WHAT EETAP DOES

The Environmental Education Training and Partnership (EETAP) identifies and implements essential training and support services for educators to foster environmental literacy through America's schools, nature centers, government agencies, and other institutions. You may have already benefited from EETAP's work without being aware of it. The popular website EE-Link (http://www.eelink.net), the Project for Excellence in EE Guideline Series (http://www.naaee.org/npeee/), and the National EE Leadership Clinic are all examples of EETAP activities. Whatever the support service, EETAP promotes the use of reliable methods and quality resources to ensure that learners develop the knowledge and skills necessary to understand and help resolve environmental problems.

The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UW-SP) College of Natural Resources serves as the manager of EETAP, but most activities are implemented by participating organizations who receive funding to carry out specific activities. By pooling expertise, increasing inter-organization communication and coordinating planning, EETAP partners are able to do more and target special areas of concern in EE. High priorities include strengthening institutional support for preservice and inservice teacher training, increasing multicultural participation in EE, promoting the use of professional guidelines for the selection and use of EE curriculum materials, and much more.

The EETAP Consortium

• Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
• Greater Washington Urban League
• Groundwater Foundation
• National EE Advancement Project
• North American Association for Environmental Education
• Northern Illinois University
• Ohio State University
• Project del Rio
• Project Learning Tree
• Project WET, U.S.A.
• Project WILD
• WestED
• World Wildlife Fund
• UW-SP College of Natural Resources (managing partner)

EETAP provides…

Outreach to increase understanding of and use of EE for improving student learning:

• Development, dissemination, and training in use of the National Guidelines for Excellence in EE
• Linking national EE curricula to state standards across disciplines
• Special reports and publications highlighting EE
• Organization of forums, symposia, and conference presentations
• Events to promote communication and inclusion with multicultural educators

Specialized professional development opportunities for education professionals through:

• Introductory trainings to provide initial exposure to EE for educators
• Advanced educator training on emerging issues such educational reform and diversity
• Bi-lingual training in EE
• Leadership and organizational development for EE organizations
• On-line Pre-service teacher training

Improved access to EE information and resources through the Internet

• EE-Link-a comprehensive website for locating EE materials, grants, and more
• Searchable databases of EE resources
• NAAEE-EE bi-weekly electronic newsletter
• EE NewsWire: bulletins and special announcements
• Resource databases linked to Guidelines to ensure quality use
• Cataloging of quality EE resources in national resource databases like ERIC, & Eisenhower National Clearinghouse

Building capacity of sustainable state and local EE programs

• EETAP States Program & Demonstration Community Project: Grant funding, technical support, networking coordination, and training for teams of EE leaders in selected states and communities to build comprehensive EE programs
• Training in the development and delivery of Leadership Clinics and other results oriented workshops, conferences and events focused on planning, training, and networking in EE leadership and organizational development.
• Resources, consulting and referral in organizational assessment and best practices for developing sustainable state and local EE organizations.
• Custom developed capacity building strategies and tools to catalyze and empower EE stakeholders to strengthen state and local EE programs including resources for state EE associations.

EETAP Program Areas

Capacity Building--EE and community leaders are supported through organizational training, strategic planning, expertise, and small grants to develop sustainable and comprehensive EE programs at state and local levels.

Diversity audiences-- barriers to participation in the development and implementation of EE programs by people of color are reduced through dialogue with multicultural groups and expanded outreach to urban schools.

Education Reform--EE's facilitation of education reform goals is showcased through professional conferences and interaction educational leaders in science, math, social studies, and language arts.

Internet Communication & Access-- access to EE materials and resources that are educationally and scientifically sound is enhanced through the latest in web based technology that link information to classrooms and nature centers across America.

Professional Development--thousands of professional educators participate in workshops to build skills in sound teaching strategies for improving environmental literacy and educational achievement of learners

Funding for EETAP is provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Environmental Education through a cooperative agreement with the UWSP.