Richard Louv, author of seven books about family, nature and community, will be the keynote speaker at the Midwest Environmental Education Conference (MEEC), "No Child Left Inside," on Thursday, October 18.

The conference, hosted by the Wisconsin Association for Environmental Education (WAEE) located at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UWSP), will be held at the Country Springs Hotel in Stevens Point, Oct. 18-20. The focus of the conference will be to encourage parents, teachers and community members to help children get outside and reconnect to nature.

Louv�s presentation will be about his most recent book, "Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder." The keynote address at 1 p.m., is open and free to the public.

Louv has appeared on NPR's "Morning Edition," "The Morning Show on CBS," "Good Morning America," "Today," "Bill Moyer�s' Listening to America," and many other programs. In addition to being a columnist for The San Diego Union-Tribune, he has written for The New York Times and other newspapers. He has served as a columnist and member of the editorial advisory board for Parents� magazine.　A book signing event will follow the keynote address.

The conference will feature over 50 speakers, 48 exhibitors and several workshops to encourage learning in the outdoors, outside play and health promotion. This conference will be powered by 100 percent renewable energy through the Wisconsin Public Service�s NatureWise Program. Evening entertainment open to the public includes Comedians David Scott & Joe Tyler, on Thurs. Oct. 18 at 8 p.m., Sloppy Joe, Fri., Oct. 19 at 9 p.m., and Reverend Eddie Danger followed by the Gomers/Gomeroke on Sat., Oct. 20 at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $5 for each event. Over 500 people from more than 13 states have registered.

For more information visit www.uwsp.edu/cnr/waee or contact conference chairs, Sterling Strathe, (715) 346-2633 or sstrathe@uwsp.edu, or Jeremy Solin at (715) 346-4907 or jsolin@uwsp.edu.