MISSION STATEMENT:
Environmental education is a life-long process in which individuals gain awareness and knowledge of the natural and human environment. Quality environmental education programs help learners of all ages assess the multiple factors involved in resolving environmental issues and take positive actions to help resolve them. The knowledge and skills gained through environmental education help learners develop confidence and the ability to work cooperatively while contributing to quality education and economic stability.
GSEEC brings together the skills and assets of a variety of individuals, major programs, agencies, institutions, and businesses from communities throughout California. By participating on various committees and communicating via our list-serv, GSEEC's nearly 300 partner organizations work together to through a variety of projects: engagement with diverse communities, outreach, marketing, mentoring, networking, and organizion of youth leadership initiatives.An estimated 100,000 K-12 youth from a variety of socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds are served annually through GSEEC members. GSEEC actively welcomes those communities not well represented in current EE efforts. The California Community Forest Foundation (CCFF), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is the fiscal agent for GSEEC.
10/28/07
Join our Listserv!
HOW TO JOIN OUR LISTSERV:
The GSEEC listserv brings together the California Environmental Education community. It lists jobs, events announcements, articles about diversity and other important information relevant to environmental educators. Anyone sharing the vision of promoting environmental education in California is invited to participate in the work of the GSEEC. To join, visit the GSEEC group at www.edgateway.net/ee and subscribe. At that web site, you can provide contact information and describe your involvement in EE and how your organization furthers our common goals. You can also indicate your preference for committee work.
The GSEEC listserv is administered by EdGateway. You must join Edgateway to join the GSEEC listserv.
if you wish to join our listserv.
The GSEEC listserv brings together the California Environmental Education community. It lists jobs, events announcements, articles about diversity and other important information relevant to environmental educators. Anyone sharing the vision of promoting environmental education in California is invited to participate in the work of the GSEEC. To join, visit the GSEEC group at www.edgateway.net/ee and subscribe. At that web site, you can provide contact information and describe your involvement in EE and how your organization furthers our common goals. You can also indicate your preference for committee work.
The GSEEC listserv is administered by EdGateway. You must join Edgateway to join the GSEEC listserv.
if you wish to join our listserv.
Important News
UPCOMING EVENTS:
November 8th, 2007: Join GSEEC, the Central California Consortium and environmental education providers from across the region! We will be networking with each other and discussing strategies for working with underserved communities. See our colorful flyer.
November 8th, 2007: Join GSEEC, the Central California Consortium and environmental education providers from across the region! We will be networking with each other and discussing strategies for working with underserved communities. See our colorful flyer.
Leadership and Professional Development Initiative
Leadership and Professional Development
GSEEC works to create opportunities that build leadership and professional skills for environmental education providers, teachers, and youth.
LEADERSHIP CLINICS: Leadership clinics provide local youth with opportunities to bolster their leadership skills and become more aware of local environmental issues so they are ultimately empowered to address and help solve these issues in their community. They feature workshops, keynote speakers and group problem solving sessions. The Clinic also often includes a career fair that offers a glimpse into environmental careers.
GSEEC is proud to have organized two Environmental Leadership Clinic in Los Angeles in 2005. It was attended by over 70 youth interns, students and employees from various organizations such as the California Conservation Corps, Los Angeles Conservation Corps’ EcoAcademy, ArtscorpsLA, and the Santa Monica Mountain National Recreation Area.
GSEEC was also recently involved in the planning and implementation of the East Bay Professional Development Conference.
The CREEC Network is an excellent resource for professional development opportunities.
The Association for Outdoor and Environmental Education also offers a resoource directory of professional development opportunities.
California is currently poised to lead the nation in environmental literacy. This effort is termed the EEI. The California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA) and the California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) are actively engaged in the implementation of the Education and the Environment Initiative (EEI) pursuant to AB 1548 (Pavley, Chapter 665, Statutes of 2003-PDF) and AB 1721 (Pavley, Chapter 581, Statutes of 2005-PDF). These landmark laws mandate the development of a unified education strategy to bring education about the environment into California’s primary and secondary schools. Other current key partners include the State Board of Education, the Office of the Secretary for Education, the Curriculum and Supplemental Materials Commission, the State Department of Education, and the California Resources Agency.
