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Support for Environmental Education
Use the links and tools on this page to help build support for environmental education in Colorado.
Make the Case
Use these resources to build your case for support.
Environmental Education Overview
A one page overview of environmental education in Colorado.
EE Master Plan: Fundamentals of EE
The "Fundamentals of EE" Section of the Colorado Environmental Education Master Plan (2005) describes environmental education, benefits, types, audiences, etc.
Environmental Literacy in America Report
Describes the alarming lack of environmental awareness and knowledge in America.
Benefits of Nature for Children's Health
A two page summary of the research demonstrating the connection between nature and children's health.
SEER Report: Using the Environment as an Integrating Context
Research demonstrating the academic benefits of using the environment as an integrating context in schools.
North American Association for Environmental Education Advocacy Page
Find out more details about national initiatives to support environmental education.
Advance Natural Resource and Environmental Education in Our Schools
Join CAEE and other leaders in natural resources, public health, the environment, and education to help shape and support a K-12 standards recommendation for natural resources and environmental education.
Find out more about how YOU can be involved!
State Initiatives
The Communications and Outreach Committee is working on several projects to support the environmental education profession. One of these projects is supporting state level legislation to develop an Environmental Literacy Plan for Colorado, create an Advisory Council, and grants program for environmental education in Colorado. Click here for the latest draft. Please feel free to send comments to email or call 303-273-9527.National Initiatives
Congressman John Sarbanes introduced the No Child Left Inside Act of 2007 to the House Committee on Education and Labor (H.R. 3036) and Senator Reed introduced this bill into the senate (S.1981). This bill urges Congress to include critical environmental education measures in the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) law. Please encourage your Representative to co-sponsor this important piece of legislation! Learn more about EE and NCLB at www.eeNCLB.org.
Legislation is developed in committees of legislators with their staff. The committees responsible for the No Child Left Behind reauthorization are
- House of Representatives – Committee on Education and Labor
- Senate - Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions**
**Senator Allard is a member of this US Senate Committee
Join the No Child Left Inside Coalition
The No Child Left Inside Coalition was created in 2006 to find new ways
to encourage kids to experience nature and learn about the environment. To meet the goals, The Coalition supports the No Child Left Inside Act. Today the Coalition has grown to over 235 member organizations, representing more than 20 million people, including
environmental, education, public health and business groups, all of whom
appreciate the value of getting kids outside. Join the Coalition today on behalf of your organization at www.nclicoalition.org.
Contact your congresspersons about the No Child Left Inside Act
Do you believe that children should be better prepared to address increasingly complex environmental issues?
Do you believe that children should be spending more time outside, learning and playing?
Do you believe that the nation’s public schools have a critical role ensuring that both of these goals are met?
The No Child Left Inside Act of 2007 will make that happen, improving children’s health and contributing to a healthier, more sustainable society. You can support this bi-partisan effort by contacting your federal legislators immediately and asking them to co-sponsor the No Child Left Inside Act (H.R.3036 sponsored by Rep. John Sarbanes and S.1981 sponsored by Sen. Jack Reed). Doing so will send a signal to Congress to include the Act’s language in the No Child Left Behind law, which is currently being rewritten.
Note: “No Child Left Inside” is used with permission from the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection.
Representative Ed Perlmutter (CO-7) and Representative Diana DeGette (CO-1) have already agreed to co-sponsor the No Child Left
Inside Act. Our other congresspersons have not yet agreed to co-sponsor.
Senator Wayne Allard
Phone: (202) 224-5941 Fax: (202) 224-6471
Senator Ken Salazar
Phone: (202) 224-5852 Fax: (202) 228-5036
Representative Mark Udall (2nd)
Phone: (202) 225-2161 Fax: (202) 226-7840
Representative John T. Salazar (3rd)
Phone: (202) 225-4761 Fax: (202) 226-9669
Representative Marilyn N. Musgrave (4th)
Phone: (202) 225-4676 Fax: (202) 225-5870
Representative Doug Lamborn (5th)
Phone: (202) 225-4422 Fax: (202) 226-2638
Representative Thomas G. Tancredo (6th)
Phone: (202) 225-7882 Fax: (202) 226-4623
Please contact your representative and senators immediately to ask that they co-sponsor this important legislation. The time to contact Congress is NOW, as final changes to the No Child Left Behind bills will be made in the next few weeks.
Help us guarantee that no student is left inside when it comes to learning about his or her environment.
1.
Fax or e-mail a letter urging your federal legislators to co-sponsor
the No Child Left Inside Act of 2007 (H.R.3036; S.1981). Go to www.eeNCLB.org to email a letter.
2.
After sending your e-mail or fax, call your legislators’ offices and
ask to speak to the education staff person. Tell him or her how
important it is that your representative or senator co-sponsor the No
Child Left Inside Act and support its inclusion in the No Child Left
Behind bill.
3. Send this action alert to your friends, family, and colleagues and ask them to contact their representative and senators.
Key Points
The No Child Left Inside Act of 2007 amends the No Child Left Behind law in the following ways:
-
Provides federal funding to states to train teachers in environmental
education and to operate model environmental education programs, which
include outdoor learning.
- Provides funding to states that create
environmental literacy plans to ensure that high school graduates are
environmentally literate.
- Provides funding through an environmental education grant program to build state and national capacity.
For more information about the No Child Left Inside Act and the No Child Left Inside Coalition, go to www.eenclb.org.
Get Active
Talk to policy makers and decision makers about the importance of environmental education in Colorado.
National
Colorado General Assembly
Find your representatives and senators
Advocacy and Lobbying 101
Can you lobby? Yes you can! All individuals have the opportunity to contact their representatives. If you are representing an organization, talk to your supervisor before making any bold moves. If you are worried about your nonprofit status, nonprofit employees can advocate for environmental education! The Colorado Nonprofit Association has a great toolkit with all the guidelines.
Colorado Nonprofit Association Advocacy Toolkit
Join the Communications and Outreach Committee
This committee is works on different projects to build support for environmental education in Colorado. The committee typically meets monthly in person or by phone. Email CAEE for more information.