Welcome to the Environmental Education Section of the National Association for Interpretation!

“The rare moment is not the moment when there is something worth looking at but the moment when we are capable of seeing.” Joseph Wood Krutch

Section’s Mission
To serve our membership by providing an atmosphere, context, and opportunity to share information, skills, and issues about environmental education world wide.

The Heart of Our Section is Our Membership
Our members are truly global—existing in every state in the US, 6 of the Canadian provinces, and in 10 countries across the globe. At present there are 844 members.

The EE Section "Star Thrower" Award — Nominations Open for 2009 New
Download nomination form [PDF], Deadline: July 31, 2009

2008 Recipient— LuAnn Thompson
LuAnn Thompson joined California State Park's Colorado Desert District first as a volunteer, then as a seasonal employee. She's a former schoolteacher who was charged with starting the district's PORTS program: Parks Online Resources for Teachers and Students.

PORTS is a statewide California State Parks program that began in 2004. It was begun to address the fact that more and more students are living in urban areas where distance or economic and social barriers prevent them from experiencing the values of the California State Parks. Since PORTS began, and under Luann's leadership, the Colorado Desert District has emerged as the statewide leader, reaching more than 21,000 students in just four seasons. Luann has grown the program from 620 students in 2005, to 8,315 last year!

Luann has also effectively utilized PORTS outside of the classroom, establishing a cultural and educational exchange between the Cahuilla Tribe in Southern California and the SPIPA 5 Tribes and Skokomish Tribe in Washington.

Gail Sevrens, who nominated LuAnn, sums up her contributions with the following statement: Luann is highly creative; has taken a new, fledgling program and become the statewide leader; develops and delivers outstanding programs that meet the needs of students and teachers; goes beyond her scope of duties; and displays energy, dedication and enthusiasm in everything she does.

Past Recipients of the Star Thrower Award
2006 - Dr. Larry McBiles

Newsletter
Connection is the Section’s quarterly newsletter. The newsletter features timely articles, "EE for Everyday," a feature story, article or interview, regional events, resources, calendar of events, and Section administrative and fundraising efforts.

Contributions to Connection are always welcome.
Deadlines for submission are: March 15, June 15, September 15, and December 15. Materials should be sent electronically to amy@mainstdesign.com. If you have any questions about submissions, please contact Amy at the above email address or 617-876-9111 x 18.

Companies may wish to consider underwriting an issue of Connection – it provides excellent exposure to the thousand or so members of the Section and to potential commercial interpretive markets, particularly in the autumn issue, which is used for recruitment purposes at the National Interpreter’s Workshop (NIW). Individuals or companies wishing to have advertising space in Connection, please contact Amy Perron at amy@mainstdesign.com.

Calendar of National EE Events
2009 National Interpreters Workshop -- November 17-21 in Hartford, CT**
**EE National Workshop $1000 Grant for College Students New
Download application [PDF], Deadline: July 31, 2009