Bay Area Lyme Spotlight series
AEOE Spring Conference 2026 | Springville, California
At this year’s AEOE Spring Conference 2026, Bay Area Lyme was once again on the ground, meeting the people who shape how the next generation experiences the outdoors.
And the message was clear: the need for tick-bite prevention education has never been greater.
Jo Ellis, Director of Education, connected with more than 300 naturalists, many of them early in their careers, deeply passionate, and actively leading outdoor programs for children across California. Nearly 40% were first-time attendees, bringing energy and reach, but often little awareness of tick exposure risk in the state.
The response to our presence was immediate and overwhelming.
“The exponential impact and reach of this program cannot be underestimated, and it’s one of our most important outreach events educating high-risk individuals about Lyme in California.”
– Jo Ellis, Director of Education, Bay Area Lyme
High demand, real traction:
We distributed 250 tick ID keys and 250 tick-check stickers, and logged more than 100 on-site orders for bilingual tick-check signage for bunk and shower rooms, with additional requests still coming in.
Tools that translate to action:
Practical resources, like tick-bite documentation forms and tick removal tools, were among the most requested items, giving educators something they can implement immediately in the field.
Standing-room engagement:
Our session drew a small but strong attendance, with participants planning to urge organizers to elevate tick-borne disease education to keynote status next year. At the afternoon resource fair, our table was consistently crowded, with a steady stream of questions, conversations, and follow-ups.
And as always, the risk wasn’t theoretical.
A moment from the field:
During the conference, an attendee approached us with an EM rash after removing a Western black-legged tick, an incident that we encounter almost every year: this is an important reminder that exposure is happening in real time, often without awareness.
While most attendees were eager to learn, a small subset, typically more seasoned California educators, remained somewhat skeptical about current infection risks – largely because they were bitten multiple times as children with zero effect, but we remind them that there were fewer infected ticks in CA back in the 70’s and 80’s. That gap in understanding and appreciation of current risk underscores the importance of continuing to show up, share data, and equip leaders with accurate, actionable information.
Our long-standing sponsorship of AEOE plays a critical role in expanding this reach. By helping fund scholarships, we support young naturalists who might not otherwise attend. These are early-stage career individuals who will go on to educate thousands of children, teachers, and their families over the course of their careers.
This is how prevention scales: From field tools to frontline educators, Bay Area Lyme’s impact is immediate and exponential.
Our work is resonating. The demand is growing. And the opportunity to protect more people, earlier, is right in front of us.
As Bay Area Lyme Foundation’s Director of Education, Jo spends a lot of time thinking about how to teach as many people as possible about the potential risks of tick bites. Her career has focused on education, either in the classroom as a teacher or administrator, or working in organizations where education is their business. Retired from the classroom, Jo works for Bay Area Lyme Foundation and helps get the word out about preventing tick-borne diseases through presentations, writing blogs and articles, and supporting the organization’s Lyme Disease Biobank program.
This blog is part of our Bay Area Lyme Spotlight series. If you require a copy of this article in a bigger typeface and/or double-spaced layout, contact us here. Bay Area Lyme Foundation provides reliable, fact-based information about Lyme and tick-borne diseases so that prevention and the importance of early treatment are common knowledge. For more information about Bay Area Lyme, including our research and prevention programs, go to www.bayarealyme.org.