Environmental Education

When kids gain the environmental know-how they need to thrive in our rapidly changing world, we’ll see smarter decisions, stronger communities, and daily actions that improve their well-being and our planet.

Whether in a classroom, canoe, or anywhere in between, research shows that environmental learning sticks with kids more than traditional learning, fuels interest in science, and sparks the curiosity that makes kids better learners including in the language arts and math. It also improves health and wellness, because play outdoors improves children’s mental and physical health. Environmental education strengthens children’s self-esteem, leadership, and character, and enhances social justice by leveling the playing field.

How We Do It

Inside and outside the classroom, outstanding leaders, strong organizations, and new concepts are accelerating the adoption of widespread environmental education. Our strategies include supporting:

Smart Policy Ideas

More and more schoolsLooking for more information? You can dive deeper with these resources:

— Environmental Education Brings Numerous Academic Benefits, an executive summary of a study by Stanford University

— Nature Can Improve Health and Wellbeing by the Children & Nature Network, an overview of benefits from time in nature

— An index of more than 40 articles on the impact of environmental education on social justice with access to over 600 summarized, searchable articles on the importance of nature connection and environmental education

Want to go further? These organizations offer a wide range of information on environmental education:

— North American Association for Environmental Education

— Children & Nature Network

— Blue Sky Funders Forum1, states, and communities are tapping into the benefits that come from environmental education and making it part of every child’s experience. To drive better educational results and ensure our kids get a well-rounded education, we support collaboration between the environmental education community and other stakeholders to increase environmental education in the lives of children.

Building the Environmental Education Field

We help develop the environmental education field by bringing more funders together and creating new environmental literacy allies. We invest in connecting them with environmental education leaders and practitioners to strengthen the capacity to deliver effective programs. We support academic researchLooking for more information? You can dive deeper with these resources:

— Environmental Education Brings Numerous Academic Benefits, an executive summary of a study by Stanford University

— Nature Can Improve Health and Wellbeing by the Children & Nature Network, an overview of benefits from time in nature

— An index of more than 40 articles on the impact of environmental education on social justice with access to over 600 summarized, searchable articles on the importance of nature connection and environmental education

Want to go further? These organizations offer a wide range of information on environmental education:

— North American Association for Environmental Education

— Children & Nature Network

— Blue Sky Funders Forum1 and a culture of evaluation to advance the field’s overall effectiveness. A crucial component of our strategy includes advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Environmental Education Inside Schools

There are opportunities in our K–12 classrooms to equip our kids with environmental know-how while better supporting the attainment of other important education goals, like achievement in science, math, and social sciences. We support innovative approachesLooking for more information? You can dive deeper with these resources:

— Environmental Education Brings Numerous Academic Benefits, an executive summary of a study by Stanford University

— Nature Can Improve Health and Wellbeing by the Children & Nature Network, an overview of benefits from time in nature

— An index of more than 40 articles on the impact of environmental education on social justice with access to over 600 summarized, searchable articles on the importance of nature connection and environmental education

Want to go further? These organizations offer a wide range of information on environmental education:

— North American Association for Environmental Education

— Children & Nature Network

— Blue Sky Funders Forum1 to infusing school classroom time with environmental principles and concepts, like standards and exemplars that will promote high-quality instruction and new networks that support teaching gardens at schools across the U.S.

Environmental Education Outside Schools

After-school time, school field trips, service learning, and summer camps all offer outstanding venues for high-quality environmental education. Focusing on middle and high school, where there are fewer existing programs, we fund professional development efforts that strengthen programs that benefit kids outside the school classroom.

Looking for more information? You can dive deeper with these resources:

— Environmental Education Brings Numerous Academic Benefits, an executive summary of a study by Stanford University

— Nature Can Improve Health and Wellbeing by the Children & Nature Network, an overview of benefits from time in nature

— An index of more than 40 articles on the impact of environmental education on social justice with access to over 600 summarized, searchable articles on the importance of nature connection and environmental education

Want to go further? These organizations offer a wide range of information on environmental education:

— North American Association for Environmental Education

— Children & Nature Network

— Blue Sky Funders Forum

Equipping kids with environmental know-how and a lifelong connection to nature will empower them to make smarter decisions that lead to stronger communities and a greener planet.

Grantee Spotlight

Teach ME Outside

Teach ME Outside (TMO) supports and works in partnership with Maine communities to ensure that all Maine youth have access to powerful, culturally relevant, hands-on, environmental learning opportunities. This collaborative project works towards achieving that goal, by utilizing a strategic and data-informed process to develop supports for educators and to inform policy. TMO began by building on data from the 2019 Census of Community-Based Environmental Learning in Maine. This data led to investment and development of community-designed professional learning, culturally responsive evaluation support, network-building, advocacy, and increased outreach and communication across the state. TMO is led by a partnership between the Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance, Maine Environmental Education Association, and Nature Based Education Consortium.

Photo Credit: Rebecca Maiorano – Presumpscot School