Three Cheers for North Carolina Environmental Education (EE) Schools!

Penny Road Elementary, Cary

 Many parents and teachers across North Carolina have taken the initiative to integrate environmental education into their schools through school gardens, nature trails, environmental clubs, waste reduction plans, curriculum and more! Studies point to numerous psychological and intellectual benefits of these types of practices. One such study implemented an approach to integrating the environment as a context for learning. Rather than focusing on environmental awareness, the approach was to use the school's environment and community as a framework for learning. Results from this nationwide study, published in Closing the Achievement Gap show school-wide benefits such as better performance on standardized tests and reduced discipline problems.

 

Organic Garden, Ravenscroft School, Raleigh

The North Carolina Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs has an online EE schools directory for schools who have facilities or programs that support environmental education. Each school has a profile page in which they can highlight activities, features, designations and awards by posting photos and information. The directory serves as a place for EE schools to connect and learn about each other and to serve as role models for the greater community.

 

We also have special designations for schools that have earned a Green Ribbon Schools award from the U.S. Department of Education and for those who will be working on their NC Green Schools designation, an upcoming North Carolina based program. Both programs require a school-wide and even community-wide commitment to environmental education as a rigorous rubric must be followed to meet the standards. In fact, only two schools have earned the Green Ribbon Schools award, Evergreen Community Charter School in Asheville and the American Hebrew Academy in Greensboro.

 

UTOTES Birdhouses

Another designation is for schools that have participated in the UTOTES program through the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences. UTOTES stands for Using The Outdoors to Teach Experiential Science, and is a year long program that teaches elementary schools how to turn their school grounds into a learning environment.

 

Click here to learn more about EE Schools and these other programs.

 

If you are considering taking on a project at your local school, our grants page, may help you find funding for your project.

 

Congratulations to all the parents and teachers who have taken initiatives to integrate environmental education at their schools! If you are not already listed in our directory, please add your school! The guidelines and forms can be found here.