Lafayette County teachers can attend summer environmental education workshop

Lafayette County teachers will have a low-cost chance to bring water quality, wildlife and recycling lessons into next school year. The ABC’s of Environmental Education workshop runs June 8-11 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Johnny Morgan’s Shop, 27 County Road 299 in Oxford, and registration stays open through May 30 with a $15 reservation fee to hold a spot.

The workshop is aimed at K-12 educators who need continuing education units and classroom-ready ideas, not just a lecture. Its lessons are built around anti-litter efforts, Adopt-A-Stream, beekeeping, bird conservation, conservation lessons, recycling, wildlife management, water quality and pollution, giving teachers material they can take back to schools across Lafayette County.

That matters because the training reaches beyond one summer session. If teachers come away with activities on streams, habitats and pollution, those lessons can show up later in science classes, outdoor learning projects and school discussions about how land and water shape everyday life in Oxford and the surrounding communities. It also gives students an early look at the kinds of conservation and environmental jobs that depend on practical knowledge, from water monitoring to wildlife management.

The sponsors behind the workshop include Itawamba Community College, the Lafayette County Soil and Water Conservation District, the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Lafayette County MSU Extension Service and the North Central Mississippi RC&D Council. That mix of local, state and federal partners puts the event at the intersection of education, conservation and public outreach.

MDEQ says its environmental education efforts are tied to its broader goal of encouraging behaviors that protect Mississippi’s environment, and its Office of Community Engagement provides outreach tools for schools and communities. The Mississippi Environmental Education Alliance describes itself as a central place for educators to find teacher workshops, CEUs and environmental education resources.

Lafayette County has hosted the workshop before, including a 2024 session at the Lafayette County Extension Service on 70 F.D. “Buddy” East Parkway in Oxford and an earlier version at the University of Mississippi Biological Field Station in Abbeville. This summer’s return keeps that local pipeline open for teachers looking to turn county environmental issues into lessons students can use.