EE Capacity-Building Workshops

The MPCA sponsors Environmental Education Capacity-building Workshops, dedicated to developing effective organizations and individual leaders in order to achieve comprehensive EE programs at the state and local level.

These workshops are open to all working in the environmental field. They are free, but RSVPs are generally required to attend.

Examples of past workshops

Creating Opportunities for Regional Collaboration and Continuing Education

How do you bring together, and keep together, environmental professionals in a successful collaboration, whether it be for educational opportunities or a specific environmental outcome? Janet Boe, Minnesota DNR Plant Ecologist, and Phil Hunsicker, 1,000 Friends of Minnesota Lakes Region Coordinator, will share their differing experiences, tips, and insights into doing just that during this morning workshop.

Some areas in Minnesota have a "knowledge cluster" of environmental people, staff or volunteers who work in natural resources, pollution prevention, land use, waste and many other environmental issues. In these areas, there is a need to both educate these natural resources staff on issues relevant to their work and bring them together to meet one another and discuss events, issues, and opportunities for collaboration. Janet Boe will review some of the challenges that she's witnessed as part of a new group planning continuing education seminars for natural resources professionals in Grand Rapids, and now as part of a newer group doing the same in Bemidji. She'll share what they've learned in the process and provide some advice for others interested in establishing similar programs.

In a community where there are many issues that need to be addressed, it is easier said than done to bring organizations, agencies and others together to tackle an issue in a manner that is beneficial for all involved. When groups find themselves in a situation that requires working together on a task long term, there comes the question of who does what to make it happen—especially in these tough economic times. That is what makes the Brainerd Lakes Area Conservation Collaborative an interesting effort. Formed in 2002, this fledgling collaboration is working in concert towards goals that address conservation concerns in growth and planning, while sharing information and keeping themselves educated. Phil Hunsicker will help you learn how to begin and foster such a partnership.

Take some time out of your day to discover how you can strengthen an existing collaboration in your region or enjoy building a new one. Coming together can be a good thing!

Effective Presentations: Tips and Trials

Experienced educators know that for environmental education to be effective, the audience needs to be involved in the process. The more hands-on, the better. But, what does that mean for the majority of environmental professionals and volunteers who, for whatever reasons, need to rely on presentations as their main educational tool? OEA's Denise Stromme will set the record straight! Whether you're presenting to a city council on growth issues or a group of students on water quality, take the time to make your presentations worth your while—and theirs!

Natural Wonders: A Guide to Early Childhood for Environmental Educators

Natural Wonders: A Guide to Early Childhood for Environmental Educators reveals the secret life of the preschooler, why they do the things they do and what you can help them learn. This mini-workshop provides a crash course in child development designed specifically for environmental educators teaching in nature centers, zoos, arboreta and other informal environments. A limited number of bound copies are available for practitioners, or download it for free.

The workshop is the culmination of a two-year project of the Minnesota Early Childhood EE Consortium funded by the Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance. Over 300 naturalists and other informal educators throughout the state of Minnesota participated in the development of the guidebook and trainings.

Environmental Literacy Scope and Sequence: Applications in the Field

OEA's Annette Drewes asks, "Now that you have that nice document on your shelf, how are you going to use it?" The Environmental Literacy Scope and Sequence, developed as a systems approach to environmental education in Minnesota, serves as a guide for program and curriculum development. Come and find out how this new resource is being used in Minnesota. Be ready to explore its application in your own work. Attendees of this workshop should be familiar with the Scope and Sequence to get the most out of the time. Find it on the web at www.seek.state.mn.us/classrm_d.cfm, or request a free copy from the OEA's Education Clearinghouse: 651-215-0232 or 1-800-877-6300.

Environmental Literacy: Where are we in Minnesota?

Come join presenter Dr. Tony Murphy as we explore the results of a recent statewide survey and report, The Minnesota Report Card on Environmental Literacy, a benchmark survey on environmental knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors. The National Environment and Education Training Foundation conducts environmental literacy surveys every year, but this is the first report card conducted in Minnesota. The project funded by the Office of Environmental Assistance and Hamline University, and performed in conjunction with Wilder Research Center, offers a wealth of information on what Minnesota adults are thinking, feeling and acting upon in relation to the environment. Learn about the process in creating the survey, take the knowledge section survey, and explore the results during this session.

Icebreakers and Energizers

Icebreakers are often used as a mode of introducing people, however there is even more value for using them. Icebreakers can help facilitate introductions, assess prior knowledge, foster group unity, provide topic segue, and in general prepare people to participate. Energizers can be used to wake up participants and engage them after a long or difficult session. Similar to ice breakers they can also build teams, introduce people to each other, and focus participants for learning. Come and let OEA's Su Beran take you into the depths of icebreakers and energizers.

Credibility: Got it? Need to have it!

Educating others about environmental subjects is not based on subject matter alone. It is a social process that requires involvement of both the educator and the audience. That involvement does not occur unless there is credibility perceived by the audience for the educator and his/her information.

It's often assumed that if you know your "stuff" your audiences are going to find you credible and believe all that you say. Unfortunately, there is no magic credibility suit to wear. Credibility is much more complex than that. So much so that the experts themselves have a wide array of notions of what makes one credible. Come get engaged with Denise Stromme and others in this workshop: Decide for yourself what credibility is and how it can be achieved.

Leadership: What does it really mean? How do I fit in?

Have you ever thought of yourself as a leader? What do you think of when you think of leadership? Is a good manager a leader?

This workshop provides a frame of reference and many viewpoints on leadership in contemporary organizations. With a firm understanding in common foundational philosophies and personal commitment, an individual can make a meaningful contribution in any organization. Please join OEA's Mike Kennedy for an interesting dialog and learning experience about leadership and your role as a leader.

