National Environmental Education Week (EE Week), the nation's largest environmental education event held each year the week before Earth Day, inspires environmental learning and stewardship among K-12 students. EE Week connects educators with environmental resources to promote K-12 students' understanding of the environment. EE Week is a program of the National Environmental Education Foundation.

What's New...

EE Week 2012

Greening STEM: The Environment as Inspiration for 21st Century Learning

Increasing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) knowledge and expanding STEM education and career opportunities for students is a national priority. Student  achievement in STEM is key to fostering a new wave of innovators who can creatively address complex 21^st century challenges.

The environment is a compelling context for teaching STEM as it provides teachers with a diverse range of real-world challenges  that engage students in hands-on opportunities to apply and reinforce STEM concepts across multiple subject areas. From calculating planting area and productivity in the school garden, to designing model wind turbines, to tracking invasive species with GPS technology, environmental projects inspire students to apply STEM by empowering them to develop innovative solutions to local problems meaningful to them.

Recognizing the role of the environment as an impetus for STEM learning, EE Week's 2012 theme is Greening STEM: The Environment as Inspiration for 21^st Century Learning. K-12 educators of all disciplines are invited to explore how the environment can motivate students to study STEM across subject areas by taking advantage of:

• Free EE Week planning toolkits with information and grade-appropriate activities that incorporate STEM learning into popular environmental topic areas.
• Two free educator webinars on using the environment as a context for teaching STEM, with school-based project ideas and opportunities for Q&A with experts.
• Discounts, giveaways and special offers from our partners.

Learn more about EE Week's 2012 offerings. 

Register for EE Week 2012. Registration is free and easy and, in addition to the benefits above, connects you to a national network of educators dedicated to increasing the environmental literacy of K-12 students.

 

Planet Connect 2012 Wildlife Conservation Youth Engagement Grants

Planet Connect invites high school students with a creative idea for conserving and protecting wildlife in their community to apply for a 2012 Wildlife Conservation Youth Engagement Grant. Planet Connect is offering grants of $1,000 to high school students to implement a project in their local school or community. In addition, all grantees will receive funding to participate in a local summer internship focused on wildlife conservation or natural resources. 

Students can apply, learn more and watch a promotinoal video for the Planet Connect 2012 Wildlife Conservation Youth Engagement Grants by visiting http://planetconnect.org/2012wcgrants. Application deadline is February 1, 2012.  

 

NEEF Launches the Sustainable Energy Award

The National Environmental Education Foundation and Samsung are partnering to celebrate innovative high schools from across the country that have used energy efficiency to enhance education, reduce environmental impacts and generate cost savings. The $10,000 Sustainable Energy Award will be presented to the top three high schools that can demonstrate how they have engaged students and teachers in school-wide energy savings through the creative and innovative use of technology. Their achievement will be showcased as models for other schools looking to take on this challenge.

Application deadline: February 10, 2012. 

The national Sustainable Energy Award is made possible through the generous support of Samsung Electronics America.

Learn more about the Sustainable Energy Award.

 

EE Week Special Feature: Weather Connections to the Ocean

Broadcast meteorologists explain the role the ocean plays in local weather

As part of National Environmental Education Week's 2011 theme, Ocean Connections, broadcast meteorologists from across the United States have contributed videos explaining the ocean's role in weather in their regions. These meteorologists participate in Earth Gauge®, a sister program of National Environmental Education Week that providesweathercasters with free environmental information and stewardship tips they can share with their viewers. Access the videos