North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE)

Louisiana high schoolers are putting themselves on the map thanks to the GeoStewards program! The LSU College of the Coast & Environment was already finding ways to get students involved with EnvironMentors, a mentorship program matching high schoolers with LSU students and researchers. As of 2023, students who’ve participated in EnvironMentors for at least two years can join GeoStewards to learn GIS mapping theory. https://lnkd.in/eckVuMTX #GIS #ScienceEducation

“During the past few months, we’ve had the privilege of engaging with some of the most passionate, talented, and innovative individuals in environmental education.” As we approach the year’s end, Executive Director Judy Braus and all of us here at NAAEE are reflecting on all the past 12 months have held. We saw the wonderful EE community build and strengthen connections in Pittsburgh, we talked in-depth with insightful guests on our recently launched "The World We Want: The NAAEE Podcast," and together we continued to find new ways to grow and support the important work educators do. Read Judy’s full letter here: https://lnkd.in/gX2-gPvB

When the temperature drops, the opportunity for new learning increases! From nature-inspired art projects to teaching about how animals and plants adapt to the colder weather, find a variety of activities to do with your young learners with free resources provided by Project Learning Tree https://lnkd.in/g8aZnSy5

Your support makes the holidays brighter! We’ve hit our next donation milestone, so we’re releasing two more gifts from the team. 🎁 Grace shares a mocktail recipe sure to bring a bit of cheer to your next gathering. We’ll cheers to that! 🥂 Once you’ve mixed the perfect drink, get creative with a zine-making guide from Bug. All you need is a standard piece of paper, some scissors, and a desire to draw or write! ✂️ Get the newest gifts here: https://lnkd.in/g3fY6n29 And if you’d like to help us reach our next goal, you can head to naaee.org/donate.

Educating about the shifting climate requires acknowledging the emotions that arise from the complex topic. K–12 educators around the country are using a new version of the emotions wheel that focuses on helping students understand and navigate their eco-emotions. Provided by the Climate Mental Health Network, the free guide offers a colorful wheel of specific emotion words as well as language for putting it into practice. https://lnkd.in/g7YGfA7v 📸: Climate Emotions Wheel © 2024

Environmental education touches all facets of our world. This year, we connected thousands of educators to ongoing resources that help them build skills and create lasting change. Thank you to everyone working to create a more sustainable, just, and equitable future for us all. Help sustain the work we’re doing at NAAEE with an end-of-year donation! Visit naaee.org/donate to share. Any gift, no matter the size—makes a difference!

Good news! Congratulations and thank you to all involved in helping to pass the #EXPLOREAct! This bill, just passed by Congress, will improve access to outdoor spaces through initiatives like increasing the number of parks in disadvantaged communities, improving disability access on trails, continuing the national park program that minimizes barriers for 4th graders and their families, and streamlining permitting processes for outdoor groups. Thanks to Outdoors Alliance for Kids and all involved in keeping this important legislation a priority!

Meet Mmachukwu Loretta Obimdike, a 2024 EE 30 Under 30 honoree, who gives us a view into her work and what drives her passion for education: As the founder of the Green Environment and Climate Change Initiative - GECCI, an environmental conservation organization committed to creating a sustainable future through education and innovative solutions, I am a passionate Forester and environmentalist working to address the growing environment and climate change challenges. Through this organization, I work to develop a project-based approach to contribute to the global climate action target. I believe that through nurturing skills in Environment, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (E-STEM), I can build a workforce ready for transitioning to the green economy, which leaves no one behind. My organization equally works in rural areas to build climate-resilient communities and restore degraded ecosystems through active restoration projects. Learn more about Mmachukwu’s work and the other EE 30 Under 30’s at https://lnkd.in/gA4R8ZUt #EnvironmentalEducation #EE30U30

Although the old saying suggests that all good things must come to an end, that isn’t the case for the 2023 cohort of CEE-Change Fellows. This Fellowship brought together individuals from all over the world who are working on projects that address climate change through civic engagement and environmental education (CEE). Thank you to our funders at the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Cedar Tree Foundation, ee360+, and NAAEE for supporting this inspiring group of individuals. Learn more about their projects here and meet the entire #CEEChange Fellowship at bit.ly/CEEChange! #ee360Plus #EnvironmentalEducation #ClimateEducation

EE 30 Under 30 awardee Ajay Sawant recently talked with Youth Incorporated about what’s inspired him, what he sees as the biggest challenges in his field, and what strategies he thinks work to get people invested in ocean conservation. Ajay is the president of ThinkOcean, an organization leading the charge to develop new educational resources on various marine topics. Read his full interview here: https://lnkd.in/g88vzMUM #EE30U30 #MarineEducation