For immediate release: April 22, 2010

 

1.      Governor's conference to feature statewide environmental literacy plan, Iowa core curriculum

 

MEDIA CONTACT: Rebecca Kauten at 319-415-0746 or at [log in to unmask]

GOVERNOR'S CONFERENCE TO FEATURE STATEWIDE ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY PLAN, IOWA CORE CURRICULUM
 

CEDAR RAPIDS - The Iowa Conservation Education Coalition (ICEC) announces the 2010 Governor's Conference on Environmental Education will take place Monday, June 28 at Honey Creek Resort State Park near Moravia. Registration to attend is $45, payable to ICEC. Scholarships to attend are also available.

 

As an event that occurs every five years, the Governor's Conference highlights some of the most prominent current topics in environmental education. This year, the event is an opportunity to present elements of a statewide environmental literacy plan as a roadmap to successful environmental education in alignment with the Iowa Core Curriculum.

 

"The goal of this event is to bring together teachers, naturalists, parents, our state agencies and our law makers to find common ground in a statewide environmental literacy plan," said Barb Ehlers, co-chair of the ICEC executive committee. "ICEC serves as the conduit between these different groups, and it is our intent to align the shared vision of environmental education as a key component of every Iowa child's life." 

 

Since 2008, ICEC has been involved in a four-state initiative to develop environmental literacy plans that integrate state standards and benchmarks with guidelines and recommendations made by the North American Association for Environmental Education. The goal of this effort is to have an active work plan for Iowa that meets our needs, while at the same time aligns our efforts with others across the country working to further environmental education.

 

As part of the event, ICEC will gather feedback from attendees on content within a current draft environmental literacy plan. A portion of the day will also be dedicated to existing environmental education programs that have assessed, measured and evaluated their efforts in a way that shows environmental education as a key component in K-12 education. Materials will be provided for non-formal educators as a way to connect to Iowa schools and the Iowa Core through environmental education. 

 

Iowa Department of Education and Iowa Department of Natural Resources are key partners in making this event possible. Funding was provided in part by the Iowa Resource Enhancement and Protection - Conservation Education Program and by the US Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Education Program.

 

For more information or to attend the 2010 Governor's Conference contact Heather Niec, ICEC administrative coordinator at [log in to unmask] or call 319-848-7019.

 

About Iowa Conservation Education Coalition

Since 1958, ICEC has served as a statewide resource connecting educators to conservation and our natural world. The mission of ICEC is to empower Iowa's formal and nonformal educators to promote environmental literacy and facilitate networking and advocacy for environmentally literate Iowans.

 

 

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