Environmental Education

EPA National Environmental
Education Pages

Regional Resources:

Environmental Education (EE) is a learning process that increases people's knowledge of the environment and associated challenges, develops the necessary skills and expertise to address the challenges, and fosters attitudes, and commitments to make informed decisions and take responsible action.

Environmental Education enhances critical thinking, problem-solving, and effective decision-making and teaches individuals to weigh various sides of an issue to make informed and responsible decisions. The National Environmental Education Act of 1990 directs the EPA to provide national leadership in environmental literacy.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
Environmental education refers to organized efforts to teach about how natural environments function and, particularly, how human beings can manage their behavior and ecosystems in order to live sustainably. The term is often used to imply education within the school system, from primary to post-secondary. However, it is sometimes used more broadly to include all efforts to educate the public and other audiences, including print materials, websites, media campaigns, etc.

Some of the sites listed on this page are not on the EPA Web site. Please see our disclaimer information

Regional Highlights:

Check out! Climate Ambassadors: http://www.epa.gov/climateforaction/

-Toyota TAPESTRY Grants for Science Teachers Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., and National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) are leased to announce the 19th annual Toyota TAPESTRY Grants for Science Teachers program. This year Toyota will award $550,000 in grants to K-12 teachers of science. A total of 50 large grants of up to $10,000 each, along with 20-30 mini-grants of up to $2,500 each, will be awarded. Categories include environmental science, integrating literacy and science, and physical science. Toyota has awarded 986 grants totaling over $8 million in this premiere
nationwide grant program. For further information and to begin the application process online, please visit the Toyota TAPESTRY website, http://www.nsta.org/pd/tapestry/. The online applications are now available. All 50 large grant winners receive an all-expenses paid trip to the NSTA National Conference on Science Education in New Orleans. The deadline for submission of online entries is Jan. 21, 2009.

-THE GREENS, which is a PBS Web site that encourages kids to explore sustainability and take action wherever they can. The new Activity Guide pairs hands-on activities to deepen kids' understanding of topics like recycling and global warming with campaigns to reduce junk mail and get drivers to stop idling cars. Folks can download or order a print copy of the free Guide at http://meetthegreens.pbskids.org/features/

-Register now to participate in the annual migration of the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus), one of the most spectacular natural phenomena in the world. Every year, millions of monarchs migrate thousands of miles from Canada and the United States to overwinter in the mountain peaks in states of Mexico and Michoacán in Mexico. This magical journey, deemed an "endangered natural phenomenon," is dependent on conservation of habitats in all three North American countries -- the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Join in this magical migration with MonarchLIVE and follow their journey throughout the 2008-09 school year. Take your class on FREE, live, interactive electronic field trips that follow the magical migration of monarchs. In February 2009, join us in Mexico where we will talk with scientists studying monarchs and learn about local people who are preserving winter habitat. http://monarch.pwnet.org/

-New Fish Kids Website EPA's National Fish Advisory Program released a Fish Kids website that uses interactive stories and games to teach kids
from 8 to12 years of age about contaminants in fish and fish advisories. You can access the site at http://www.epa.gov/fishadvisories/kids

-EPA Ambassadors
EPA Region 8 employees, on a limited basis, are available to present environmental information and topics to schools, community groups, local governments and non-profits. EPA can also host booths at community events and hand out environmental information. EPA Ambassadors can present pre-prepared topic-specific presentations or work with your organization on content. We have a wide variety of materials available to bring to your event.

-Student Tours/ Library Visits:
On a very limited basis EPA will offer tours of the building to middle and high school students and limited tours, library visits and readings to elementary students. Teachers must demonstrate curricula involving green building and environmental education. Tours will be provided at the discretion of the Environmental Education Coordinator. Please contact Wendy Dew for more information.

New Resources

Region 8 EE Information:

Rocky Mountain and Plains Environmental Education Resources

Rocky Mountain and Plains Regional Climate Science Education Collaborative

Rocky Mountain and Plains Regional EE Collaborative

EE Grants

President's Environmental Youth Awards

EE Region 8 Contacts

EE Links

Sustainable Agriculture Education Resources:

Food, Land & People
Ask the Answer Worm !

2009 Earth Day E-Packet

Sign up for the 2009 e-packet begins April 23, 2008.

You only need to signup once and you will get an E-Packet each year,
so if you signed up last year, no need to signup again.

EPA National Environmental Education Pages

Regional Resources: