Welcome To ANJEE The Alliance for New Jersey Environmental Education

2. Welcome To ANJEE The Alliance for New Jersey Environmental Education

3. The purpose of ANJEE is to provide a structure for its members which facilitates the improvement of environmental education (EE) efforts.

4. ANJEE BASICS • Professional membership organization for environmental education professionals, practitioners and supporters • Private, not-for-profit • Volunteer-led • Statewide • Affiliate member of North American Association for Environmental Education • ANJEE central office hosted by New Jersey Audubon Society (NJAS) at their Scherman-Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary in Bernardsville (Somerset County); duties performed by NJAS staff Mike Anderson and volunteers • Founded in 1985 by Patricia Kane, Education Director for NJAS (retired) and ANJEE’s one-and-only (volunteer) • Executive Director

5. ANJEE PURPOSE OF • ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION • “The purpose of environmental education is to create awareness, understanding and concern for the quality of the environment and the conviction that human well-being is dependent upon a healthy environment.” • - ANJEE Statement of Purpose, 1984

6. ANJEE GOALS • Promote environmental education in all formal and informal educational endeavors within the state; • Encourage both pre-service and in-service training of teachers and educational administrators in environmental concepts, teaching methods and techniques; • Provide a network service for the sharing of environmental education resources, experiences and expertise; and • Provide leadership in the formation and implementation of environmental education efforts…

7. ANJEE FACES … • Membership ranges from 225 – 375 members • Formal education representatives – public and private schools, home school groups, daycare, after-school programs, colleges and universities • Non-formal education representatives – nature and EE centers, museums, parks, zoos, aquariums,government, consultants, corporations and businesses • Supporters – scientists, conservationists, environmentalists, volunteers, environmental commission members, community leaders, parents, media representatives, artists, writers, students and concerned citizens

8. … AND LOCATIONS 30% Northern Region 40% Central Region 24% Southern Region 6% out-of-state (PA & NY)

9. ANJEE AFFILIATIONS • New Jersey Coalition for Schoolyard Habitats • Watershed Partnership of New Jersey • New Jersey Natural Resource Education Cooperative • New Jersey Commission on Environmental Education • New Jersey Science Education Leadership Association • New Jersey Science Teachers Association • North American Association for Environmental Education

10. ANJEE ACCOMPLISHMENTS • Received Environmental Quality award from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (Region II) in category of “Environmental Education” (2005) • Received Outstanding Affiliateaward from North American Association for Environmental Education (2003) • Received three grants for EE projects: NJ EE directory – Office of the Governor; watershed outreach – DEP; and web site development – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region II, Environmental Education Office • Provided support for inclusion of environmental content in New Jersey’s classroom standards (science and social studies,1996) and monitors standards revision processes

11. ANJEE ACCOMPLISHMENTS (continued) • Championed passage of New Jersey’s environmental education law, which statutorily established commission and interagency work group (1995) • Assisted with development of New Jersey’s master plan for environmental education, Environmental Education in New Jersey: A Plan of Action (1988 – 1993), & is engaged with current development of state’s revised plan (Spring, 2008) • Established New Jersey Commission on Environmental Education as cooperative effort between State Departments of Environmental Protection and Education (1988)

12. ANJEE SERVICES FOR MEMBERS • Annual statewide environmental education conference • ANJEE ONLINE and ANJEE ALERT e-mail announcements that promote timely announcements about environmental education resources • Annual environmental education leadership retreat • Annual statewide awards and recognition program • Regional programs, events, meetings and other networking and enrichment opportunities • Access to specialized environmental education expertise • Access to national data, trends, reports and newsworthy information about the field of environmental education • Opportunity to attend national environmental education conference as an ANJEE leader and representative

13. ANJEE AND EE FUTURE • Potential inclusion of EE in federal No Child Left Behind reauthorization • Emphasis on “No Child Left Indoors” public campaigns that resulted from Richard Louv’s book Last Child in the Woods • Increased relationships between youth obesity, hours spent indoors w/technology, and certain health concerns and how nature/creative outdoor play can be part of solutions • Emphasis on green building with new school construction • Healthy schools emphasis and links between environmental problems and human health impacts

14. ANJEE AND EE FUTURE (continued) • Increased emphasis regarding public involvement with solutions to environmental problems (i.e., global warming) • NAAEE guidelines for learner outcomes, EE training courses and EE materials • Development of NCATE standards for EE certification • New Jersey’s High School Redesign Committee recommendations and third revision of classroom standards • Revision of the state’s master plan for EE delivery

15. ANJEE STRUCTURE AND • VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES • Join ANJEE and benefit from its services • Become an informed and engaged member • Attend regional and statewide functions • Join a committee/assume a responsibility • Become a chair or officer • Represent ANJEE at NAAEE functions ADVISORY COUNCIL Standing Committees Special Committees -Finance - Awards - Conference - Nominations - Newsletter/publications - Affiliate groups - Program – North, Central, South - Curriculum/training - Membership - NJ EE directory - Planning - Public Relations - Web Site EXECUTIVE BOARD - elected officers - chairs of standing committees

16. Through your ANJEE involvement... We are supporting each other.