AK Environmental Literacy Plan- Add your voice to get kids outdoors

[Kristen]

Hello Members of the Juneau Children Outdoors Coalition,

When children are connected to nature, they do better in school, have fewer behavioral and health problems, and are more engaged in learning. These facts are not the current reality for many Alaskan students. We as parents, educators, professionals and community members have the power to change the future for Alaskan students and our state. A dedicated group of diverse educators and natural resource professionals have drafted an Environmental Literacy Plan for Alaska. If you have not had a chance to provide input to the draft plan, NOW is the time. The draft is available online at the Alaska Department of Education & Early Development website at: http://education.alaska.gov/tls/akelp/. The deadline has been set for Feb. 15th, but we recognize that many stakeholders haven't had a chance to comment. As long as your comments are submitted soon, they'll be incorporated into the final version of the plan.

 

Development of this Plan is supported by the Alaska Department of Education and a coalition of natural resource agencies and organizations across the state. Alaska’s Environmental Literacy Plan is designed to connect youth with the natural world and the communities within which they live. It is a framework to guide schools (PreK-12) in integrating environmental education, including active outdoor learning, as part of the school curricula with support from community partners. Implementation of the Plan will result in no new mandates, nor will it take away from current educational programs. It will provide opportunities for schools and community partners to receive support to implement successful place-based learning opportunities, develop outdoor classrooms and provide important professional development for teachers, administrators and community members.

 

If you are unable to provide comments on the draft itself, please let us know if you support the concept of an Environmental Literacy Plan by answering a few questions using the survey monkey on the right side of the website. It takes just a few minutes. Thank you for taking time to address this important opportunity for Alaska’s children and youth.

 

Sincerely,

 

The Alaska Environmental Literacy Plan Working Group
Project Managers- Kristen Romanoff, Alaska Department of Fish & Game

Bjorn Wolter, Alaska Department of Education & Early Development

 

Susan Baxter, Juneau School District, Retired Teacher; Adia Cotter, Alaska Natural Resource & Outdoor Education Association; Laurel Devaney, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service; Robin Dublin, Center for Ocean Sciences Excellence Education; Brenda Duty, Alaska Department of Fish & Game; Karol Fink, Alaska Department of Health & Social Services; Annette Heckart, U.S. Forest Service- Chugach National Forest; Stephanie Hoag, Discovery Southeast Board of Directors; Kristi Kantola, U.S. Forest Service- Alaska Region; Brian Lax, BLM Campbell Creek Science Center; Meghan Nedwick, Alaska Department of Fish & Game; Cathy Rezabeck. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service; Marilyn Sigman, UAF Alaska Sea Grant; Melissa Sikes, Fairbanks Soil & Water Conservation District; Jim Sumner, BLM Campbell Creek Science Center; Sean Topkok, Alaska Native Knowledge Network; Beth Trowbridge, Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies; Woody Woodgate, St. Mary’s School District, Teacher; Soren Wuerth, Anchorage School District, Teacher