CREST Professional Learning Institute for K-12 Teachers
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Funding Partners |
EEA's CREST professional learning initiative is primarily funded by the R Howard Dobbs Jr Foundation with additional support from the Southeastern Environmental Education Alliance, the North American Association for Environmental Education, and the Georgia Forestry Commission, through a sub-grant from the US Department of Agriculture Inflation Reduction Act
CREST Teams
Atlanta
Public Schools |
Cherokee Co
School District |
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Fulton County
Schools |
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Team Leaders
Atlanta Cherokee Co Cobb Co DeKalb Co Fulton Co Muscogee Co Indepependent
Dr. Warren Edwards
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Dr. Erin Jacobs
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Alana Davis
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Kyla Sankara
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Nicole Ford
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Dr. Melissa Niemi
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Dr. Amy Gilbert
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CREST Facilitators
Dr. Reagan Biwott
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Dr. Donna Barrett
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Karan Wood
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Dr. Amy Gilbert
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Jerry and Penny Hightower
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Part 1: Orientation
Welcome webinars (CREST orientation sessions) are scheduled for March 12 and 13, 2025, at 12:00, 4:00 or 6:00, as well as Wed April 2 at 4:00 and 6:00. Team members, leaders, and facilitators are asked to attend any one of the eight sessions.
After Orientation, the next steps are to:
- take a Diagnostic Self-Assessment
- use the results of the Self-Assessment to choose professional learning (PL) that is useful
- personalize a CREST Portfolio / Digital Notebook
- record and reflect on the PL you take, in your Portfolio
Part 2: Spring Professional Learning
CREST team members are invited to participate in any professional learning opportunities that are suited to their needs and experience, with the goal that everyone will arrive at the Summer Institute proficient in the theories (if not the implementation) of 3-Dimensional Science and Outdoor Learning.
EEA's In-Person Workshops, Spring 2025
Stewardship Projects Offered by EEA Partners, Spring 2025
Adopt-a-Stream
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Georgia Adopt-A-Stream is the state's volunteer water quality monitoring program. Volunteers (often class groups) select a site along a local stream, wetland, lake, or estuary to adopt. They regularly monitor their site and submit monitoring data to our online database. Types of monitoring include chemical, bacterial, macroinvertebrate, visual, and amphibian monitoring.
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WAWA Urban Forest Fest, April 12, 2025Participate in the West Atlanta Watershed Alliance (WAWA) Urban Forest Fest and Service Learning Saturday to gain ideas for effectively engaging a community in environmental stewardship. The events take place in three locations: the Outdoor Activity Center, Lionel Hampton - Beecher Hills Park, and Cascade Springs Nature Center. Register using the link below. Some events cost $5 but the service activities are free.
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21 Day Challenges ~ beginning April 17th
What is a 21 Day Challenge? This professional learning option offers daily (M-F) emails for four weeks, followed by a virtual webinar to compare notes with other participants. Each email provides a briefing along with a suggested action. Collectively, the emails are intended to incorporate information, inculcate habits, and prepare educators to implement outdoor learning with students, in the future. Here are some of the topics that will be addressed by 21 Day Challenges, starting in Spring 2025.
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Finding Phenomena al Fresco
Instilling H.O.P.E.
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Overcoming Obstacles to
Outdoor Teaching 
eeResource Round-Up
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Overcoming Obstacles to Outdoor Teaching: strategies for addressing the challenges and fears that keep classes inside
Finding Phenomena al Fresco: observable, real world phenomena in the schoolyard to anchor "3-D science" lessons
Instilling H.O.P.E: success stories and authentic problem-solving opportunities for combatting students' eco-anxiety
eeResource Round-Up: explore EEA's curated collection of teaching and professional learning resources
Online Webinars & Workshops offered by EEA Partners
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Green Schoolyard Lecture Series - ongoing monthly series
presented by Green Schoolyards America - first Thursday of the month @ 2:00 pm Eastern
This monthly discussion forum is intended for school districts, non-profits, and public agencies in California and around the country, to share information as they move forward with establishing schoolyard forests at scale. The goal is to provide support for schoolyard forests by building a collegial “community of practice” and national network. These free, interactive webinars feature engaging presentations from school districts, guest speakers, and technical experts who share their work on schoolyard forests. Time is provided for small group conversations to encourage networking, share best practices, ask questions, and build relationships among practitioners.
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Spring Webinars on Outdoor Learning
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presented by The Outdoor Learning School & Store, EEA and Take Me Outside
Select Tuesdays this Spring at 7:00pm Eastern
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Environmental Action Civics
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Earth Force's Environmental Action Civics Series
These sessions explore Environmental Action Civics (EAC), a process developed by Earth Force for engaging students in real world problem-solving, environmental stewardship, and community action.
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School Gardens with Ease - an Introductory Workshop with Written Guides
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Transform your Teaching Practice with School Gardens
This 70 minute workshop from Kids Growing City is repeated three times a day: at 10:00am, 3:00pm and 9:00pm, every day from February 4th - 9th. The intended audience is 3rd - 8th grade teachers. Gain tips for creating a garden, integrating garden activities with lessons, and avoiding summer maintenance problems.
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Self-Paced eeCredential Courses and Learning Modules
eeLearning Modules from NAAEE
eeLearning Modules from NAAEE
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5 free self-paced modules with certificates:
What is Environmental Education (EE)? The History of EE Research and Evaluation Civic Engagement for Environmental Issues Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences |
EEA Short Courses Coming in April and May
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SOLS: Sustaining Outdoor Learning Spaces
This self-paced online course focuses on creating, maintaining, and sustaining outdoor learning spaces and related programs. Available mid-April.
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OOO! Overcoming Obstacles to Outdoors
This self-paced online course focuses on the challenges that can limit outdoor learning and on strategies for overcoming those obstacles. Available mid-April.
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Part 3: CREST Summer Institute June 2 - 5
Location
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A 4-day, 3-night CREST Summer Institute will take place on Jekyll Island at the Villas by the Sea Conference Center. Lodging will also be at the Villas. Expenses for the Summer Institute are covered for participants except for travel to and from Jekyll Island. |
Agenda
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During the Summer Institute, these professional learning sessions will be offered. (Schedule is tentative / subject to change. Evening sessions will be scheduled on Mon, Tues, and Wed). Some of the Institute will take place in Teams, and other parts in grade bands.
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Part 4: CREST Implementation / Fall 2025
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Team members will implement 3-D Outdoor Learning with their students or redeliver professional development to teachers in their districts during Fall of 2025. There will be periodic online charrettes throughout the fall, when CREST participants present short videos showing how they implemented the program, and explaining what successes and challenges they faced. Fellow participants will provide feedback, if requested to do so. |
Part 5: Refining the CREST Model for 2026
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Based on evaluations, charrettes, and program outcomes, the CREST Challenge model will be assessed and refined in 2026. Vetted lessons and resources will continue to be added to the collection, for use by CREST participants. |
Other PL Events of Interest
Fees apply - expenses not covered by the CREST PChallenge
Conferences
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SEEA / MEEA Conference May 6 - 8, 2025 in Biloxi, MS
The Southeastern Environmental Education Alliance Conference is a gathering of environmental and outdoor educators from across the region.
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Join the team! EEA is hiring a Communications and Events Specialist.
Learn more and apply HERE
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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 [email protected] |