The Office of Environmental Education
The Office of Environmental Education serves as North Carolina's clearinghouse, or central source, for all of the environmental education resources in the state. The office serves PreK-12 schools, colleges and universities, government agencies, non-profit organizations, environmental education centers, citizen groups, business and industry, libraries and the general public. Early in its creation, it was decided that the office would not develop or design new curriculum, but would rather identify, evaluate and promote quality resources that already exist. The “clearinghouse” is not a function, but refers to all of the services provided by the office. All five staff positions in the office are responsible for providing the public services of the clearinghouse. These services include, but are not limited to, maintaining a comprehensive and searchable online listing of North Carolina’s environmental education facilities, resources, materials and organizations. It includes maintaining and promoting a statewide calendar of environmental education events and professional development programs offered by organizations throughout the state. While it does not create specific curriculum, it does develop, promote and distribute resource publications that are used widely by educators, businesses, government agencies and the public.
The office provides teachers with a comprehensive listing of potential mentors in environmental fields to help students completing their North Carolina High School Graduation Project. It regularly consults with federal, state and local government agencies and officials on the development of public environmental education programs and facilities. The office also manages a statewide adult education program and a nationally recognized environmental education certification program, and promotes environmental education job opportunities to the public through its email listserv, online job and internship listing service and individual consultation. The office supports and promotes the natural resource and regulatory divisions within in the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
The office includes the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Library which provides
research assistance, interlibrary loans and maintains a library collection of books, federal and
state documents, audiovisual materials, newsletters and journals as well as a model environmental education collection. The library serves the diverse research
and educational needs of the department and the public.
The operations of the N.C. Office of Environmental Education are enumerated by the N.C. Environmental Education Act of 1993 and are detailed in the North Carolina Environmental Education Plan.
Enabling Legislation, The Environmental Education Act of 1993
Office of EE "By The Numbers"
2004-10 Grants Awarded to Office of EE
2008 Accomplishments
Office of EE Fact Sheet
Mission
The mission of the N.C. Office of Environmental Education is to encourage, support and promote environmental education programs, facilities and resources in North Carolina for the purpose of improving the public's environmental literacy and stewardship of natural resources through planning, policy development, community involvement, innovative partnerships and collaboration.
 What Is Environmental Education?
Environmental education is a learning process that increases people's knowledge and awareness about the environment and associated challenges, develops the necessary skills and expertise to address the challenges, and fosters attitudes, motivations, and commitments to make informed decisions and take responsible action (UNESCO, Tbilisi Declaration, 1978).
Environmental Education in
North Carolina
The work and goals of the NC Office of Environmental Education are based on North Carolina's Environmental Education Plan.
Check out the National Environmental Education and Training Foundation's EE Resources at a Glance.
Click here to find the top ten reasons to support environmental education!
Take a look at what is happening in the EE field in other states.
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What Are the Components of Environmental Education?
- Awareness and sensitivity to the environment and environmental challenges
- Knowledge and understanding of the environment and environmental challenges
- Attitudes of concern for the environment and motivation to improve or maintain environmental quality
- Skills to identify and help resolve environmental challenges
- Participation in activities that lead to the resolution of environmental challenges (UNESCO, 1978)
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