The following highlights a range of perspectives on EE offered by various organizations. To highlight differences in perspectives, this section uses categories such as "conservation", "sustainable development", and "economics" to group the organizations by the content of how they view EE, rather than by their mission statements. This is not an exhaustive list of perspectives on EE or organizations with EE programs, but rather a sample of a range of perspectives.

Where possible the mission statements and purposes of each organization have been quoted. Please note that more detailed information about the organizations represented below and on other EE Perspectives pages can be accessed from the Organizational Information page.

Foundational

The North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE)

Mission:

"Since 1971, the Association has promoted environmental education and supported the work of environmental educators. There are many environmental interest groups, and many organizations dedicated to improving education. NAAEE uniquely combines and integrates both of these perspectives, and takes a cooperative, nonconfrontational, scientifically-balanced approach to promoting education about environmental issues."

Position on EE:

In 1983 NAAEE built on the Belgrade Charter and the Tbilisi proceedings to develop a definition and a set of guiding principles for environmental educators. The following statement drawn from the NAAEE constitution has guided Association activities for over a decade: "Environmental education is a process which promotes the analysis and understanding of environmental issues as the basis for effective education, problem-solving, policy-making, and management. The purpose of environmental education is to foster the education of skilled individuals able to understand environmental problems and possessing the expertise to devise effective solutions to them. In the broader context, environmental education's purpose is to assist in the development of a citizenry conscious of the scope and complexity of current and emerging environmental problems and supportive of solutions and policies which are ecologically sound."

The National Science Teachers Association

Mission: "Founded in 1944 [NSTA] is the largest organization in the world committed to promoting excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning for all. NSTA's current membership of more than 53,000 includes science teachers, science supervisors, administrators, scientists, business and industry representatives, and others involved in science education."

Position on EE: NSTA's position statement on Environmental Education and the Use of Natural Resources in Science Teaching was adopted by the Board of Directors in 1985.

"It is increasingly evident that the quality of the biophysical and social environment is deteriorating at a rate that threatens human survival. Furthermore, an exponentially growing world population threatens even more rapid deterioration in the future. It must be recognized that science and technology will necessarily have an important role in solving these problems. It is vital, therefore, that science educators concern themselves with environmental problems. For these reasons, the National Science Teachers Association urges the following actions:

•I. It is imperative that students at all levels develop an understanding of how humans relate to natural systems, and realize the importance of making wise individual and social decisions in respect to the use of natural resources and the maintenance of environmental quality.

•II. Science educators have a responsibility to help students establish a firm knowledge of fundamental scientific principles in order that they might better comprehend, explain, and predict the consequences of human actions on natural systems.

•III. Firsthand interaction with terrestrial, aquatic, atmospheric, and human-designed components of the environment is considered both relevant and necessary for effective science teaching and learning. With such an experiential base, science educators can help students to develop the kind of reasoned thinking that will result in responsible decision-making regarding human/ecosystem interaction.

•IV. NSTA supports activities that promote increased awareness and responsible educational use of terrestrial, aquatic, atmospheric, and human-designed components of the environment. "

(Copyright © 1985 National Science Teachers Association)

The U.S. EPA's Office of Environmental Education

Mission Statement: "To advance and support education efforts that develop an environmentally conscious and responsible public and inspire personal responsibility in caring for the environment."

Position on EE: "Environmental education increases public awareness and knowledge about environmental issues and provides the skills needed to make informed and responsible decisions. It enhances critical thinking, problem solving, and effective decision making skills, and teaches individuals how to weigh various sides of an environmental issue before making decisions. Environmental education does not advocate a particular viewpoint or course of action."

The National Project for Excellence in Environmental Education(NPEEE),

Mission: "Through NPEEE, NAAEE is taking the lead in establishing guidelines for the development of balanced, scientifically accurate, and comprehensive environmental education programs. Quality environmental education programs facilitate the teaching of science, civics, social studies, mathematics, geography, language arts, etc. These guidelines will help educators develop meaningful environmental education programs that integrate across and build upon the high standards set by the core disciplines."

Position on EE: "Environmental education is a process that aims to develop an environmentally literate citizenry that can compete in our global economy; has the skills, knowledge, and inclinations to make well-informed choices; and exercises the rights and responsibilities of members of a community."

The National Environmental Education and Training Foundation (NEETF)

Mission:< "To help America meet critical national challenges through environmental learning. Environmental learning connects people of all ages and walks of life to the solutions of larger issues of critical national concern such as health care, educational excellence, consumers' 'right to know,' our competitive edge in business, the promotion of individual responsibility and effective community participation."

Position on EE: "The Foundation initiates and supports programs that make the connection between sound environmental studies and improved academic performance."

Conservation

The Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD)

Mission: "An international, nonprofit, nonpartisan education association committed to the mission of forging covenants in teaching and learning for the success of all learners. Founded in 1943, ASCD provides professional development in curriculum and supervision; initiates and supports activities to provide educational equity for all students; and serves as a world-class leader in education information services."

Position on EE: "Because of the technological nature of modern society and rapidly increasing world population, human beings must learn to preserve the environment. Schools need to teach individual and social responsibility for the wise use of resources."

U.S.D.A. Forest Service

Mission: "As set forth in law, the mission [of the U.S. Forest Service] is to achieve quality land management under the sustainable multiple-use management concept to meet the diverse needs of people."

