Flourishing Together: Reflections from the 2026 UVTPC Conference 🌿
On November 6, educators, community partners, and organizations from across the Upper Valley gathered at Lake Morey Resort in Fairlee, Vermont, for the 2026 Upper Valley Teaching Place Collaborative (UVTPC) Conference, a day filled with connection, collaboration, and inspiration!
This year's theme, "Flourish Together: Well-being, Belonging, and Learning for a Changing World,"Â invited participants to explore how place-based education can nurture connections to ourselves, one another, and the natural world while strengthening our schools and communities.
The day began with a foggy view of Lake Morey that gradually gave way to beautiful lake views—a fitting backdrop for a day focused on connection and renewal!
Learning, Connecting, and Finding Inspiration
Throughout the day, participants engaged in interactive workshops, explored new teaching resources, exchanged ideas, and connected with fellow educators and community partners.
From nature journaling and outdoor reflection to hands-on science demonstrations, creative approaches to teaching, and conversations about belonging and resilience, the conference offered opportunities to learn, reflect, and discover new ways to bring place-based education to life.
There were plenty of memorable "WOW!" moments, including a demonstration that captured vehicle exhaust in a bag, as well as quieter moments spent reflecting in the woods or relaxing along the shoreline.
The conference also created space for educators to reconnect with colleagues, build new partnerships, and celebrate the incredible work happening throughout the Upper Valley.
đź’š In Their Own Words: Reflections from Participants
One of the most rewarding parts of the conference is hearing what participants take away from the day. Early feedback suggests that this year's emphasis on connection, belonging, and educator well-being really resonated!
Here are a few reflections shared by attendees:
"Warm and fun and connective!"
"This day inspires and rejuvenates me. I appreciated the options for downtime and the breathing exercise and solitude moments to start the day."
"The conference was really welcoming and it felt clear that folks have been attending year after year. I liked the mix of school educators and people working in more non-traditional educational settings."
"Really really appreciated having the option for a quiet space to decompress (even though I didn't end up using it). I also loved how accessibility was built into each aspect of the day."
"What a gift to the community. I also love connecting with old attendees and new! Great venue, great food, interesting workshops, it's the one conference I never miss!"
Perhaps one of the most meaningful reflections came from an educator who chose to spend part of the afternoon sitting by the lake, continuing the nature journaling they had explored during a morning workshop:
"I felt so much better and more focused and rested after being outside and continuing that journaling... I'm so glad I chose to do that."
That story captures something we hoped to create this year: a conference where professional learning and personal well-being go hand in hand, and where educators feel empowered to participate in ways that best support their needs.
As another participant shared:
"I think we need more focus on how we take care of ourselves as educators in these times."
After all, flourishing together starts with making space for each of us to flourish, too! 🌱
A Community Effort
Events like the UVTPC Conference are made possible by the generosity, creativity, and dedication of so many people and organizations.
A huge thank-you to our presenters for sharing their knowledge and passion, our exhibitors for providing valuable resources and sparking new connections, and our volunteers for gathering raffle prizes, helping with setup, welcoming participants, and making the day run smoothly.
And, of course, thank you to everyone who participated and contributed to such a welcoming and inspiring day!
We're also incredibly grateful to the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation's Wellborn Ecology Fund, whose generous support makes this conference and UVTPC's ongoing work possible.
🌿 One More Shout-Out to Our Amazing Exhibitors!
It was wonderful to see so many conference attendees chatting with our amazing exhibitors, discovering new resources, and making connections throughout the day!
We'd love to give these organizations one final shout-out and encourage everyone—whether you attended the conference or not—to explore the incredible work they're doing to support education, conservation, and community connections throughout our region and beyond.
Click on the organizations below to visit their websites, learn more about their programs and resources, and keep those connections growing!
Thank you for sharing your time, expertise, and enthusiasm with the UVTPC community! 💚
Continuing to Flourish Together 🌱
While the conference is just one day, the ideas, relationships, and inspiration it sparks extend far beyond Lake Morey.
UVTPC is committed to fostering collaboration among educators and community partners throughout the Upper Valley, helping create meaningful learning experiences that connect young people to their communities and the places they call home.
The 2026 conference was a wonderful reminder that when educators connect, share, and support one another, our entire community has the opportunity to flourish.
Here's to keeping those connections growing! đź’š