Key elements of EEI include:
0. Development of California’s Environmental Principles & Concepts, (EP&Cs);
0. Alignment of the EP&C’s to California’s Academic Content Standards;
0. Development of a Model Curriculum to teach the EP&C’s to California’s K-12 students;
0. Incorporation of the EP&C’s into criteria for instructional materials adoption in science, history/social science, English/language arts and, mathematics; and,
0. Alignment of the state’s diverse environmental education programs and materials with the EP&C’s.
GSEEC works to create opportunities that build leadership and professional skills for environmental education providers, teachers, and youth.
LEADERSHIP CLINICS: Leadership clinics provide local youth with opportunities to bolster their leadership skills and become more aware of local environmental issues so they are ultimately empowered to address and help solve these issues in their community. They feature workshops, keynote speakers and group problem solving sessions. The Clinic also often includes a career fair that offers a glimpse into environmental careers.
GSEEC is proud to have organized two Environmental Leadership Clinic in Los Angeles in 2005. It was attended by over 70 youth interns, students and employees from various organizations such as the California Conservation Corps, Los Angeles Conservation Corps’ EcoAcademy, ArtscorpsLA, and the Santa Monica Mountain National Recreation Area.
GSEEC was also recently involved in the planning and implementation of the East Bay Professional Development Conference.
The CREEC Network is an excellent resource for professional development opportunities.
The Association for Outdoor and Environmental Education also offers a resoource directory of professional development opportunities.
California is currently poised to lead the nation in environmental literacy. This effort is termed the EEI. The California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA) and the California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) are actively engaged in the implementation of the Education and the Environment Initiative (EEI) pursuant to AB 1548 (Pavley, Chapter 665, Statutes of 2003-PDF) and AB 1721 (Pavley, Chapter 581, Statutes of 2005-PDF). These landmark laws mandate the development of a unified education strategy to bring education about the environment into California’s primary and secondary schools. Other current key partners include the State Board of Education, the Office of the Secretary for Education, the Curriculum and Supplemental Materials Commission, the State Department of Education, and the California Resources Agency.
Key elements of EEI include:
0. Development of California’s Environmental Principles & Concepts, (EP&Cs);
0. Alignment of the EP&C’s to California’s Academic Content Standards;
0. Development of a Model Curriculum to teach the EP&C’s to California’s K-12 students;
0. Incorporation of the EP&C’s into criteria for instructional materials adoption in science, history/social science, English/language arts and, mathematics; and,
0. Alignment of the state’s diverse environmental education programs and materials with the EP&C’s.
Building Support for Environmental Education Initiative
Building Support for Environmental Education
GSEEC works to build support for the EE field through strategic partnerships and outreach with organizations outside the EE field.
Several organizations work to actively promote the benefits of environmental education and ensure that diversity issues are addressed.
The North American Association for Environmental Education's Advocacy Committee lobbies for excellence in environmental educationhttp://www.naaee.org/programs-and-initiatives/ee-advocacy/government-affairs
Its Advocacy Committee serves to “active EE professionals around EE policy issues, provide support for State EE Affiliates, and develop useful online EE policy tools." Interested? Contact Judy Braus at eeac@naaee.org. The EEAC meets by phone every other month.
HELP SUPPORT EFFORTS TO FUND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION! The most important federal legislation for EE is up for debate in Congress. Environmental education providers from across the country are getting involved in efforts to pass this monumental legislation. Click onto NAAEE's webpage to learn how you can get involved!
GSEEC works to build support for the EE field through strategic partnerships and outreach with organizations outside the EE field.
Several organizations work to actively promote the benefits of environmental education and ensure that diversity issues are addressed.
The North American Association for Environmental Education's Advocacy Committee lobbies for excellence in environmental educationhttp://www.naaee.org/programs-and-initiatives/ee-advocacy/government-affairs
Its Advocacy Committee serves to “active EE professionals around EE policy issues, provide support for State EE Affiliates, and develop useful online EE policy tools." Interested? Contact Judy Braus at eeac@naaee.org. The EEAC meets by phone every other month.
HELP SUPPORT EFFORTS TO FUND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION! The most important federal legislation for EE is up for debate in Congress. Environmental education providers from across the country are getting involved in efforts to pass this monumental legislation. Click onto NAAEE's webpage to learn how you can get involved!
Cultural Diversity Intiative
GSEEC strives to promote the themes of cultural relevancy and inclusiveness to EE providers.
RESOURCES
NAAEE and Diversity
The National Association of Environmental Educators NAAEE has developed a number of programs and initiatives regarding diversity, of which NAAEE Portal is the best place to start.