Facilitation Processes: Getting Your Hands Dirty

Environmental educators require a working knowledge of facilitation to be successful in working with groups of people. This workshop is geared for those of you who feel that you have a sense of what facilitation is and just want a chance to practice a variety of facilitation methods and processes. In other words, you want to get your hands dirty.

Denise Stromme grooves on "hands-on, everyone-participates" workshops. (So, if you're into sitting back and listening to a talking head, this isn't for you!) We'll go over a variety of methods dealing with problem solving, brainstorming, evaluation of ideas and solutions, and analysis of internal and external factors. You won't learn it all, but you will have a great opportunity to get your hands, and minds, into the processes of facilitation.

Using the Environment as an Integrating Context for Learning

Presenters: Jean Tushie and Annette Drewes

As an environmental educator, teacher or environmental specialist, it is not an easy task to bring the environment effectively into a school setting and into the minds of students. Here's your chance to learn about an effective approach to education that is doing just that and much more! The Environment as an Integrating Context for learning (EIC), defines a framework for education: a context for interdisciplinary, collaborative, student-centered, hands-on, and engaged learning. EIC-based instruction uses a school's surroundings and community as a framework within which students can construct their own learning.

EIC-based learning is not primarily focused on learning about the environment, nor is it limited to developing environmental awareness. EIC-based programs typically employ the environment as a comprehensive focus and framework for learning in all areas: general and disciplinary knowledge; thinking and problem-solving skills; basic life skills, such as cooperation and interpersonal communications; and, last but not least, understanding of one's relationship to "the environment" — the community and natural surroundings.

Education and Advocacy - Would a Rose Smell So Sweet?

With mounting pressure placed on the environmental community to present an accurate picture of environmental concerns, educators and conservationists are being asked to stick to the facts...but are we doing this? Some critics of environmental education say that one of the reasons the EE field lacks credibility lies within the perception that many of the practitioners are not "educating" but "advocating." Are they right?

Gwyn Rowland from the Izaak Walton League's National Office guides us in discovering just what the differences are and why we should care. In this workshop we'll use a variety of methods and tools to discern the differences between education and advocacy and to discuss when and where these two strategies are most appropriate and effective.

Sustainability 101, 201, 301

Like a large steamer trunk, the "S" word is packed -- with many different styles of clothes, books and tools. And while we don't have time to thoroughly unpack that trunk in this workshop, we promise to take you on a stimulating tour, engage you in discussion and an individual exercise, and leave you with a powerful database of education resources.

Philipp Muessig and Paul Moss — the OEA's resident experts — will look at: what we are "sustaining;" sustainability and environmental education; sustainability and smart growth; and also break into small groups for an exercise on building sustainability into your education programs.

Volunteer and Volunteer Intern Programs

Thinking of starting a volunteer program but are unsure how, or even if you should? Perhaps you have volunteers but the program seems to be struggling? Or, do you just need to hear what others are doing with their programs? Let's face it, beginning, organizing, developing, tailoring, maintaining, monitoring and evaluating volunteer programs is hard work and quite daunting. But, that doesn't mean that you shouldn't do it. You just need to be prepared!

Renee Vail, Director of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Volunteer Programs and Tom Moffatt, Naturalist/Intern Coordinator at Woodlake Nature Center, will introduce you to the do's and don'ts of volunteer programs. Tom and Renee will share with you their years of experience by comparing and contrasting their own programs. They will also reveal the "tips of the trade" they've learned along the way while giving you the chance to explore your individual program ideas.

Guidelines for the Initial Preparation of Environmental Educators

Looking to train new and not-so-new environmental education staff at your center, organization or agency? Developing a pre-service EE program at your college or university? Then this workshop is for you.

Environmental educators come from varied backgrounds and interests, but all need to have a strong EE foundation from which to work. Annette Drewes, Education Specialist at the Office of Environmental Assistance, along with the nationally acclaimed Guidelines for the Initial Preparation of Environmental Educators, will provide you with food for thought in preparing people to educate others about the environment.

The guidelines, published by the North American Association for Environmental Education, is a set of recommendations about the basic knowledge and abilities educators need in order to deliver quality environmental education programs. It is designed for use in the planning of staff development programs, pre-service teacher education programs, and EE courses for students in natural resources and environmental studies. How do your programs stack up? What do you have in place already? Come join us for a close-up look.

Using the new GreenPrint as your blueprint for EE

Do you deliver environmental education (EE) programs? Do you want to know more about EE in Minnesota and what EE professionals see as a priority?

In this workshop you'll get a chance to refresh your basic understanding of EE, find out what priority outcomes have been identified for EE in Minnesota and how the new GreenPrint, Minnesota's State Plan for EE, can be a resource to support your EE efforts.

Jeff Ledermann, GreenPrint Project Manager, will send you home with a copy of Minnesota's revised state plan for EE and lots of new strategies to try in your programs.

Environmental Education Materials: Guidelines for Excellence

Have you ever wondered if your environmental education (EE) program is fair, accurate, action oriented, instructionally sound, and useable? This workshop will introduce you to the Environmental Education Materials: Guidelines for Excellence, a tool that you can use to evaluate your EE program.

The guidelines, published by the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE), are a set of recommendations to evaluate, develop and select environmental education (EE) materials, including programs, curriculums, presentations, etc. The guidelines aim to help non-formal EE providers produce high quality programs and provide a tool to evaluate the wide array of available environmental education materials. Come prepared with your own program, presentation, demonstration, curriculum, and/or lesson to learn and practice using this tool.

last update November 2005