The purpose of this qualitative narrative multiple case study was to address gaps in the research by exploring student engagement in a nature-based school in Georgia and a Missouri school moving to nature-based education. By considering three key dimensions of student engagement, behavioral, cognitive, and emotional, this in-depth investigation…

The complex nature of contemporary challenges requires a culture of cooperation between academic disciplines. However, to what extent do educational systems prepare students to think beyond the boundaries of austerely defined and often entrenched academic fields? UNESCO has successively called for Environmental Education, Education for Sustainable…

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore the strategies and an effective model for creating and implementing a sustainability internship program at a university campus. Design/methodology/approach: This study assessed Western Michigan University's sustainability program's interns' gain of environmental knowledge on sustainability topics…

This paper, based upon our experiences starting a school, is part dialogue and part theory. The three authors have all played important roles in the design, creation, and ongoing support of an innovative public elementary school. The first part of the paper describes the impetus behind the creation of this "buildingless," environmentally…

This article addresses the need to integrate experiential learning into environmental and sustainability curriculum and considers the challenges faced by academic institutions in providing relevant experiential learning opportunities at an appropriate scale. Through an experiential case study, this article illustrates how adopting a "hybrid…

This paper is an examination of a teacher professional development program in northeast Louisiana, that provided 30 teachers and their students with the technology, skills, and content knowledge to collect data and explore weather trends. Data were collected from both continuous monitoring weather stations and simple school-based weather stations…

This study utilizes longitudinal, mixed-method data drawn from participants in an environmental education/international immersion program for middle high-school students to study outcomes and processes associated with program participation. Studies of program outcomes and processes are important for better understanding the design and impact of…

Outdoor and environmental education teachers and consultants identified nine common barriers to implementing outdoor education programs. Two frequently cited problems were lack of administrative support and teacher's limited training, experience, or confidence. Presents techniques and tactics for resolving these barriers. (LP)

Presents tips for organizing and conducting effective science-related field trips. Topics include: Develop a Thematic Approach; Engage Expert Leaders; Provide Important Creature Comforts (transportation and facilities); Supply Useful Learning Materials; Provide Delicious Creature Comforts (food); Create a Comfortable Networking Environment;…

This book describes acclimatization, an approach to nature education that actively involves participants in the environment during a 1-week summer camping experience. The goal is to stimulate awareness of nature, increase appreciation of nature, and motivate further involvement with nature. An outcome of this process is that participants…

This paper discusses some of the common barriers confronting outdoor and experiential education teachers and presents strategies for surmounting them. The identified concerns and suggested solutions were obtained from in-depth open-ended interviews conducted with 10 outdoor education/environmental education consultants and teachers in Alberta…

This third and last installment of articles examining ways to overcome various barriers to program implementation focuses on choosing appropriate curriculum materials, developing teacher and student resource materials, and choosing outdoor learning sites that offer maximum benefit to student learning. (LP)

This conference proceedings consists of edited submissions of 63 workshops and presentations covering the historical aspects of experiential education and current and future trends in experiential education. Two types of material are included: (1) "information foundation" papers, that are relatively longer, theoretical or descriptive in…

"Volunteers Teaching Children" describes the Volunteer-led Investigations in Neighborhood Ecology, or VINE Programs, established by Denver Audubon Society members as an urban education project, and how that model has been adapted to draw on the human and financial resources available in other cities. VINE Programs give children…

This resource book provides guidelines for planning, developing, and implementing outdoor education programs for disabled youth. Part 1 offers a step by step approach to developing a program that focuses on the use of the natural environment as the primary learning element. Advice is given on individualizing the program, consistent with…