The purpose of Educators’ Week encompasses the following goals and has not changed over our 17 years. Those goals are:

• Provide an opportunity for participants to gain new knowledge through hands-on sessions facilitated by experts in their field;
• Create an awareness of resources, materials, and activities that are available for teachers and naturalists in Ohio;
• Help participants become comfortable with new subject areas in natural history so that they can share this information with their students;
• Create networking for the participants to use throughout the year;
• Learn, discover, develop a sense of wonder, try new things and have fun!

Educators’ Week has been instructing and inspiring educators from across Ohio and surrounding states for many years. Here are some thoughts from past participants:

• I love this week for the technical info and depth of the topics.
• This week consistently offers the best training I’ve ever been to in my 30 years of teaching.
• Every presenter was so knowledgeable and offered valuable tools to use in my classroom!
• I was completely blown away by the programs, the people, the beauty, and kindness. I had no idea the scope of the inner change in me as a result of experiencing and learning what I did.
• When you have an opportunity to be around people who hold education/learning in high regard you are inspired to stay positive in a negative world and gather strength to continue forging ahead to make the world a better place no matter how hard it is.
• I can’t tell you how much of a rich experience this is – I continually reflect on it and pull from it throughout the year. I love how it ties together information for me!

Educators’ Week begins with orientation and a large-group learning session for all participants. The week follows with two or three concurrent sessions each morning and afternoon and a large group session in the evening after dinner. The final day of the week culminates in concurrent field trips taken around the area summarizing all that participants have learned throughout the week. All meals for the week as well as lodging are provided and are included in the cost of registration. Participants will also receive electronic copies of all session materials as well as a set of ODNR Field Guides, Educators’ Week t-shirt, notebook and other helpful items.

The delicate balance of people, natural resource use, and technological advances is at the heart of many local, national, and global news stories. Throughout the week, participants explore hands-on best practice strategies for introducing people to the natural world and these issues. Using their professional expertise and experience, top naturalists and educators from around the state facilitate sessions using the outdoor local resources. Sessions provide opportunities to gain an understanding of topics related to state academic standards by immersing the participants in a natural setting and a stimulating learning environment.

Background, Life on a Sandy Delta

Educators’ Week was started in 2009 by Cathy and Paul Knoop. Cathy and Paul have been educating youth and adults throughout Ohio for over 40 years. Paul spent 35 years at Aullwood Audubon Center moving up the ranks and serving as Education Director, the position from which he retired. Cathy retired from a long career of teaching science in the elementary classroom. Since retirement, both Paul and Cathy have continued to teach others about nature in a variety of ways.  

Prior to the current iteration of Educator’s Week, the Knoops had been hired to teach the teachers’ week at Audubon’s Hog Island in Maine.  They had worked with Ashland University to arrange for credit for the workshop since Ohio teachers were taking advantage of the training.  Following the week in 2008, it was announced that Hog Island would no longer be offering this opportunity. Surveys were sent out asking if teachers would be interested in a week-long class stressing environmental education/natural history if it was offered in Ohio. With a positive response, the idea was discussed with Ashland University who completely supported the project and the venue for the conference became Camp Oty’Okwa, located in the heart of the Hocking Hills in Hocking County, Ohio. The camp is owned by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio. 

It was decided that the focus would be “living on a sandy delta” in southeast Ohio, stressing the importance of geology as a base for natural history of the area. Presenters were obtained from around the state so that participants could be exposed to specialists that might otherwise not be available in their region.  Two to three concurrent sessions are offered during the mornings and afternoons as well as evening sessions taking place after dinner. Throughout the week, sessions progress in complexity so that by the last day of the conference, participants use the knowledge they’ve gained during immersive day-long field trips.

“Where north meets south and east meets west.” – Charles Eulett

Early in 2019, Cathy Knoop approached the Edge of Appalachia Preserve System (EOA) staff with the hope of transitioning Educators’ Week to EOA and have it administered by Robyn Wright-Strauss, Chief Naturalist. Robyn has been involved with Educators’ Week in a variety of ways for many years. She has been a presenter since 2012 teaching a range of subjects including lichens, insects, pond studies, and inquiry learning for upper elementary students. The goal was to have Educators’ Week fully transitioned to Robyn and the Edge in time for the 2021 conference.

The Edge of Appalachia Preserve System is the perfect outdoor learning lab. The diverse geology that makes up the Edge gives rise to a tremendous diversity of plants and animals, many of whom are rare, threatened or endangered. It’s close proximity to the 65,000 acre Shawnee State Forest, Serpent Mound, and a half dozen state nature preserves increases the opportunities for learning in the out-of-doors. In addition, having facilities such as the Eulett Center allows for people to gather for meals, large group learning sessions and fellowship.

The Richard and Lucile Durrell Edge of Appalachia Preserve System is a 21,000 acre nature preserve located in beautiful Adams County, Ohio. The preserve is owned and managed by Cincinnati Museum Center and The Nature Conservancy in Ohio. Both of these private non-profit organizations have been working in partnership to conserve the rare and unusual flora and fauna of Adams County since 1959.

Educators’ Week 2025 and beyond

In late December of 2024, Robyn accepted the position of the Glen Helen Outdoor Education Center Director. Glen Helen welcomed Educators’ Week and agreed to host, beginning with the 16th year of Educators’ Week. The Glen Helen Outdoor Education Center is located in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Contiguous with John Bryan State Park and Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve, this oasis of the Eastern Forest in the Northern Till Plains provides many opportunities for nature study.

The Glen Helen Outdoor Education Center has provided overnight outdoor science learning since 1956. Its on-site facilities allow participants to gather for meals, large group learning sessions, and fellowship. Along with the Raptor Center and Trailside Museum, the preserve has 15 miles of hiking trails over its 1,125 acres. It also protects almost two miles of the Little Miami River, a state designated Scenic River.

Donations to Educators’ Week are always welcome and will be used to offset the costs of holding the conference. If you are interested in donating to Educators’ Week, please send your check (made out to Glen Helen Association and memo: Ed Week) to:

Title photo by: Joanne Rebbeck