Catalyst (the Science Teachers’ PSA) Conference, Whistler, BC - May 12, 2006
Fifteen B.C. educators joined Patrick on EEPSA’s “Ins and Outs of EE” at Whistler in mid-May. The hour and half morning session slipped quickly by as the group shared their own experiences, inspirations and challenges of bringing Environmental Education to the classroom.
Many teachers made connections with the six themes of the Ministry of Education document “Environmental Concepts in the Classroom”. These include Consequences, Appreciation, Responsible Action, developing an Environmental Ethic in the context of Systems Thinking and Direct Experience learning. Teachers spoke passionately to the relevance of Environmental Education work, its timeliness and its close fit with many levels of B.C.’s educational curriculum. While time did not permit the popular outdoor component of EEPSA presentations – it reminded us of the similar challenges that we face as teachers – getting outside with our students. That connect time in the outdoors is the priority for powerful environmental education.
By Johan Stroman, Vice President, jkstroman(at)yahoo.ca. Feel free to contact Johan with your questions, comments and interests in EE.