Definition

"Environmental education is a lifelong learning process that leads to an informed and involved citizenry having the creative problem-solving skills, scientific and social literacy, ethical awareness and sensitivity for the relationship between humans and the environment, and commitment to engage in responsible individual and cooperative actions. By these actions, environmentally literate citizens will help ensure an ecologically and economically sustainable environment."
-Adopted January 1998

Beliefs

• Environmental literacy and skills are needed by all citizens because environmental stewardship is everyone's responsibility.
• Agencies, educational institutions, private organizations and businesses need to work in partnership to provide quality environmental education for everyone.
• Relevant environmental curricula and instructional materials need to be available and used in all educational delivery systems.
• Model environmental education programs should be encouraged and promoted throughout the state.
• Teachers and other leaders should be able to obtain continuing professional development in order to provide environmental education of the highest possible quality for all citizens of the state.

Central Purposes

• To provide positive leadership, advocacy and policy making in the comprehensive arena of environmental literacy and education.
• To support the development of local leaders and their fellow citizens to become environmentally aware and concerned enough to act on environmental issues.
• To advocate the development and implementation of interdisciplinary environmentally-based curricula at all levels of the educational system.
• To support the continuing professional development of staff working at all levels of formal or informal education to enable them to accomplish needed environmental education goals.

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