The North Carolina Environmental Education Certification Program requires over 200 hours of professional development including out-of-doors experiences, knowledge of environmental education resources and facilities in the state, teaching experiences, and community action partnerships. Since the program was initiated in 1996 over 1800 educators have enrolled and 600 have achieved Certification.

Environmental education teacher training and resources approved for the certification program can be found at http://www.eenorthcarolina.org/certification/approvedwksps.htm

The latest class to graduate were recognized in a ceremony November 21, 2003, and honored in an address by the Chairman of the North Carolina Board of Education, Howard Lee.

In partnership with the Department of Public Instruction, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and others, the Environmental Education Fund encourages regional meetings made up of those educators enrolled in the program and sponsor graduation ceremonies honoring those who have achieved certification.

The purposes of the meetings are:

a) to further communication among the educators who have achieved Certification as well as those striving to complete Certification,

b) establish a mentor system to encourage and support educators to enroll and to support and encourage those already enrolled,

c) to share environmental education experiences that expand upon existing resources, and

d) to otherwise build the professionalism of Certified Environmental Educators through collaboration and coordination.

Detailed Description of Program