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Conference Schedule & Presentations: Conference will be held in the Rozelle and Seville Ballrooms. Please follow signs to the APHE registration table. Tuesday, April 29 Networking Mixer 6:00 - 8:00 P.M. Join your APHE Board Members for a networking happy hour to unwind and socialize! Hosted at our event location (Cascade Hotel), this mixer will be a casual space to meet other members, reconnect with old friends, and build lasting connections with fellow humane educators. There will be games, door prizes, and more, designed to engage attendees but also keep you within your comfort zone. Don’t miss this opportunity to vibe with your hive! Light appetizers and drinks will be provided. Hosted by APHE Board of Directors Location: Cascade Hotel
Wednesday, April 30 Registration and Breakfast 8:00 - 9:00 A.M. Location: Cascade Hotel, Seville Ballroom
Opening Remarks and Keynote Speaker Introduction 9:00 - 9:20 A.M.
Location: Cascade Hotel, Seville Ballroom
Keynote: 9:20 - 10:20 A.M. Description to follow Presenter: Zoe Weil, Institute for Humane Education Location: Cascade Hotel, Seville Ballroom
Concurrent Sessions - 1a & 1b Getting Started: Engaging Adults with Community Programs 10:35 - 11:35 A.M. You’re never too old to learn about compassion! Step outside the classroom during this workshop to focus on a different type of student in your community: Adults. Adult program participants can become your biggest supporters. Some transition to donors, volunteers or fosters, while others provide a pathway for their children and grandchildren to get involved. Altogether, they better the lives of pets and bolster support for your organization. However, engaging this cohort of learners, who are often maxed out on time and energy, can be a daunting task. This session will dive into the successes, challenges and lessons learned while implementing workshops, webinars and programs for adults. You will leave with ideas on how to meet these learners “where they are” to provide valued programs. Presenters: Ashley Holm, Hannah Mirlis, Zoe Picanso, Connecticut Humane Society Location: Cascade Hotel, Seville Ballroom After School Youth Program: Diversity and Cross-Cultural Understanding 10:35 - 11:35 A.M. This session will be a dive into spcaLA's successful after school Teaching Love and Compassion (TLC)™ program, where participants will be shown the tools needed to create lessons that promote cultural awareness all while intertwining humane education. They will also learn about different approaches towards navigating sensitive/challenging topics such as violence, stereotypes, conflict resolution, anger identification & management, and social identity. Participants will be shown various classroom activities and exercises that appropriately address these topics and more! Presenters: Amber Vera Mendoza and Natalie Medina, spcaLA Location: Cascade Hotel, Rozelle Room 
Membership Meeting and Group Photo 11:40 - 12:30 P.M. Hosted by APHE Board of Directors Location: Cascade Hotel, Seville Ballroom
Lunch, Exhibitors and Marketplace 12:30 - 1:30 P.M. Location: Cascade Hotel, Seville Room
Concurrent Sessions - 2a & 2b Networking Power Hour: Regional Workshop Planning 1:30 - 2:30 P.M. Prepare to unlock your potential as a workshop facilitator! This presentation is designed to provide you with a comprehensive toolkit, helping you to organize and run a regional workshop with professionalism and flair. The best part? There's no need to delay the excitement of planning! With engaging activities and practical worksheets at your disposal, you'll leave equipped with a fully developed event plan—eliminating the challenges of solitary workshop preparation and reducing your workload. Not interested in hosting? No problem! Join us to connect and network with fellow educators in your area. Everyone will walk away with resources after this networking power hour.Presenters: Heather Grogan, Charleston Animal Society Location: Cascade Hotel, Seville Ballroom Spotlight Chick Hatching Projects: Let’s Crack Open a Humane Solution 1:30 - 2:30 P.M. Many schools use chick hatching projects to teach young children about embryonic development. But once they have hatched, where will the chicks go? Once springtime comes many already overburdened animal shelters and rescues are the typical places where teachers will turn to drop off unwanted baby chicks. To address this growing problem, we would like to introduce a humane chick life cycle unit that you can suggest that schools/humane ed. programs use in place of live egg hatching projects. Learn how you can address this issue with your peeps! Presenters: Nicole Green, Animalearn and Elizabeth Wallace and Kris Taylor, Shy 38 Inc. Location: Cascade Hotel, Rozelle Room
