1. Maryland Partnership for Children In Nature Name of Presentation Date of Presentation Environmental Literacy: Connecting Children with Nature Britt Slattery, MD DNR

2. Maryland Partnership for Children In Nature Formed 2008 by Governor ’ s Executive Order – Developed a Plan to connect communities, youth and families to nature – in schools, in their communities, on public lands. Co-Chairs: –Maryland State Department of Education –Maryland Department of Natural Resources 2012 Renewed structure to support implementation of actions

3. Maryland Partnership for Children In Nature Maryland Department Of Natural Resources (DNR) Maryland State Department Of Education (MSDE) Maryland Department Of Agriculture (MDA) Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education (MAEOE) Maryland No Child Left Inside Coalition (MD NCLI) Maryland Recreation And Parks Association (MRPA) The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), Montgomery County Department Of Parks Montgomery County Public Schools Howard County Public School System Chesapeake Bay Trust Alice Ferguson Foundation Audubon Maryland-DC National Wildlife Federation National Aquarium National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) PARTNERSHIP LEADERSHIP + More signing Participation Pledge (universities, non-profit, private, etc) State county non- government organizations Federal

4. Maryland Partnership for Children In Nature 2012 Leadership Team

5. Maryland Partnership for Children In Nature Early Achievements: Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights Conservation Jobs Corps Environmental Literacy graduation requirement

6. Maryland Partnership for Children In Nature Every student graduates from high school environmentally literate Environmental literacy in Maryland includes both in-school and outside of school, unstructured experiences for varied audiences Driven by: –Chesapeake Bay Agreement - Stewardship and community engagement / a MWEE for every student –COMAR –Partnership’s Environmental Literacy Plan Aligns with: –Chesapeake Bay Executive Order – Mid-Atlantic Environmental Literacy Strategy Environmental Education Vision

7. Maryland Partnership for Children In Nature Code of Maryland Regulation ( COMAR) –COMAR 13A.04.17 Comprehensive PK-12 multidisciplinary program of environmental education in every school system –COMAR 13A.03.02 (graduation requirement) Beginning with students entering high school in 2011-2012, all students must complete a locally designed high school program of environmental literacy. 24 school districts = 24 different E-Lit programs …All aligned with the Maryland Environmental Literacy Standards…

8. Maryland Partnership for Children In Nature What is Environmental Literacy? Students who are environmentally literate possess the knowledge, intellectual skills, attitudes, experience, and motivation to make and act upon responsible environmental decisions as individuals and members of their communities.

9. Environmental Literacy Standards Environmental Issues – includes taking action Interactions of Earth’s Systems Flow of Matter and Energy Populations, Communities, and Ecosystems Humans and Natural Resources Environment and Health Environment and Society Sustainability Main topics of each of the 8 standards –

10. Maryland Partnership for Children In Nature “We don't make the things you love, we just make them better” We don't take the children outside, we just make it so others can.

11. Maryland Partnership for Children In Nature Does every child in Maryland have the Means Access Knowledge Support Encouragement Desire Inclination to go outdoors and play, explore, learn?

12. Maryland Partnership for Children In Nature Partnership Initiatives main focus areas for 2012: –Promoting outdoor play and learning –Supporting Environmental Literacy (in schools and community) –Providing means for incorporating nature into healthy lifestyle choices (through community planning, health and food/ agriculture connections)

13. Maryland Partnership for Children In Nature Supporting Environmental Literacy in Schools and the Community Provide information, guidance; facilitate communication, collaboration between schools and EE providers; support strong EL plans including outdoor experiences.

14. Maryland Partnership for Children In Nature Guidance – MSDE –E-Lit Standards infused within Maryland curricula (+ online Toolkit) Professional Development (PD) – to help build capacity to teach about the environment across all disciplines –Regional E-Lit workshops … and facilitating sharing models among counties –Statewide E-Lit Summit … and ensuing regional liaisons / workshops –PD for Environmental Education Providers (Fall 2012+) Student Focused Actions – –Every Student Outdoors Every Year – recommendations / criteria –Student metrics tool / workshop –Co-sponsor the annual MAEOE Youth Summit –MD State Parks expanding EE offerings/ aligning w/ standards Policy Actions – –Schoolyard Habitat and Agriculture education within MD Green Schools –National Green Ribbon Schools –‘Greener schools’ policy – school design / facility managers Supporting Environmental Literacy in Schools and the Community

15. Maryland Partnership for Children In Nature Mirroring/ reinforcing E-Lit with community/ family programs: Supporting Environmental Literacy in Schools and the Community programs in parks community / watershed restoration projects Governor O’Malley’s Stream Restoration Challenge

16. Maryland Partnership for Children In Nature Communities and Community Planning Equitable access to green spaces such as parks and trails for all communities Nature Play Spaces

17. Maryland Partnership for Children In Nature

18. Healthy Lifestyle Choices Health Connections – Prescribe active outdoor time Parent awareness Community-based initiatives

19. Maryland Partnership for Children In Nature Agriculture Connections – Integrating ag education – Farm to School, school gardens Healthy foods as part of the Green Schools criteria Awareness of locally grown foods for schools/ community Healthy Lifestyle Choices

20. Maryland Partnership for Children In Nature Promoting Outdoor Play and Learning Celebrate Maryland Outdoors Days June 9–23

21. CHESAPEAKE BAY EXECUTIVE ORDER MID-ATLANTIC ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY STRATEGY NOAA CHESAPEAKE BAY OFFICE (Mirrors Maryland’s state strategy for school-related actions)

22. Students Every student in the region graduates with the knowledge and skills to make informed environmental decisions. The education community in the region functions in a unified manner... Education Community Educators All educators in the watershed … have access to sustained professional development opportunities, tools, and resources that support their efforts... School Grounds and Infrastructure Every school in the region maintains its buildings, grounds, and operations to support positive environmental and human health outcomes.

23. Environmental Literacy Implementation: Top Needs Identified (and what we’re doing about it) 1.Recognition of challenges, pressures on schools 2.Awareness of available provider services: clearinghouse 3.Funding for transportation 4.Facilitating continued communication, collaboration 5.Alignment of EE provider offerings 6.Teacher preparation 7.Challenge of interdisciplinary e-lit in high school 8.Coordination, collaboration to strengthen programs Facilitating integration within existing curricula/ requirements Enhancements to / expansion of Bay Backpack (www.baybackpack.com) We’re workin’ on it… Regional and statewide gatherings, regional liaisons, etc. Prof Development (PD) for providers PD in-service and pre-service (coordinating with higher ed) Use collaboration and PD opportunities to help find solutions Partnerships local, regional, among EE providers, with community, etc

24. Maryland Partnership for Children In Nature Take Your Children Outdoors!

25. Maryland Partnership for Children In Nature www.dnr.state.md.us/cin Coordinator Britt Slattery BSlattery@dnr.state.md.us (410) 260-8715

26. Maryland Partnership for Children In Nature