Environmental Education (EE):
Background Information and Research

Pennsylvania Center for Environmental Education - The History and Philosophy of Environmental Education www.pcee.org/Useful_EE_Aids/EssMod_1_4What_Is.pdf

Environmental Education and Training Partnership Program - What is EE? www.eetap.org/html/environmental_education.php

Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development - Advancing Education Through Environmental Literacy
"Across disciplines, teachers find that students are engaged in learning, feel challenged, and often perform better in school when they are studying their local environment. Learning about the environment can help students meet state academic standards while providing them with the knowledge and citizenship skills they will need to participate effectively in environmental decision making."
www.ascd.org/portal/site/ascd/template.book/menuitem.5d91564f4fe4548cdeb3ffdb62108a0c/
?bookMgmtId=951b177a55f9ff00VgnVCM1000003d01a8c0RCRD&printerFriendly=true
 
Changing Minds: The lasting impact of school trips
A recent study from the The Innovation Centre, University of Exeter UK documents the educational benefits of sustained, local field experiences for students. 
Benefits of outdoor EE  to pupils and schools

  • The virtually unanimous view amongst students that learning was fun, exciting, enjoyable and better than working in the classroom

  • Development of social skills such as tolerance, caring, group awareness and self-discipline

  • Research skills involving understanding and management of the natural environment

  • Skills ranging from gardening and cooking to using digital cameras and microscopes

  • Development of 'community spirit' and valuing what was 'in their own back yard'

Benefits of outdoor EE  to families, friends and the community

  • Increased willingness of parents to come into school for events and meetings

  • Parents and siblings visited natural sites more frequently as a consequence of the awareness-raising by their primary age children

For the report, visit:
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-schools-guardianships-changing_minds.pdf

Closing the Achievement Gap: Using the Environment as an Integrating Context for Learning
This report, prepared by the State Education and Environment Roundtable, is the story of the schools, teachers, and students who are involved in implementing EIC programs (using the Environment as an Integrating Context for learning). It presents the results of a nationwide study; describes the major concepts and assumptions underlying EIC; explores a range of successful EIC programs across the; United States; identifies the major characteristics of successful EIC programs; and, analyzes the implications of EIC-based education for student learning and instruction.
For the report, visit: www.seer.org/pages/GAP.html

Wisconsin Model Academic Standards

Environmental education at school forests can help meet many academic standards including math, science, language arts, social science, environmental education, agriculture education, art and design education, and family and consumer education.

To access the Wisconsin Academic Standards: www.dpi.state.wi.us/standards/index.html.  

To go directly to the environmental education standards: www.dpi.state.wi.us/standards/pdf/envired.pdf

Environmental Education Organizations and Agencies

Department of Natural Resources - EEK!
http://dnr.wi.gov/eek/

Department of Public Instruction - Agriculture Education
http://dpi.wi.gov/cte/agindex.html

Earth Partnership for Schools
http://uwarboretum.org/eps/earth_partnership_index.htm

National Wildlife Federation - Schoolyard Habitats Program
www.nwf.org/backyardwildlifehabitat/programoverview.cfm

Trees for Tomorrow
www.treesfortomorrow.com

The Wild Ones
www.thewildones.org

Wisconsin Association for Environmental Education
www.uwsp.edu/waee

Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education
www.uwsp.edu/cnr/wcee

Wisconsin Environmental Education Board
www.uwsp.edu/weeb

Wisconsin Forest Resources Education Alliance
www.wfrea.org

Student Science Projects

Learn about environmental monitoring projects and how to get your students involved.
More information