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Office of Environmental Education
All of North Carolina's EE Resources in One
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Component Description |
 "Being a certified environmental educator has given me knowledge and skills in the different environmental media providing a more well-rounded approach to my instruction." EE Coordinator, US EPA
Individuals who wish to be certified will complete the following five environmental education components:
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I. Instructional Workshops (Minimum of seven 10-hour workshops) |
The following four workshops must be included in the minimum of seven workshops.
- Basic N.C. WILD, Division of Conservation Education - N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission
- Project Learning Tree, Division of Forest Resources and other co-coordinators
- One (1) Environmental Education Learning Experience (EELE), Division of Parks and Recreation
- One Aquatic workshop
Three additional workshops are also required. These additional workshops must be selected from the list of Approved Workshops. This list will be updated regularly and maintained in the Office of Environmental Education.
Certification candidates record their participation in Instructional Workshops on Documentation Form B (one form per workshop).
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II. Environmental Educational Experiences in the Out-of-Doors (Minimum of 50 hours) |
Environmental educators must possess skills in teaching outdoor experiences that affect the learner vividly and demand use of all senses. Therefore, structured out-of-doors experiences, led by a qualified instructor, must support the definition and principles of environmental education described in the North Carolina Environmental Education Plan and include a variety of out-of-doors exercises. A maximum of ten hours may be credited to any one out-of-doors experience.
The current edition of the Teacher's Guide to Environmental Education Programs and Resources provides many helpful telephone numbers and addresses of eligible activities for this component. Also, other excellent opportunities include:
- University/College courses such as ecology, environmental geology, forestry, etc. which include an outdoor lab.
- Instructional workshops or field trips held in an outdoor environment.
- Organized nature hikes led by Environmental Education professional(s) in parks, forests, demonstration areas, zoos, aquariums and other Environmental Education Centers.
- Independent study projects under the direction of an Environmental Education professional.
Though some workshops may qualify for both I: Instructional Workshops, and II: Environmental Education Experiences in the Out-of-Doors, you may apply any single workshop towards only one category. You do have the flexibility to apply your training where you need it, providing the experience meets specified criteria.
Certification candidates record their participation in Out-of-Doors Experiences on Documentation Form B (one form per experience).
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III. Knowledge of Additional Environmental Education Resources and Facilities (Minimum of 30 hours) |
These activities must support the definition of environmental education by providing participants with awareness and knowledge of support resources, current areas of concern in the field of environmental education, and networking opportunities. To fulfill this requirement, the candidate must attend seminars, conferences, museums, or other environmental education centers with a maximum of 10 hours per experience. The Guide to Environmental Education Centers in North Carolina, available through the Office of Environmental Education, as well as information available from the Environmental Educators of North Carolina are excellent resource guides for this component.
Certification candidates record their participation using Documentation Form B (one form for each experience).
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IV. Teaching (Minimum of 30 hours) |
This component acknowledges the role of the environmental educator as a "teacher." In addition, it recognizes the applicant's efforts to share with others the knowledge and skills gained through participation in Components I, II and III. Your teaching activities should provide hands-on, interactive experiences for the audience and should support the definition of environmental education as described in the North Carolina Environmental Education Plan. Audiences may include K-12 students, youth groups such as church, scouts, or 4-H clubs, and various adult groups. To fulfill this requirement, applicants must teach at least three distinct, different lessons with a minimum of 10 hours per lesson. Each 10 hour lesson may include up to four hours of preparation and/or follow-up. At least six hours of each ten hour lesson must be actual teaching and contacts with participants. The 10 hours may include leading the same activity with different groups of participants or extending the activity over a period of days with the same group of participants.
Include documentation for each experience using Documentation Form C (one form for each 10 hour experience). See Environmental Education Support Materials in the Teacher's Guide to Environmental Programs and Resources for valuable instructional support materials.
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V. Action Partnership (Minimum of 20 hours for one action partnership) |
Environmental education, as defined by the North Carolina Environmental Education Plan should result in understanding, commitment, informed decisions and constructive action. Each objective of the North Carolina Environmental Education Plan outlines actions that would be appropriate action partnership projects. The "Action Partnership" component of the North Carolina Environmental Education Certification Program demonstrates the effect of the participant's environmental education through leadership, partnership, stewardship, and community action.
The Action Partnership element of the Environmental Education Certification Program is the culminating effort of all the candidate's education and teaching experiences. In an Action Partnership, each individual candidate goes beyond the candidate's teaching experiences to create and lead an on-the-ground, tangible project. The Candidate, assuming the leadership role, will join with one or more partners to carry out this stewardship project. In other words, this component of the certification process should be led and coordinated by one person, should have a long-term effect on the community, should reach the largest segment of the population and should expand the individual's effort beyond an existing or published environmental education or teaching experience.
The criteria for the Action Partnership includes 4 key elements at must be evident in the selected project:
1. Leadership- each candidate taking on the role of coordinator or initiator of the project;
2. Stewardship- your on-the-ground, tangible, lasting project;
3. Partnership- joining with others in the community beyond one's own school, agency, Environmental Education Center or business, or any other EE Certification candidate; and,
4. Community Action- having what we do affect the largest community possible, and be accessible to the general public.
Examples of successful Action Partnerships:
- Restored trails and installed interpretive signs at a public park.
- Created an educational arboretum at an Environmental Education Center.
- Stenciled neighborhood storm drains and distributed educational materials to residents explaining the project.
- Organized neighborhood Big Sweep and recycling center, including installation of signs and receptacles, partnering with city for maintenance and pick-up.
In addition, the North Carolina Environmental Education Plan contains a number of actions for each plan objective which would serve as a basis for action partnership activities. Please submit documentation of your leadership in an action partnership experience by using Documentation Form D.
View examples of Successful Action Partnerships.
View a Sample of "Form A: Summary of Completed Eligibility Criteria."
NOTE: Contact the coordinator of the NC Environmental Education Certification Program to describe your proposed project BEFORE you begin.
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