Best Practices in Environmental Education

Selected Projects

NAAEE Guidelines for Excellence in Environmental Education
The National Project for Excellence in Environmental Education, initiated by NAAEE in 1993, has developed a series of guidelines that set the standards for high-quality environmental education. Each of these publications was developed by a diverse team of professionals, and each has gone through a substantive review by thousands of professionals prior to its publication.

The Baltimore Partnership for Environmental Science Literacy
Universities and research centers associated with the Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) programs are collaborating with school districts to: a) define essential pathways for achieving environmental science literacy; and b) develop and test professional development programs for teachers that help accomplish this goal through innovative instruction in the sciences in middle and high schools.

Principals of Place-Based Education
Immerses students in local heritage, cultures, landscapes, opportunities, and experiences.
Uses these as a foundation for the study of language arts, mathematics, social studies, science and other subjects across the curriculum.
Emphasizes learning through participation in service projects for the local school and/or community.

Forest For Every Classroom
FFEC is a professional development program for educators focused on place-based education. Teachers of participate in FFEC develop curriculum that foster student understanding of and appreciation for the public lands in their communities. The teacher-developed curricula integrate hands-on natural and cultural explorations that address concepts in ecology, sense of place, stewardship, and civics. At the heart of the FFEC program is the belief that students who are immersed in the interdisciplinary study of "place" are more eager to learn and be involved in the stewardship of their communities and public lands.