The purpose of the Environmental Education Outreach Program (EEOP) Environmental Education
(EE) website is to support both formal (classroom teachers) and informal
(everybody else) educators conducting Environmental Education.
Good Environmental Education is good education. Data from national studies show that schools using
Environment as an Integrating Context (EIC) for learning, improve in all
academic areas. With the increasing emphasis on student performance, this is
an important observation. Effective Environmental Education is ideal for
helping students and educators improve critical thinking and problem solving
skills. There are many reasons for the performance improvements. One reason
particularly relevant to Native American learners is that Environmental
Education provides a real world context for learning, linking the classroom to
the needs of the community.
Good Environmental Education increases public awareness and fosters understanding of
environmental issues. To ensure the survival of feature generations we must
take care of our environment. Effective Environmental Education helps develop
an environmentally responsible public and inspires personal responsibility in
caring for the environment.
Good Environmental Education does not advocate a particular viewpoint or course of action. Rather,
Environmental Education teaches individuals how to weigh various sides of an
issue through critical thinking and it enhances their own problem-solving and
decision-making skills.
