansas & Missouri Environmental Education Conference!

"A panel framing a green school as a connected system. Four panelists unpack their lanes to show how design, operations, evidence, and learning connect: building performance & experience; educational outcomes; facilities operations & maintenance; and turning building operations into curriculum. Attendees can expect expert presentations, interactive discussions, and some practical takeaways."

Register by Friday, October 16th at: https://www.kacee.org/event-details/2026-conference

10/15/2026

Kansas Teachers: The KICK (Keep It Clean, Kansas!) Challenge *kicks off* NOW!

Are you registered to participate yet? Now is the time! Visit challenge.kansasgreenschools.org/signup to get started.

The KICK Challenge is a waste-reduction competition for K-12 students, with opportunities to win cash prizes for your school!

The KICK Challenge, facilitated by KACEE and sponsored by Kansas Department of Health and Environment, is a hands-on competition that makes sustainability fun. Green Teams, classrooms, and/or clubs work together to complete waste-reduction challenges, earning points for both their classroom and their school along the way.

Challenges include projects that teach others about recycling, composting, and other ways to reduce waste in Kansas, as well as data collection activities and more.
View, save, and/or print the challenges by grade band here:

Visit challenge.kansasgreenschools.org/faq to get all the FAQs, and reach out to us if you still have questions!

Contact Rachel Wahle, Director of Kansas Green Schools, at [email protected].

We can't wait to see the impact you make at your school!!!

10/15/2026

Kansas Teachers: The KICK (Keep It Clean, Kansas!) Challenge *kicks off* NOW!

Are you registered to participate yet? Now is the time! Visit challenge.kansasgreenschools.org/signup to get started.

The KICK Challenge is a waste-reduction competition for K-12 students, with opportunities to win cash prizes for your school!

The KICK Challenge, facilitated by KACEE and sponsored by Kansas Department of Health and Environment, is a hands-on competition that makes sustainability fun. Green Teams, classrooms, and/or clubs work together to complete waste-reduction challenges, earning points for both their classroom and their school along the way.

Challenges include projects that teach others about recycling, composting, and other ways to reduce waste in Kansas, as well as data collection activities and more.
View, save, and/or print the challenges by grade band here:

Visit challenge.kansasgreenschools.org/faq to get all the FAQs, and reach out to us if you still have questions!

Contact Rachel Wahle, Director of Kansas Green Schools, at [email protected].
We can’t wait to see the impact you make in your school!!!

Kansas Health & Environment

10/14/2026

The KICK (Keep It Clean, Kansas!) Challenge *kicks off* TOMORROW! Are you registered to participate yet? Now is the time! Visit challenge.kansasgreenschools.org/signup to get started.

The KICK Challenge is a waste-reduction competition for K-12 students, with opportunities to win cash prizes for your school! 💰

The KICK Challenge, facilitated by KACEE and sponsored by Kansas Department of Health and Environment, is a hands-on competition that makes sustainability fun. Green Teams, classrooms, and/or clubs work together to complete waste-reduction challenges, earning points for both their classroom and their school along the way.

Challenges include projects that teach others about recycling, composting, and other ways to reduce waste in Kansas, as well as data collection activities and more.

View, save, and/or print the challenges by grade band here:

🌱 Elementary (K-5) Guide: https://www.kansasgreenschools.org/_files/ugd/6c330b_8da74d7c650c40b3b25e04d66b1b8a94.pdf?index=true

🌿 Middle School (6-8) Guide: https://www.kansasgreenschools.org/_files/ugd/6c330b_9775959c7115457cb8591e096568230b.pdf?index=true

🌳 High School (9-12) Guide: https://www.kansasgreenschools.org/_files/ugd/6c330b_d47fcdcc19834c559a49cf3e59a5182d.pdf?index=true

Visit challenge.kansasgreenschools.org/faq to get all the FAQs, and reach out to us if you still have questions! Contact Rachel Wahle, Director of Kansas Green Schools, at [email protected].

We can't wait to see the impact you make in your school!!!

Keep It Clean Kansas

Keep It Clean, Kansas Challenge — submit activities, earn points, and see the leaderboard.

10/14/2026

Joshua Best & Shauna LeAnn Smith of Springfield Art Museum and City of Springfield, MO will be presenting a workshop on "Slow Viewing Workshop: Place + People" at the 2026 Kansas & Missouri Environmental Education Conference!

"In this hands-on workshop, participants will experience Slow Viewing, a facilitation method rooted in durational looking, reflective writing, and non-hierarchical group discussion. Participants will explore how attention to site-specific art installation can support personal connection and collaborative meaning-making in their own communities and learning environments."

Register by Friday, October 16th at: https://www.kacee.org/event-details/2026-conference

10/12/2026

Tess Wilson of The University of Kansas will be presenting "One Square Meter: A Micro-Examination of Nature" with at the 2026 Kansas & Missouri Environmental Education Conference!

"As tech becomes more ubiquitous, we become more distant from the natural world. Imagine what you might find when you focus on what’s right in front of you! Learn about using David George Haskell’s The Forest Unseen as a foundation for interactive, meditative, and investigatory nature walks."

Register by Friday, October 16th at: https://www.kacee.org/event-details/2026-conference