NAAEE has also developed diversity guidelines for its use. Begun in 2002 and amended in 2007, NAAEE’s Board created a policy paper which identified actions that NAAEE could take to diversify itself as an organization and the field of environmental education as well.
Diversity also shows up in NAAEE’s National Project for Excellence in Environmental Education. Started in 1993, NAAEE developed a series of Guidelines that set standards for high-quality environmental education. Out of that work came Environmental Education Materials: Guidelines for Excellence, a set of recommendations for developing and selecting environmental education materials. Key Characteristic 1 is:
Fairness and Accuracy
Environmental education materials should be fair and accurate in describing environmental problems, issues, and conditions, and in reflecting the diversity [emphasis added] of perspectives on them.
Within the associated workbook http://naaee.org/npeee/workbook.pdf which explains how Fairness and Accuracy is assessed is the following exhorting educators to:
1) Assess materials for current, factual information and appropriate language.
2) Identify potential bias in environmental education materials.
3) Evaluate materials in terms of cultural and ethnic diversity.
AEOE and Diversity
By themselves, and in concert with GEECE, AEOE has also been involved in promoting diversity. Their web page notes a conference on diversity, numerous workshops and has downloadable resources from speakers and workshop presenters.
GSEEC Diversity Resources
Below are articles on diversity which you may find valuable.
http://www.wested.org/cs/we/view/rs/727 -- What’s’ Fair Got to Do with It
http://www.jefferson.k12.ky.us/Departments/EnvironmentalEd/images/tchrrespdfs/peediversity.pdf
http://www.newhorizons.org/strategies/environmental/matsumoto_poppo.htm
Below are links to diversity resources:
http://www.umich.edu/~meldi/index.html
http://www.wested.org/cs/we/view/feat/43
http://eelink.net/pages/Grants+-+General+Information (Grants, including those which foster diversity.
http://environment.harvard.edu/religion/religion/index.html (Religious diversity and the environment.)
http://www.acton.org/ppolicy/environment/theology/index.html (Religious diversity and the environment.
http://en.arocha.org/home/ (a major Christian conservation organization.)
BEST PRACTICES:
RESOURCES
NAAEE and Diversity
The National Association of Environmental Educators NAAEE has developed a number of programs and initiatives regarding diversity, of which NAAEE Portal is the best place to start.
NAAEE has also developed diversity guidelines for its use. Begun in 2002 and amended in 2007, NAAEE’s Board created a policy paper which identified actions that NAAEE could take to diversify itself as an organization and the field of environmental education as well.
Diversity also shows up in NAAEE’s National Project for Excellence in Environmental Education. Started in 1993, NAAEE developed a series of Guidelines that set standards for high-quality environmental education. Out of that work came Environmental Education Materials: Guidelines for Excellence, a set of recommendations for developing and selecting environmental education materials. Key Characteristic 1 is:
Fairness and Accuracy
Environmental education materials should be fair and accurate in describing environmental problems, issues, and conditions, and in reflecting the diversity [emphasis added] of perspectives on them.
Within the associated workbook http://naaee.org/npeee/workbook.pdf which explains how Fairness and Accuracy is assessed is the following exhorting educators to:
1) Assess materials for current, factual information and appropriate language.
2) Identify potential bias in environmental education materials.
3) Evaluate materials in terms of cultural and ethnic diversity.
AEOE and Diversity
By themselves, and in concert with GEECE, AEOE has also been involved in promoting diversity. Their web page notes a conference on diversity, numerous workshops and has downloadable resources from speakers and workshop presenters.
GSEEC Diversity Resources
Below are articles on diversity which you may find valuable.
http://www.wested.org/cs/we/view/rs/727 -- What’s’ Fair Got to Do with It
http://www.jefferson.k12.ky.us/Departments/EnvironmentalEd/images/tchrrespdfs/peediversity.pdf
http://www.newhorizons.org/strategies/environmental/matsumoto_poppo.htm
Below are links to diversity resources:
http://www.umich.edu/~meldi/index.html
http://www.wested.org/cs/we/view/feat/43
http://eelink.net/pages/Grants+-+General+Information (Grants, including those which foster diversity.
http://environment.harvard.edu/religion/religion/index.html (Religious diversity and the environment.)
http://www.acton.org/ppolicy/environment/theology/index.html (Religious diversity and the environment.
http://en.arocha.org/home/ (a major Christian conservation organization.)
