Tennessee Celebrates Environmental Education Week with Introduction of New Web Site
Nashville, Tenn. – The Tennessee Department of Education and the Department of Environment and Conservation are joining to celebrate Environmental Education Week April 15-22 with the launch of a new Web site that is designed to be an online guide to environmental education in Tennessee.
The web site, www.eeintennessee.org, contains contact information for more than 90 organizations that provide environmental education in Tennessee, as well as facts and statistics on the environment, an E-quiz, and an interactive calendar page with environmental education activities across the state. Activities are included for children, youth and adults and most are free.
The Environmental Education in Tennessee Web site is designed to be particularly useful for teachers looking for field trip opportunities, guest speakers, contests for students, grants, and professional development workshops in the area of environmental education. Any teacher who visits the site and subscribes to the E-Newsletter by May 31, 2007 will be registered for a drawing to receive a free two-night stay at any Tennessee State Park lodge.
“Environmental education strives to put conservation skills into practice for Tennessee’s children,” said Education Commissioner Lana Seivers. “By utilizing the Internet, we are striving to provide educators, parents and students with easy access to the tools they need to demonstrate good stewardship techniques.”
The Web site is co-sponsored by the Department of Environment and Conservation and the Tennessee Environmental Education Association in partnership with the Tennessee Department of Education and Project CENTS (Conservation Education Now for Tennessee Students). The Departments of Environment and Conservation and Education partnered in 2005 to create the Project CENTS program, which strives to increase the scope and quality of environmental education in all K-12 schools across the state.
“We must begin at the earliest ages to teach young people the importance of protecting their natural environment and continue to reinforce that education throughout adulthood,” said Paul Sloan, deputy commissioner for Environment and Conservation. “I’m pleased we can help provide convenient access to information and environmental education opportunities as we celebrate Environmental Education Week in Tennessee.”
Environmental Education Week is a time to prepare for Earth Day 2007, which is April 22. Launched 37 years ago to bring attention to environmental studies, Earth Day is an excellent opportunity for education partners to enhance the educational preparation of students in K-12 classrooms, university campuses, and informal settings such as parks, nature centers, zoos, aquariums and museums.
You can find a list of Environmental Education Week activities across the state at www.eeintennessee.org. Just click on “Calendar.” For more information about Project CENTS, contact Tami Coleman at project.cents@state.tn.us.