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Summary of Recent Federal Agency EE Projects
Per section 4(b)(11) of the National Environmental Education Act, EPA's Environmental Education Division (EED) works with "other Federal agencies to assure the effective coordination of programs related to environmental education, including environmental education programs relating to national parks, national forests, and wildlife refuges." Since 1992, EED has invested nearly $8 million in more than 40 projects with 14 Federal agencies, who in turn contributed nearly $8 million in collaboration with their state and local partners. Below is a summary of some recent projects EED has funded in partnership with other Federal Agencies:
U.S. EPA and Department of Agriculture/U.S. Forest Service
My Environmental Education Evaluation Resource Assistant (MEERA)
In collaboration with the University of Michigan, this project developed a web-based tool to assist environmental educators in evaluating their programs. This site enables visitors to learn about different types of evaluations; helps them choose an appropriate evaluation; guides them through the evaluation process; and provides samples of EE program evaluations. Discussions are underway to expand this effort by providing funds to program providers to conduct their own evaluations using the resources on MEERA. Learn more...
U.S. EPA and Department of Agriculture/U.S. Forest Service
Ecological Understanding as a Guideline for Evaluation of Non-formal Education (EUGENE)
In collaboration with the University of Georgia, this project is developing and pilot testing a model for non-formal EE outcomes at the Sewee Environmental Education Center in Georgia. The goal of the project is to create a practical system for evaluation that can be applied to various non-formal EE programs. This project is expected to be completed in December 2009. Results will be posted on the MEERA website.
U.S. EPA and Department of Agriculture/Natural Resources Conservation Service
Hands on the Land
This project supported the multi-Federal agency initiative which brings the educational, historical, cultural and environmental resources of public lands into the nation's schools. This network of field classrooms provides an array of hands-on learning opportunities for teachers and students. Participants include the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, NOAA, and EPA. Learn more...
U.S. EPA and Department of Agriculture/U.S. Forest Service
EarthCare
This project expanded the U.S. Forest Service's partnership with Project Learning Tree (PLT) (http://www.plt.org) to collaborate with Earth Sky Radio's environmental and natural-resource education stories. The project enabled Earth Sky to go beyond its radio-listening adult audience to reach teachers and students in K-12 classrooms by combining the power of radio, the Internet, PLT's curriculum and educator training network, and federal land management educational resources. Learn more...
U.S. EPA and Department of Commerce/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Environmental Literacy Assessment
This project is conducting a national assessment of the environmental literacy of middle school students in the United States to determine the effectiveness of EE programs in developing environmental literacy. Phase I of the study involved testing a random sample of 6th and 8th grade students to establish the baseline literacy data. Phase II will examine the relative effectiveness of instructional programs, materials, curricula and methodology in meeting the goals of EE and environmental literacy. Learn more...
U.S. EPA and Department of Interior/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
National Initiative to Improve EE Outside the Classroom
In collaboration with the Institute for Learning Innovation (http://www.ilinet.org/display/ILI/Home) and the National Association for Interpretation (http://www.interpnet.com/), this project reviewed existing practice, evaluation and research to help improve the quality of learning that occurs outside the classroom in natural settings. The goal of the project was to use this information to assist Federal land management agencies in improving environmental literacy by educating millions of Americans about the natural environment in our national parks, forests, wildlife refuges, and marine sanctuaries. Learn more... This project also contributed to the recent publication "Free Choice Learning and the Environment" (2009, AltaMira Press).
U.S. EPA and Department of Interior/National Park Service, Conservation Study Institute
Quantifying a Relationship Between Place-based Learning and Environmental Quality
This project conducted a national study quantifying a relationship between place-based EE programs and environmental quality, specifically air quality. The study found that almost half of the EE programs used in communities resulted in cleaner and healthier air and most of the programs studied had taken some form of action to improve air quality. Learn more...
U.S. EPA and Department of Interior/National Park Service
Improving Education Programs at U.S. Nature and Environmental Centers
In collaboration with the National Association for Interpretation (http://www.interpnet.com/) and Colorado State University's College of Natural Resources, this project investigated the current state of education programs at over 2,000 federal and non-profit nature and environmental education centers which serve as important conduits for educating the public about natural resources and the environment. Needs were assessed and recommendations were made for improving programs and conducting further research. To learn more, click on the "Nature Center Study Initial Results".
