NEEAP - Programs

Leadership Clinics

What is a leadership clinic and why have them?
The Leadership Clinic model is fundamentally different than any other state or national conference because it provides an intensive focus on organizational and leadership skill development for environmental education (EE) professionals. The Leadership Clinic is also unique in that it provides state-level EE leaders with the opportunity to exchange ideas and strategies with their peers in a variety of innovative group process settings. The Leadership Clinic is a participant-driven, professional development event at which "Everyone has something to give; everyone has something to gain."

To find out how to use the tools and processes of this innovative approach to conference design, contact the NEEAP office.

The purpose of the leadership clinic is four-fold:
1) to provide a growing network of EE leaders with opportunities to exchange information and ideas;
2) to provide state/provincial EE leaders with training in organizational development, grassroots organization, and strategic planning;
3) to help state/provincial teams develop or refine EE action plans; and
4) to provide a forum for discussion about strategies to increase capacity for EE at the local, state, regional and national levels.

Much of the clinic is spent in individual team planning sessions, during which local, state and national teams invite floating facilitators, resource people, and other teams to work with them as-needed. Through the use of large group processes such as Open Space technology and Heads Together, multiple-state groups work together periodically to address topics of shared interest or concern. Finally, skill building and professional development sessions are active sessions where every team leaves with a product such as a plan strategy draft, a grant proposal draft, a conceptual map, a set of draft EE guidelines, a media plan, or a written exercise for organizational development.

Read about past Leadership Clinics in our newsletter

How Do We Measure Success?...Evaluation and the 2003 EETAP Leadership Clinic (Summer 2003)
Leadership Clinic Design Workshop: Modeling the Process (Fall 2002)
Community Outreach Project for EE: Heading Toward Stronger EE Programs Locally (Summer 2000)
Illinois Offers First State-Level Leadership Clinic (Spring 2000)
Making the Leadership Clinic an Institution: Albuquerque National Clinic Model Launches State and Regional Efforts (Summer 1999)
Environmental Educators Learn New Dance Steps: 1998 NEEAP/NAAEE Leadership Clinic Models New Organizational and Professional Development Approaches (Spring 1998)
Missouri Hosts Second Annual Leadership Clinic (Summer 1997)
Joint NEEAP and NAAEE Leadership Clinic Recap - Week-long Leadership and Training Helps State EE Leaders Build Organizational Capacity (Summer 1996)
Sponsors "Set The Table" (Summer 1996)
Volunteers Make It Happen (Summer 1996)
Clinic Results in Information Exchange and Strengthening of Skills (Summer 1996)
Leadership Clinic Strengthens Affiliate Network (Summer 1996)
Wisconsin's North Woods is Perfect Setting for EE Leader Gathering (Summer 1996)
Leadership Clinic "Packs In" Training Sessions and Activities (Summer 1996)

Funding for these leadership Clinics is offered by The Environmental Education and Training Partnership (EETAP) through a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.