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Speakers and Schedules
Schedule and Interest Session List is subject to change
Keynote & Featured Speakers
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2013
 Sarah Livesay & Angel Rohnke
"Growing Up WILD: Exploring Nature With Young Children"
Come play with us as we romp through this nationally award-winning environmental education curriculum guide created specifically for early childhood classrooms. Growing Up WILD®, brings wildlife and nature into focus using art, math, science, literacy, nutrition and physical activities for the early childhood educator. Journey with us as we introduce the exciting new research identifying the importance of a child’s connection to the outdoor world in relation to their psychological and physical development.
Participants each receive a copy of the full-color guide, which is correlated to NAEYC, Head Start and My Plate! Food  pyramid standards.
Sarah Livesay (above, left) is an Education Program Consultant for the Council for Environmental Education based out of Houston, TX. This national education organization is host to the long-standing Project WILD, Growing Up WILD and Flying WILD programs.
Angel Rohnke (above, right) is an Education Coordinator with the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science. This session requires an additional registration fee of $45.
 Holly Elissa-Bruno
2013 Director's Seminar- Based off of Holly's Newest Book!
Holly Elissa Bruno, MA, JD, served as Assistant Attorney General for the state of Maine and Assistant Dean at the University of Maine School of Law. While working as Associate Professor and Dean of Faculty at the University of Maine-Augusta, Holly Elissa was selected "Outstanding Professor".
Click here for more information about the 2013 Directors Seminar.
 Susan Terdan
2013 Trainer Institute
Susan M. Terdan will lead the 2013 Trainer Institute. Susan is an Education Consultant who works with the Human Development Institute at the University of Kentucky. She is a Training Specialist for the Training into Practice Program (TIPP) team, developing and delivering webinars, face-to-face training, and online course work/training modules.
Click here for more information about the 2013 Trainer Institute.
 David Kisor
"The Power of Music to Build Social and Emotional Skills"
Attendees will learn how songs can be used to promote social and emotional development in early learners. The songs that we will explore are based on important findings in the fields of resiliency theory, mastery motivation and positive psychology. Participants will move, dance, and sing songs that they can bring back and apply in their learning environments.
David Kisor is an accomplished singer, songwriter, composer, performer and teacher. He is presently the Music Director for Children, Inc. in Covington, Kentucky, serving Northern Kentucky families with preschool and elementary age children. He also serves as Creative Director for Growing Sound, leading the songwriting, recording and performing of musical products to teach social-emotional development.
 Betsy Thigpen & Suzanne Thouvenelle
"TAKE IT OUTSIDE: Nature Based Learning and Development"
Leaning and development experiences for most U.S. children are provided in the indoor environment. Early childhood researchers and educators are rapidly recognizing a growing “nature deficit disorder” among children that
exacerbates depression, inattention, impulsivity, and obesity, as well as a disconnect with nature. These concerns will be addressed by presenters and participants.
 Betsy & Suzanne have extensive expertise and experience in providing training and technical assistance to early childhood educators on nature based learning and development with resulting positive child outcomes.
FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013
Professor Robin C. Moore
"Outdoors by Design: Why? How? Who Wins?"
Across human history, children have spent large chunks of each day outdoors, learning about the wondrous world around them, including each other. Contemporary lifestyles now get in the way, with disastrous impacts on healthy child development. Landscape design can be an effective tool in helping to create an antidote: compelling, naturalized, outdoor learning environments. Recent experience of the Natural Learning Initiative will be shared.
Robin Moore is Professor of Landscape Architecture and Director, Natural Learning Initiative, NC State University, specializing in research and design of child and family environments to support healthy human development. Moore is an international authority on the design of children's play and learning environments, user needs research, and participatory public open space design. Moore holds degrees in architecture (London University), and city and regional planning (MIT).
 Susie Wirth & Kevin Carnes
"Successful Outdoor Classrooms in Both Urban & Rural Environments"
An outdoor classroom spurs outcomes in all curriculum areas, but you can guarantee a child will learn to observe and discuss differences and comparisons among objects and materials, and as they explore the outdoors they will develop independence and confidence, enhancing their own concept of self and the greater world around them.
 Susie Wirth is Nature Explore Outreach Director for the Arbor Day Foundation and Dimensions Educational Research Foundation.
Kevin Carnes is President of the Educational Division at Lakeshore Learning Materials.
Roy Miller
2013 Public Policy Luncheon
"Raising Our Political & Advocacy IQ"
Members and supporters of the Southern Early Childhood Association are expanding and strengthening their presence in the public policy arena. The aftermath of the 2012 elections – at all levels of government – offer an important and timely opportunity to focus on the benefits of investing in children today in order to improve future outcomes. Participants at the luncheon will learn about values-based communications and the tools available to engage in this collective effort.
Roy Miller is President and Founder of the Children's Campaign, which works to engage citizens to take action and hold leaders accountable to create public policy and enact legislation for the health, safety, education, and well-being of Florida’s children. Roy is a political strategist, lobbyist, media spokesman and commentator, and an unapologetic watchdog for children. His innovations have resulted in new non-partisan approaches to public policy, new service structures for at-risk children, and powerful new advocacy voices. His advocacy models and strategic communications ideas have been replicated in other states.
Joan Elder
2013 Just for Students!
"What an Awesome Habitat!"
Joan Elder, a 2013 Helen Harley Award Recipient and the Preschool Coordinator for the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science in Jackson, Mississippi will present What an Awesome Habitat!
Click here for more information on the 2013 Just for Students! event.
SATURDAY, MARCH 2, 2013
 The Arts and Nature with Susie Wirth of Nature Explore
Discover engaging art experiences inspired by nature that help children make deeper connections with the world around them. Experience the Look-Move-Build-Sketch planning tool that encourages multi-faceted arts exploration. Learn helpful strategies for supporting each child’s individual needs, especially children with sensory integration challenges.
 Growing Up WILD® Nature-through-Art Finale
with Sarah Livesay and Angel Rohnke
Use your hands to make memorable nature lessons happen in your classroom using art as the guide! Participate in hands-on, make-and-take learning stations throughout the grand ballroom to sample various art extensions from the nationally award-winning activity guide, Growing Up WILD: Exploring Nature with Young Children. Paint, color, sing and learn with us as you are introduced to a variety of art experiences that correlate with one of the 27 multi-disciplinary units in the guide. The activities combine art with music, literature and active-play experiences which builds on a child’s sense of wonder and invites them to explore wildlife, nature and the world around them. Whether creating a salty ocean mural masterpiece to learn about this habitat or designing your own classroom nature-walk binoculars, you will learn how Growing Up WILD can help bring nature to your program.
Additional information will be added as it becomes available.
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