What is the Environmental Education Alliance?
The Environmental Education Alliance (EEA) is a coalition of organizations and educators who envision a world where people and nature thrive. Since 1990, EEA has been serving as the backbone organization in this field, envisioning a time when every Georgia child grows up connected to nature, knowledgeable about the environment, motivated to protect the earth, and empowered to create a just and sustainable future. We work toward this goal by advocating for the field; providing research-based models, methods, and materials to educators; advancing equitable and inclusive practices; demonstrating collective impact; offering opportunities for collaboration; and promoting excellence in environmental education and outdoor learning.
THE LATEST NEWS
2023-24 GOLD Grant Application
Go for the GOLD! ~ Deadline Extended until DECEMBER 1st
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Funding has been allocated by the Georgia legislature for a new round of GOLD Grants. Schools, school districts, non-profit organizations and public agencies are eligible to apply. Projects may include engage students in outdoor learning by providing professional development for educators, schoolyard improvements, students supplies, or field trips. |
EEA PROGRAMS & SERVICES
EEA Signature Programs
EEA operates these signature programs to promote excellence and collective impact in environmental and outdoor learning.
CoOL hosts an annual Outdoor Learning Symposium, manages the Outdoor Learning Collaboratory, created the Outdoor Learning Toolkit, advocates for outdoor education, and promotes funding to engage more children in nature experiences, field investigations, outdoor learning, problem-solving and environmental stewardship projects.
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MAG offers educator workshops using the Monarchs, Milkweed and More curriculum, hosts a biennial Pollinator Symposium, teaches land managers, garden clubs and schools how to restore native habitat, certifies pollinator habitats that meet MAG criteria, sponsors the annual Symbolic Migration as part of Journey North, and provides pollinator habitat grants when possible.
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ATEEG is Georgia's nationally-accredited certification program for environmental educators. It consists of three core courses and an independent project. The core courses are currently offered in a hybrid format that includes in-person workshops, online-self-paced courses, and synchronous interactive webinars.
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EEA Initiatives
EEA is focused on projects and programs that meet needs identified in the 2022-2025 Strategic Plan.
EE Landscape Analysis The EE Landscape Analysis was designed to find out more about environmental education (EE) providers of in the southeast. As part of this effort, EEA surveyed outdoor learning and EE providers in Georgia. In partnership with seven other regional states, the data was analyzed and used to create maps and a suite of planning tools. The second phase, which extended the survey to Georgia schools, was completed in 2023 and revealed strengths and needs throughout Georgia. |
Outdoor Learning Collaboratory Amid the many outdoor learning methods and models, which are most effective in terms of student learning outcomes, health and well-being, and the ability to solve local environmental problems? EEA is asking educators and facility managers to share their expertise and ideas about best practices in outdoor learning... from design and construction to instruction and everything in between. |
Inclusive & Equitable Teaching Practices EEA's goal is for environmental education and outdoor learning to benefit every child in Georgia. To address gaps in access, EEA is spotlighting effective models, advancing equitable instructional strategies, creating professional learning workshops and courses to increase capacity, and partnering with organizations that have demonstrated success in culturally-competent teaching. |
Guidelines for Excellence Institute As Georgia's designated Guidelines for Excellence in EE Institute, EEA is authorized to offer Guidelines for Excellence courses. Developed by the National Project for Excellence in Environmental Education, the Guidelines set the standards for high-quality environmental education and reflect best practices. Each guide was drafted by a diverse team of professionals and reviewed nationwide. |
EEA Resources
EEA invites members and partners to take advantage of these opportunities and services.
Teaching Materials EEA offers free collections of curated and original lessons, activities, and projects intended to help educators engage students in nature and environmental problem-solving. |
Memorial Forest The EEA Memorial Forest provides a way to commemorate loved ones who have contributed to the field of environmental education by planting trees in their memory around the state. |
GreenSleeves EEA's virtual book club offers members a chance to discuss books and share ideas or reflections with each other. We are fortunate to have the authors join us from time to time. |
Outdoor Learning Store EEA has partnered with the Outdoor Learning Store to provide a non-profit source of teaching supplies. A percentage of sales from Georgia goes to EEA. Enter code eea22$%! for 5% off. |
EEA Curated Collections
Celebrate outdoors and explore EEA's teaching resources! Click the pics
WILDLIFE ACTIVITIES
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GARDEN-BASED LEARNING
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CLIMATE CHANGE
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ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
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COMMUNITY SCIENCE
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EEA Partner Programs
EEA supports these environmental and outdoor learning programs, providing fiscal sponsorship and tax-exempt status.
Georgia Project WET is a water education program that envisions a world in which action-oriented education enables every child to understand and value water, ensuring a sustainable future. Project WET promotes awareness, knowledge, and stewardship of water resources by creating and distributing teaching materials and conducting educators workshops. |
Rivers Alive is Georgia's volunteer waterway cleanup program. It aims to keep all watersheds within the state trash-free and encourages volunteers to target streams, rivers, lakes, beaches, and wetlands to help to protect our waterways. The mission of Rivers Alive is to create awareness of and involvement in the preservation of Georgia's water resources. |
Georgia Adopt-A-Stream (AAS) is the state's volunteer water quality monitoring program. Since 1993, the program has engaged citizen scientists all across Georgia and beyond in water protection activities, through a series of educational workshops which train individuals on the physical, chemical and biological health of their waterways. |
Funding for Environmental Education and Outdoor Learning
EEA offers these grant opportunities whenever funds are available.
