| 1928 |
First school forests established in Laona, Crandon,
and Wabeno. |
| 1935 |
Wisconsin Conservation Education Statute is passed.
It is the first state in the US to have such a
requirement. Legislature requires "adequate instruction
in the conservation of natural resources" in order to be
certified to teach science or social studies.
Legislature also requires that conservation of natural
resources be taught in public elementary and high
schools. |
| 1937 |
Wisconsin Conservation Department hires first
conservation education specialist. |
| 1945 |
Representatives of high schools, teacher colleges,
University of Wisconsin (UW), Department of Public
Instruction (DPI), Wisconsin Conservation Department,
and US Forest Service meet at a vacant USFS training
center to map out the future of conservation education
in Wisconsin. |
| 1946 |
Trees For Tomorrow camp becomes a permanent
institution, offers summer program for educators and
others. |
| |
Central State Teachers College at Stevens Point
establishes the first conservation education major
teacher preparation program. |
| 1948 |
DPI assigns conservation education responsibility to
one of its supervisors. |
| |
Conservation Curriculum Committee established in
DPI. Members include representatives from DPI, public
schools, county superintendents, colleges and
universities, WCD, other state resource agencies,
federal resources agencies, business and industry.
Committee begins planning conservation education
curriculum guide, bibliography and teacher workshops. |
| 1959 |
WCD's MacKenzie Center begins offering conservation
education programs. |
| 1960 |
Milwaukee Public Schools appoints conservation
education director. |
| 1962 |
Representatives from DPI, elementary and high
schools, county superintendents, colleges and
universities, WCD, state and federal resource agencies,
service clubs and business and industry meet to
establish the Wisconsin Council for Conservation
Education (WCCE). A series of workshops aimed at each
type of group are planned. |
| 1965 |
The WCCE begins publishing an environmental
education newsletter for its members and later for
distribution to interested subscribers. |
| 1967 |
DPI appoints a Supervisor of Science and
Conservation Education. |
| 1968 |
On July 1, the Wisconsin Conservation Department
becomes the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. |
| 1969 |
DPI position becomes full-time and is retitled
Supervisor of Environmental Education. |
| 1970 |
Governor Warren Knowles sponsors the Governor's
Conference on Environmental Education in cooperation
with DPI, Department of Natural Resources (DNR),
Citizens Natural Resources Association, Conservation
Education Association, League of Women Voters of
Wisconsin, National Audubon Society, Trees for Tomorrow,
Wisconsin Association of School Boards, WCCE, Wisconsin
Education Association, Wisconsin Manufacturers and
Commerce, Wisconsin Resource Conservation Council. A set
of 19 Recommendations for Future Action was developed. |
|
|
Wisconsin and the nation celebrate the first Earth
Day on April 22, promoted by US Senator Gaylord Nelson
from Wisconsin. |
|
|
Committee representing Governor's Conference
participants drafts the Wisconsin Environmental
Education Act of 1971. |
| 1971 |
Governor Patrick Lucey creates an environmental task
force. Its education committee recommends passage of the
Wisconsin EE Act. The governor chooses to enact its
recommendations by executive order, creating the
Wisconsin Environmental Education Council (WEEC). WEEC
consists of the heads of DPI, DNR, Educational
Communications Board, State Board of Vocational,
Technical and Adult Education, Wisconsin State
University System and the University of Wisconsin
System. A Technical Advisory Council representing 15
different publics is appointed to develop a state EE
master plan. |
| 1972 |
The Wisconsin Environmental Education Inservice
Project is established with support from the National
Science Foundation, UW-Superior and DPI. Twenty
educators are trained to develop and offer at the school
district level a two-credit inservice environmental
education course for teachers. |
| 1974 |
Wisconsin utilities respond to the energy crisis,
establish energy education committees. |
|
|
The Wisconsin Council for Conservation Education
rewrites its constitution and changes its name to the
Wisconsin Association for Environmental Education
(WAEE). It publishes a 12-page newsletter for its
members and interested subscribers. |
|
|
The Wisconsin Environmental Education Council
publishes a Wisconsin EE master plan. |
