April 2026 Newsletter

 

How beautiful is Canberra and the region right now?  

Yuma dear Environmental Educators in the Canberra Region 

Welcome to the April 2026 edition of the Australian Association for Environmental Education ACT branch newsletter. To bilby hop right into it click the image below or here.

ACT AAEE is moving to Canva and mailchimp emails for most of our member and network updates this year.

Linger-longer type posts, written by members and our amazing local EE providers, will still be posted on this blogspot.

To get ACT-specific updates by email, email us to say hi at aaeeact@gmail.com. It's free to join the local subscription email list. 

To also get all the national and international EE news and event alerts straight to your inbox, plus a stack of member-only discount perks, join as a member of AAEE here.

Enjoy! 

Just in! More events! 

• 11th April: Branching Out Walk: Nature journalling and guided walk
• 18th April: Branching Out Walk: The plants and animals of Stromlo Woodland

March 2026 Newsletter - Don't miss out on a big 20 % World Environmental Education Congress member discount!

 

Welcome to Autumn 2026 

Dear Environmental Educators

Welcome to the March 2026 edition of the Australian Association for Environmental Education ACT branch newsletter. 

Coming up in Autumn: 

• AJEE Special Issue online launch event - Beyond the Metacrisis: Educating for the World to Come, Monday 23 March 2026, Online 12 - 1.30pm (AEDT).  The event is hosted by AJEE and the Special Issue Guest Editors Ruth Irwin (Independent Academic) and Sandra Wooltorton (The University of Notre Dame AU). Identifying the interconnected problems means we can do something about it. (Register here)

• Black Mountain Tour for environmental educators, with Tyronne Bell and AAEE - 11 April 1-3pm (tickets and details here $50 pp, or members $25, ie 50% discount for members - renew or join here). There are so many wonderful educators providing glorious educational and relaxing walks and talks in Canberra - looking at you Wildbark! - there is truly something for all ages and interests, check some out this Autumn!

• AAEE Learning Circle: Story Ways. Environmental Storytelling for Educators, Thu, 16 Apr, 4:30pm - 5:30pm AEST (Register here - free for members). In this special Learning Circle join storyteller Anna Jarrett for an exploration of environmental storytelling as a powerful teaching tool and a way to connect people and nature. ‘Story Ways’ is a toolkit that introduces the foundations of working with oral storytelling.

• ACT Early Childhood Climate Strategy workshop (date TBA, presented by Gabby Millgate - Nature Pedagogy Leader Woden Valley Early Learning Centre, President, AAEE ACT

• Input an environmental education perspective into ACT's new Nature Conservation Strategy https://yoursayconversations.act.gov.au/nature-conservation-strategy-2025 (Consultation closes 27 March)

• Get your tickets to the World Environmental Education Congress in Perth in September 2026  - at a 20% discount for members, renew or join here)

Green Dates courtesy of Sustainable Schools Program

• World Frog Day – 20 March 2026
• National Ride2School Day – 20 March 2026
• World Water Day – 22 March 2026
• National Eucalypt Day – 23 March 2026
• World Meteorological Day – 23 March 2026
• Earth Hour – 28 March 2026
• International Day of Zero Waste – 30 March 2026
• ACT Heritage Festival -11 April to 10 May 2026
• Earth Day - 22 April 2026

Join AAEE VOW Coordinator Sarah-Jo Lobwein for an inspiring session diving into the heart of Ocean Literacy: what it is, why it matters and how we can bring it to life in our classrooms and communities.

Focusing on Ocean Literacy Principle 4: “The Ocean Makes Earth Habitable,” Sarah-Jo will unpack how the ocean sustains life on our planet to help you start planning for SeaWeek 2026.

Whether you’re an educator, communicator, or ocean enthusiast, this session will leave you with practical ideas and renewed appreciation for the ocean’s vital role in our world.

Congratulations Monty Nixon!

