named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Annual Conference
Three-day professional development event for educators and outdoor professionals featuring workshops, keynotes, networking, and sponsored CTLE credits. Includes scholarship opportunities for students and teachers.
PATHWAYS
Publication distributed to members that shares resources, articles, and information on outdoor and environmental education topics.
Scholarship Program
Offers financial support to students, educators, and interns to attend the annual conference, funded by member contributions and fundraising.
Winter Weekend
Annual gathering focused on outdoor experiences, community building, and professional connection during the winter season.
activities · 8 groups
What they do
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Educator Conferences & Professional Development Events 3 activities
- Facilitates educator networking and resource exchangeSupports professional development and collaboration among environmental educators through the Environmental Educator Activity Exchange in Western New York, regional networking events, and affiliate member contributions to and reprints in the PATHWAYS newsletter.
- Hosts annual professional conference for outdoor educatorsOrganizes an annual conference that convenes hundreds of educators from New York and neighboring states for professional development in outdoor education, including workshops, networking, and outdoor activities; offered CTLE credits to attendees and provided partial scholarships funded through member contributions and fundraising.
- Supports lifelong learning in outdoor and environmental educationPromotes interdisciplinary lifelong learning related to the outdoors through professional development opportunities, publications, and organized outdoor experiences for educators and the public.
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Organized Member Social Events 1 activity
- Facilitates virtual engagement through book clubOffers ongoing virtual engagement opportunities for members via the NYSOEA Book Club, accessible through Facebook, conference calls, and in-person meetings.
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Community Event Fundraising 1 activity
- Manages organizational endowment and fundraising for scholarshipsRaises funds through annual appeals, raffles, waffle sales, and auctions to support scholarships and an endowment fund, which has grown to over $100,000 through sustained leadership.
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Community Festival & Event Production 1 activity
- Organizes seasonal and regional outdoor education eventsHosts recurring events including Winter Weekend in February featuring outdoor environmental education and recreational activities, the annual Maple Celebration at Sharpe Reservation, Regional EE Week Events in April across all five regions, and small regional gatherings such as hikes, potlucks, and interpretive walks including "First Day" hikes and visits to historic naturalist sites.
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Organizational Newsletter Production and Distribution 1 activity
- Produces and distributes quarterly newsletter for outdoor education communityProduces and distributes the quarterly PATHWAYS newsletter, which highlights NYSOEA events, environmental education ideas, and natural history in New York; recent issues include Winter and Spring 2025 editions.
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Visitor & Business Guide Distribution 1 activity
- Provides regional structure and resources for membersOffers a regional map to organize and represent its structure across New York State and has distributed a printed directory of nature centers, outdoor study areas, and environmental education centers to members at no cost.
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Recognition and Awards Programs 1 activity
- Recognizes achievements in outdoor and environmental educationPresents awards to recognize outstanding contributions and achievements in the field of outdoor and environmental education in New York State.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Supports citizen science engagementLaunched an iNaturalist project to engage members in citizen science and promote biodiversity observation and documentation.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$89K
Contributions & grants$9K10%
Program service revenue$61K69%
Investment income$12K14%
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$87K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits—
Grants paid out$2K
balance sheet
Total assets$284K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$284K
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +37.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 7
- ANNA HARROD — EASTERN REGION DIRECTOR
- CARLIN SHEW — CENTRAL REGION DIRECTOR - JOINED
- CHRISTINA TOBITSCH — METRO REGION CO-DIRECTOR
- CIARA SCULLY — METRO REGION CO-DIRECTOR -JOINED
- ELIJAH KRUEGER — WESTERN REGION DIRECTOR -
- LINDA BESIO — NORTHERN REGION DIRECTOR
- SHINARA SUNDERLAL — METRO REGION CO-DIRECTOR - RESIGNED
relationships · 77
Who they work with
- Acorn Naturalist Partner — NYSOEA affiliate member organization located in Tustin, California
- Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation Partner — NYSOEA affiliate member organization located in Saranac Lake, New York
- Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission Partner — NYSOEA affiliate member organization located in Albany, New York
- Alley Pond Environmental Center Partner — NYSOEA affiliate member organization located in Douglaston, New York
- Ashokan Field Campus Partner — Co-sponsored the 40th Anniversary Conference.
- Battery Park City Authority Partner — NYSOEA affiliate member organization located in New York, New York
- Beaver Lake Nature Center Partner — NYSOEA affiliate member organization located in Baldwinsville, New York
- Billion Oyster Project Partner — NYSOEA affiliate member organization located in New York, New York
- Brooklyn Botanic Garden Partner — NYSOEA affiliate member organization located in Brooklyn, New York
- Brother Yusuf Scholarship Partner — Provides scholarship opportunities in partnership with the Brother Yusuf Scholarship program.
- Camp Gregory Partner — NYSOEA affiliate member organization located in Aurora, New York
- Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies Partner — NYSOEA affiliate member organization located in Millbrook, New York
- Center for Earth and Environmental Sciences at SUNY Plattsburgh Partner — NYSOEA affiliate member organization located in Plattsburgh, New York
- Center for the Urban River at Beczak, Sarah Lawrence College Partner — NYSOEA affiliate member organization located in Yonkers, New York
- Children and Nature Network Partner — Partner organization connecting children with nature.
- Children's Environmental Literacy Foundation Partner — NYSOEA affiliate member organization located in Valhalla, New York
- Christodora Partner — NYSOEA affiliate member organization located in New York, New York
- City Parks Foundation Partner — NYSOEA affiliate member organization located in New York, New York
- Cumming Nature Center Partner — NYSOEA affiliate member organization located in Naples, New York
- ECSS: Sweetbriar Nature Center Partner — NYSOEA affiliate member organization located in Patchogue, New York
- EEAC-NYC Partner — Partnered for the Annual Conference.
- Earthworks, The Center for Youth Partner — NYSOEA affiliate member organization located in Rochester, New York
- Edmund Niles Huyck Preserve Partner — NYSOEA affiliate member organization located in Rensselaerville, New York
- Environmental Education Advisory Council Partner — Partner organization in environmental education.
- Friends of Rogers Partner — NYSOEA affiliate member organization located in Sherburne, New York
- Frost Valley YMCA Partner — NYSOEA affiliate member organization located in Clayville, New York
- Genesee County Park & Forest Partner — NYSOEA affiliate member organization located in East Bethany, New York
- Greater Capital Region Teacher Center Partner — Co-sponsored the 40th Anniversary Conference.
- Groundwork Hudson Valley Partner — NYSOEA affiliate member organization located in Yonkers, New York
- Hartwick College Pine Lake Campus Partner — NYSOEA affiliate member organization located in Oneonta, New York
+ 47 more
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Interdisciplinary Lifelong Learning Modelmethodology: interdisciplinary_lifelong_learningBy integrating multiple fields of study and promoting continuous engagement across ages through outdoor education, we foster deeper public appreciation of the environment because sustained, cross-disciplinary learning builds enduring environmental stewardship.
- Networked Membership and Knowledge Co-Creationmethodology: networked_membership_modelBy building a distributed professional network that enables member-driven content creation and information sharing, we strengthen the field of outdoor education because shared ownership and peer-generated knowledge increase relevance, reach, and sustainability.
- Regional Representation and Rotational Equitymethodology: regional_rotationBy organizing the state into regions aligned with DEC boundaries and rotating conference locations across regions, we promote equitable statewide engagement and local ownership because decentralized access lowers participation barriers and strengthens regional buy-in.