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September 2023 Dear Society for Experiential Education Members: SEE is very excited to welcome you to the 52nd annual conference in sunny Orlando, Florida! Our conference theme this year is Expanding Horizons: Inclusive Experiential Education for the Future of Work, covering topics from study away, K-12 experiential education, meeting the needs of neurodivergent learners, and so much more from our amazing SEE member presenters. Our presenters are prepared to discuss their creative ideas and best practices on how we as educators and facilitators of learning, can assist students in reaching their future goals through a lens of inclusive excellence. We are thrilled to have over 250 attendees registered for the conference! We continue to build upon the success of the off site excursions re-introduced in Salt Lake City and are offering two optional off site excursions- an Escape Room and Disney Intern Housing Tour and Information Session. At first glance these excursions may seem quite different in nature. But both weave in common themes of experiential learning and reflective practice that are meant to provide motivation and inspiration to improve our practices and bring those learnings back to our students and colleagues. These excursions are meant to model unique methods of experiential learning with a touch of Disney fun and magic. Monday evening, Dr. Rajni Shankar-Brown, MA, MBA, PhD, Professor and JBD Distinguished Chair of Social Justice Education, Stetson University, will welcome us to the city and illuminate the transformative power of inclusive experiential education. Following our welcome speaker, SEE President, Beth Odahlen, will greet the attendees on behalf of the board. From there, we will begin the Experiential Kickoff event in the gorgeous, pool-side outdoor space at the Renaissance Orlando Conference Hotel, where attendees will gather for an engaged start to the conference, including informational tables, networking, refreshments, and more. The Kickoff will be followed by our traditional “dine-around” dinner outings, allowing attendees to meet and connect with one another. Tuesday morning, we will welcome our keynote speaker, Simon T. Bailey. His session, The Power of Being Better: Igniting Brilliance Within, will engage attendees with the following call to action: “What is your intention?” as we consider themes of Being, Belonging and Becoming. Simon’s passion and energy are contagious - here is a quick welcome message from Simon. The presentations, speakers, sponsors, and activities all work together to help attendees network, ideate, and grow in their involvement with SEE. We are delighted to be using the Whova App this year for attendees to review and plan their schedule of events, and to connect with other SEE members throughout our three days in Orlando. New this year, we introduced a Reflection Session Track. Presenters accepted into this track at the conference will intentionally bring reflection regarding the conference into their presentations to thoughtfully encourage attendees to reflect on their conference experience. These sessions are found in the final schedule blocks on Tuesday and Wednesday and integrate the presenter’s choice of engaging group reflection activity. Throughout the conference, SEE Board members and Conference Planning Committee members will be available to answer questions, and ensure you feel welcomed and included, starting at the conference registration table. As SEE expands its reach globally, we strive for inclusive excellence in all we do and hope you feel that during your time with us in Orlando. We look forward to seeing you soon! Sincerely, 2023 SEE Conference Co-Chairs |
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