Education Programs

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Environmental Education Programs:
Developing a System to Value Natural Resources

Environmental education is the key to children developing a positive relationship with the environment, as well as inspiring environmental stewardship in adults. Forming an environmental education program is a beneficial project for the community and future. It helps your group to reach out to the public, spread knowledge, and recruit volunteers, in addition to providing funds and donations. The process of creating education programs takes plenty of planning and funds to get programs off the ground.

Education programs keep your group in the public's spotlight, so make sure programs represent the group's goals and values. Picking programs that relate to your group's strengths are effective. For example, if staff members have expertise in a specific topic, create a program around that, or use an environmental feature of the watershed to focus on (an endangered species, stream ecology, etc.). Also, focusing on local issues in the community is a great way to spread awareness, and to recruit volunteers.

Getting Started It is important to decide what types of programs your group will offer. When picking topics, think about: Where will staff conduct the programs? Who will teach the programs? What types of supplies will be needed? Where will the organization obtain funding? Who will the programs be geared towards? What is the goal of programs? Once an environmental program has been decided, a curriculum/lesson plan must be developed. Check the "Further Resources" section for more curriculum ideas. Lesson plans should contain the following: Objectives that the lesson strives to meet Supplies need to conduct lesson (See "Further Resources" section for information on equipment suppliers.) Description of activities Ages the lesson is geared toward Program length References Evaluation tool to assess what the students learned The Core Curriculum Content Standards that it meets. As the planning process occurs, keep a project budget to calculate how much money will be needed to cover all the costs of staff, supplies, transportation, and time. Once a budget is created, research the best funding opportunities: Local schools: schools may be willing to pay for education programs or materials Public programs: charging for the public to attend an event Grants: state, federal, & private grants offered to environment education programs. A strong and successful education program should have the following: Program curriculum Staff to lead programs Contacts with schools Media contacts to advertise public programs via press releases Evaluation form for teachers for feedback. New Jersey Watershed Examples Learning from other groups can help you avoid problems and start an environmental education program off on the right foot. The following groups were inspired to have local citizens, especially youth, learn and feel passion for the environment. Here are some examples of how groups started and are running their education programs, Musconetcong Watershed Association In 2001, the Association dedicated to formally create an education program curriculum and integrate it into the budget. Each year, they present four-day programs on water to fifth grade students. They discuss: Water cycle, watersheds Non-point source pollution, how land use effects water Chemical, biological, and visual monitoring The Association charges the school $130 per class, for all four days, the rest of the operating money comes from the general operating budget. Pequannock River Coalition The Coalition created a curriculum that brings aquatic life into fourth and fifth grade classrooms, by creating an aquarium with local macroinvertabrates, and discussing: Their local watershed, the aquatic life found in it Identifying and sorting sample macroinvertabrates Non-point source pollution Schools are not charged for the program, it is funded solely from grants and donations. New Jersey Audubon Society The Society offers a wide variety of education programs, which cater to audiences from preschoolers to adults and teachers. They present programs at schools, as well as on Audubon property. Programs are funded through membership support and program fees. Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association Stony Brook has been conducting education programs for over 20 years, with programs geared toward all age groups. The groups offers the following advice: Establish goals for education programs and always keep them in mind. A program whose goal is to generate money is not a good goal, but a goal to increase public awareness about your organization or local issues, to connect with children or assist teachers are more sustainable goals. Maintain an on-going, internal program assessment. Discuss if your original goals still make sense, be willing to adapt programs as your goals change. Obtain feedback from teachers and the public on their satisfaction with the programs, and adapt your program based on the feedback. Having programs on your property can be an advantage (less transportation cost, awareness about the organization and local natural resources), but there are insurance issues related to working in parks. Contact local municipal officials to obtain permission. When developing or expanding programs, approach schools and ask teachers about their needs. Let the teachers know your organization is looking to help teachers and their curriculum. Grants are an important source of funding, but never lose sight of goals when seeking grant opportunities. Helpful Hints The Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association conducts teacher workshops annually on some of the state and national curricula. Visit their website for more information. Visit the North American Association for Environmental Education website for information on the publication Nonformal Environmental Education Programs: Guidelines for Excellence. A team of environmental education professionals wrote these guidelines; and the publication deals with creating high quality environmental lessons, products, and materials. Topics include organizational needs assessment, program scope, program delivery, and evaluation.

