Border-Wide EE Conference

Where? Hotel Lucerna, Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico

When? June 25-27, 2008

Conference Themes

The Conference program will include concurrent sessions, expert panels and workshops focusing on four main topics:

Conservation Education and Community Involvement
The set of educational tools used to implement and successfully achieve conservation goals—be it for a natural protected area, a specific species or biodiversity in general—traditionally goes beyond formal classroom activities to include such initiatives as informal education as well as participatory community outreach, social marketing, and communication.

Education for Sustainable Development and Corporate Social Responsibility
In today's binational setting, what represents a socially and environmentally responsible industry?  What role do citizens play in ensuring accountability from the private sector?  How can education empower communities to work hand in hand with the industry for a brighter, cleaner future?

Community Participation and Strategic Partnerships
A lack of funds and attainable resources are just two of the main obstacles in the implementation and long-term sustainability of environmental education initiatives.  Many of these initiatives have overcome this through the development of long-term partnerships with community members.

Research and Evaluation in Environmental Education
Evaluation and Research is the adhesive that holds all the EE program pieces together. Evaluation is the one tool that can help an organization continually improve their program offerings.  However, it is also the one element of program planning and development that is most often overlooked. 

Conference Program

Click here to check the program schedule at a glance...

Workshops
The wide variety of workshops to be held during the conference will offer opportunities for training, collaboration and discovery. See the descriptions of the workshops here...

Concurrent Sessions
Two blocks of concurrent sessions are scheduled for the second day of the conference, with presentations of projects, programs, studies, as well as hands on sessions and expert panels.

Poster Session / Share Fair
This is a session that combines the presentation of posters related to environmental education projects and programs with tables of information on EE organizations. To submit a poster, send an email to encuentro-ee@eeexchange.org with your contact information, title and 40 word description of your poster. If you want to reserve a table to share your materials, select the option on the registration form (there is an administrative fee of $15 USD to cover the rent of tables. If your organization can't cover this fee, send an email to encuentro-ee@eeexchange.org with refund request).

Special Events

Welcoming Cocktail

This will be an excellent opportunity to meet with old friends and make new ones as we prepare for two full days of great sessions.  You'll enjoy a cash bar, refreshments, and hors d'ouevres on the pool patio.

Opening Plenary and Keynote Speaker

This plenary will kick-off an exciting day of concurrent sessions with a special presentation entitled the Mexican Environmental Education Strategy for the Border Region led by Salvador Morelos Ochoa, head of the Center for Education and Training for Sustainable Development (CECADESU).

Interactive Panel and Luncheon

As you dine on a Mexican buffet, you'll have the chance to listen to and interact with a panel of experts who will lead this panel.  During this session, you will be able to offer feedback, ideas, and recommendations about CECADESU's strategy presented in the morning.

Reception at the Ex-Aduana Museum

This reception, hosted by the Municipality of Ciudad Juarez, will be an opportunity to the city of Juarez to welcome participants from all across the border region.  There will be refreshments and hors d'ouevres for you to enjoy at your leisure, and transportation will be provided from the hotel to the museum free of charge.

Hotel Information and Travel Information

Hotel Lucerna 

Special rate of $65 plus free continental breakfast when you mention "Conferencia Fronteriza Ambiental!" 

Paseo Truinfo de la República, 3976
Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua  32310, Mexico
Please call to make reservations:  1-800-LUCERNA (  1800-582-3762  ) 
http://www.hoteleslucerna.com/

Room Sharing:

Please send us an email if you would like to share a room with another participant. encuentro-ee@eeexchange.org

International Travel Information:
This information is up-to-date as of May 19, 2008.  For entrance into Mexico, U.S. citizens need to present either (A) a passport, passport card (available in spring 2008), or WHTI-compliant document; or (B) a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, along with proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate. You do not need a visa for land travel across the border.

Further information and updates can be found on the US Department of State website at http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html. 

Airport Transportation:

American Shuttle:

This company offers service between El Paso International Airport and Hotel Lucerna in Ciudad Juárez. 

--offers pick-up from Hotel Lucerna back to El Paso International Airport as well

--minimum cost per van is $50; after 5 people, cost is $10 extra per person (up to $100)

--Credit Cards and cash are both accepted either on-site or in advance

--make reservations as soon as possible!  Call and ask for Moraima:  915.630.5935

Other ground transportation:

Taxi Cab Companies With Airport Permits:

Set Fares Are As Follows:

• $42 per carload
  From El Paso International Airport to Ciudad Juarez, Mexico (excluding colonias, Juarez Bus Terminal and Juarez Airport)
• $48 per carload
  From El Paso International Airport to Juarez Bus Terminal
• $60 per carload
  From El Paso International Airport to Juarez Airport
• $10 per carload or the fare shown on the taximeter
  To zones within the city limits, the fare shall be $10 per carload or the fare shown on the taximeter, whichever is higher.
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Registration and Scholarships

Registration Fees:

The early-bird deadline has been extended until June 10^th!

Early Registration (Deadline June 10th)     $95 Dollars
Registration after June 10th                     $125 Dollars

Registration includes all sessions, workshops and social events of 25, 26 and June 27, including coffee service, welcome cocktail and lunch the second day.

Register and pay online here...

Scholarships  
A limited number of scholarships will be offered on the basis of financial need. To apply for a scholarship send a letter to encuentro-ee@eeexchange.org with your contact information explaining why you need the support and what benefits you expect to get from your participation in the conference.  Please send your letter by May 20, 2008 to be considered.

Sponsors

We would also like to thank Gruma Corporation for their generous sponsorship:

The Conference Committee would like to thank the following sponsors and partners:

• EPA Region 9, San Diego Border Office
• The Border Environmental Cooperation Commission
• The Municipal Government of Ciudad Juarez
• The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
• The Environmental Education Exchange
  

If you have questions or comments, please send them to encuentro-ee@eeexchange.org.