Outdoor and environmental education (OEE) have been around for years. In fact, it could easily be argued that this was the first type of educational system. After all, civilization grew out of the environment, so therefore, people first were taught by their elders in the outdoors and about their environment.

    Over the centuries and millenia, as civilization has grown and advanced, different types of educational systems have developed. We now find ourselves with many kinds to choose from and combine.

    For the past ten years, I have been teaching outdoor and environmental education as well as indoor eduation. In all that time, the most effective lessons that I have observed and taught have been the ones outdoors in the environment. Many people agree with me. However, it is important to have hard evidence to support our argument. Recently, the State Education and Environment Roundtable published a report from a large-scale study with 40 schools from 12 states that focused on using the Environment as an Integrating Context. The results from this report astounded even me. There were positive results found in many aspects of school, including: across the board in different subject areas, generalized tests, discipline, attendance and peer relations

    In 1995, I studied at and received my master's degree in education in curriculum and intstruction, specializing in outdoor teacher education, from Northern Illinois University. For information on that program, please go to Lorado Taft Field Campus - General Information. In this program, I studied many aspects of OEE, including their relation to Howard Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences. (Please see Basic MI Theory.) During my current graduate studies at Eastern Connecticut State University (ECSU), I learned about an eighth intelligence, the Naturalist Intelligence , This intelligence recognizes that people have an intelligence to help them identify patterns in and classifying parts of nature. This intelligence was crucial for past human survival in the natural world and continues to guide us in our survival in this modern age.

    In my ten professional years in OEE, I have had the opportunity to work in many different programs including Nature's Classroom, Los Angeles County Outdoor Science School,  Tanglewood 4-H Camp and Learning Center,  Burren Outdoor Education Center, Cabra Towers Outdoor Educaton Center, Pratt Nature Center and Camp, and   Goodwin Conservation Center (please also see Parish Hill High School Environmental Page).

    After 10 years in the OEE field, I decided it was time for me to move into an indoor classroom. For the past year, I have been studying for a certificate and master's degree in Elementary Education at ECSU. When I complete the certificate aspect of the program, I will be moving into my own classroom. This is a thrill for me, for I will be able to apply my knowledge of OEE to the classroom. In order to do this, I will be relying on numerous resources, as I have in the past, to guide me in my lesson-planning. Some of these sources are listed below.

(from Pur-Kat Solutions Clipart Gallery)

Other OEE Resources:

For a HTML version of a PowerPoint presentation on Outdoor Education, please link to http://www.easternct.edu/depts/edu/553/powerpoint/outdoored/index.htm .

    Project WILD - Award-winning curriculum design featuring dozens of lessons that focus on wildlife. There is also an Project WILD Aquatic on the same site.

    Project WET - Award-wining curriculum design featuring dozens of lessons that focus on the many aspects of water.

    Project Learning Tree - Award-winning curriculum design featuring dozens of lessons that focus on the many aspects of forests and trees.

    Environmental Education - Links - A huge resource page for environmental education including professional resources, grants and jobs, classroom resources, organizations and projects, and facts and data.

    North American Association for Environmental Education - An international organization dedicated to improving environmental education.

    Outward Bound - An international organization that leads expeditions focused on adventure, nature and personal growth.