Winter and Spring 2026 News and Events - Australian Association for Environmental Education ACT

Yuma dear Environmental Educators in the Canberra Region 

Looking for an event but can't see it on the blog or on Humanitix? Scroll to the bottom for the rolling events calendar, with links and dates. 

But first, two announcements: 

1) Would you or someone you work with like a discount providing a $100 credit on AAEEs new Professional Learning Series'? Send us an email at aaeeact@gmail to find out more! Coming up first is a 3-part Professional Learning with AAEE and the Centre for Ecological Learning - Nature Connection for Primary School Teachers and Educators with Dr Lisa Siegel - Online 13th August, 7pm- 8.30pm; (then 27 August, 10 September 7pm- 8.30pm AEST). Scroll down to August to see the member and non-member discount codes. Only 5 available!

2) Would you like to collaborate on a Spring 2026 event for Early Childhood Educators in ACT and the wider region? Expressions of interest are warmly invited: send to aaeeact@gmail.com

Gabby Millgate presenting the Nature Pedagogy in Early Childhood — Winter: From Fire to Flourishing' experience, 27 June 2026

AEE ACT is having an active year of place-based professional learning, connecting educators with Country, outdoor learning, restoration, nature pedagogy and climate response.

In April, educators joined Tyronne Bell for a Black Mountain tour, deepening connections with local plants, place, story and Country. Thank you to Thunderstone Aboriginal Cultural Services! 

In June, AAEE ACT hosted a tour for educators of the Southern Tablelands Ecosystem Park (STEP) at the National Arboretum Canberra, exploring bush tucker gardens, restoration and community learning. Thank you to the team at the National Arboretum and thank you for the idea for a revisit of the gorgeous garden in Spring for more plant-nerding!  Also in June,  AAEE ACT co-hosted 'Nature Pedagogy in Early Childhood — Winter: From Fire to Flourishing'. 

See it here!

In 2026 the AAEE ACT has an early years focus, helping to bring the nature learning parts of the Early Years Learning Framework Australia to life. This event was the second in the series, co-hosted by the incredible Woden Valley Early Learning Centre, led by the centre's brilliant Nature Pedagogy Leader, Gabby Millgate, bringing educators together around the fire to explore seasonal practice, risk, story, children’s agency and ecological learning.

Coming up

* AAEE ACT President Gabby Millgate will be presenting at Outdoor Education NSW & ACT Conference with the session “From Awareness to Action: Outdoor Education as Climate Response.” Early Years educators will also love AAEE's 3-part professional learning course Climate Strategies in the Early Years - Insight to Implementation - Online 30 September, 14 and 28th October


* AAEE ACT is seeking expressions of interest for a spring Nature Pedagogy in Early Childhood Education event, with a focus on: Children’s participation in Floriade and seasonal ecological learning. Expressions of interest are welcome from educators, services, AAEE members and partners who would like to attend, contribute, or help shape the spring gathering.

* Please register early to not miss out on the next Country as Teacher workshop - after school on 20th August - with Monty Nixon, supporting educators to build respectful, place-based practice.


To get ACT-specific updates by email, the best way is to 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!

ROLLING EVENTS Calendar 2026 July: NAIDOC Week — 5 to 12 July 2026; Plastic Free July — July 2026Winter in the Woods with NatureArtLab - lots on all winter!AAEE Learning Circle: The Lexicon of Regenerative Education with Cate McQuillen (dirtgirlworld and Get Grubby TV) - Online Wednesday 8 July 2026, 6.30pm - 7.30pm Register in term 3 for term 4, 9 weeks of Project Metamorph FrogWatch tadpoles in schools kits - Registrations open 20th July 2026. Note: program starts October, Term 4Schools Tree Day — 24 July 2026ACT and Region Landcare calendar - lots on!State and Territory Landcare Awards - Recognise local people in your community quietly caring for Australia’s natural environment - nominations close 31st July 2026 Do you  have an environmental education or nature education event in July you would like to promote? Let us know at aaeeact@gmail.com August: AAEE Learning Circle: Children Need Nature - Making Children's Access to Nature Visible in Early Learning with Gabby Millgate - Online Wednesday 12 August  2026, 4.00pm - 5.00pm  3-part Professional Learning - AAEE and Centre for Ecological Learning - Nature Connection for Primary School Teachers and Educators with Dr Lisa Siegel - Online 13th August, 7pm- 8.30pm; (then 27 August, 10 September 7pm- 8.30pm AEST) CHECK OUT THE DISCOUNT CODES JUST FOR ACT TEACHERS!  ACT Member: https://events.humanitix.com/nature-connection-for-primary-school-teachers?accesscode=ACTMEMBER  ACT Non Member: https://events.humanitix.com/nature-connection-for-primary-school-teachers?accesscode=ACTPL Country as Teacher - after school AAEE workshop with Monty Nixon -  Australian National Botanic Gardens, in person Thursday 20 August 2026 4pm-6.30pm. TQI approved! Winter in the Woods with NatureArtLab - lots on all winter! Do you have an environmental education or nature education event in August you would like to promote? Let us know at aaeeact@gmail.com September October November 3-part Professional Learning - AAEE and Gabby Millgate - Climate Strategies in the Early Years - Insight to Implementation - Online 30 September, 14 and 28th October Do you have an environmental education or nature education event in Spring you would like to promote? Let us know at aaeeact@gmail.com Click here to see the latest articles at the Australian Journal Environmental Education - AJEE The AJEE's special focus collections are amazing: The Power of Stories for Social and Ecological Justice: An Assemblage of Narratives from Voices Unbound. All the latest articles here, including 'FirstView' JOIN or RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP HERE, the national team can be reached at admin@aaee.org.au We're looking forward to meeting new and familiar faces at these events and others we offer throughout the year. Reach the ACT team at aaeeact @gmail.com and check for monthly and other updates at the ACT AAEE blogspot    Kind regards Gabby, Karl-Erik, Glenys, Viv, Jodie and Donella   On behalf of the AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION - ACT Chapter  Working Towards Sustainability | Sharing learning | Working for change | Developing professionally Acknowledgement of Country We would like to acknowledge this ancient Country, with powerful mountains and waterways integral to the life and spirit of Canberra. We acknowledge the Ngunnawal people as traditional custodians of this landscape and recognise any other peoples and families with connection to these lands and region. We acknowledge the Indigenous knowledge holders both past and present whose ongoing guidance helps ensure healthy relationships between Country and humans; may we, as Environmental Educators’, learn from them to help us deepen our connection with Country. Copyright © 2026 Australian Association of Environmental Education ACT Branch, All rights reserved. Want to change how you receive ACT AAEE emails? Let us know at aaeeact@gmail.com

Just in! More environment and nature education events will be added here as they come in! Got an event to share? Let us know at aaeeact@gmail.com