NSTA Conferences
Please check out NESTA's schedule of events at the NSTA in Philadelphia
NESTA offers events throughout the year for teachers, including at NSTA National and Area Conferences. Each year, we offer a full program of events including a Field Trip, multiple Share-a-Thons, Rock and Mineral Raffles, lectures, a Friends of Earth Science Reception, and a Membership meeting at the National Science Teachers Association National Conference in the Spring. In addition, NESTA offers a Share-a-Thon and a Rock and Mineral Raffle at NSTA Area conferences in the fall.
NESTA Field Trips: Each year at the spring NSTA National Conference on Science Education, NESTA hosts an earth science related field trip that explores local
geology and/or local places of interest related to the earth sciences. This all day field trip usually takes place the day before the NSTA conference begins. For details on the next field trip including itinerary and costs, check information about our current field trip closer to the date of the conference or contact a NESTA Executive Board Member. Find out about the current field trip, and register to go on the field trip online.
Share-a-Thons: NESTA offers multiple high-energy "Share-a-thons" annually, including multiple Share-a-thons at the national NSTA conference and one at each of the NSTA Regional conferences on science education. At a Share-a-thon, science educator colleagues share their favorite classroom activities with other teachers. Attendees can walk away with handouts describing proven, successful activities that they can use right away in the classroom, as well as meet old friends and make new ones. Presenters get a chance to share with their colleagues. To find out how you can participate at a presenter at one or more upcoming Share-a-Thons, please click here. Click here for a list of upcoming Share-a-Thons.
Rock and Mineral Raffles: For Earth and space science teachers, part of the excitement of attending a NSTA conference is the NESTA Rock and Mineral Raffle, offered at NSTA National and Regional Conferences. People get a chance to win awesome specimens from all over the country. Click here to find out more about NESTA Rock and Mineral Raffles, including how to contribute specimens to upcoming Rock and Mineral Raffles.
Form for specimen identification
Upload a photograph of a specimen
Friends of Earth Science Reception: NESTA hosts a reception for Friends of Earth Science at the NSTA National Conference on Science Education each year. The reception is a great place to see old friends and meet new ones, as well as NESTA members and leadership. Be sure to join us at the reception this year! Check the Calendar of Events to find the date, time, and venue.
Earth and Space Science Resource Day: The NESTA Earth Science Resource Day offered at the NSTA National Conference is a perfect professional development day for an Earth and space science educator. To find out more about this exciting event, click here.
NESTA Speakers at NSTA National: NESTA hosts three scientific speakers at the NSTA National Conference on Science Education each year. These speakers provide insight from the forefront of geoscience research in high-impact presentations that provide useful information for you to use in your classroom. Presentations are also subsequently made available on the website. Click here to find out about speakers at our upcoming events at the NSTA National Conference on the Earth and Space Science Resource Day.
Membership Meeting: Our annual Membership Meeting takes place on the Earth Science Resource Day at the spring NSTA National Conference on Science Education. Updates from NESTA Executive Board Members are given and new Executive Board Members are introduced. This meeting provides the latest news about earth science education, and is an opportunity for members to make recommendations to the NESTA leadership. If you plan on attending the NSTA annual conference, plan on attending the NESTA membership meeting to meet your NESTA leadership team.