Concurrent Sessions - 3a & 3b Compassion Fatigue: A recognition and strategies workshop 2:40 - 3:40 P.M. In this participatory workshop, we will discuss the relationships between compassion, empathy, sympathy, and love, while equipping ourselves with an understanding of the signs and symptoms of compassion fatigue both on an individual level as well as an organizational landscape. Through small group discussions, we will explore several strategies and tools to help alleviate the cost of caring to our bodies, our communities, and our mindsets through both art and reflective practices. Whether you are on the frontlines of rescue work in the field, a humane educator, or developing caring practices for your own staff, come join us on this informative nurturing journey of healing and discover practices and strategies to add to your own self-care toolbox. Location: Cascade Hotel, Seville Ballroom How to Be an Effective Educator 2:40 - 3:40 P.M. In this session, we will focus on how to teach effectively in the classroom. We will cover topics like, how to get and keep students' attention, tips for classroom/behavior management, how to use active games and stories as tools for learning, and how to build your confidence in the classroom. Whether you're teaching in a classroom, facilitating a game at summer camp, or leading an after-school activity, we have strategies for you! Presenters: Karen Wallace & Margaret Hanzlick-Burton, Wayside Waifs Location: Cascade Hotel, Rozelle Room
Closing Remarks 3:40 - 3:50 P.M. Location: Cascade Hotel, Seville Ballroom
Exhibitors & Marketplace 3:50 - 5:00 P.M. Location: Cascade Hotel, Seville Ballroom and Pre-function area
Dinner and Nathania Gartman Heroes Award Presentation 6:00 - 9:00 P.M. Location: Brio Italian Grille, 502 Nichols Drive, Kansas City, MO, 64112
Thursday, May 1 Registration and Breakfast 8:00 - 9:00 A.M. Location: Cascade Hotel, Seville Ballroom
9:00 - 9:05 A.M. Location: Cascade Hotel, Seville Ballroom
Concurrent Sessions - 4a & 4b Collaborative Meeting Facilitation: Tools & Strategies for Success 9:05 - 10:05 A.M. Presenters: Julie Klima, Midwest Center for Nonprofit Leadership Location: Cascade Hotel, Seville Ballroom Thriving with Compassion: Ensuring Positive Welfare for Animals in Educational Programs 9:05 - 10:05 A.M. Presenters: Karen Verderame , Penn Vet Location: Cascade Hotel, Rozelle Room
Hot Topic Panel Facilitated by Julie Klima 10:05 - 11:05 A.M. Dive into the varying perspectives of humane education with our Hot Topics Panel, where panelists from diverse backgrounds come together to tackle the most pressing and provocative issues shaping the field today. This interactive session will explore how different perspectives shape how we incorporate companion animals or ambassador animals into programming, cultural and societal considerations regarding how language is used within the field, and more. This panel will spark meaningful dialogue, challenge assumptions, and inspire fresh approaches. Join us for an engaging discussion that highlights the complexities and opportunities in the ever-evolving landscape of humane education. Moderated by Julie Klima, Midwest Center for Nonprofit Leadership.Panelists: TBD Location: Cascade Hotel, Seville Ballroom
Concurrent Sessions - 5a & 5b Cultural Sensitivity in Action: A Pathway to Meaningful Partnerships 11:15 A.M. - 12:30 P.M. Join us for an interactive session on enhancing programs through community listening. Discover how we expanded the RedRover Readers program in partnership with the Sacramento Native American Health Center. Participants will receive lesson plans and activities from the Early Ages to Learn Empathy Through Stories (EAGLES) program! We’ll explore cultural sensitivity and the significance of cross-cultural understanding in fostering a successful community partnership. Key themes include listening, respect, and patience in honoring diverse perspectives. This collaborative approach broadens access to humane education for communities previously unable to participate in the RedRover Readers program or others like it. Use our methods and resources to grow your community engagement and reach! Presenter: Minhhan Takemoto & Karly Noel, RedRover Location: Cascade Hotel, Seville Ballroom Helping Teens Lead the Way 11:15 A.M. - 12:30 P.M. For decades, the Marin Humane has engaged teens to support its summer camp programs, experimenting with ways to better involve and provide them with the tools to lead. In 2024, we launched a new high school internship program that provided teens with more leadership opportunities - benefiting not only the interns, but also the camp staff and 301 campers. In this session, Marin Humane's Vice President of Community Engagement, Darlene Blackman, will share how they created an impactful internship program that develops empathetic leaders. She will cover the program structure, training curriculum, and strategies for inviting teen interns to take on meaningful roles. Presenter: Darlene Blackman, Marin Humane Location: Cascade Hotel, Rozelle Room
Lunch Break, Exhibitors and Marketplace 12:30 - 1:30 P.M. Location: Cascade Hotel, Seville Ballroom
Roundtable: All Things Camp 1:30 - 2:30 P.M. Join us for engaging roundtable discussions on all things summer camps! Share insights, exchange ideas, and collaborate with peers on topics like programming, lesson plans, schedules, staffing, camper engagement, safety, and more. Whether you're a seasoned camp professional or just starting out, this is a perfect opportunity to learn, network, and prepare for a successful summer season.Presenter: APHE Board of Directors, APHE Location: Cascade Hotel, Seville Ballroom Roundtable: Non-Traditional Animal Programming (Farm Animal, Wild Animals) 1:30 - 2:30 P.M. Explore the world of non-traditional animal programming in this dynamic roundtable! Discuss best practices, creative ideas, and ethical considerations for incorporating farm animals, wildlife, and zoo animals into educational and recreational programs. Perfect for anyone looking to expand their programming with unique animal experiences.Presenter: APHE Board of Directors, APHE Location: Cascade Hotel, Rozelle Room
