Welcome Students at Venue A
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9:40 - 9:55 am
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Opening Blessing of the Water
Gary Perez, Chief, Pakahua Peoples of Mexico & Texas Ceremony honoring the sacred waters of Barton Springs and the deep Indigenous connections to land and spirit. |
Learning Sessions 10 am - 1:30 pm, all AISD buses depart at 2:00 pm
Venue A
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10:00 - 10:25 am
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Keynote Speaker: Charles "Chuck" Foster Jr.
President of Capital Area Master Naturalists Chapter & Community Educator Gen Z and the Planet's Future: This Is Your Moment to Lead Inspiring youth to discover their voice, embrace leadership, and create lasting change in their communities. |
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10:30 - 11:15 am
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The Resilience of 21st Century Cities: Lessons from Barton Springs and a Britney Spears Song
Jay Banner, Ph.D, Director of UT Environmental Science Institute and Michael Felicano-Gumba, Singer and Educator, and Mark May Exploring urban resilience through science, art, and song to understand sustainability in modern cities. |
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11:20 - 12:05 pm
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FIRST LUNCH
Concert by Bill Oliver and the Otter Space Band Bill Oliver, Environmental Educator & Musician Interactive songs celebrating habitat conservation! |
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12:10 - 12:55 pm
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SECOND LUNCH
Concert by Bill Oliver and the Otter Space Band Bill Oliver, Environmental Educator & Musician Interactive songs celebrating habitat conservation! |
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1:00 - 1:30 pm
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UPDATE
Four Directions, Four Sacred Springs Alexia Leclercq, Co-founder Start:Empowerment with Noé Elias, Land and Housing Director at PODER and Texas Coordinator at Start:Empowerment, and Maxochitl Cortez, Two-Spirit Indigenous Education Coordinator at the Native American Cultural Center & Ecology Action A powerful dialogue honoring Indigenous water stewards and East Austin’s environmental justice movement. |
Venue B
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10:30 - 11:15 am
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How to Re:wild Your Campus
Mackenzie Feldman, Founder and Co-Director of Re:wild Your Campus This presentation will give you actionable ways to get involved, either as a student or community member, through the lens of pesticide reduction and increased biodiversity on campus grounds and community spaces for the sake of human and environmental health. Trash Talk! Protecting Your Neighborhood Creeks
Valarie Campbell, President and Founder of South Austin Creek Alliance Join Valarie as "Trash Panda", the mischievous raccoon host, for a live “talk show” exploring the hidden life of South Austin creeks. Trash Panda guides the conversation on how our neighborhoods, waterways, and wildlife are connected and how small actions can make a big difference for water and habitat protection. |
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11:20 - 12:05 pm
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Thinking About Water Supply & Demand in Schools
Lauren Ross, Ph.D. P.E., Glenrose Engineering As the hotter temperatures of climate change evaporate more rain, less water runs off to fill the lakes we depend on for Austin’s water supply. If we want to keep our school grounds green and inviting, we need to figure out how to irrigate them without relying on potable water. Join Dr. Lauren Ross for a collaborative rain garden design process for your school. Participants will identify water sources, sketch a garden layout, and design a berm system to capture and retain water. |
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12:10 - 12:55 pm
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How to Re:wild Your Campus
Mackenzie Feldman, Founder and Co-Director of Re:wild Your Campus This presentation will give you actionable ways to get involved, either as a student or community member, through the lens of pesticide reduction and increased biodiversity on campus grounds and community spaces for the sake of human and environmental health. Trash Talk! Protecting Your Neighborhood Creeks
Valarie Campbell, President and Founder of South Austin Creek Alliance Join Valarie as "Trash Panda", the mischievous raccoon host, for a live “talk show” exploring the hidden life of South Austin creeks. Trash Panda guides the conversation on how our neighborhoods, waterways, and wildlife are connected and how small actions can make a big difference for water and habitat protection. |
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1:00 - 1:30 pm
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UPDATE
Thinking About Water Supply & Demand in Schools Lauren Ross, Ph.D. P.E., Glenrose Engineering As the hotter temperatures of climate change evaporate more rain, less water runs off to fill the lakes we depend on for Austin’s water supply. If we want to keep our school grounds green and inviting, we need to figure out how to irrigate them without relying on potable water. Join Dr. Lauren Ross for a collaborative rain garden design process for your school. Participants will identify water sources, sketch a garden layout, and design a berm system to capture and retain water. |
Venue C
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10:30 - 11:15 am
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Austin is a Sustainability Leader
Mary K. Priddy, Conservation Program Manager, City of Austin's Office of Sustainability Discover how Austin is leading the way in local sustainability through schools, businesses, and community innovation. Agroecology Makes Ripples Scott Blackburn, Owner, New Garden Road Scott discusses biological control as a natural phenomenon, method, and science that aids agricultural production without pesticides. |
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11:20 - 12:05 pm
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Where Did All the Water in Barton Creek Go?
Ed Crowell, Author & Save Barton Creek Association Board Member A journey through the history, battles, and beauty of Austin’s most cherished natural area. Healthy Soil, Clean Water: Why Every Drop—and Every Choice—Matters Nessa Spence, Horticulturalist, Educator & Co-owner of Ripples & Roots Wildscapes Explore how soil health connects directly to clean water and how regenerative practices can heal our local ecosystems. |
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12:10 - 12:55 pm
1:00 - 1:30 pm
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Austin is a Sustainability Leader
Mary K. Priddy, Conservation Program Manager, City of Austin's Office of Sustainability Discover how Austin is leading the way in local sustainability through schools, businesses, and community innovation. Agroecology Makes Ripples Scott Blackburn, Owner, New Garden Road Scott discusses biological control as a natural phenomenon, method, and science that aids agricultural production without pesticides. Healthy Soil, Clean Water: Why Every Drop—and Every Choice—Matters
Nessa Spence, Horticulturalist, Educator & Co-owner of Ripples & Roots Wildscapes Explore how soil health connects directly to clean water and how regenerative practices can heal our local ecosystems. |