Community Calendar

September 9 – November 4, 2024

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course is designed to equip educators with the knowledge, skills, tools and resources to take learning outdoors. This course should take you approximately 8-10 hours to complete. 

OBJECTIVES:

By the end of this course, participants will be able to: 

• Articulate your case and include at least five research/evidence-based benefits of teaching outdoors.
• Have a working definition and be able to provide examples of what outdoor learning is for you as a teacher.
• Identify potential barriers for your students and articulate ways to minimize or eliminate those barriers.
• Identify and assess at least five outdoor learning opportunities for your students.
• Express the who, what and how of strategies for gaining the necessary support for your short, medium and long term outdoor learning goals and/or projects.
• Identify strategies for successful outdoor learning which include overall strategies, management of students, adapting for weather and using technology outdoors.
• Compare and contrast the learning environments of an indoor classroom space and outdoor learning space to more effectively teach outdoors.
• Complete an outdoor learning plan which includes goals and objectives, getting support, inclusion, classroom management, location(s), curriculum connections, weather, safety and necessary materials and supplies.  

PREREQUISITES: 

• Experience working in formal or non-formal education is not required but highly encouraged.

REQUIRED MATERIALS: 

• Access to reliable internet and a desktop computer or laptop.

GRADING:

• Assignments must be completed with a score of 2 as indicated on the scoring guide provided.
• To receive a certificate of completion for 8 hours of work, you must complete all assignments and receive the scores as indicated above.

IMPORTANT DATES:
This course runs for 8 weeks, from September 9 – November 4, 2024. Although you can complete the course at your own pace, following the schedule below will ensure course completion by the final date:
Module 1 – Complete by September 23
Module 2 – Complete by October 7
Module 3 – Complete by October 21
Module 4 – Complete by November 4 – all coursework completed

Three scheduled Zoom meetings are an essential part of this course. These times could be adjusted by 30 minutes earlier.
Monday, September 9, 7:30 – 8:00 pm
Monday, September 23, 7:30 – 8:30 pm
Monday, October 14, 7:30 – 8:30 pm

If you are interested in the course, but have a conflict with these dates, contact Sophia Stephenson at director@arkansasee.org.

COST:

AEEA members: $65
Nonmembers: $100

REGISTER HERE

September 9 – November 4, 2024

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course is designed to provide educators with the background knowledge and skills needed to identify, investigate, and evaluate environmental issues as well as plan appropriate action based on their analysis.

OBJECTIVES:

By the end of this course, participants will be able to: 

• Research and analyze environmental issues ranging from local to global.
• Discuss environmental issues from a global environmental perspective.
• Analyze the influence of shared and conflicting societal values on environmental issues.
• Explain the importance of exercising the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.
• Evaluate the consequences of specific environmental changes, conditions, and issues for human and ecological systems.
• Identify environmental action strategies that are likely to be effective in specific situations and for specific purposes.
• Communicate, evaluate, and justify their own views on environmental issues and alternative ways to address them.
• Plan for action based on their research and analysis of an environmental issue.

PREREQUISITES: 

• None

REQUIRED MATERIALS: 

• Access to reliable internet and a desktop computer or laptop.

GRADING:

• Assignments must be completed with a score of 2 as indicated on the scoring guide provided.
• To receive a certificate of completion for 12 hours of work, you must complete all assignments and receive the scores as indicated above.

IMPORTANT DATES:
This course runs for 8 weeks, from September 9 – November 4, 2024. Although you can complete the course at your own pace, following the schedule below will ensure course completion by the final date:
Module 1 – Complete by September 18
Module 2 – Complete by September 27
Module 3 – Complete by October 6
Module 4 – Complete by October 22
Module 5 – Complete by November 4 – all coursework completed

Three scheduled Zoom meetings are an essential part of this course. These times could be adjusted by 30 minutes earlier.
Tuesday, September 10, 7:30 – 8:00 pm
Tuesday, September 24, 7:30 – 8:30 pm
Tuesday, October 15, 7:30 – 8:30 pm

If you are interested in the course, but have a conflict with these dates, contact Sophia Stephenson at director@arkansasee.org.

COST:

AEEA members: $65
Nonmembers: $100

REGISTER HERE

Join the Arkansas Environmental Education Association in an interactive, virtual workshop on Environmental Education Programs: Guidelines for Excellence. 

Description: 

The Environmental Education Programs: Guidelines for Excellence comprises a set of recommendations for developing, administering, and assessing high-quality environmental education programs. These recommendations, recently revised in 2022, provide a tool that can be used to ensure a firm foundation for new programs or to inform improvements in existing ones. The overall goal of these guidelines is to facilitate a superior educational process leading to the social and environmental quality that people desire. 

We invite non-formal educators, curriculum developers, librarians and other community educators, and program administrators to join us for an interactive, virtual workshop exploring the characteristics of high-quality environmental education programs. The workshop will be facilitated by Bora Simmons, Director of the National Project for Excellence in Environmental Education.

Background:

The National Project for Excellence in Environmental Education, initiated by the North American Association for Environmental Education in 1993, developed a series of guidelines that set the standards for high-quality environmental education. Each of the publications was developed by a diverse team of professionals, and each has gone through a substantive review by thousands of professionals prior to its publication.

The guidelines deliver a set of balanced, scientifically accurate, and comprehensive environmental education programs and materials. Quality environmental education programs help 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.

Date & Time: 

Wednesday, November 13, 2:00 – 4:00 pm
Wednesday, November 20, 2:00 – 4:00 pm

Professional Development:

Participants will be eligible for four hours of professional development.

Location: 

This workshop will be held over Zoom. After payment is received, login information will be sent with a confirmation. For participants who are unable to attend both sessions, we can record the main discussion of the workshop, however, this workshop will include breakout rooms for discussion that will not be recorded. Attending the workshop live is preferrable. 

Cost:

AEEA members: $15
General public: $20

Questions:

Contact Sophia Stephenson at director@arkansasee.org or 501.773.1107 for questions.

Registration:

Space is limited and pre-registration is required. 

To register and pay using a credit card, use this link.

To register and request an invoice before paying, use this link.