| 1975 |
The Wisconsin DNR's MacKenzie Environmental
Education Center opens a residential facility in
Poynette. |
|
|
The United Nations Environmental Science and
Conservation Organization (UNESCO) and the United
Nations Environment Program conduct the first
international EE conference in Belgrade, Yugoslavia. |
| 1976 |
Six regional EE conferences are sponsored by the
same agencies to react to the Belgrade Charter, an
international statement of environmental education. |
| 1977 |
A revised EE statement, the Tbilisi Declaration, is
approved by governmental representatives at a conference
held in Tbilisi, Georgia, USSR. National conferences to
interpret and promote the Declaration are recommended. |
|
|
Project Learning Tree is introduced into Wisconsin,
coordinated by DPI. Fifty educators are trained to
facilitate workshops. |
| 1978 |
A US national EE leadership conference recommends
that state education agencies assume leadership for
interpreting and promoting the Tbilisi Declaration for
curriculum planners and other educators. |
| 1979 |
The Wisconsin DNR establishes and staffs an
environmental education specialist position. |
|
|
A task force plans and drafts an EE curriculum
planning guide based on the Tbilisi Declaration. |
| 1980 |
The US Department of State and the President's
Council on Environmental Quality publish The Global
2000 Report to the President: Entering the 21st Century,
which becomes the basis for much EE curriculum planning. |
|
|
A network of more than 100 educational and
environmental organizations begins promoting a revision
of the 1935 teacher certification rule. |
| 1983 |
State DPI Superintendent Herbert Grover promulgates
a new teacher EE certification rule requiring newly
certified early childhood, elementary, agriculture,
secondary science and social studies teachers to be able
to demonstrate four content area and three methodology
competencies. Teacher preparation institutions are
required to have programs in place to achieve this by
July 1, 1985. |
|
|
Superintendent Grover appoints a task force
representing all levels of formal and non-formal
education to develop a curriculum-planning guide in EE.
|
| 1984 |
WAEE newsletter becomes EE News, which is
coordinated and edited by the WI DNR. |
| 1985 |
Project WILD is introduced into Wisconsin,
coordinated by DNR. Over 200 workshop facilitators are
trained in the first couple of years. |
|
|
DPI publishes the first edition of A Guide to
Curriculum Planning in Environmental Education,
based on the Tbilisi Declaration. It eventually sells
over 12,000 copies throughout the US and in more than 40
countries. |
|
|
The Wisconsin Legislature enacts a curriculum
planning standard requiring that school districts
develop and implement a K-12 environmental education
curriculum by September 1, 1990. |
| 1987 |
The United Nation's World Commission on Environment
and Development produces Our Common Future, a
report promoting sustainable development of Earth's
resources. The document becomes an important EE
curriculum planning tool. |
|
|
A consortium of environmental educators,
UW-Milwaukee faculty, futurists, environmental
organizations, business and industry, and the Global
Tomorrow Coalition plan and conduct a Wingspread
conference in Waukesha, Wisconsin. The conference,
Globescope Great Lakes, included a major education
strand. |
|
|
DNR assumes coordination of Project Learning Tree,
and a Board of Directors for PLT is created. |
| 1988 |
A similar consortium, which includes Wisconsin
Manufacturers and Commerce, plans and conducts
Globescope Wisconsin 88, which includes a major
education strand focusing on Wisconsin EE programs. |
|
|
The North American Association for Environmental
Education (NAAEE) selects the Wisconsin DPI for its
Outstanding Institutional Environmental Education Award. |
| 1989 |
UW-Stevens Point works with EE instructor cadre to
develop and offer inservice EE courses throughout
Wisconsin. |
| 1990 |
Earth Year 1990, a 20th anniversary celebration of
the first Earth Day. |
|
|
Wisconsin Legislature enacts statutes creating the
Wisconsin Environmental Education Board (WEEB) with
membership representing state agencies, the Legislature,
environmental educators, environmental organizations,
business and industry, agriculture, labor, higher
education and non-formal education. The Board is to
administer a $200,000 annual EE grants program and
assist state agencies and organizations in identifying
needs and establishing EE priorities. |
|
|
The same legislation created the Wisconsin Center