Dragonfly GrantsEEA's Dragonfly Grants inspire innovation by encouraging environmental educators to integrate performing and visual arts with learning experiences. |
Pollinator Habitat Grants
EEA's Monarchs Across Georgia Pollinator Habitat Grants encourage the creation or enhancement of habitat for monarch butterflies. |
CoOL Grants
EEA's CoOL Grants support the creation of outdoor learning stations and engaging students in experiential learning, STEM and environmental stewardship. |
Grant Opportunities for 2023/24
GOLD Grants The FY 2024 budget for the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) included another $75,000 appropriation for outdoor learning grants for local school systems. EEA will administer the grants for GaDOE. |
Wildlife Viewing Grants In EEA partnered with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources to provide wildlife cameras, bird feeders, nest cams, and teaching guides for classrooms and nature centers across the state. Click to see what they did. |
EEinGeorgia Grants Database If you need funds for student-directed projects, garden-based learning, or other environmental or outdoor education activities, check out the online grants database at EEinGeorgia.org. |
EE Landscape Analysis
PUT YOUR SCHOOL or ORGANIZATION ON THE EE MAP
Please complete this survey today!
Deadline extended
Congratulations to the following schools and organizations that won
GOLD (Georgia Outdoor Learning Demonstration) Grants
from the Georgia Department of Education
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Note: The initial grant round was very small - just enough for one grant to be awarded in each part of the state. As a result, many excellent applications did not receive grants due to lack of funds. EEA is advocating for additional grant funds to be made available and for those applicants not selected for funding during the initial round to be reconsidered without having to reapply.
The Georgia legislature recently included GOLD Grants in next year's GaDOE budget.
Thanks to everyone who used their "Outside Voices" to
SPEAK UP AND GET THE GOLD GRANTS RENEWED!
Your efforts made a difference.
PHOTO GALLERIES of RECENT EEA EVENTS
Outdoor Learning Symposium
Nov 7, 2023 at Ford Elementary, Acworth, GA
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MAG
Symbolic Migration
Thousands of children from across North America and 53 classes in Mexico joined MAG for the 28th annual "Symbolic Monarch Butterfly Migration." Families, home schools, nature centers, youth groups, and classrooms participated in this exciting cultural experience and community science project.
The exchange of symbolic butterflies builds bridges of communication between students in Mexico, the U.S., and Canada. United by the monarch butterfly, children across North America learn authentic lessons of conservation, cooperation, and ambassadorship.
The exchange of symbolic butterflies builds bridges of communication between students in Mexico, the U.S., and Canada. United by the monarch butterfly, children across North America learn authentic lessons of conservation, cooperation, and ambassadorship.
EEA Leadership Workshop on Oct 9th
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The first-ever EEA Leadership Workshop took place on October 9th. Participants - including instructors, presenters, board and advisory group members, reviewers, mentors, and volunteers - collaborated with their counterparts from different EEA programs. The workshop was free and included lunch. |
SEEA Regional Conference hosted by TEEA
Fall Creek Falls State Park ~ Spencer, TN
Sep 21 - 24, 2023
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Summer Workshops for School Districts |
EEA Winter Workshop on
Inclusive Environmental & Outdoor Education
Inclusive Environmental & Outdoor Education
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Thanks to speakers Stefan Moss, Audrey Peterman, JD Ferguson, Akiima Price, and Dr. Patricia Morgan!
Environmental Education CEO Roundtable December 2022
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EEA / SEEA Conference
10th Annual SEEA Conference & Research Symposium
hosted by EEA during our 30th Anniversary, September 29 - October 1, 2022
Our inspiring Keynote Speakers
Daniel Blackman
EPA Region 4 |
Lesford Duncan
Greening Youth Fdn |
Jairo Garcia
Urban Climate Nexus |
EEA Awardees
Amanda Buice |
Marquita Jackson
Zipa Vokhiwa |
West Atlanta Watershed Alliance |
Many thanks to our 2022 Conference sponsors!
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Ringing in the new year with EEA!
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Thank you to every teacher, environmental educator and outdoor learning provider who takes kids outside, connects them with nature, inspires curiosity, and prepares them with the knowledge, skills, and motivation to protect the planet.
And thanks to the EEA members, member-organizations, donors, grantors, foundations, volunteers and sponsors who make it possible to support educators, promote excellence in the field, and serve as Georgia's backbone organization in environmental education and outdoor learning. |
Outdoor Learning During the COVID Pandemic & Beyond
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Click to read EEA's statement on ways that outdoor learning can contribute to safety and enable hands-on investigations during the pandemic and its aftermath.
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Check out CoOL's Toolkit for Outdoor Learning, your quick-start guide to creating learning spaces, managing classes, and teaching effectively outside the classroom walls.
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A Few of EEA's Curated Collections of Teaching Materials
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Zero Waste Heroes Activities
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Special Membership Offer
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For the cost of a cup of coffee, you can be a member of EEA. Pay as little as $3/month or $30/year in dues at the regular rate. EEA has a limited-time offer to JOIN or RENEW at the lower Nymph rate of $20. If you need a year of FREE MEMBERSHIP, email your request for the discount code to info@eealliance.org. You can catch up next year, when times are better. Until then, enjoy this opportunity to meet people, strengthen skills, and keep up with emerging trends and issues. And, if you do have funds to spare, feel free to click the GIVE button below to contribute to our Membership Fund so we can continue to offer this special deal.
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Thanks to these EEA Platinum Sponsors
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Little Otter
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Jill's Butterfly Garden Workshop
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Environmental Education Alliance, Inc.
P.O. Box 801066 | Acworth, GA 30101 EEA does not does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability in its program , activities, or employment. For more information on EEA's non-discrimination commitment click here . Grievance officer may be contacted at info@eealliance.org |