Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education Receives Affiliate Award
Washington, DC – The Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education (CAEE) has received an award from the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) for “Outstanding Service to EE by an Affiliate Organization.” The award is given each year to a member of the NAAEE Affiliate Network that has provided outstanding EE in its state, province, region, or territory in North America.
Katie Navin accepted the award on behalf of CAEE on Saturday, October 15, 2011, at the NAAEE annual conference in Raleigh, NC (USA).
“Collectively, the members of CAEE are making a huge impact on Colorado’s communities, both in the quality of education and in the decisions we make about the environment,” said Navin. “We are proud to be a leader in our state and part of the collective national efforts as part of the Affiliate network.”
Operating since 1989, CAEE has worked diligently to promote the advancement of EE and has transformed the EE profession in Colorado. Supported by 850 individual members and more than 65 organizations representing 90,000 Coloradans, one of CAEE’s greatest successes to date has been its influence in passing Colorado’s first state legislation to support EE in 2010. The bill allowed for the creation of a grant program which allocates funds towards programs that encourage children to learn outdoors. In addition, the bill requires that the Colorado Department of Education implement an environmental literacy plan. The department enlisted the aid of CAEE, asking the organization to create a proposal which was submitted in February 2011 and is currently under review. More than 300 people were engaged in the process through focus groups, surveys and committee work. CAEE’s other achievements include raising more than $90,000 to support environmental literacy efforts.
CAEE strives to create diversity and inclusivity within the EE community through many of its initiatives. In particular, CAEE worked with SPREE, a member organization, to pilot a youth internship program last year to create interest in EE among young people from low-income communities and communities of color. Fifteen young people were provided with 20 hours of EE training and were then worked with SPREE to complete a summer internship. Upon completion, three youth submitted portfolios to become certified environmental educators. Based on this success, the program will continue.
CAEE and previous award recipients are highlighted on the NAAEE Web site http://www.naaee.net/programs/awards/affiliates.
The North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) is an international network of environmental educators who infuse communities with high-quality teaching methods to show the positive, non-confrontational ways that people can bring about solutions to environmental challenges. Find out more information about the organization and the conference at www.naaee.net.
For Further Information Contact:
Sue Bumpous, Program and Communications Manager
NAAEE
(202) 419-0413
