NAME Annual Conference

CoastWatch Volunteer Coordinator Fawn Custer, one of the organizers of the NAME conference, in action.\Photo by Dennis White.

The Northwest Aquatic and Marine Educators (NAME), with whom our CoastWatch program collaborates every year on the Sharing the Coast Conference, are holding their annual conference this year in Portland, July 29-Aug. 2.  The kick-off evening, on Sunday, July 29, which includes a dinner, begins at 6 p.m. at the Oregon Zoo (4001 S.W. Canyon Rd., Portland—in Washington Park).  NAME invites anyone who is interested connecting with like-minded individuals who care about the connection of fresh to salt water, to attend our 43^rd Annual Conference- entitled “Confluence.”  

“Confluence” is an all-encompassing theme. It refers to the point at which two or more bodies of water meet and flow together.  It also refers to the process of merging ideas toward common understanding and to the creation of community from diverse perspectives.

NAME was founded in 1976 and became a chapter of the National Marine Educators Association (NMEA) in 1980 dedicated to supporting water literacy in the Pacific Northwest.  Originally, NAME focused mainly on marine ecology, education and environmental issues.  Then, in the early 1990s, NAME expanded its mission and memberships to include all aquatic environments – salt water, freshwater and everything in between.  As the name suggests, NAME spans the entire bioregion of the Pacific Northwest coast of North America comprising four chapters: Alaska, British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon.  As such, NAME pushes for education, research and advocacy beyond political boundaries and is one of only two international NMEA chapters with Canadian representation.
For this conference, three strands will be woven into metaphorical confluence:  Education, Culture and Science.  Education topics have a focus on prepared materials for educators fulfilling the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) opportunities.  The Culture Strand includes topics with a keen focus on the traditional, indigenous knowledge, and/or the role of art in environmental education, STEAM, (includes artistic innovation).  Naturally, the Science Strand- has topics elaborating the most up-to-date scientific knowledge/discoveries giving educators the background and tools needed to fulfill STEM and NGSS. Volunteers and Docents will gain the tools necessary to share up to date information regarding our freshwater and coastal environments.  Participants will have the opportunity to explore our aquatic and marine environments with two full days of field experiences.         

Our members include students of all ages, formal and informal educators, Governmental and Non-Governmental workers, volunteers, and the staff and members of non-profit environmental organizations.

Please feel free to explore our website and conference information at www.pacname.org

You may also feel free to contact

Fawn@oregonshores.org   or 5412700027

Or Melissa Keyser   Keyser@ci.cannon-beach.or.us   5034368060

For full particulars on schedule, registration, etc., see the conference website: http://www.pacname.org/conferences/2018-portland-oregon/