Sustainability & STEM Virtual Earth Day Summit

From hands-on science activities and engineering challenges for children of all ages, story-times for preschoolers, discussion forums on intersectional environmentalism, workshops to guide you on going zero waste with kids and composting 101, our program of events is filled with informative, interactive workshops. Check out the schedule of events below.

• Story-Time for Preschoolers: Read aloud of some curated children's books on sustainability and Earth Day, as well as reading suggestions for your young environmentalists. (pre-K to 2nd)

• Composting for Kids: A hands-on investigation of nature's recycling system, complete with a sorting activity and "what doesn't belong" game! (pre-K thru 5)

• Get Growing: Build and grow a sprout house to discover the wonders of planting seeds and growing your own food. (pre-K thru 5)

• How to Become an Eco-Activist: Join the discussion with young environmentalists on why they've chosen to take a stand for Mother Earth and how you can, too! (middle school/high school)

• Family STEM Challenge: Gather up your family and get ready to upcycle household materials into a windmill in this engineering challenge! (all ages)

• Science Exploration of Non-renewable Resources: Mine for "coal" and clean up an oil spill to learn the negative effects that these sources of energy have on our health, and the health of all species that reside on this planet. (pre-K thru 5)

• Going Zero Waste with Kids: Learn how to lessen your impact on the planet with easy-to-implement tips, including introducing your family to a trash audit. (all ages)

• Composting 101: Learn all the ways in which you can compost at home or in your community, as well as tips and tricks from a self-proclaimed composting nerd! (all ages)

• The Science of Solar Power: Build a solar powered bug in this hands-on science workshop and learn how solar cells work. (all ages)

• Intersectional Environmentalism: Learn how environmental pollution disproportionately affects BIPOC community members and how the demand for environmental justice and social justice are tightly linked in this candid interactive discussion. (middle school and up)

• Science is Everywhere, Science is for Everyone: Listen to marine microbiologist Dr. Jeanette Davis read aloud her children's book and then learn about becoming a marine biologist. (book: pre-K thru 2nd grade; discussion - all ages)

Note: All sessions are expressed in Eastern Standard Time.

Meet Our Presenters

Medinah Eatman

Medinah, also known as “The Science Teacher Mom” created the Earth Day Virtual Summit. She is an educator, content creator, wife to her superman and mom of 2 fun-loving boys. She’s passionate about sharing her love for science through fun, hands-on and adaptable activities for children of all ages! Through her business, Science Teacher Mom, she delivers high-quality and engaging STEM Kits to help homeschooling parents and teachers to inspire and engage students in learning!

Jess Purcell

Jess, creator of Thoughtfully Sustainable, is a science educator who is passionate about making the science of sustainability accessible to all learners. Jess creates sustainability and STEM lessons and nature activities written for students of all ages to be done in the classroom or at home to foster critical thinking skills and a love of the natural world.

Jen Panaro

Jen, creator of Honestly Modern and founder of WasteWell, is a self-proclaimed composting nerd and advocate for eco-friendly living for modern families.

Honestly Modern is home to myriad ideas about how families can incorporate low waste and sustainable habits into everyday living. Through WasteWell, she aims to make composting cool and more accessible to everyone.

Sajeeda Chin

Sajeeda is an HBCU grad, educator, avid traveler and lover of all things sustainability. She studied Civil Engineering at Howard University then moved on to earn a Masters in Sustainability in the Urban Environment. She is passionate about spreading the love of STEM and STEM education to all students, so she switched gears and currently teaches Precalculus and Calculus to high school students in the Bronx to bring all her knowledge and experience to students in NYC.

Brittany Jefferson

Brittany is a black indigenous woman, parent, and teacher based in Los Angeles, California. She also advocates for sustainable living and environmental justice through her lifestyle and education brand, Teacher Mom Chronicles, a lifestyle brand with a focus on exploring the interconnectedness between identity, sustainability, intersectional social justice, and climate education.

Sarah Robertson-Barnes

Sarah, founder of Sustainable in the Suburbs, is a freelance writer, educator, and consultant. She lives with her husband, two sons, and their rescue dog in the Toronto suburbs. Sustainable in the Suburbs is a blog about living low waste with kids in a culture of convenience.

Maranda Miller

Maranda, a Kentucky native, resides in the Bronx, NY with her two children (ages 11 and 16). Maranda loves being outdoors, doing yoga and works in higher education specializing in academic support and STEM education. The family started a zero waste and plastic-free journey in December 2018 to ensure that Mother Earth is around for them and future generations.

Dr. Jeanette Davis

Jeanette is a marine microbiologist, ocean policy advisor and author of the bestselling children's book Science is Everywhere, Science is for Everyone created to explore and diversify science. Her specialty includes using environmental DNA (eDNA) and other molecular tools for marine drug discovery. Currently, she uses these tools and other scientific skills for decision making and management of ocean resources in government.

All Ticket Profits Donated to Backyard Basecamp

All profits made from ticket sales will be donated to Backyard Basecamp, a non-profit organization based in Baltimore, MD whose mission is to inspire Black, Indigenous, and all People of Color (BIPOC) across Baltimore City to find nature where they are and empower them to explore further.

The Sustainability and STEM Virtual Earth Day Summit has two types of tickets available:

Donation Ticket gives you entry to all live events and printable materials, as well as access to all recorded sessions once the summit is concluded.

VIP Ticket gives you entry to all live events and printable materials, as well as access to all recorded sessions once the summit is concluded, PLUS a swag box filled with supplies needed to conduct all of the hands-on STEM workshops, as well as some awesome surprises for the whole family!

The VIP Ticket was created with busy parents and caregivers in mind. Although all of the science and engineering experiments and activities can mostly be done with items found in the home, purchasing this ticket provides you with an organized box of all materials needed for each hands-on workshop, delivered directly to your mailbox prior to the event!