Join MAEOE in Flint, Michigan, for our 2026 Annual Conference. Flint’s history is a powerful study of the American Industrial Revolution; as the "Vehicle City," it was the birthplace of General Motors and once served as a global hub of manufacturing. However, this industrial peak also left behind a complex environmental legacy. By gathering here, we recognize that Flint is not just a location on a map but a national beacon for community resiliency. We are excited to be in Flint to showcase the incredible strength of a community that has turned a water crisis into a global movement for environmental justice and transparency. Our presence here is a celebration of the stewards, educators, and residents who are actively rewriting the city’s future through science and grassroots action.

Beyond its storied history, Genesee County offers a rich ecological landscape that serves as a premier destination for outdoor education. The Flint River itself is currently undergoing a massive naturalization process, including the removal of the Hamilton Dam to open up 25 miles of waterways for fish passage, such as walleye and lake sturgeon, for the first time in a century. This restoration is the centerpiece of Michigan’s newest State Park, the 104th in the system and the first of its kind in the county. For-Mar Nature Preserve & Arboretum further distinguishes the region with its famous barrier-free treehouse and a "living history" bird museum dating back to the Civil War. Furthermore, Flint is the birthplace of the Flint River GREEN program, a pioneer in student-led water quality monitoring since 1989. For any environmental educator, being in Flint means standing at the intersection of history and innovation, where the lessons of the past are actively fueling the restoration of our natural world.