Does Environmental Education Improve Environmental Quality?

With over 200 environmental education centers such as museums, zoos, and nature centers, North Carolina is rich in environmental intellectual capital. But do all of these learning opportunities actually improve environmental quality? A study by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency suggests yes!

The EPA's study, "Quantifying a Relationship Between Place-based Learning and Environmental Quality," aimed to answer the above question on a national level. Place-based learning is learning that occurs outside of the classroom in the context of the community. The EPA narrowed their focus to air quality programs. The study found that nearly half of the education programs studied reported evidence of improvements in air quality in the surrounding region. The programs that included community involvement and service learning, reported even greater gains in air quality. Read the final report here.

Two such nature centers in N.C. that often proved service learning opportunities for children and adults are the Stevens Nature Center at Hemlock Bluffs in Cary and the Walnut Creek Wetland Center in Raleigh.

Stevens Nature Center Nature Programs: http://bit.ly/YkOIrO

Walnut Creek Wetland Center Programs: http://bit.ly/143yfYv

Visit the alphabetical listing of other great centers in N.C. on the N.C. Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs webpage.