Environmental Education Council of Ohio upcoming events

Ohio EE Certification - Recertification (17 Mar 2026)

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Email Jennifer Bucheit to receive the code to submit your recertification: jennifer.bucheit@dnr.ohio.gov

Highlights:
Foundations of Environmental Education
Environmental Literacy
Planning and Implementing EE
Professional Responsibilities for the field of EE
Assessing EE
Networking with professionals from all over the state.

Summer EECO Tour at Caesar Creek State Park (25 Jul 2026)

Sat, 25 Jul 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Need contact hours for CEU’s or just want to have some fun? Come to the Summer EECO Tour at Caesar Creek State Park Lake!

Summer EECO Tour at Caesar Creek State Park

Saturday, July 25th 10:00am – 2:00pm

20-person limit – ages 12 and up.

Participants will be in single, sit on top or sit in kayaks. Beginner paddlers welcome! Caesar Creek Lake is calm, flat water and 2 certified kayak instructors will be in the group to help give paddling instructions. Participants need to be able to get in and out of a kayak on their own**

A large sprawling lake, sunny meadows, and a wooded ravine await visitors at Caesar Creek, established as a state park in 1978. Caesar Creek Dam measures 2,750 feet long and stands 165 feet tall. The steep valley behind the dam made Caesar Creek Lake the deepest in Ohio, with water levels reaching a depth of roughly 150 feet. The park area sits astride the crest of the Cincinnati Arch, a gentle upward fold in the bedrock layers caused by an ancient upheaval. Some of the oldest rocks in Ohio are exposed, with sedimentary limestones and shales showing evidence of a sea that once covered the state hundreds of millions of years ago. The forests of the area are comprised of over 65 species of plants. A northern flood plain forest is found in the valley, while mixed associations of oak-hickory and beech-maple woodlands clothe the ridges and hillsides. Red-tail hawk, white-tail deer, raccoon, red fox, and box turtle make the park their home. The park's nature center was renovated in 2025. Exhibits on wildlife, habitats, and waterways feature videos and interactive, educational displays. Learn about fossils in the park, water quality, and ecosystems including the importance of natural darkness (the park is a certified firefly habitat). A dozen outdoor labs surround the building and invite guests to engage with hands-on lessons in conservation, habitats, and outdoor recreation!

Agenda:

10:00 a.m. Meet at the Wellman Boat Ramp (see map of Caesar Creek State Park and attached aerial view. GPS: 39.4885, -84.0486). Introductions, PFD fitting, go over basic paddle instructions.

10:15– 11:30 p.m. Guided flat water kayak float on Caesar Creek Lake. Along the way, we’ll discuss the history of Caesar Creek State Park, see the dam and learn about the geological significance of the area. We will also look for native flora and fauna as we float.

11:30a – 12:00 p.m. Wrap up the float, return to the boat ramp, and travel by individual cars to the Nature Center (4006 Pioneer Village Rd, Waynesville, OH 45068)

12:00 – 12:30 p.m. Enjoy our packed lunches at the picnic tables outside the Nature Center.

12:30p – 2:00p Guided tour of the newly renovated nature enter, and take a nature walk on the trails surrounding the nature center and ponds.

Please wear closed - toe shoes appropriate for the water and walking easy trails, and dress for the weather. Bring water and a brown bag lunch in a personal cooler (if needed). (Lunches will stay in personal vehicles until after the kayak float). Wear bug spray and sunscreen.

PFD (life jackets) and dry bags will be provided

Map of Caesar Creek State Park https://dam.assets.ohio.gov/image/upload/ohiodnr.gov/documents/parks/parkmaps/caesarcreekparkmap.pdf

Questions? Contact Melissa Proffitt, mproffitt@warrencountyohio.gov / 513.239.0630

EECO offers contact hour certificates to use for CEUs with professional development committees.

Summer EECO Tour #2 at Camp Oty'Okwa (08 Aug 2026)

Sat, 08 Aug 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Need contact hours for CEU’s or just want to have some fun? Come to the Summer EECO #2 Tour at Camp Oty'Okwa in the beautiful Hocking Hills!

