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 491 members.

The EE Section 2010 Star Thrower Award — Nominate A Colleague Today
The Star Thrower Award was created by the Environmental Education Section to annually recognize exemplary environmental educators. “Star Thrower” hearkens to the famous Loren Eiseley story by the same name in which a person teaches the author the magnitude of saving nature one small creature at a time. The moral of this story refers to our goal as EE professionals: helping illuminate students of all ages in their appreciation for and understanding of nature, culture, and history; and, in turn, helping them become tomorrow’s “stars” lighting the way for the future.

You must be a member of the EE section to submit an award nomination, but the individual you nominate is not required to be. Please complete all sections of this application. Winner will be announced during the annual NAI National Workshop, in the EE section newsletter, and in other NAI publications.

Nominations are closed.

Past Recipients of the Star Thrower Award
2009 — Clay Heilman
2008 — LuAnn Thompson
2006 — Dr. Larry McBiles

Professional Certification Grant— Application Now Available
The Environmental Education (EE) Section will award certification grants to members of the EE Section. The recipients will be chosen based on financial need and/or desire to earn the certification. The number of grants awarded will be based on the number of selected applicants, and the certifications applied for. Each applicant must return the completed application, have completed certification or training during the 2010 calendar year, and be a current member of NAI and the EE Section.

Deadline to apply: December 15, 2010 Download the application.

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
2010 National Interpreters Workshop -- November 16-20 in Las Vegas, Nevada
2011 International NAI Conference -- May 4-7 at Gamboa Rainforest Resort in Panama
League of Environmental Educators in Florida Conference -- March 24-27, 2011 in Starke, Florida
North American Association for Environmental Education -- October 12-16, 2011 in Raleigh, North Carolina
NAI Certification Program Schedule -- Dates vary
Regional and Section Events -- Dates vary

Section Officers

Regional Representatives
Regional representatives form the geographical network and contact infrastructure of the Section. Those interested in being a regional representative are invited to review the roles description for the position and contact the Chair of the Section for further information.

Regional Representative information is being updated.

For submissions, comments, and questions contact Jenny Seitz. Please include NAI in the subject line.

Last updated November 9, 2010