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| North American Association for Environmental Education | |
|---|---|
| Name | North American Association for Environmental Education |
| Type | non-profit |
| Founded | 1971 |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Region served | North America |
North American Association for Environmental Education is a continental professional association focused on promoting environmental literacy and stewardship across Canada, the United States, and Mexico. It connects educators, researchers, policymakers, and practitioners through programs, conferences, publications, and partnerships to advance environmental learning in formal and informal settings. The association collaborates with universities, museums, government agencies, and non-governmental organizations to influence practice and policy related to sustainability, conservation, and civic engagement.
The organization emerged during the rise of the environmental movement associated with Earth Day (1970), the passage of the National Environmental Policy Act and the proliferation of environmental organizations such as the Sierra Club, the National Audubon Society, and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), drawing leaders from institutions like the Smithsonian Institution, the National Science Foundation, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Early conferences echoed themes from events such as the Stockholm Conference (1972) and involved educators from the Royal Ontario Museum, the Ontario Science Centre, and the Museum of Natural History (New York City). Over subsequent decades the association intersected with federal initiatives led by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), collaborated with provincial bodies such as Ontario Ministry of the Environment, and engaged with binational projects like those administered by the International Joint Commission. Influential figures associated with the association have included leaders from Monterey Bay Aquarium, the Audubon Society of Portland, and university programs at University of Wisconsin–Madison, University of British Columbia, and Arizona State University.
The association’s mission aligns with policy frameworks and curricular standards promoted by organizations such as the National Science Teachers Association, the Council of Chief State School Officers, and the Canadian Network for Environmental Education and Communication (EECOM), aiming to increase environmental literacy among learners of all ages. Objectives reference competencies identified by the North American Association for Environmental Education (standards) and often mirror goals in initiatives like the UN Decade on Education for Sustainable Development and the Convention on Biological Diversity. It promotes professional development consistent with guidance from the American Association of Museums and collaborates on assessment tools used by entities such as the National Research Council and the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA).
Programs include professional certification and training similar in scope to offerings from Project Learning Tree, Project WET, and Project WILD, and initiatives that mirror community-based efforts from The Nature Conservancy and Conservation International. The association runs fellowships and leadership tracks comparable to programs at the Environmental Law Institute and the National Environmental Education Foundation, and hosts accreditation-style reviews akin to those by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. It has launched regional networks paralleling projects by the Great Lakes Commission, the Gulf of Mexico Alliance, and the Pacific Northwest Pollution Prevention Resource Center to support educators in settings from the Lewis and Clark National Historical Park to urban museums such as the Field Museum.
The association publishes practitioner-focused materials alongside peer-reviewed research similar to journals like Environmental Education Research and newsletters resembling those from The Journal of Environmental Education. Resources include curriculum guides drawing on frameworks from the Next Generation Science Standards and case studies featuring collaborations with institutions such as National Geographic Society, the Brookings Institution, and the Natural Resources Defense Council. It maintains databases and resource hubs comparable to repositories at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and distributes toolkits used by members of networks like the Association of Science-Technology Centers.
Annual conferences attract delegates from universities such as Harvard University, McGill University, and Stanford University, attendees from agencies including the U.S. Geological Survey and the Canadian Wildlife Service, and representatives of NGOs like Friends of the Earth and World Resources Institute. The programming often features plenaries, workshops, and field sessions in collaboration with parks and protected areas like Yellowstone National Park, Banff National Park, and Saguaro National Park, and aligns timing with international gatherings such as the IUCN World Conservation Congress and the UN Climate Change Conference.
Governance typically involves a board of directors, regional chapters, and standing committees similar to governance models at the American Educational Research Association and the Association of American Geographers. Membership spans individual educators, institutional members from the Smithsonian Institution, Royal Society of Canada affiliates, K–12 districts like Los Angeles Unified School District and Toronto District School Board, higher education programs at University of California, Berkeley, and informal education providers such as the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute. Funding and partnerships often include foundations like the MacArthur Foundation, the Ford Foundation, and governmental grants from entities such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The association has influenced curricular reforms and professional standards through collaborations with bodies like the American Association of Community Colleges and international partners including UNICEF and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Partnerships with conservation organizations such as The Nature Conservancy and Wildlife Conservation Society, and governmental programs like the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service habitat outreach efforts, have supported community science projects modeled on initiatives like the Christmas Bird Count and the Coastal Cleanup Day. Its networks have contributed to research agendas at institutions like Yale University and University of Toronto and to policy dialogues hosted by the National Governors Association and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
Category:Environmental organizations in North America