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ECO (Every Child Outside) Madison, formerly called Madison Area Green & Healthy Schools Summit, is affiliated with Green & Healthy Schools Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Association for Environmental Education.
2026 Updates
The ECO Madison team is in the process of collaborating with more local organizations to restart planning for our next Summit/educational opportunities -- dates/locations/partners TBD.
In the meantime, we will be updating this page with related events that may interest previous Summit speakers, exhibitors, and attendees.
Interested in joining the planning team? Please contact communications@ecomadison.org.
Various days/times
Madison area
Check out upcoming Nature Everywhere offerings at the Madison Public Library, other nature-related events, and more resources for educators and families here.
Nature As A Classroom:
Exploring Madison's Natural Spaces
Nature As A Classroom:
Exploring Madison's Natural Spaces
September 19, 2026
9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday
Madison
This professional development event for Madison Metropolitan School District middle and high school educators is held in partnership with Nature Everywhere Madison Region and Madison School & Community Recreation at Olin Park, Lake Monona, and Wingra Creek. Register through the MMSD portal. Organizers hope to open this event up to a wider audience in the future. This opportunity will be free for participants and they will receive PAC credits for their attendance.
Resilience, Risk, and Play in Outdoor
and Nature-based Early Childhood Course
September TBD
Details forthcoming!
September 25, 2026
8:30-11:30 a.m. Friday
Lussier Family Heritage Center, Madison
How can health-nature connections support sustainable, resilient communities? The Wisconsin Association of Environmental Education invites regional outdoor recreation, environmental education, health care organizations, and the public for a community conversation to explore how nature-based opportunities can improve well-being among providers, staff, and patients.
During this free 2-hour gathering, you’ll spend time in a natural setting building relationships with others from your region. Together, you will then generate ideas about ways health care organizations can work with educators and others to activate nature connection for staff, providers, and community members. Then, your group will share ideas and insights with the Wisconsin statewide coordinators. On October 16, you’ll have the option to participate in a 75-minute virtual session to learn about and discuss what others around the state have suggested to deepen nature connection for wellbeing.
Growing Up Naturally Workshop,
October 3, 2026
9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday
Madison Marriott West, Middleton
Details forthcoming!
The 2025 Nourishing Minds, Sustaining Futures Summit (formerly the Madison Area Green and Healthy Schools Summit: Embracing Nature Connection and Outdoor Learning for ALL) featured student-led projects, nationally recognized voices on food justice, and hands-on indoor and outdoor learning opportunities, exploring how equitable food systems, sustainability and school-based initiatives can work together to create greener, healthier learning environments. Participants also had opportunities to connect with each other and community organizations. Our 2025 keynote speakers featured 40 Acres & A Mule Project founder and chef Adrian Lipscombe and Madison Public Library’s 2024 Naturalist-in-Residence and farmer Alex Booker.
The 2025 Nourishing Minds, Sustaining Futures Summit (formerly the Madison Area Green and Healthy Schools Summit: Embracing Nature Connection and Outdoor Learning for ALL) featured student-led projects, nationally recognized voices on food justice, and hands-on indoor and outdoor learning opportunities, exploring how equitable food systems, sustainability and school-based initiatives can work together to create greener, healthier learning environments. Participants also had opportunities to connect with each other and community organizations. Our 2025 keynote speakers featured 40 Acres & A Mule Project founder and chef Adrian Lipscombe and Madison Public Library’s 2024 Naturalist-in-Residence and farmer Alex Booker.
ECO Madison was thrilled to deepen the summit’s focus on food justice education through a collaboration with REAP Food Group. Over the last two years, REAP Food Group, alongside educators at East High, Capital High, and Shabazz High, have connected students to food justice initiatives led by leaders in the local food system.
ECO Madison was thrilled to deepen the summit’s focus on food justice education through a collaboration with REAP Food Group. Over the last two years, REAP Food Group, alongside educators at East High, Capital High, and Shabazz High, have connected students to food justice initiatives led by leaders in the local food system.
We gather on occupied Ho-Chunk Land
We acknowledge that in Madison, WI, we occupy the ancestral lands of the Ho-Chunk People who were forcibly removed by the U.S. Government from this area they call Teejop (day-JOPE). We honor their history in and caretaking of this place, as well as the continued importance of our Indigenous community members today.
"Outdoor learning is the best part of my week! It is how I feel and what I hear so often year after year from students and families. I have been teaching in Kinder-2nd grade for the past 22 years and always try to include one part of my week with students focusing on nature and the world around us. I can successfully find a way to fit outdoor learning into literacy, science, or social studies and will continue to advocate for students to have opportunities outside."
"Outdoor learning is the best part of my week! It is how I feel and what I hear so often year after year from students and families. I have been teaching in Kinder-2nd grade for the past 22 years and always try to include one part of my week with students focusing on nature and the world around us. I can successfully find a way to fit outdoor learning into literacy, science, or social studies and will continue to advocate for students to have opportunities outside."
- Angie Mortensen, Midvale Elementary, Grade K Bilingual
- Angie Mortensen, Midvale Elementary, Grade K Bilingual
Come together with educators in the Madison area to explore resources and ideas to support outdoor learning, food justice, and local agriculture!
Come together with educators in the Madison area to explore resources and ideas to support outdoor learning, food justice, and local agriculture!
Questions? Interested in sponsorship opportunities? Contact communications@ecomadison.org.
Questions? Interested in sponsorship opportunities? Contact communications@ecomadison.org.
With gratitude to our sponsors:
With gratitude to our sponsors:
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