Environmental Education

How can today's educators play an active role as environmental advocates?

It is important for educators to expose students to environmental issues. The goal of environmental education is to provide students with facts so they can move from awareness to action. Educators must expose students to both sides of an issue in order to help them make informed choices as consumers, citizens, and advocates in a sustainable world.

Where could a teacher acquire additional resources to further promote environmental education?

There are numerous local and national agencies and non-profit organizations that provide environmental opportunities for professional development of teachers. Project Wild and Project Learning Tree are national programs with a network of facilitators in every state. Web-based teacher education programs like Journey North and The Globe Project offer teacher training in ecology and citizen science projects. Teachers can find out more about EE by attending environmental conferences and joining professional organizations and contacting environmental groups in their community. Museums, botanic gardens, local government agencies, and environmental organizations such as Audubon and the Wildlife Conservation Society offer teachers information and opportunities for continuing professional development. Colleges and universities also provide opportunities for continuing professional development through courses, workshops, and summer institutes.

The North American Association of Environmental Education (NAAEE) is a national organization for environmental educators. The NAAEE website provides a wealth of information on programs, curricula, and research in EE.

Workshops and courses for teachers vary from composting to coastal ecology. Curriculum materials are widely available—both online as well as through direct contact with government agencies and non-formal institutions.

There are also many funding opportunities for classroom teachers interested in developing environmental projects and curricula in their classrooms. In 2005, the federal government allocated $3 million for environmental education administered by the Environmental Protection Agency. Private foundations and local business groups also provide support to local schools for environmental initiatives and community projects that engage students in civic activities such as community gardens, beach clean-ups, water quality monitoring and beautification projects.

Teachers can take an active role in bringing these wonderful resources into their classrooms and open up a world of learning to their students!