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Portland, OR, September 29, 2026 - The City of Portland has proclaimed October 5–10, 2026, as Environmental Education Week, recognizing the 55th Annual NAAEE Conference and the nearly 1,000 environmental educators, researchers, youth leaders, community organizers, policymakers, and partners expected to gather in Portland, Oregon. In the proclamation, Mayor Keith Wilson and the City of Portland note that the city is honored to host NAAEE's annual conference, bringing together people from across the United States and around the world to share ideas, strengthen partnerships, and advance environmental learning and care.
The proclamation comes as the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) prepares to bring the environmental education community together under the theme "Imagine If..." to explore what becomes possible when education drives positive change. From strengthening healthier and more resilient communities to deepening partnerships across sectors, the conference will spotlight the research and practices already moving the field forward—and imagine what more we can accomplish together.
Join us in Portland this October! Register for the 55th Annual NAAEE Conference (October 6–9) and be part of the conversation about what’s possible when we imagine if…
Read the 2026 Environmental Education Week Proclamation
Whereas, the City of Portland is honored to host the 2026 North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) Annual Conference, bringing educators, researchers, youth leaders, and community partners from across the United States and around the world to share ideas, strengthen partnerships, advance environmental learning, and environmental care;
Whereas, Portland's natural beauty and culture of sustainability offer a powerful setting to inspire curiosity, responsibility, and a lifelong connection to the environment;
Whereas, the extraordinary natural landscapes of Oregon are treasured places that must be protected for future generations;
Whereas, we acknowledge that Portland sits on the traditional lands of Indigenous peoples who have stewarded these lands since time immemorial, including the Multnomah, Kathlamet, Clackamas, and Tualatin Kalapuya peoples, whose cultural traditions and knowledge shape our understanding of the natural world;
Whereas, honoring our land requires knowledge, respect, and conscious stewardship of its natural systems, as well as native plants and wildlife such as Chinook salmon, Roosevelt elk, Western redcedar, Douglas fir, and Oregon grape;
Whereas, Portland has long demonstrated leadership in environmental protection. We have restored urban watersheds, protected salmon habitats, expanded our urban tree canopy, and connected communities with nature;
Whereas, environmental education is essential for cultivating knowledge, skills, and opportunities for learners of all ages to build climate and environmental literacy and expand E-STEM learning and career pathways that strengthen our communities and economy;
Whereas, teaching and engaging individuals, schools, institutions, businesses, and organizations in environmental learning helps empower people around the world to care for the natural systems that sustain us.
Now, therefore, I, Keith Wilson, Mayor of the City of Portland, Oregon, the "City of Roses," do hereby proclaim Environmental Education Week to be in the City of Portland and its respective schools from October 5, 2026, to October 10, 2026, and hereby encourage all residents, businesses, and community members to participate and honor the natural systems, native plants, and native wildlife of the land we inhabit.
