This research was
conducted by NEEAP graduate assistant, Kerry Eastman. The research is contained in a
thesis titled "Evaluation of a Community Outreach Project for Environmental Education". This document can be obtained from the
library at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
Following is an abstract of this research.
The
purpose of this study was to increase leaders� understanding of and
support for environmental education (EE). This
was done by developing community-based teams throughout Wisconsin and training
them to provide a Local EE Seminar to leaders in their community.
Teams participated in the Community Outreach Leadership Clinic to develop
a vision for EE in their community and to prepare for the Local EE Seminar.
Surveys
were utilized to evaluate both the success of the Community Outreach Leadership
Clinic and the success of using Local EE Seminars for increasing participants�
understanding of and support for EE. Cross-sectional
surveys were utilized to evaluate the success of the Clinic and the Local EE
Seminars. The cross-sectional
surveys also provided data regarding participants� understanding of EE prior
to and subsequent to the Local EE Seminar.
A repeated survey was used to evaluate participants� support for EE
over time.
The
results of this research are encouraging. The
Local EE Seminar appears to have had a positive influence on the level of
understanding for EE among participants when participants� initial level of
understanding was low. In contrast, when the initial understanding of EE was
moderate or better, the Local EE Seminar did not appear to have been successful
at increasing the level of understanding. The
results also show an increase in support for EE subsequent to their
participation in the Local EE Seminar. The
types of support varied greatly among the communities and within the
communities.
The
Local EE Seminar appears to be a viable avenue for increasing the understanding
of and support for EE within a community.
