King Conservation Science Scholars (KCSS) is the Chicago Zoological Society Brookfield Zoo’s innovative approach to leadership development, conservation education, and cultural diversity and inclusion. With a focus on cultivating and celebrating the next generation of conservation-minded, multi-faceted community leaders, the program uses environmental literacy to boast a learning ecosystem that grows community by enhancing individual experiences. At the heart of this ecosystem is the reflection of those experiences, better known as the Teen Conservation Leadership Conference.
The Teen Conservation Leadership Conference is a biennial celebration and elevation of community, conservation and leadership. Created for and hosted by teens, the King Conservation Science Scholars along with the teen leaders at Lincoln Park Zoo have teamed up once again to bring this conference back live and in person.
This year’s theme, “Curiosity, Connection and Contribution,” is based on the natural leadership journey that doesn’t just inspire change, yet champions and accomplishes it. Both emerging and seasoned experts will lead interactive sessions that embrace curiosity, amplify connections and empower contributions that are authentic and personal.
The King Conservation Science Scholars are inviting proposals from speakers, facilitators, and/or presenters for the Teen Conservation Leadership Conference being held on July 21, 2023 at Brookfield Zoo in Brookfield, Illinois.
Speaker Opportunities
Educational and professional development opportunities for this event include concurrent sessions and panel discussion KCSS is seeking speakers, facilitators, and/or presenters for the one day, July, 21, 2023, of the conference.
Speaker Qualifications
King Conservation Science Scholars strongest desire is to connect conference attendees to a multitude of diverse voices, faces and experiences. Therefore, we welcome proposals from experts including educators, specialists, speakers and other teen leaders both within the fields of conservation and education and adjacent with a high level of interest, dedication or performance with using curiosity to strengthen connections and make valuable contributions within their respective areas or fields.
While we acknowledge that your knowledge of your selected topic area and speaking skills are strong, it is not essential that you have previous speaking experience speaking or working directly with teens or other youth groups within your community of practice. A desire to share your insights and experiences, plus your presence and interactions is what is highly valued. Nonetheless, we do have demonstrations and best practice resources on how to engage with the intended conference audience reserved for you to utilize at your convenience.
Topics
The theme of this year’s conference is: Curiosity, Connection and Contribution. Through curiosity, we foster connections that ultimately lead others to make contributions that are valuable to and personal for them. This conference will present a range of topics relevant to sparking and reassuring curiosity within the natural world, uncovering and enhancing connections and inspiring contributions that effect change if only on an individualized level. The purpose of the conference is to provide inspiration, exposure and education to both emerging and undiscovered young leaders. Hands-on or interactive presentations are always very popular. Please ensure that the material you present are relevant and applicable to the intended conference audience.
For conference concurrent sessions, consider topics that are connected to the following topics:
· Youth Engagement
· Conservation and Wildlife Careers – Directly working with wildlife (plants/animals)
· Conservation and Wildlife Careers – Directly working with people
· Growing Contributions of Tech to Traditionally Non-tech Careers/Roles
· Cultural Influence and Diversity in STEM
· Leadership Development
· The Arts – Creative Expressions and Storytelling
· Mental Health Awareness and Brain Education
· Economics and Financial Literacy
· Entrepreneurship and Business Management
· Goal Setting: Connecting Passions to Careers
· Climate Change – The Social, Personal and Environmental Effects
· Research
· Resource Management – Environmental and Social