• EECapacity Overview• State Consortium • Expectations• Group Projects

• Q&A

http://www.magicgeek.com/10-linking-rings-272.html

EPA’s National Environmental Education Training Program-Office of Environmental Education

EECapacity

Principal Investigator: Marianne Krasny- Cornell University Civic Ecology Lab

- 5 year grant- many components

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What is the practice of Environmental Education in an increasingly diverse &

urban society?

Professional Youth and Community Development /EE (“non-traditional-emerging”) • loose networks• community based-grassroots• Youth development, community

wellness, social justice- don’t necessarily see themselves as EE• Variety of settings-urban areas

EECapacity (platform)• bring together EE and

youth/community development -EE professionals

New Networks and Communities of Practice emergeamong EE and youth/community development-EE

www.socialmediatools.ca/2009http://knowledgemanagement-review.blogspot.com

Innovations in Environmental Education Practices •define new face

•environmental education in a diverse & urban society

Professional EE Community (“traditional-established”)• Strong networks (NAAEE)• National tools and training (e.g.,

Project Wild; Guidelines for Excellence)• Teaching in traditional settings

Both teaching about the environment in some capacity

State Consortia Year 1: Colorado, California, MarylandConsortium Organizations: 1. Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education (co-leader)2. Environmental Learning for Kids (co-leader)3. cityWILD 4. CLACE (Latin American Center for Arts, Science and Education)5. Cottonwood Institute6. Denver Indian Center7. Denver Institute for Urban Studies8. Denver Parks &Recreation9. Denver Urban Gardens10. Denver Zoo11. Earth Force12. Environment for the Americas13. GreenLeaf14. Greenway Foundation-South Platte River Environmental Education (SPREE)15. The GrowHaus16. Mile High Youth Corps17. Mo Betta Green Marketplace18. National Park Service19. Project Learning Tree20. Thorne Nature Experience21. Woodbine Ecology Center22. Wildlands Restoration Volunteers

Goals of State Consortium:

• A network building the capacity of environmental education through trainings & tools.

• Expand relationships and collaborations among organizations and communities- not duplicating efforts.

• Identify/develop environmental education ideas, practices and resources that can be shared widely.

Long Term Goals of State Consoritum:

• Develop the overall capacity & pathways for environmental education practices, professionals ,leaders (esp. youth) to be more relevant, diverse and inclusive.

• More environmentally literate population through reaching more audiences in their local communities, connecting to quality of life, and empowering them to become informed decision makers about the environment.

Participating in the State Consortium:• Commit to participating in at least 24 hours of trainings and networking

opportunities b/w June & December 2012.

• Dissemination of the information/practices that you learn & reporting.• Can tap into what you are already doing.

• In-kind time- attending trainings, correspondence, prep, travel, dissemination

• Group Project Collaborations

• Consistent participation as much as possible- can have multiple organization representatives

• Just the beginning!

• Have Fun!

1. Educational Techniques & Pedagogy-In particular:• How do you self-identify your role within the environmental education (EE) community and

how can we create a broader definition and understanding of EE that is inclusive of diverse settings and communities.- identifying resources, assets, allies in communities

• How to incorporate National Project for Excellence in Environmental Education Guidelines into your curriculum and programming, and contribute your input on the development of new Urban and Community Environmental Education Guidelines.

• Connecting environmental education to community wellness and quality of life issues.

• Identifying your organization’s connection to EPA priorities and tapping into the EPA’s resources.

• Assessment & Evaluation

2. Diversity & Inclusiveness- In particular: • How to effectively communicate with and engage broader audiences to make your

programming relevant to diverse audiences.

• How to increase organizational diversity and inclusiveness

• How to create equitable and lasting organizational and community partnerships.

3. Pathways/Pipeline for Youth: • Identifying and collaborating on developing educational curriculum, resources, leadership

opportunities and career pathways for underrepresented populations to be involved in the environmental field. (i.e. youth engaged)

4. Sustainability & implementation of EECapacity Consoritum work & collaboration

Dissemination PartnersDevelop and implement plans for enhancing

environmental education among their professional networks nationally.

• Association of Zoos and Aquariums• Celebrate Urban Birds• NAAEE State Affiliate Network• NOAA• US Fish and Wildlife• Minority Higher Ed Academic Institutions• Mexican environmental educators• American Community Gardening Association• National Council of Churches

Social innovation theoryEducational innovations emerge when people holding different views have opportunities to exchange ideas, experience, and other resources