BEST PRACTICES:
Meet the GSEEC Community
Meet the Governing Council:
THE GSEEC GOVERNING COUNCIL: The GSEEC is the key focal point for coordinating California's diverse efforts to strengthen environmental education. The Governing Council sets the direction of and supports the Consortium's efforts. The Governing Council has a conference call once a month and meets four times per year. Between meetings, committees conduct much of the GSEEC's work via e-mail, web-based discussion groups, and telephone. The GSEEC is not a membership organization and does not collect dues.
GOVERNING COUNCIL BIOGRAPHIES
A. Michael Marzolla, M.A.
4-H Youth Development & Master Gardener Advisor
University of California Cooperative Extension
305 Camino del Remedio, Santa Barbara, CA 93110
Main phone number: (805) 692-1730
Fax number: (805) 692-1731
Email: ammarzolla@ucdavis.edu
Webpage: http://www.naturestudy.org/whois/marzolla.htm
UCCE Webpage: http://cesantabarbara.ucdavis.edu/
Since 1983, Michael has served as the 4-H Youth Development and Master Gardener Advisor with University of California Cooperative Extension in Santa Barbara County. He has over twenty-five years of experience in the field of non-formal environmental education in national and international settings. He is the Principal Investigator of the Agua Pura and Pescadores watershed, salmon and steelhead education project. His education includes: a Masters in Education, specializing in non-formal education, from the Center for International Education at the University of Massachusetts; and, an undergraduate degree in fine arts, from Humboldt State University, with course work and special projects in environmental planning and design. He served in the Peace Corps in Guatemala from 1973-’77. Michael has served various international consultancies in Bolivia and in Serbia. Before he began his work with the University of California, Michael has served on various boards including the Center for the Study of the Environment, and the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) as Chair of the Non-formal Commission, and he is currently the Co-chair of NAAEE’s International Commission. He is fluent in Spanish and he has a working knowledge of Italian.
Kay Antunez de Mayolo
Sacramento, CA
MS, BS Biological Sciences. State Coordinator of the California Project Learning Tree program and other environmental education outreach for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection since 1988. Science and environmental educator at the community college, high school and elementary school levels in California, Honduras and Peru. Current professional interests include all aspects of environmental education including leadership development, program strategies and pedagogy with a special interest in reaching underserved populations such as immigrants and school age children learning English.
Mark McReynolds, Coordinator of Pacific Forest Institute and City Partner for Flying WILD
Mark’s formal education consists of a B.S. in Natural Science, a M.Div. in Christian Education and he is currently working on a Ph.D. in Environmental Studies with an end goal of stabilizing populations of Scarlet Macaws in Belize. His work experience includes outdoor education and camp administration, Elderhostel, community college and university level instruction, as well as substitute teaching for grades K-12. He also has interpretive experience from a nature center, state park, and the CA Dept. of Fish and Game. Mark has been a Treasurer and Co-Chair of the northern section of the Association of Environmental and Outdoor Education
MEET OUR PARTNERS:
GSEEC works closely with two other statewide organizations whose general goals are similar to ours.
AEOE is the Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education, the first association of environmental educators in the nation. They are a California organization by and for outdoor environmental educators, established in 1954 as AOE, adding the "Environmental" part to the name in 1971 after the first Earth Day. AEOE is a vibrant membership organization that is geographically divided into northern and southern sections. Each section has their own fall conference and they jointly sponsor a large spring conference; conferences are a great place to see and hear the latest in environmental education. The AEOE website has an extensive listing of environmental education resources and a calendar of events of interest to the EE community.
[See link for info on how to add a link and graphics to a web page: http://www.aeoe.org/about/link.html]
CREEC, pronounced “creek”, is the California Regional Environmental Education Community Network and is an educational project supported by the California Department of Education, Environmental Education Program in collaboration with state, regional and local partners. The CREEC website is an excellent source for environmental education resources in California and features an online, searchable resource directory allowing educators to locate curricular resources that are local and grade appropriate for their students. The resource directory includes over 1,000 environmental education providers and over 2,000 programs/resources available within in California. Their website also has calendars which post environmental education activities and exhibits, funding opportunities, and teacher professional development opportunities.
THE GSEEC GOVERNING COUNCIL: The GSEEC is the key focal point for coordinating California's diverse efforts to strengthen environmental education. The Governing Council sets the direction of and supports the Consortium's efforts. The Governing Council has a conference call once a month and meets four times per year. Between meetings, committees conduct much of the GSEEC's work via e-mail, web-based discussion groups, and telephone. The GSEEC is not a membership organization and does not collect dues.
