By Diona Williams, M.Ed. ECSE The state of Washington is the first pilot in the United States that aims to finally license outdoor, nature-based, and forest preschools. This is in reference to schools that spend the majority of their days outside the four walls, exploring natural spaces, regardless of the weather. You can see all […]
By AAEE Member & Volunteer: Diona Williams I am a full-time Early Childhood Education Professor a few days out of the week at a Tribal Community College called Tohono O’odham. However, I have worked with children birth to age 8 for the last 17 plus years in many different capacities. My career has allowed me […]
Environmental Education organizations across America are coming to terms with a history of practice that has often been, and continues to be, exclusionary of many groups. This was a central topic at our 2019 #WEareEE Conference, and we want to keep the conversation going. We’re also writing this short piece 1) to clarify some of […]
From author Andrew Weiner, featuring artist April Chu: How do we engage children in the outdoors and help create a new generation of environmental stewards? We do it with stories and activities that invite them to explore and enjoy nature and to become participants in the natural world. Then, we must bring those children into […]
ALL DAY Saturday is for YOU! As early childhood educators know, the experiences in the early years continue to shape a person’s identity, ability, and attitudes throughout the rest of their lifetime. According to First Things First, 90% of a child’s brain develops by age 5, and researchers have learned that the human brain develops […]
Thinking about coming to the 2019 statewide Environmental Education conference? I sure am! Although I love a good presentation, as an experiential learner, I also love getting out into a community and seeing real models that WORK! I know AAEE has put a lot of time into collaborating with local educational, recreational, environmental, outdoor, institutions […]
Author: Dr. Mariana Altrichter – Photographer: Peter Sherman As an environmentalist and conservation biologist, I have been growing aware of the lack of interest among the adult population to make daily choices based on the welfare of environment. People seem to know about our pressing environmental issues, but do not translate this knowledge into behavior change. […]
As many of you know, the Arizona Association for Environmental Education’s (AAEE’s) environmental educator certification program has been growing for over a decade now. Beginning in 2007 & 2008 with knowledgeable and dedicated volunteers (Lisa Herrmann, Julie Gidley, Karen Schedler, and Lynn Fleming), the first pilot program ran in 2010. After the release of the […]
Move the Movement! Advocacy Tools for EE Since the beginning, AAEE has advocated for environmental education and environmental educators. One of our guiding purposes is to “promote environmental education as a unique field and profession worthy of support.” This year, we’re asking our members to join us in the fight for the three E’s […]
A School Garden Story By Ashley Fine Over the past decade, our staff, students, and families at Skyview School (Prescott, Arizona) have been continually expanding our school’s learning gardens. Currently, Skyview has several edible gardens throughout campus, a large native plant and pollinator garden, and an extensive rainwater harvesting system. The gardens around campus are […]
