Annual Teacher Symposium Shows How “Stewardship Starts With Love”

July 28, 2026

Each summer, The Everglades Foundation’s Teacher Symposium gives educators time to reconnect with the place they teach, the students they serve, and the purpose behind Everglades education.

This year’s 9th Annual Teacher Symposium, themed “Stewardship Starts With Love,” drew 202 attendees from across Florida to explore how curiosity, creativity, science, and care for the natural world can come together in hands-on, standards-connected learning.

A young conservation leader sets the tone

The day opened with keynote remarks from Isaac Nelson, an award-winning young filmmaker, conservationist, and founder of Eco Scouts, a youth-led group protecting Florida’s coastal ecosystems. Inspired by teachers and environmental advocates like Sylvia Earle, Nelson has produced films including Mangroves Matter and the award-winning Shoreline Story to show that leadership can begin at any age.

Hands-on lessons for the next generation of problem-solvers

In “Everglades Engineers: Wildlife Bridge STEM Challenge,” educators explored a hands-on lesson that asks students to design safe passages for Everglades species affected by habitat fragmentation. Using recycled materials and a budget-based engineering model, students can plan, build, test, redesign, and justify solutions while practicing science, math, collaboration, and evidence-based reasoning.

Citizen science in the classroom

“Everglades Wildlife Watch” introduced educators to a Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission program that uses trail-camera images and the online platform “Zooniverse” to help scientists study species diversity, wildlife behavior, and habitat use across the Greater Everglades, improving teachers’ and students’ understanding of the region’s rich biodiversity and interconnected ecosystems.

Where science, literacy, and art meet

Science learning took a creative turn in “Picture Books as a Springboard for Learning,” featuring author and Florida Master Naturalist Susan Levine. Using Jenny’s First Catch, the session connected science, literacy, art, and personal growth. Teachers explored ways to help students learn about wading birds, habitat protection, writing, illustration, and storytelling—showing how Everglades education can connect scientific concepts with creativity and a student’s sense of place.

Building a culture of sustainability

The “Green Schools Challenge” by Dream in Green highlighted a whole-system approach to sustainability education, engaging students in activities that save energy and water while connecting natural resources, climate change, and community sustainability. For teachers, the program offers a practical model for turning campus sustainability into student learning and action, reinforcing that stewardship begins in everyday choices.

Seeing ourselves in the Everglades story

The symposium concluded with “The Everglades in Every One of Us,” an immersive reflection activity that invited educators to create self-portraits using natural materials. Through this experience, participants explored how they are connected to the Everglades ecosystem, and recognized the important role they play in shaping its future through education and stewardship.

The 9^th Annual Teacher Symposium reflected this year’s theme: Stewardship starts with love, but grows through knowledge, connection, and action. By equipping teachers with engaging tools and experiences, The Everglades Foundation’s Everglades Literacy Program helps extend that stewardship year-round into classrooms, communities, and the future of America’s Everglades.

Watch video recap of Everglades Teacher Symposium

youtube.com/watch?v=lcODi2rHkvU&feature=youtu.be

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