Creating a Path to Industry Diversity Through Community Partnerships 2:30 - 3:30 P.M. The animal welfare industry is in trouble. We must cultivate a more diverse workforce through the creation of pipelines for nontraditional animal welfare workers. As experts in facilitating respectful relationships between human and nonhuman animals, humane educators are uniquely positioned to lead this charge. However, before we can diversify, we need to make our workplaces more equitable and inclusive. One of the ways the SPCA Serving Erie County education team has done this is by partnering with local education and human services agencies. We are working to equip BIPOC youth and young adults with developmental disabilities with marketable skills. Not only does this positively impact our organization, but also our whole community where there is great need for pet services.Presenter: Christine Davis and Katherine Gillette-Cockerill, SPCA Serving Erie County Location: Cascade Hotel, Seville Ballroom
Exhibitors, Marketplace & Networking 3:30 - 4:45 P.M. Location: Cascade Hotel, Seville Ballroom, Pre-function space
Closing Remarks 4:45 - 5:00 P.M. Location: Cascade Hotel, Seville Ballroom
Friday, May 2, 2024 - Optional Learning Labs and Tour Bus to Wayside Waifs from the Cascade Hotel 7:00 - 7:30 A.M. Location: Meet in the Cascade Hotel Lobby to promptly leave at 7:00 a.m.
Welcome, Announcements, and Quick Breakfast 7:30 - 8:00 a.m. Location: Wayside Waifs Education and Training Center
Concurrent Learning Labs - LL1 & LL2 STEM + K for Kindness 8:00 - 9:30 A.M. Our modern society is constantly changing. The race to be ahead brings new standards in education and careers. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), for instance, is now part of K-12 curriculums. While this may mean advances in some aspects of our lives, others may be affected or disregarded in the process of advancement. Such as minorities, animals and the environment as well. The good news is that Humane Education can pop up where you least expect. Lets explore how we can fit kindness into STEM activities, making them fun, educational and character building. Basic Humane Education topics can turn into activities that include experiments, video games, creative design and so much more. Get ready to work because these activities are coming straight to you! Presenter: Adora R. Negrón Gómez, Colegio de Médicos Veterinarios de Puerto RicoLocation: Wayside Waifs, Education and Training Center Program Design and Evaluation: Shelter Scouts Youth Volunteer Program 8:00 - 9:30 A.M. Interested in starting a youth program and not sure where to start? Already running a program and want to evaluate and improve? Using East Bay SPCA’s Shelter Scouts youth volunteer program as a case study, work through designing a program through a continuous improvement cycle. Be prepared to bring an idea or current program to discuss and dissect with other participants. Location: Wayside Waifs, Education and Training Center
Concurrent Learning Labs - LL3 & LL4 Creating with Compassion: Art in Humane Education 9:40 - 11:10 A.M. Get ready to unleash your inner artist! This presentation is designed to help humane educators confidently bring creativity into the classroom, even if you’ve never picked up a paintbrush. You’ll explore three fun, easy-to-learn art techniques that make lessons more engaging and open up opportunities for fundraising. Walk away with practical tools, newfound confidence, and a colorful set of ideas to inspire your students with pawsitively pawsome projects! Whether you’re a seasoned doodler or a total beginner, this workshop will give you everything you need to seamlessly blend art into your humane education and make a big impact.Presenter: De Daltorio and Lindsey Cummings, Charleston Animal Society Location: Wayside Waifs, Education and Training Center Under One Roof 9:40 - 11:10 A.M. Hear compelling stories and learn the statistics behind children and youth who abuse animals. Delve into how to talk to children who may have witnessed animal abuse and why these conversations are so critical for the safety and welfare of children and animals. Presenter: Aislinn McCarthy, Missouri Alliance for Animal Legislation Location: Wayside Waifs, Education and Training Center
11:10 - 11:40 A.M. Location: Wayside Waifs, Education and Training Center
Wayside Waifs Behind the Scenes Shelter Tour 11:40 - 12:15 P.M. Location: Wayside Waifs Education and Training Center
Travel Back to Cascade Hotel 12:15 - 1:45 P.M. Location: Wayside Waifs Education and Training Center |
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2025 Conference Sponsors
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Stacey Zeitlin
Want your organizations name added to our 2025 Conference Sponsor page?
Please email kelly.nix@aphe.org to lean more.