EEAI 2026 Annual Conference!
Join us on March 27th-28th at Pere Marquette State Park in Grafton, IL.
General Conference Info
Join us in Pere Marquette March 27th & 28th, with preconference activities taking place March 26th. Registration is closed!
Regular registrations include selected meals, Friday night entertainment, entrance to exhibitor hall, as well as full access to all conference sessions.
Single day registrations include selected meals and access to all activities for that day. Workshops and field experiences may incur an additional cost.
Also, ISBE credit is available to formal educators licensed in Illinois. Please be sure to check the box during registration to indicate your interest.
Questions? Contact the conference chairs Amy Lefringhouse (heberlei@illinois.edu) & Lauren Scull (lscull@thenatureinstitute.org).
Lodging Options
EEAI has reserved a small block of rooms at Pere Marquette Lodge for $179. Reservations for the Event will be made by call-ins. Please call 618-786-2331 ext.0 and let the reservation agent know that you are calling to make a room reservation with EEAI. Those reservations must be made by 2/27. See additional camping and lodging options here.
Call for Research Posters!
The Environmental Education Association of Illinois (EEAI) is pleased to announce the Call for Abstracts for the Poster Session of the 2026 Annual Conference. EEAI invites you to submit abstracts now through February 28, 2026. We are no longer accepting poster abstracts.
Call for Exhibitors!
Join us at the annual conference as an Exhibitor! We’re looking for educational organizations or non-profits to share their work as Exhibitors on Friday. Sign up to join us here. Each registration includes a table and lunch for one. Additional lunches available for an extra charge.
You can help make this conference a success by …
Becoming a Sponsor – A great way to support EEAI is by becoming a sponsor or sharing our sponsorship opportunities with your colleagues! Please find our sponsorship document here.
If you’re ready to become a sponsor you can reach out to EEAI Executive Director, Brekke Bounds at ed@eeai.net or pay online.
Volunteering with Us – Interested in volunteering for the conference? Reach out to Tina at christina_heidrich@comcast.net. Volunteers get a special gift!
Making a one-time or recurring donation to EEAI here!
Registration Info:
A. Member Full Conference – $135
B. Non-Member Full Conference – $165
C. One Day Registration, Friday – $105
D. One Day Registration, Saturday – $60
E. Presenter/Board Registration – $110
F. Student Registration – $80
G. Student One Day Registration – $60
Thank you to our 2026 Conference Sponsors!
Trailblazers
Pathfinders
Community
Ink Forest Eco-Friendly Screen Printing, The Old Bakery Beer Company, The Nature Institute, Edith Farnsworth House, Skunk Cabbage Books, The Outdoor Learning School & Store
EEAI Annual Conference/MEEC Cancellation Policy:
The EEAI Annual Conference takes more than a year to plan, and many major expenses such as catering, facility rentals and speakers are paid for well in advance based on registration numbers. Because of this, EEAI maintains a strict cancellation policy for the annual conference.
Up to two days before the conference, your conference registration can be transferred to another Illinois educator who is able to attend in your place and who is not already registered.
- 75% of your registration fee can be refunded up to one month before the conference.
- 50% of your registration fee can be refunded up to 14 days before the conference.
- 25% of your registration fee can be refunded up to one week before the conference.
We understand that difficult situations arise, such as family emergencies. If you would like to discuss such a situation, please reach out to the EEAI Executive Director at ed@eeai.net