Networking Opportunities & Special Events 2022

Opening Musical Act: Las Azaleas
Formed by Diana Olivares in the summer of 2020, Las Azaleas share the works of pioneering women in Latin music. Their sound is influenced by mariachi, trio, and bolero music, and the repertoire is selected to help further acknowledgment of incredible Latina artists of the past and present. Las Azaleas are proud to be women-led and hope to inspire audiences to pursue their dreams and passions just as every member of the group does both personally and collectively as a music group.
Affinity Group Meetings
Please respect the identities centered in Affinity Group Meetings. For instance, if you do not identify as Black, Indigenous, Person of Color (BIPOC), please do not attend the BIPOC gathering.
BIPOC Affinity Group Gathering
No Host Bar at Azul Lounge
Wednesday, 4:00 PM–4:45 PM MST
Queer Environmental Educators Network (QEEN) Affinity Group BYO Breakfast
Grab & go options available at coffee stand
Thursday, 7:00 AM–8:00 AM MST
BIPOC Affinity Group BYO Breakfast
Grab & go options available at coffee stand
Friday, 7:00 AM–8:00 AM MST
QEEN Affinity Space
Friday, 5:00 PM–6:30 PM MST
eePRO Group Meetings & Receptions
Friday, 1:00 PM–2:00 PM MST
Grab & go options available near Azul Restaurant
Climate Change Education
Early Childhood EE
Equity & Inclusion
K–12 Education
Global EE
Guidelines for Excellence
Higher Education
Spirituality and EE
Receptions
Friday, 5:00 PM–6:00 PM MST
eeBLUE Social
Arizona Association for EE Meetup

Bring the parks to the people!
Wednesday (5:00—6:30 PM) and the Exhibit luncheon on Thursday from 12:30—2:00 PM)
Located in front of Westin La Paloma
Check out the Saguaro National Park mobile visitor center and learn more about how Saguaro NP and Western National Parks Association (WNPA) use it to connect to the community and spark interest in national parks. Learn some tips and gain inspiration to develop or improve your dynamic and authentic community engagement plan.

Exhibit Fair Luncheon, Poster Session, and Affiliate Expo
During our annual exhibit luncheon, you can chat with exhibitors eager to connect you with the latest and greatest in environmental education products and services. Between 1:00 and 2:00 PM, many colleagues will be staffing their poster presentations, ready to discuss their work with you. And you can visit the Affiliate Expo to learn more about NAAEE’s Affiliates and the many services they offer on the state and provincial levels.
Thursday, October 13: 6:30–10:30 PM MST

On the Town in Tucson
NAAEE will run free continuous shuttle buses between the Westin La Paloma and the Historic Mercado San Augustin district in downtown Tucson from 6:00 PM–10:00 PM so that attendees can enjoy downtown Tucson on their own. The Mercado and the MSA Annex offer an array of shops, food, and beverages to enjoy; the conference program will list restaurants offering discounts to conference attendees. You can easily ride the Tucson Street Car from the Mercado along Congress Avenue and 4th Avenue to visit popular restaurants, breweries, ice cream shops, and the Historic Congress Hotel.
Friday, October 14: 7:00–9:30 PM MST
Details on the Chul
Your nametag is your ticket!!!
Join us for a special night at Tohono Chul just for NAAEE 2022 guests.
Shuttles will run between the Westin La Paloma and Tohono Chul between 6:30 and 9:30. We recommend departing for Tohono Chul no later than 7:45 PM. Meet the buses outside the front door of the Westin La Paloma.
Later buses will return guests to the Westin La Paloma AND the other three overflow hotels. The last bus will depart from Tohono Chul at 9:45 PM.
Bar (7:00–9:00 PM), accepts cash and credit card
Locations:
Children’s Ramada
Spanish Colonial
Performance Garden
Food stations & appetizers open 7:00–9:00 PM
LIVE BAND TRADICIONES will perform in the Performance Garden
Explore La Entrada Shop & Greenhouse, La Galeria Museum Shop & Exhibition House, Ethnobotanical Garden. Docents will be available to attendees to share information and answer questions.
Saturday, October 15, 12:00–2:30 PM MST

Awards Luncheon and Plenary: Educating for Change
Join us for NAAEE’s annual awards luncheon and closing plenary focused on Educating for Change, our conference theme. Join moderator Sheila Williams Ridge and five outstanding speakers, including two of our EE 30 Under 30 Awardees, as we hear different perspectives about how environmental education can lead to positive change in communities around the world.