Creating Your School’s Environmental Program

What is EE? 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.

Environmental education is important for three key reasons It has a positive impact on student achievement in core subjects. It helps improve the health of children. It provides critical tools for a 21st Century workforce.

Why Use EE in today’s teaching? Incorporates the teaching methods of outdoor education, experiential education, and place-based education Is inherently interdisciplinary Promotes school/community partnerships Is hands-on, student-centered, inquiry driven, engages higher level thinking skills, and relevant to students' everyday lives

Why Use EE in today’s teaching? Develops awareness, increases knowledge, builds skills, and creates the capacity for stewardship and good citizenship regarding the environment upon which we depend for life support. Helps address the causes of “nature deficit disorder” Boosts student achievement in math, science, reading, writing and social studies

Building an EE Program at your School Get administration input. Talk to the administration to see what are the needs of your school. Ask teachers that are interested in environmental issues to get involved. Develop a PTA EE Committee. Ask parents in your community to get involved. In Elementary, Middle School and High School, get the kids involved by forming a Green Team, Eco-Club, Environmental Club before or after school program.

Planning Your EE Program Assemble a team “The EE Task Force” to Take stock of existing assets and what’s already been done at your school. Ask faculty what they need and want Make a plan and set short term and long term goals Get help from the experts and outside resources

How to Get Your EE Program Rolling Promote the Importance of the EE program and the benefits of it. Focus your direction at first in one area. Example: Begin a School Beautification Program. Start a Waste Reduction Program at the School. Assign roles and responsibilities so everyone has a job that wants to be involved. There are programs provided by organizations and centers in this area to provide classroom programs and school assemblies. You could also work together with your parents to put together materials that you can share. Don't over commit and burn yourself out—think about your goal, number of activities, and your purpose.

Members of a School’s EE Committee Parent Volunteer Interested in EE Environmental Chairperson, PTA or Academic VP School Principal or Curriculum support teacher Grade Level chairs City Sustainability Coordinator or Other Rep. Liliana Brenner, NFCPTA EE Chairman Other Interested staff and PTA members

We are Here to Help Liliana Brenner-contact Cindy Eade Evergreen School Partners Evergreen School Participants EEnorthfulton website Georgia PTA EE in Georgia

Our NEW EE Website an help!

Community Resources Jerry Hightower Nature, plants, National Wildlife National Park Service Enviroscape How Water Pollution Occurs From Evergreen Partners

Community Resources Autrey Mill Nature Center Johns Creek

Community Resources Our Shared Forests. 22 modular lessons. Rented from CNC or Stone Mountain Park EC The Earth Balloon. Free for Roswell schools, can be rented for other schools

Overview of EE Boxes Dolvin ES, Johns Creek Lilianna Brenner EE Chairman, Acorn Leader