Bringing Educators Together to Strengthen Outdoor Learning Across the State
Across Alaska, educators, program leaders, and community members are working to ensure that young people have opportunities to learn and grow outside. The third annual Alaska Outdoor & Environmental Education Symposium brings together nearly 100 educators from across the state to strengthen outdoor learning, build community, and share best practices for getting kids outside.
This annual event, hosted by the Alaska Natural Resource and Outdoor Education Association (ANROE) and sponsored this year by the Arctic Research Consortium of the U.S. (ARCUS) and Anchorage Park Foundation, reflects a growing movement to connect youth with the outdoors. Through hands-on learning, outdoor experiences, and environmental education, Alaskan educators are helping the next generation develop a deep appreciation for the state’s lands, waters and resources.
“Outdoor learning isn’t just about recreation—it’s about fostering a sense of place, teaching essential life skills, and making education more engaging and accessible,” said Meredith Gutierrez, President of ANROE. “This symposium is an opportunity for educators to come together, share what’s working, support each other and collaborate to support outdoor opportunities for youth.”
With nearly 100 participants and growing each year, this symposium is a unique gathering for educators who believe in the power of outdoor experiences. Attendees will gain practical tools, share insights, and be part of a supportive community that values hands-on learning, connection to place, and fostering outdoor skills in Alaska’s youth. Alaska’s unique landscapes provide an unparalleled setting for experiential learning, and educators are working to ensure that all Alaskan’s have the opportunity to learn outside, develop confidence in the outdoors, and build lifelong connections to nature.
For more information about ANROE and its work supporting outdoor education in Alaska, visit www.anroe.net.
2025 AK OE/EE Symposium:
- When: Friday February 21, 2025 from 9am – 4 pm
- Where: Z.J. Loussac Library, (3600 Denali St.) Events Center Rotunda
- Hosted by: Alaska Natural Resource and Outdoor Education Association (ANROE)