Position on EE:"Through structured educational experiences and activities targeted to varying age groups and populations, Conservation Education enables people to realize how natural resources and ecosytems affect each other and how resources can be used wisely....Through Conservation Education, people develop the critical thinking they need to understand the complexities of ecological problems. It also encourages people to act on their own to conserve natural resources and use them in a responsible manner."

Educational

State Education and Environment Roundtable

Mission: "To aid state education agencies in their efforts to improve learning by incorporating environment-based education schools." SEER was established in 1995.

Position on EE: "Roundtable members coined the term EIC, using the environment as an integrating context, to represent the type of environment-based education that they seek to promote. They defined EIC as: education that employs natural and built environments as the context for learning and, within that framework:

•crosses traditional disciplinary boundaries;
· relies on team-teaching;
· provides hands-on learning experiences, often through project-based, problem-solving activities;
· offers cooperative learning opportunities; and,
· adapts to the needs of individual students through learner-centered methods."

Earth Science

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Mission: "As explorers, pioneers, and innovators, we boldly expand frontiers in air and space to inspire and serve America and to benefit the quality of life on Earth."

Position on EE: "NASA uses its mission, facilities, human resources, and programs to provide information, experiences, and research opportunities for students at all levels to support the enhancement of knowledge and skills in the areas of science, mathematics, technology, and geography."

Sustainable Development

President's Council on Sustainable Development

Mission: "To forge consensus on Policy by bringing together diverse interests to identify and develop innovative economic, environmental and social policies and strategies; Demonstrate Implementation of policy that fosters sustainable development by working with diverse interests to identify and demonstrate implementation of sustainable development;

Get the word out about sustainable development; and Evaluate and report on progress by recommending national, community, and enterprise level frameworks for tracking sustainable development." Established by President Clinton in June 1993.

Position on EE: "Education for sustainability is a lifelong learning process that leads to an informed and involved citizenry having the creative problem-solving skills, scientific and social literacy, and commitment to engage in responsible individual and cooperative actions. These actions will help ensure an environmentally sound and economically prosperous future."

Second Nature

Mission: "To expand the capacity of colleges and universities to make an environmentally just and sustainable future a foundation of learning, research, operations and interaction within the local, regional and global community."

Position on EE: "Our goal is to have the systematic interdependence of scientific, economic, cultural, political and humanistic learning applied to all learning and practice to achieve a sustainable relationship between humans and the environment. We focus on colleges and universities because they educate our future teachers, leaders, managers, policy makers, and other professionals. We work to expand the capability of future decision makers to make environmentally sustainable living a central and continuing part of education, research and campus operations and community outreach."

Earth Education

The Institute for Earth Education (IEE)

Mission: "IEE was founded in 1974 to offer a different educational response to our environmental problems than the one that's been adopted by the educational establishment."

Position on EE: "Earth education is programmatic and integral, not random and supplemental. It is natural-world based, not classroom-based. It is lifestyle oriented instead of issues- oriented, and infused with the messages of deep ecology as opposed to the subtle management messages that pervade much of the material available in environmental education."

The Political Economy Research Center (PERC)

Mission: PERC is "dedicated to original research that brings market principles to resolving environmental problems." PERC "pioneered the approach known as free market environmentalism. It is based on the following tenets: Private property rights encourage stewardship of resources; Government subsidies often degrade the environment; Market incentives spur individuals to conserve resources and protect environmental quality; Polluters should be liable for the harm they cause others."

Position on EE: PERC advocates "introducing economics to environmental education...[to help] this controversial field...adopt more realism and foster critical thinking in students."

Science

Competitive Enterprise Institute - Center for Environmental Education Research

Mission: "A non-profit public policy organization dedicated to the principles of free enterprise and limited government."

Position on EE: The Center for Environmental Education Research (CEER) is a project of the Competitive Enterprise Institute dedicated to improving "the quality of teaching about the environment in America’s K-12th grade schools by ensuring that students: receive unbiased environmental information which is based on sound science and economics; and develop the critical thinking skills needed to make informed decisions about complex environmental issues."

Environmental Literacy Council

Mission: "A non-profit organization established to bring together scientists, economists, educators, and other experts to inform environmental studies."

Position on EE: "We believe that a true environmental education should provide a solid basis in the scientific and economic aspects of environmental issues, we try to provide links to reliable data and analysis as well as to a range of views in debates over politics and policy."

Multi-Cultural

Three Circles Center for Multicultural Environmental Education

Mission: "To introduce, encourage, and cultivate multicultural perspectives and values in environmental and outdoor education, recreation and interpretation. The 'three circles' of our name refers to the dynamic interacting systems of culture, ecology, and community."

Position on EE: "Three Circles Center is "dedicated to assisting environmental and outdoor educators and interpreters in making a successful transition to teaching in a multicultural society based on the principles of environmental sustainability and social justice."

Greater Washington Urban League

Mission: "To assist African Americans in the achievement of social and economic equality."

Position on EE: "The Urban Environmental WALL (Water, Air, Land, and Legislation) program introduces youth to a spectrum of environmental issues affecting the quality of health and life in their urban community. Youth are challenged and encouraged to explore how water and air quality are affected by land use and legislation."

Nature

American Nature Study Society (ANSS)

Mission: "Leading the way to the future through environmental education."

Position on EE: "The Nature Study movement pioneered student-centered learning using hands-on teaching materials and field experiences. These interactive methods are now recognized as essential to effective teaching. Nature Study builds bridges between the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities, and grounds them in real-world experiences. ANSS helps its members to achieve teaching excellence."