Environmental Literacy: Connecting Children with Nature

1. Name of Presentation Date of Presentation Environmental Literacy:Connecting Children with Nature Britt Slattery, MD DNR

2. Formed 2008 by Governor’s Executive Order –Developed a Planto connect communities, youth and families to nature – in schools, in their communities, on public lands. • Co-Chairs: • Maryland State Department of Education • Maryland Department of Natural Resources • 2012 Renewed structure to support implementation of actions

3. PARTNERSHIP LEADERSHIP • Maryland Department Of Natural Resources  (DNR) • Maryland State Department Of Education  (MSDE) • Maryland Department Of Agriculture  (MDA) • Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education (MAEOE) • Maryland No Child Left Inside Coalition  (MD NCLI) • Maryland Recreation And Parks Association  (MRPA) • The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), Montgomery County Department Of Parks  • Montgomery County Public Schools   • Howard County Public School System   • Chesapeake Bay Trust   • Alice Ferguson Foundation • Audubon Maryland-DC   • National Wildlife Federation   • National Aquarium • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) State county non-government organizations Federal • + More signing Participation Pledge (universities, non-profit, private, etc)

4. 2012 Leadership Team

5. Early Achievements: • Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights • Conservation Jobs Corps • Environmental Literacy graduation requirement

6. Every student graduates from high school environmentally literate Environmental literacy in Maryland includes both in-school and outside of school, unstructured experiences for varied audiences Driven by: Chesapeake Bay Agreement - Stewardship and community engagement / a MWEE for every student COMAR Partnership’s Environmental Literacy Plan Aligns with: Chesapeake Bay Executive Order – Mid-Atlantic Environmental Literacy Strategy Environmental Education Vision

7. Code of Maryland Regulation (COMAR) COMAR 13A.04.17 Comprehensive PK-12 multidisciplinary program of environmental education in every school system COMAR 13A.03.02 (graduation requirement) Beginning with students entering high school in 2011-2012, all students must complete a locally designed high school program of environmental literacy. 24 school districts = 24 different E-Lit programs …All aligned with the Maryland Environmental Literacy Standards…

8. What is Environmental Literacy? Students who are environmentally literate possess the knowledge, intellectual skills, attitudes, experience, and motivation to make and act upon responsible environmental decisions as individuals and members of their communities.

9. Environmental Literacy Standards Main topics of each of the 8 standards – Environmental Issues – includes taking action Interactions of Earth’s Systems Flow of Matter and Energy Populations, Communities, and Ecosystems Humans and Natural Resources Environment and Health Environment and Society Sustainability

10. “We don't make the things you love, we just make them better” We don't take the children outside, we just make it so others can.

11. Does every child in Maryland have the Means Access Knowledge Support Encouragement Desire Inclination to go outdoors and play, explore, learn?

12. Partnership Initiatives main focus areas for 2012: • Promoting outdoor play and learning • Supporting Environmental Literacy (in schools and community) • Providing means for incorporating nature into healthy lifestyle choices (through community planning, health and food/ agriculture connections)

13. Supporting Environmental Literacy in Schools and the Community Provide information, guidance; facilitate communication, collaboration between schools and EE providers; support strong EL plans including outdoor experiences.

14. Supporting Environmental Literacy in Schools and the Community • Guidance – MSDE • E-Lit Standards infused within Maryland curricula (+ online Toolkit) • Professional Development (PD)– to help build capacity to teach about the environment across all disciplines • Regional E-Lit workshops … and facilitating sharing models among counties • Statewide E-Lit Summit … and ensuing regional liaisons / workshops • PD for Environmental Education Providers (Fall 2012+) • Student Focused Actions – • Every Student Outdoors Every Year – recommendations / criteria • Student metrics tool / workshop • Co-sponsor the annual MAEOE Youth Summit • MD State Parks expanding EE offerings/ aligning w/ standards • Policy Actions– • Schoolyard Habitat and Agriculture education within MD Green Schools • National Green Ribbon Schools • ‘Greener schools’ policy – school design / facility managers

15. Supporting Environmental Literacy in Schools and the Community • Mirroring/ reinforcingE-Lit with community/ family programs: • programs in parks • community / watershed restoration projects • Governor O’Malley’s Stream Restoration Challenge

16. Communities and Community Planning • Equitable access to green spaces such as parks and trails for all communities • Nature Play Spaces

17. Healthy Lifestyle Choices HealthConnections – • Prescribe active outdoor time • Parent awareness • Community-based initiatives

18. Healthy Lifestyle Choices AgricultureConnections – • Integrating ag education – Farm to School, school gardens • Healthy foods as part of the Green Schools criteria • Awareness of locally grown foods for schools/ community

19. Promoting Outdoor Play and Learning Celebrate Maryland Outdoors Days June 9–23

20. Take Your Children Outdoors!

21. www.dnr.state.md.us/cin Coordinator Britt Slattery BSlattery@dnr.state.md.us (410) 260-8715