for Environmental Education (WCEE) at UW-Stevens Point
to 1) assist in developing, disseminating and evaluating
EE programs for elementary and secondary school teachers
and pupils, 2) work with DPI to assess the environmental
literacy of teachers and students, 3) address statewide
teacher preparation in EE, 4) assist DPI and CESAs in
identifying EE needs, 5) establish a curriculum
materials center, and 6) to assist other teacher
preparation institutions in establishing EE preparation
programs. |
| 1991 |
Renew America and the National Consortium for
Environmental Awards recognizes Wisconsin's achievements
in EE and honors it with its award for the most
outstanding EE program. |
|
|
First annual High School Conference on the
Environment held at UWSP. A yearly event hosted by the
Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education. |
| 1992-1994 |
EE Literacy Assessments of Wisconsin 5th and 11th
grade students, teachers, principals, and Directors of
Curriculum and Instruction, conducted by the WCEE. |
| 1994 |
NAAEE presents WAEE with its Outstanding Affiliate
Organization Award. |
|
|
DPI publishes a revised edition of A Guide to
Curriculum Planning in Environmental Education. |
|
|
Environmental Education Consultant position
eliminated by Department of Public Instruction. |
| 1995 |
WEEB sponsors the Wisconsin Environmental Education
Summit and invites over 100 representatives from a
variety of organizations to meet for two days to
strategically plan the future of EE in Wisconsin. |
|
|
Project WET is introduced to Wisconsin coordinated
by the UW Extension, Lakes Partnership Program, and
UW-Stevens Point. 50 Educators trained to facilitate
workshops. |
| 1996 |
KEEP Program (Wisconsin K-12 Energy Education
Program) created in Wisconsin, coordinated by the Energy
Center of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Center for
Environmental Education. |
|
|
Three high schools were the first to become
SolarWise through Wisconsin Public Service. Green Bay
East, Southern Door, and Antigo each received
solar-electric systems that provide approximately 60,000
kilowatt-hours of solar electricity annually. |
| 1998 |
Wisconsin Model Academic Standards for Environmental
Education are developed and published by the Department
of Public Instruction. |
|
|
Additional $200,000 added to WEEB grants program
from the Forestry Fund. |
|
|
Governor Thompson proclaims April 22nd
"Environmental Education Works for Wisconsin!" day. |
| 1999 |
WEEB adopts a Communication Plan for EE in
Wisconsin. |
| 2000 |
30th Anniversary of Earth Day. |
|
|
10th Anniversary of the 1990 Wisconsin EE Act. |
|
|
WEEB adopts five year Strategic Plan for EE. EE
2005: A Plan for Advancing Environmental Education in
Wisconsin. |
|
|
KEEP becomes part of state Public Benefits program
(Focus on Energy); KEEP teaches 1000th teacher about
energy. |
| 2001 |
LEAF Program (K-12 Forestry Education Program)
created in Wisconsin, coordinated by the Wisconsin
Department of Natural Resources - Division of Forestry
and the Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education. |
| 2002 |
WEEB adds seats for representatives in forestry and
energy to the board. |
|
|
KEEP launches Bright Idea Fundraiser-students sell
Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs to raise funds for
school projects |
| 2003 |
Statewide School Forest Education Specialist
position added to the LEAF Program. |
|
|
Additional $200,000 added to WEEB grants program
from the Forestry Fund specifically to support school
forests in Wisconsin. |
| 2004 |
Final issue of EE News posted to WDNR web site. |
|
|
WAEE, WCEE, and WEEB held a statewide Environmental
Education Forum at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens
Point. |
|
|
Project WET coordination taken over by the WDNR.
|
|
|
Global Environmental Teachings Program (GET) started
in collaboration with the Global Environmental
Management Center (GEM) and the WCEE to offer educators
international EE experiences. |
|
|
The Green and Healthy School program was
established. |
| 2005 |
Electrathon program launched in Wisconsin with the
first race in Appleton. |
|
|
DePere became Wisconsin's first Green and Healthy
School. On Earth Day of 2005, Governor Doyle presented
DePere with the Green and Healthy Flag. |
| 2006 |
WEEB adopts a new five year Strategic Plan for EE.
EE 2010: A Plan for Advancing Environmental
Education in Wisconsin.
|
|
|
Jessica Doyle, first lady of Wisconsin, presents
awards at the annual student energy education awards
ceremony; KEEP reached its 3000th teacher |