GOVERNING COUNCIL BIOGRAPHIES
A. Michael Marzolla, M.A.
4-H Youth Development & Master Gardener Advisor
University of California Cooperative Extension
305 Camino del Remedio, Santa Barbara, CA 93110
Main phone number: (805) 692-1730
Fax number: (805) 692-1731
Email: ammarzolla@ucdavis.edu
Webpage: http://www.naturestudy.org/whois/marzolla.htm
UCCE Webpage: http://cesantabarbara.ucdavis.edu/
Since 1983, Michael has served as the 4-H Youth Development and Master Gardener Advisor with University of California Cooperative Extension in Santa Barbara County. He has over twenty-five years of experience in the field of non-formal environmental education in national and international settings. He is the Principal Investigator of the Agua Pura and Pescadores watershed, salmon and steelhead education project. His education includes: a Masters in Education, specializing in non-formal education, from the Center for International Education at the University of Massachusetts; and, an undergraduate degree in fine arts, from Humboldt State University, with course work and special projects in environmental planning and design. He served in the Peace Corps in Guatemala from 1973-’77. Michael has served various international consultancies in Bolivia and in Serbia. Before he began his work with the University of California, Michael has served on various boards including the Center for the Study of the Environment, and the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) as Chair of the Non-formal Commission, and he is currently the Co-chair of NAAEE’s International Commission. He is fluent in Spanish and he has a working knowledge of Italian.
Kay Antunez de Mayolo
Sacramento, CA
MS, BS Biological Sciences. State Coordinator of the California Project Learning Tree program and other environmental education outreach for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection since 1988. Science and environmental educator at the community college, high school and elementary school levels in California, Honduras and Peru. Current professional interests include all aspects of environmental education including leadership development, program strategies and pedagogy with a special interest in reaching underserved populations such as immigrants and school age children learning English.
Mark McReynolds, Coordinator of Pacific Forest Institute and City Partner for Flying WILD
Mark’s formal education consists of a B.S. in Natural Science, a M.Div. in Christian Education and he is currently working on a Ph.D. in Environmental Studies with an end goal of stabilizing populations of Scarlet Macaws in Belize. His work experience includes outdoor education and camp administration, Elderhostel, community college and university level instruction, as well as substitute teaching for grades K-12. He also has interpretive experience from a nature center, state park, and the CA Dept. of Fish and Game. Mark has been a Treasurer and Co-Chair of the northern section of the Association of Environmental and Outdoor Education
MEET OUR PARTNERS:
GSEEC works closely with two other statewide organizations whose general goals are similar to ours.
AEOE is the Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education, the first association of environmental educators in the nation. They are a California organization by and for outdoor environmental educators, established in 1954 as AOE, adding the "Environmental" part to the name in 1971 after the first Earth Day. AEOE is a vibrant membership organization that is geographically divided into northern and southern sections. Each section has their own fall conference and they jointly sponsor a large spring conference; conferences are a great place to see and hear the latest in environmental education. The AEOE website has an extensive listing of environmental education resources and a calendar of events of interest to the EE community.
[See link for info on how to add a link and graphics to a web page: http://www.aeoe.org/about/link.html]
CREEC, pronounced “creek”, is the California Regional Environmental Education Community Network and is an educational project supported by the California Department of Education, Environmental Education Program in collaboration with state, regional and local partners. The CREEC website is an excellent source for environmental education resources in California and features an online, searchable resource directory allowing educators to locate curricular resources that are local and grade appropriate for their students. The resource directory includes over 1,000 environmental education providers and over 2,000 programs/resources available within in California. Their website also has calendars which post environmental education activities and exhibits, funding opportunities, and teacher professional development opportunities.
Get Involved
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Susan Silber
GSEEC Program Administrator
1614 6th St.
Berkeley, CA 94710
susans@acterra.org
510-558-0821
There are many ways to get involved in this exciting initiative.
JOIN OUR LISTSERV:
The GSEEC listserv posts messages from environmental educations from across the state. To subscribe, send an email to: gseec@email.edgateway.net
NOTE: you must be a member of EdGateway to subscribe.
Susan Silber
GSEEC Program Administrator
1614 6th St.
Berkeley, CA 94710
susans@acterra.org
510-558-0821
There are many ways to get involved in this exciting initiative.
JOIN OUR LISTSERV:
The GSEEC listserv posts messages from environmental educations from across the state. To subscribe, send an email to: gseec@email.edgateway.net
NOTE: you must be a member of EdGateway to subscribe.
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