Further Resources The following resources can assist you in developing your own environmental education program. Curriculum ABCs of Ecology: An Educator's Guide to Learning Outside A 230-page book geared primarily toward upper elementary school students, includes hands on activities organized into lessons, experimental activities, and reproducible worksheets. Beneath the Shell Teacher's curriculum guide that covers non-point source pollution and its impact on New Jersey shellfish. Lessons are applicable for students in grades 1st through 8th. Bridges to the Natural World Curriculum guide for elementary teachers and their students to gain a better understanding of their local New Jersey environment. Healthy Water, Healthy People Curriculum aims to encourage investigator on the connections between water quality and environmental and human health. Includes 25 hands-on lessons. A testing kit, and manual are also available. Phone: (609) 984-0583 or (609) 292-2113 Kids in the Creek Curriculum that provides students with a method of assessing stream health and aquatic insects. NJ WATERS Curriculum guide for middle and high school students to gain a better understanding of their local NJ environment. Includes lessons on watersheds, water quality, and developing a sense of connection between people and the environment. Project WET A national, interdisciplinary science and education program for formal and non-formal educators of K-12 students focusing on water use. Project WILD A national curriculum focused on wildlife, geared to K-12 educators, that introduces concepts such as food chains, habitat, and carrying capacity in fun and interactive ways. Trout in the Classroom An educational activity that allows teachers to raise brook trout eggs in the classroom. Geared toward middle and high school students. WILD School Sites Sites are places where teachers can use the outdoors "as is" for learning throughout the curriculum, or to develop on-site habitats that benefit local wildlife. Workshops extend student learning from "awareness to action" on a school's property. WOW! Wonders of Wetlands Curriculum for K-12 educators that focuses on wetland definitions, soils, hydrology, plants, animals, and supply issues. Includes 40 lessons and 70 pages of background material. Phone: (609) 984-0583 or (609) 292-2113 Supplies Acorn Naturalists Offers trailside and classroom resources and materials for teachers, naturalists, interpreters, parents, and their children. Topics covered include botany, birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fresh water and marine ecosystems, art, literature, and gardening. Phone: (800) 422-8886 E-mail: emailacorn@aol.com Ben Meadows Supplier of aquatic nets, microscopes, water quality testing kits, binoculars, and more. Phone: (800) 241-6401 Carolina Biological A reasonably priced supplier of field and classroom microscopes, insect nets, waders, and more. Phone: (800) 344-3100 Museum Products A family owned company that provides the education and museum communities with interactive tools, toys, and gifts that educate and entertain. Include bug boxes. Phone: (800) 395-5400 E-mail: contact@mueumproducts.net Additional Resources State Environmental Education Directory Website Provides information for educators, included programs, curriculum, training opportunities, volunteer programs, grants, and scholarships. New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards Educational standards adopted by NJ State Board of Education, they were created to improve student achievement by clearly defining what all students should know and be able to do at the end of 13 years of public education. Alliance for New Jersey Education (ANJEE) A privately supported, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and improving environmental education for people of all ages in New Jersey. Website has resources and grant opportunities. Email: anjee_president@yahoo.com North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) A network of professionals, students, and volunteers working in the field of environmental education through North American and the world. Promotes environmental education and supports work of environmental educators. Website has publications, resources, events, and conferences. Phone: (202) 419-0415 Pennsylvania Alliance for Environmental Educators (PAEE) An organization dedicated to uniting, supporting, and inspiring individuals to be stewards of the environment. Website has conference information, job opportunities, an events calendar, and environmental links and resources.