Environmental education (EE) teaches children and adults how to learn about and investigate their environment, and to make intelligent, informed decisions about how they can take care of it.

EE is taught in traditional classrooms, in communities, and in settings like nature centers, museums, parks, and zoos. Learning about the environment involves many subjects—earth science, biology, chemistry, social studies, even math and language arts—because understanding how the environment works, and keeping it healthy, involves knowledge and skills from many disciplines.

EE works best when it is taught in an organized sequence. In schools, EE often reflects state and national learning standards. "Done right," EE not only creates environmentally literate people, but also helps increase student academic achievement.

Here's how. Click here to go to: How EE and Educational Achievement are Linked

Educator's role: "Guide On the Side" rather than "Sage On the Stage."

Learners: Are actively involved in studying their environment, often deciding which questions to explore and, with an educator's guidance, how to find answers to their questions.

Learning experiences: Often involve complex real-world projects such as exploring how to attract wildlife to a stormwater management pond, building a nature trail, or designing a sustainable community.

Learning Tools and Venues: Case studies, the Internet, community issues investigations, libraries, the outdoors, local community businesses and government offices, immersion experiences like residential camps, service learning projects.

Outcomes: Improved environmental literacy, higher academic achievement, and the skills to weigh different sides of an environmental issue to make responsible decisions about it.

Want to know more? See below for information featuring EE programs.