Dennis Nolasco, Education Coordinator
Climate Education Takes Center Stage at NSTA 2025!
Emily Walker and I proudly displaying the Earth Day Official 2025 Poster!
Arriving in Philadelphia for the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) Conference 2025, I felt the familiar buzz of anticipation that comes with engaging in a space filled with passionate educators. The Philadelphia Convention Center, teeming with thousands of science educators from across the country, was the perfect setting to advance EARTHDAY.ORG's mission of embedding climate education into classrooms nationwide.
We say it all the time but if students are taught about climate education it's not only good for them and their own well-being but it's also going to elevate them in the job market. Why? Because employers need people with 'green skills'.
With over 10,000 attendees at the conference, EARTHDAY.ORG had a significant presence. Our booth quickly became a hub of conversation, drawing educators eager to learn about our resources such as our Earth Month Calendar.
From the moment we set up, we were engaging with teachers, district leaders, and education advocates from across the U.S. and even internationally. We had visitors from Thailand, China, and representatives from Native American reservations, all interested in how they could integrate climate education into their own curricula.
Bryce Coon and Emily Walker promoting the power of climate education
Beyond the booth, we had the opportunity to engage with state science supervisors and state education department staff from key states, including Virginia, Oregon, Michigan, Maryland, and West Virginia. These conversations and moments to connect one to one are crucial as we push forward with our domestic education campaign - advocating for stronger climate education policies at the state level.
Books that creatively talk about climate change take center stage
Presenting at the conference was another highlight. We partnered with children's book author and environmental educator Rochelle Strauss to deliver a session titled "Nonfiction Stories As A Tool for Teaching Impactful Climate Education". Emily Walker, my friend and colleague in the Climate Education team, is especially passionate about all things book related! She even reviews tons of books on our website for all student ages, from elementary through high school. You can find them half-way down this page HERE. So, this was a great coming together of book loving minds.
The session delved into how educators can incorporate climate education into their lessons using fun and engaging texts. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with many attendees expressing interest in incorporating our resources into their educational frameworks. Which is exactly what we are aiming to achieve with this sort of outreach. It was gratifying to see so many educators energized by the idea of making climate education a core part of their teaching.
As the conference came to a close, I reflected on the impact of our time in Philadelphia. We had engaged with thousands of educators, forged new partnerships, and strengthened our advocacy efforts. More importantly, we have reaffirmed our commitment to ensuring that every student, regardless of background, has access to quality climate education.
It would have been wrong to leave Philly without enjoying a Philly Cheese Steak so we found the best place we could and made amends! Thank you Philly!
Philly food earned some attention too!