Summer EECO Tour at Camp Oty’Okwa, Hocking Hills

Saturday, August 8^th 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

30-person limit – ages 8 and up

Participants will be able to hike one of the private trails at Camp Oty’Okwa and explore Counselor’s Cave. All hiking experience levels welcome! The Counselor’s Cave trail is a 0.72 miles (roundtrip) moderate trail with some incline and steps down to the Cave.

Camp Oty’Okwa is owned and operated by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio. Located on nearly 800 private forested acres in the Hocking Hills region of Ohio and operating since 1942, Camp Oty’Okwa offers mission-based programming including summer and weekend camps, as well as environmental education programming for schools and youth-serving organizations. Camp is also available year-round to accommodate rental groups of all sizes.

Sandstone is the bedrock of all the beautiful features here at Camp Oty’Okwa and the Hocking Hills Region. Our specific sandstone is known as Black Hand Sandstone and is composed of medium-to-coarse grained sandstone with thin layers of small white quartz pebbles. These pebbles originated from the igneous and metamorphic rocks of the Acadian Highlands, a precursor to the Appalachian Mountains! During the last ice age, glaciers covered much of northern North America, including much of Ohio. When the ice reached its maximum extent around 26,000 years ago, it never covered the Hocking Hills area, but it got close. When the glaciers receded North, weathering and erosion formed the caves and exposed bedrock forming unique rock formations.

Agenda:

10:00 a.m. Meet at the Dining Hall, park at the parking spots along Purcell Road or by Coultrap Lodge (see map of Camp Oty’Okwa)

10:30 a.m. Guided hike to Counselor’s Cave. Along the way, we’ll discuss the history of Camp Oty’Okwa, learn about the unique geology of the Hocking Hills, and the plants and animals that call this region home.

12:30 – 1:00 p.m. Wrap up at the Cave, hike back up to the Dining Hall

1:00 – 2:00 p.m. Enjoy your packed lunches at the picnic tables in the field or in the Dining Hall. There are also close dining options such as Grandma Faye’s or the Hocking Hills State Park Lodge.

2:00 – 3:00 p.m. Optional self-guided hike to Split Rocks on the Old Growth Forest Trail. Camp Oty’Okwa’s only public trail.

Please wear closed toe shoes appropriate for walking on a moderate trail and dress for the weather. Bring water and a packed lunch (fridge space is available in the Dining Hall if food needs to be kept cold). Wear bug spray and sunscreen.

Map of Camp Oty’Okwa

24799 Purcell Rd, South Bloomingville, OH 43152

Questions? Contact Anna Haught, ahaught@bbbscentralohio.org / 614.588.6345

EECO offers contact hour certificates to use for CEUs with professional development committees.

EECO 2027 Maker's Market (01 Apr 2027)

Thu, 01 Apr 2027 04:00:00 GMT

EECO Annual Conference Maker's Market Vendor Space

April 1-4, 2027
Deer Creek State Park Lodge and Conference Center

Dear Artist and friend of Environmental and STEM Education help us celebrate the 60th Anniversary of EECO!

The Environmental Education Council of Ohio (EECO) is holding the 2027 Annual EECO Conference and Student Wildlife Research Symposium at Deer Creek State Park Lodge and Conference Center April 1-4, 2027. We are inviting you to share your crafts, good and artwork with formal and non-formal educators from around the state by renting vendor space at the conference.

Please email director@eeco-online.org in order to reserve your space.

You will need a code to pay for your reserved space through this system.

EECO 2027 Author's Corner (01 Apr 2027)

Thu, 01 Apr 2027 04:00:00 GMT

EECO Annual Conference Author's Corner Vendor Space

April 1-4, 2027
Deer Creek State Park Lodge and Conference Center

Dear Author friends of Environmental and STEM Education help us celebrate the 60th Anniversary of EECO!

The Environmental Education Council of Ohio (EECO) is holding the 2027 Annual EECO Conference and Student Wildlife Research Symposium at Deer Creek State Park Lodge and Conference Center April 1-4, 2027. We are inviting you to share your books and educational resources with formal and non-formal educators from around the state by renting vendor space at the conference.

Please email director@eeco-online.org in order to reserve your space.

You will need a code to pay for your reserved space through this system.