Colorado Alliance For Environmental Education

DESCRIPTION:THIS PROJECT PROVIDES FUNDING TO COLORADO ALLIANCE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION (CAEE) TO IMPLEMENT ITS PROJECT, WHICH WILL DESIGN, DEMONSTRATE, AND DISSEMINATE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PRACTICES, METHODS, AND TECHNIQUES, THAT WILL SERVE TO INCREASE ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY AND ENCOURAGE BEHAVIOR THAT WILL BENEFIT THE ENVIRONMENT IN REGION 8. THE GRANTEE WILL DO THIS BY CREATING A FRAMEWORK TO DEVELOP, DELIVER, AND SUSTAIN COMPREHENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR EDUCATORS ACROSS REGION 8 STATES (CO, WY, MT AND UT). BY DEVELOPING AND DELIVERING AN EECREDENTIAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM TO ENSURE RIGOROUS, EFFECTIVE, AND ACCESSIBLE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT GROUNDED IN THE NAAEE GUIDELINES FOR EXCELLENCE, THE GRANTEE WILL PREPARE FORMAL AND NON-FORMAL EDUCATORS IN REGION 8 TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE WITH THEIR LEARNERS. THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES DEVELOPED AS A RESULT OF THIS GRANT WILL PROVIDE EDUCATORS WITH THE SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE THEY NEED TO DELIVER EFFECTIVE, HIGH-QUALITY ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION THAT HELPS LEARNERS WEIGH VARIOUS SIDES OF ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND DEVELOP CRITICAL THINKING, PROBLEM SOLVING AND DECISION-MAKING SKILLS. ACTIVITIES:THIS PROJECT WILL INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS AND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN REGION 8 AND PROVIDE EDUCATORS THE SKILLS NECESSARY TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS AND TO TAKE RESPONSIBLE ACTIONS. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED DURING THIS PROJECT PERIOD INCLUDE; CAEE WILL CREATE A PROJECT LEADERSHIP TEAM WITH USEE, MEEA, AND WYAEE THAT WILL SERVE AS THE PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT TEAM FOR THE PROJECT. THE PROJECT LEADERSHIP TEAM WILL DESIGN AND FACILITATE A NEEDS ASSESSMENT WITH KEY STAKEHOLDERS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT NEEDS OF THE REGION AND EACH INDIVIDUAL STATE. THE PROJECT LEADERSHIP TEAM WILL WORK WITH A CONSULTANT TO DEVELOP CONTENT FOR ONE TO THREE NEW SHARED ONLINE COURSES THAT WILL SUPPORT EDUCATORS IN ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE AND IMPROVING AIR QUALITY WITH THEIR STUDENTS TO BE COMBINED WITH EXISTING EE PEDAGOGY COURSES TO LAUNCH A FULL EECREDENTIAL. EACH STATE WILL FACILITATE AT LEAST ONE ONLINE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EECOURSE FOR AT LEAST 10 EDUCATORS. COURSE PARTICIPANTS WILL EACH COMPLETE A CAPSTONE PROJECT TO IMPLEMENT SKILLS LEARNED IN ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE AND IMPROVING AIR QUALITY WITH THEIR STUDENTS. COURSE PARTICIPANTS CAN APPLY FOR A SUBAWARD TO IMPLEMENT THEIR CLIMATE CHANGE EDUCATION CAPSTONE PROJECT.SUBRECIPIENT:THREE SUBAWARDS FOR $5,000 EACH WILL BE AWARDED TO WYAEE, USEE, AND MEEA TO CREATE EECREDENTIALS PROGRAMS IN THEIR STATE (ENROLL STUDENTS, OFFER ONLINE COURSES, MARKETING, EVALUATION, LOGISTIC MANAGEMENT). THE REMAINING $10,000 WILL BE AWARDED TO PARTICIPANTS IN THE ONLINE COURSE TO SUPPORT IMPLEMENTATION OF THEIR CAPSTONE PROJECT. PARTICIPANTS WILL DEVELOP THEIR CAPSTONE PROJECT PROPOSAL AND BE ABLE TO REQUEST FUNDS, IF NEEDED, AS PART OF THEIR COURSEWORK. FUNDING REQUESTS WILL BE EVALUATED USING A RUBRIC. PROJECTS WILL BE EVALUATED ON HOW THEY ADDRESS EPA ENVIRONMENTAL PRIORITY #1 AND THE DEGREE IN WHICH THEIR PROJECT REFLECTS THE GUIDELINES FOR EXCELLENCE IN EE. PROJECTS SERVING UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES WILL BE PRIORITIZED. THE GRANTEE HAS MET THE 25% SUB-AWARD REQUIREMENT AND WILL ALSO PROVIDE EXTRA FUNDS IN MATCH DOLLARS FOR SUB-AWARDS.OUTCOMES:IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT THIS PROJECT WILL RESULT IN THE FOLLOWING DELIVERABLES: 1. ESTABLISH LEADERSHIP TEAM WITH AT LEAST ONE REPRESENTATIVE FROM EACH STATE. 2. REGIONAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT NEEDS ASSESSED. 3. NEW EDUCATION COURSES CREATED FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. 4. AT LEAST 40 EDUCATORS PARTICIPATE IN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. 5. AT LEAST 25 CAPSTONE PROJECTS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED. EXPECTED OUTCOMES OF THE PROJECT INCLUDE: 1. BUILD CAPACITY FOR STATE EE ORGANIZATIONS TO MORE EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY DELIVER HIGH QUALITY PROFESSIONAL LEARNING, BUILDING THE KNOWLEDGE

