PROGRAMS FOR EDUCATORS
NAAEE GUIDELINES
FOR EXCELLENCE
The Guidelines for Excellence describe best practices in Environmental Education for K-12 learners, non-formal educators, early childhood education, materials, professional development, and community engagement. It is a 6-part series of materials to help environmental educators hone their practice and programs to national standards for high-quality EE programming. More than just another set of standards, these resources can help improve your teaching and programs.
ACADEMY OF NATURAL RESOURCES (ANR)
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) hosts an annual, residential 5-day experience offered to formal and nonformal educators interested in learning about and experiencing natural resources education. Participants are engaged throughout the days with natural resource or experiential education experts who provide content information focused on ecological concepts and instructional techniques. Interactive curriculum activities and resources in teaching conservation education are also shared.
PROJECT WILD
Project WILD is a wildlife-focused conservation education program for K-12 educators and their students, and is one of the most widely-used conservation and environmental education programs among educators of students in kindergarten through high school. It is based on the premise that young people and educators have a vital interest in learning about our natural world. Michigan Department of Natural Resources houses Project WILD in Michigan, and is training educators in the many facets of the program. Emphasizing wildlife because of its intrinsic value, Project WILD addresses the need for human beings to develop as responsible citizens of our planet.
FLYING WILD
Targeted for the middle-school audience, though widely adaptable, Flying WILD offers practical hands-on classroom and outdoor field investigation experiences connecting real-world experiences in bird biology, conservation and natural history. Project-based classroom applications, service learning and community involvement and even birding festivals are all outlined in the curriculum guide. Flying WILD Michigan is hosted by MAEOE.
MICHIGAN ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CURRICULUM SUPPORT (MEECS)
The Michigan Environmental Education Curriculum Support (MEECS) contains five Michigan-specific units which provide an opportunity for students in grades 4-9 to learn about Michigan’s economy and environment through outstanding, inquiry oriented, data-based lessons in science and social studies. The units have been field tested by 120 teachers in over 200 Michigan classrooms. The units can be used individually, adopted into a school’s multi-year science curricula, or combined to form the basis for an integrated science course. Each low cost MEECS curriculum unit workshop runs from four to six hours. Classroom unit kits are provided at completion of training.
PROJECT LEARNING TREE
Project Learning Tree (PLT) is an international award-winning environmental education curriculum focusing on the forest as a “window on the world”. PLT teaches not only about trees, but also about land, air, and water to help students understand our complex environment. These lessons help to instill the confidence and commitment to take responsible action on behalf of the environment. PLT program provides workshops to educators using the hands-on lessons developed by hundreds of educators and environmental experts to bring the natural world into the classroom. Workshops are open to any formal or non-formal educators, pre- and in-service classroom educators, natural resources professionals, naturalists, scout leaders and others interested in environmental education.
LEOPOLD
EDUCATION PROJECT (LEP)
Using the philosophies of Aldo Leopold, the seminal figure of conservation education, learn approaches for guiding students to discovering their own land ethic. The workshop helps individuals deepen their ecological understanding, better care for people and nature in their own communities and inspire others to do the same.
THE OUTDOOR
LEARNING STORE (OLS)
The purpose of The Outdoor Learning Store is to provide easy access to excellent outdoor learning equipment and resources to schools and organizations. This initiative is run as a social enterprise which allows us to provide a return for outdoor learning non-profit organizations from across the country, and beyond.