Midday Meetup: Continuing the Conversation: Religion, Science, and Environmental Education
How do you respond when a participant asks a tough question about faith, creation, or science—especially when it catches you off guard? How can environmental educators prepare for these moments with empathy, confidence, and care?
Our February 11 Midday Meetup, Navigating Conversations Around Religion and Science, brought together a thoughtful and engaged group of educators who were eager to unpack these questions together. The conversation confirmed what many of us already feel: this intersection is complex, deeply personal, and increasingly present in our professional lives—and there’s a real desire for continued dialogue and shared strategies.
Building on that momentum, we’re excited to host a follow-up Midday Meetup on May 13 with Linden Rayton, owner and educator of Living Water Nature Programs, LLC. This session will offer an informal yet thoughtfully structured space to continue exploring how religion, spirituality, and science show up in environmental education—both in day-to-day programming and within broader state and national conversations—and how these dynamics shape our work.
Together, we’ll reflect on:
- How our own values and beliefs influence our teaching and facilitation
- Ways to engage respectfully with participants from faith-based backgrounds
- Strategies for navigating challenging or unexpected moments in the field
- Opportunities for building bridges with faith communities as partners in stewardship
Whether you identify as religious, spiritual, secular, or somewhere in between, you are warmly invited to join this open, reflective conversation. Come ready to listen, share, and explore how belief, wonder, and science can coexist—and even strengthen—our work as environmental educators and leaders.
💬 About Midday Meetups:
Midday Meetups are NHEE’s new monthly virtual series, inspired by our friends at the Rhode Island Environmental Education Association (RIEEA) and their popular Lunch & Learns. NHEE’s Midday Meetups are held on the second Wednesday of each month from 12:00–1:00 PM, the series alternates between open office hours for connection and idea sharing, and structured sessions with guest speakers on timely topics—from curriculum connections to community collaborations to equity in education.
