Why Environmental Education Matters

Standardized testing implemented as part of the 2001 "No Child Left Behind Act" has left little room for schools to provide field trips to explore the outdoors, hands-on environmental education activities and experiments that encourage creative problem solving. As adults, our children will likely face rising energy costs, increased global demand for fossil fuels and an ever-changing climate Environmental education programs can help connect students to the outdoors challenges and inspire them to develop the solutions of tomorrow.

According to the book, As if the Earth Matters by the year 2030, 80% of the world's population will live in an urban setting. With little access to trees, wildlife and natural spaces, children are becoming more disconnected from nature. Environmental education programs help children with little exposure to the outdoors find and discover the intricacies of a delicate leaf, the wonder of butterflies floating through the air or the magic of watching a plant grow from a seed. A strong environmental education can help the students of today become the environmental change agents of the future.

Elements of Environmental Education

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines the components of environmental education as awareness, knowledge and understanding of the environment and ecology challenges, concern for the environment, equipping individuals with skills to solve challenges and providing opportunities for individuals to participate in outdoor activities. The environmental education program defined by the EPA encourages providing individuals with the tools to gain insight on ecology issues and utilize critical thinking and problem solving skills to come up with a solution.

A comprehensive environmental education can help children develop creative problem solving skills, an area currently in decline according to a July 2010 article in Newsweek. Environmental education also connects children to their community by completing real-life, hands-on learning. A few states like Wisconsin and Maryland have even set state requirements in environmental education. The Maryland environmental education program requires students to create and implement a project designed to protect, maintain or enhance a local natural area.

Resources for Environmental Education

A 2005 study by the American Institutes for Research found that students who participate in outdoor science programs increased their science testing scores by 27 percent. One resource parents and educators can turn to is the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF). The NEEF website features resources to help foster an appreciation for ecology and to reconnect plugged-in children to the natural world. Programs like Classroom Earth are designed to bring students outdoors to gain a better environmental education.

Kids can become involved in their own environmental education and collaborate with other like-minded kids on the Challenge: Future website. The group invites students from across the globe to compete against one another to develop solutions for a more sustainable world. The group encourages students and visionary leaders to develop solutions to ecology, environmental and equality issues faced by populations across the globe. The group is dedicated to creating a world that works for all. The website offers resources for educators, students, business leaders and visionaries.

Other environmental education resources are available from your state's education department, city park and recreation division and the department of natural resources. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and many of the national parks offer educational programs suited for kids.

Sources:

Challenge: Future http://www.challengefuture.org/

NCES Online: http://ncseonline.org/efs/DebraRowe.pdf

Henley, Thom and Peavy, Kenny. As if the Earth Matters. Thailand:Linmark Advertising and Printing, 2006.

National Environmental Education Foundation http://www.neefusa.org/

Evans, Micki McKesson, Children Can Make a Difference: Using Problem Solving, Action Oriented Approach to

Environmental Education http://www.marthalakecov.org/~building/strategies/environmental/evans.htm

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Environmental Education definition http://www.epa.gov/enviroed/basic.html

Bronson, Po. "The Creativity Crisis" Newsweek, July 2010 http://www.newsweek.com/2010/07/10/the-creativity-crisis.html

Birnbaum, Michael ."Maryland Sets Requirements for Comprehensive Environmental Education," Washington Post, September 22, 2010 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpdyn/content/article/2010/09/22/AR2010092204653.html