DESCRIPTION:THIS PROJECT PROVIDES FUNDING TO COLORADO ALLIANCE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION (CAEE) TO IMPLEMENT ITS PROJECT, WHICH WILL DESIGN, DEMONSTRATE, AND DISSEMINATE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PRACTICES, METHODS, AND TECHNIQUES, THAT WILL SERVE TO INCREASE ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY AND ENCOURAGE BEHAVIOR THAT WILL BENEFIT THE ENVIRONMENT IN 3 REGION 8 STATES. THIS PROJECT WILL ENGAGE 100 STUDENTS, PARTICULARLY FROM RURAL DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES INCLUDING LA JUNTA, CO; RIVERTON, WY, AND ROOSEVELT, UT TO COME TOGETHER, DIALOGUE, AND TAKE ACTION TO ADDRESS THESE BARRIERS TO THEIR INVOLVEMENT AND INTEREST IN GREEN CAREERS. BY STRENGTHENING STUDENT LEADERS IN THE CONSERVATION MOVEMENT, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND OUR IDEAS, INCREASE MULTICULTURAL AWARENESS IN OUR ORGANIZATIONS, AND BEGIN TO TAKE ACTION FOR CHANGE. THE GOAL OF THE PROJECT IS TO CO-CREATE WITH YOUTH, EDUCATORS, AND GREEN CAREER PROFESSIONALS A SUSTAINABLE GREEN CLIMATE CAREERS PROGRAM IN REGION 8 FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, PARTICULARLY THOSE FROM UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, TO ACQUIRE THE SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE NEEDED TO PURSUE CAREERS IN THE GROWING FIELD OF ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY, RENEWABLE ENERGY, AND CLIMATE PROFESSIONS.ACTIVITIES:THIS PROJECT WILL INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS AND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN 3 REGION 8 STATES AND PROVIDE STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS THE SKILLS NECESSARY TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS AND TO TAKE RESPONSIBLE ACTIONS. THE MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR THIS PROJECT CENTER AROUND CREATING ONLINE CAREER RESOURCES, ORGANIZING A STATEWIDE VIRTUAL YOUTH GREEN CAREERS SUMMIT, ENGAGING STUDENTS IN SCHOOL-BASED ACTION PROJECTS, AND CONNECTING STUDENTS WITH MENTORS TO EXPLORE POTENTIAL CAREERS. ESTABLISHING A LEADERSHIP TEAM FROM CAEE, USEE, AND WYAEE WHO WILL MANAGE THIS PROJECT AND ACTIVITIES IN EACH STATE. THE LEADERSHIP TEAM WILL RECRUIT AND VIRTUALLY CONVENE AN ADVISORY TEAM OF AT LEAST 9 YOUTH, 3 EDUCATORS/GUIDANCE COUNSELORS AND 3 GREEN CAREER PROFESSIONALS WHO REPRESENT THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF OUR TARGETED COMMUNITIES TO CO-CREATE A GREEN CLIMATE CAREER PROGRAM. CO-CREATING A MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL GREEN CLIMATE CAREER CURRICULUM WHICH PROVIDES EDUCATORS WITH THE TOOLS FOR STUDENTS TO EXPLORE THE WIDE RANGE OF GREEN CAREERS IN CLIMATE AND EDUCATIONAL PATHWAYS AND PROJECTED CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AND TRENDS. WITH THE INPUT AND SUPPORT OF YOUTH, PLAN AND HOST A VIRTUAL GREEN CAREERS EVENT FOR 100 STUDENTS, AT LEAST 40% FROM OUR TARGETED COMMUNITIES, THAT HIGHLIGHTS THE NEED FOR A CLIMATE-RELATED WORKFORCE, PROVIDES STUDENTS OPPORTUNITIES TO MEET AND NETWORK WITH GREEN PROFESSIONALS, AND EXPLORES DIFFERENT GREEN CAREER OPPORTUNITIES.SUBRECIPIENT:CAEE WILL AWARD EXACTLY $25,000 (25%) OF EPA FUNDS IN SMALL SUBAWARDS OF $500-$2000 TO SCHOOLS LOCATED IN DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES, AS IDENTIFIED USING THE CLIMATE AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE SCREENING TOOL (CEJST).OUTCOMES:EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE INCREASED STUDENT ENGAGEMENT IN GREEN CAREER EXPLORATION, STUDENT-LED ACTION PROJECTS ADDRESSING CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN SCHOOLS, AND EDUCATORS WITH ENHANCED SKILLS TO TEACH ABOUT CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL TOPICS. AT LEAST 30 EDUCATORS WILL ALSO RECEIVE A CURRICULUM AROUND CLIMATE LITERACY AND GREEN JOBS. OTHER OUTCOMES INCLUDE: -INCREASE IN AWARENESS AND KNOWLEDGE OF GREEN CAREERS AMONG MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES. -INCREASE IN AWARENESS AND KNOWLEDGE OF GREEN CAREER OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEIR STUDENTS AMONG TEACHERS FROM RURAL, DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES. -IMPLEMENTATION OF SCHOOL-BASED PROJECTS ADDRESSING CLIMATE LITERACY, RESILIENCE, AND GREEN JOBS.

THE PROJECT HAS FOUR GOALS: 1. INCREASE AWARENESS ABOUT CAREERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL FIELDS FOR HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH; 2. INCREASE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS OF HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH ABOUT THE TYPES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CAREERS AND THE EDUCATION AND TRAINING NEEDED TO PURSUE THEM; 3. INCREASE THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS OF YOUTH CAREER MENTORS IN SUPPORTING YOUTH IN PURSUING A CAREER IN AN ENVIRONMENTAL FIELD; AND 4. INCREASE PARTICIPATION OF YOUTH AND COMMUNITY COLLABORATION IN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION (EE) FOR EVERYONE WILL HELP THE COLORADO ALLIANCE FOR EE INTEGRATE EE INTO CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION BY TRAINING TEACHERS HOW TO