 

A leading national environmental education award has been won by Canberra PhD student Monty Nixon, recognised at the 2025 AAEE National Award for Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI).

The honour follows Monty's recent ACT-level award from the Australian Association for Environmental Education for Emerging Environmental Educator 2025, acknowledging his Canberra Based research exploring how indigenous ways of being, knowing and doing can strengthen Australia's education systems.

AAEE ACT ACT President (elect, 2026) Gabby Millgate said the recognition reflects the national importance of Monty's work.

"AAEE sees this work as vital as Monty's work means students build ecological literacy and ways of caring for Country. This is how we develop climate resilience in our children."

Monty is a PhD student at the university of Canberra, where his research supports students to build meaningful relationships with the places they live- a foundation for strong Country-centered learning and climate ready communities.

Thank you National Arboretum! Thank you Julie Armstrong and Karon Campbell!

 

Dear Environmental Educators

We had such a wonderful evening at the National Arboretum, playing the intriguing Biodiversity game. We're so grateful for Heather at the National Arboretum for hosting us for our AGM.  

We are very pleased to announce our new committee for 2026 with Gabby Millgate becoming our new President! Gabby is a passionate advocate for the Rights of children to nature, and is the Nature Pedagogy leader at Woden Valley Early Learning Centre, the first role of its kind in the ACT.

A very big thank you to the committee members who have stepped forward to work together to celebrate and amplify environmental education in all its many forms and practices, and to support environmental educators across sectors by building networks, resources, and skills. 

And huge thank you to retiring committee members - Julie Armstrong as an extraordinary president, and Karon Campbell as champion OCM.

President- Gabby Millgate
Vice President- Glenys Patulny
Secretary- Karl-Erik Paasonen
Treasurer- Jodie Green
Extra ordinary members- Viv Pearce, Donella Johnston

2026 EVENTS

2nd February-World Wetlands Day
11th February- International Day for Women and Girls in Science
28th February- 8th March  Sea Week
1st March - Clean Up Australia Day
14-Mar - International Day of Action for Rivers
20 to 26 March- Harmony Week
20 March- National Ride2School Day
22-March- World Water Day
23-Mar-World Meteorological Day
27th March- Earth Hour Schools Day
30-Mar- Zero Waste Day

Congratulations Anke Maria Hoffman! 2025 Recipient of ACT Environmental Educator of the Year Award

 

L-R Anke Maria Hoffman and Julie Armstrong

Anke Maria Hoefer has been training volunteers to monitor frog calls since 2011.

A passionate advocate for citizen science, environmental education, and frogs, she single handedly coordinates the ACT FrogWatch Program.

Anke co-invented the world’s first mobile-based frog survey device—the FrogPhone.

Her dedication to hands-on learning inspires countless volunteers and students.

Her annual Project Metamorph fosters environmental stewardship and affectionately earned her the title “Crazy Frog Lady.”

Anke’s work exemplifies innovative, grassroots conservation and has significantly advanced knowledge of local frog populations and the habitats they depend on.  

Thank you, and congratulations Anke Maria 🐸

Cool Changes - Connect through the Winter!

 

AAEE ACT event with FROGWATCH 🐸
Frogs for the Future: Engaging Students in Citizen Science

WHEN: Thursday, August 14th 4:00–5:30 PM
WHERE: 21 Bingle Street  Flynn
HOSTED BY: AAEE ACT for National Science Week

Join Anke Maria, the passionate educator behind Frogwatch, for an inspiring afternoon exploring how frogs can spark curiosity, care for the environment, and classroom engagement! Discover fun, curriculum-linked activities citizen science opportunities, and how to bring Frogwatch into your school through programs like Tadpole Kits and FrogTalk.

Perfect for primary and secondary teachers, environmental educators, and anyone keen to connect students with nature through science.

Thanks to grant funding from AAEE national for supporting the catering of afternoon tea - courtesy of Indigenous catering company Ribanas. 

🧪🐸 Places limited — don’t miss this engaging Science Week celebration!

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