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Connecticut Outdoor and Environmental Education Association

WHO WE ARE

​COEEA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and the state affiliate of the North American Association for Environmental Education. We're a member-based, professional community of individuals and organizations.

WHAT WE DO

Our mission is to engage, support and strengthen a growing collaborative network of individuals, educators and organizations to promote outdoor education and environmental literacy.

GET INVOLVED

We invite you to become a member, volunteer on an action team, facilitate connections, give financially, sponsor an initiative, advocate, or contribute your unique assets in other ways!

What We Do

What We Do

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COEEA's Board of Directors and Action Team volunteers work hard to:

  • Support CT Green LEAF Schools across the state

  • Offer pedagogical resources, workshops, training, and networking opportunities 

  • Recognize through annual Awards the contribution of deserving educators and organizations

  • Provide financial Mini-Grants to local initiatives that advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice in alignment with the goals of Connecticut's Environmental Literacy Plan

  • Organize Conferences and other opportunities for our community to share with, learn from, and be inspired by outdoor and environmental education leaders

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Our vision is to sustain a growing network across Connecticut that

  • Increases awareness and value of environmental literacy and education for all ages at the community and state level;

  • Encourages collaboration in sharing best practices and resources to increase a more environmentally literate Connecticut; and

  • Promotes equitable and inclusive access to environmental education.

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We hope you'll join us!

What is EE?

Environmental education (EE) integrates the natural world and meaningful outdoor experiences into learning, every day and everywhere. It develops working knowledge of concepts we all need to understand: how natural systems work, how to interact responsibly with our environment, and how we can protect natural resources for future generations.

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Who Benefits from EE?

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The outdoors are for everyone.

Historically, safe access to the outdoors and environmental learning has excluded communities of color, low-income families and people with disabilities. At the same time, the field of environmental education is an overwhelmingly white workforce. We recognize, name and actively work to change these dynamics to advance equity in environmental education.

 

Lifelong learners.

Learners of all ages, from infancy through adulthood, can benefit from the connection to and understanding of our environments that comes from environmental education. Implementing environmental education into every school day can build the foundation for lifelong engagement.

What is Environmental Education?

Source: NAAEE | Learn more: Nicole M. Ardoin, Alison W. Bowers, Noelle Wyman Roth & Nicole Holthuis (2018) Environmental education and K-12 student outcomes: A review and analysis of research, The Journal of Environmental Education, 49(1):1-17.

Why is EE Important?

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Healthier, happier, smarter

Research shows regular time in nature contributes to overall health and wellbeing.

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Provides a spectrum of opportunities

EE can be as simple as going outside or as complex as tackling systems change.

 

Builds lasting connections

Because EE takes place in many different ways and places, people can build knowledge and make strong connections over time.

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Inspires civic action

EE brings us together to learn about our world and how to best care for and sustain it for future generations.

 

Deeper understanding

When EE happens in school, it elevates understanding of all subjects, from math and science to literature and arts.

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