Apr 14 2008
National Environmental Education Week (EE Week), the largest organized environmental education event in the U.S., launched today with over 1600 partner organizations, and millions of teachers, students and others in step. This year, EE Week provides an opportunity for young people to learn about carbon footprints -- both how they are created and what can be done to shrink them.
Made possible by Canon U.S.A., Inc., National Environmental Education Week increases the educational impact of Earth Day by creating a full week of environmentally-themed lessons and activities in K-12 classrooms, nature centers, zoos, museums and aquariums.
EE Week's 2008 theme is focused specifically on helping students and educators to learn more about carbon footprints by providing a host of lessons and activities designed to infuse environmental education into everyday learning.
"The stakes have never been higher," said Diane Wood, president, National Environmental Education Foundation. "Every day we see the need for students to be prepared to face a future with new environmental challenges."
The National Environmental Education Week Web site, http://www.eeweek.org, provides resources including a robust curricula library offering dozens of grade-appropriate, standards-based lessons on energy, carbon and climate change, as well as including a new, easy-to-use nature center map to help teachers and parents find local environmental education activities, and a one-of-a-kind carbon footprint calculator, built by Zerofootprint, that helps students examine how their daily choices affect the health of the climate.
EE Week aims to increase the number of environmental education hours that K-12 grade students receive in both formal and non-formal educational settings. "This week is unrivaled in providing young people with an opportunity to look at their day-to-day lives and the impact that they can have on the environment," said Dawn Shields, senior manager, Corporate Social Responsibility, Canon U.S.A., Inc. "Canon has a long history of supporting environmental initiatives and is extremely proud to be part of EE Week. We encourage educators, parents and students alike to take advantage of the events and resources available this week and all year long."
National Environmental Education Week national spokesperson and third-generation member of the Cousteau family of explorers, Alexandra Cousteau adds, "We can no longer ignore the human footprint on our planet. If we are to achieve a sustainable society, we must consider our impact on the natural systems that support life on Earth. EE Week is an excellent opportunity for students and educators to focus on shrinking their own carbon footprint and that of their families, schools and communities."
For details and more information about EE Week, becoming a partner, or participating in a local event, please visit http://www.eeweek.org.