The Importance of Environmental Education
Environmental education's focus is on environmental "literacy ": learning about and caring for the total environment, understanding how humans interact with and are dependent on natural ecosystems and developing critical-thinking skills to resolve environmental issues.
Whether we're in the classroom or in corporate headquarters, we all benefit from students' increased environmental literacy. Recent studies by the State Education and Environment Roundtable have shown that strong environmental education programs provide schools with:
- Higher test scores and increased academic performance
- Better attendance rates
- Fewer behavioral problems and more time for teaching.
In addition, students gain analytical skills that are indispensable in almost any work environment. Effective environmental education provides the business community with a better-educated workforce prepared to think creatively and critically, work in teams, forge consensus from diverging views and solve complex problems efficiently and effectively. It creates better citizens.
Placer
Nature Center Accomplishments
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First environmental learning center in Placer County
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Dilapidated farm structures converted into state of the art Nature Center for community learning and discovery
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Environmental concepts taught to over 65,000 children from area schools since 1991
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Volunteer service opportunities for 100's of area adults and children as Docents, maintenance helpers, writers and more
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Outdoor learning gardens for study of Placer County History
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Native American village created to interpret Native American culture and wisdom
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Miles of interpretive nature trails developed for passive recreation
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Continuing education programs for all age levels
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Off-site environmental education programming to area schools, Boys and Girls Clubs, recreation centers and libraries
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Field Studies for in-depth science learning
