NAAEE nature centers

Improving Education at U.S. Nature & Environmental Centers: 

Improving Education at U.S. Nature andamp; Environmental Centers Sara Melena Sunita Hilton, Ph.D Department of Natural Resource Recreation andamp; Tourism Colorado State University Tim Merriman, Ph.D National Association for Interpretation October, 2006

Partnering Organizations: 

Partnering Organizations National Association for Interpretation U.S. National Park Service Colorado State University U.S. Environmental Protection Agency North American Association for Environmental Education Association of Nature Center Administrators

Defining Nature Centers: 

Defining Nature Centers Nature centers are, …essentially educational, scientific and cultural in purpose with professional staff, open to the public on some regular schedule. The Nature Center manages and interprets its lands, native plants and animals and facilities to promote an understanding of nature and natural processes. It conducts frequent environmental education programs and activities for the public. Definition from the American Association of Museums

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Why Study Education at Nature Centers? Educational Infrastructure (St. John andamp; Perry, 1993; Falk, 2005) Surveys of nature centers focus on organizational and physical characteristics (National Science for Youth Foundation, 1990) Little information available on how nature centers are developing environmental programs Abundance of materials available and appropriate to education in nature centers Limited resources

Research Objectives: 

Research Objectives Conduct a census of nature centers in the U.S. to provide baseline data about education efforts, staff, budgets and resources. Discover which educational materials and curricula are being utilized by nature and environmental centers and why. Conduct a needs assessment for nature and environmental centers in terms of what they need to improve their educational efforts.

Framework for Understanding Education at Nature Centers: 

Framework for Understanding Education at Nature Centers Study purpose: To understand the application of environmental education materials andamp; needs of nature and environmental centers Evaluation of quality andamp; accuracy (Salmon, 2000, NAAEE, 1997, 1998a, 1998b) Evaluation in formal settings (Korn, 2000, PLT, 2004, Marcinkowski andamp; Iozzi,1994) Meeting the goals of environmental education Guidelines for Excellence NAAEE (1998, 2004)

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Learning Settings in Environmental Education Free-choice learning the type of learning that occurs when learners exercise choice and control over learning (Falk andamp; Dierking, 1998) Formal settings Public Schools Free-choice environmental learning settings Nature centers, parks, zoos, museums

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Environmental Education Formal Partnerships (Knapp, 1996; Milton andamp; Cleveland, 1995) Free-Choice Environmental Learning Settings Museums (Falk 1999, Falk andamp; Storksdieck, 2005) Aquariums (Adelmann et al, 2000) National Parks (Brody, 2002) Interpretive programs (Knapp, 2005)

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Introduction Background Need andamp; Purpose Theoretical Framework Literature Review Methodology Questions Research Questions Developed for use in formal andamp; free-choice settings (EETAP, 2003) Evaluated for quality and accuracy (NAAEE, 1997, 1998; Salmon, 2000) Environmental Education Materials Effectiveness (PLT, 2004; Marcinkowski andamp; Iozzi, 1994)

Methodology: 

Methodology Population National Park Service (270 units) The Centers Directory (1,800+ centers) National Association for Interpretation andamp; the Association for Nature Center Administrators (2002) Interpretive centers, nature centers, visitor centers and environmental learning centers, zoos, aquariums, Forest Service, BLM, Park Districts

Organizational Identification: 

Organizational Identification 2,144 viable addresses, 835 returned (39%)

Baseline Data: 

Baseline Data Organizational andamp; Financial Characteristics

Baseline Data: 

Baseline Data Organizational andamp; Financial Characteristics

Baseline Data: 

Baseline Data Organizational andamp; Financial Characteristics 'Programs are limited because of funding and staff shortages. Nature centers are at the bottom of the food chain in city government.'

Baseline Data: 

Baseline Data Organizational andamp; Financial Characteristics

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Baseline Data Physical Characteristics

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Baseline Data Visitation andamp; Education

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Educational Materials

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Educational Materials 'I have a phenomenal staff of trained educators and I would never waste their talents andamp; skills by asking them to present programs prepared by someone else.'

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Educational Materials 'I have a phenomenal staff of trained educators and I would never waste their talents andamp; skills by asking them to present programs prepared by someone else.'

Needs Assessment: 

Needs Assessment Educational Materials

Needs Assessment: 

Needs Assessment Staff Training

Needs Assessment: 

Needs Assessment Teacher Workshops

Conclusions: 

Baseline Data Use of Materials Resource for ideas andamp; activities We feel strongly that we do not want to do things on-site that can be done in the classroom, so that leaves out most published materials. Those materials are mostly designed for use in a formal classroom setting andamp; by classroom teachers. We want to get kids outside to experience what they are learning in the classroom. We tried to occupy a different niche w/our materials. Conclusions

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Needs Related to facilitating direct experience with local environment Field supplies, classroom equipment Our 'environmental educ' is blended with site specific themes for school groups with emphasis on getting students outside to experience the resource. Marketing andamp; Funding We provide quality EE programs with little budget for the lessons. Many grants andamp; funding opportunities are available for new programs, positions or facilities. We would like to see more dedicated funding from the state for existing programs. Staffing Conclusions

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Support local andamp; regional networks Local issues Sharing ideas Marketing andamp; Funding Visitor needs assessment Forums Research Case studies Perceived value of nature centers Recommendations

Abundant EE Materials: 

Abundant EE Materials Questions? By catching children early, we help them create a connection to the environment and they learn to CARE about it, thus changing future behavior to a better stewardship ethic, rather than growing up to be 'Impact Monsters: we spend $ on cleaning up andamp; repairing effects of vandalism andamp; dumping. Also creates well-informed, future voters andamp; leaders.