1. Environmental Education/Air Quality Education for Elementary, Middle and High School Audiences
Kansas Association for Conservation and Environmental Education (KACEE)
2610 Claflin Road Manhattan, KS
Laura Downey
(785)
Shari L. Wilson
(913)

2. What is Environmental Education/Air Quality Education?
NOT environmental advocacy —rather EE promotes a full understanding of environmental issues through the education process
a process directed at creating awareness and understanding of environmental issues, leading to responsible and informed individual and group actions.
Heavy emphasis on using the environment as a context to learn critical thinking, problem-solving and decision-making skills
Guidelines for Excellence in Environmental Education available at

3. Support for Environmental Education…
In Kansas, 94% of those surveyed believe it is important to teach EE in schools (KDHE Survey of General Public, 1998).
95% of adults and 96% of parents in the US support Environmental Education being taught in schools (National Report Card on Environmental Knowledge, Attitude and Behaviors, 2001).

4. Who We Are…KACEE Membership
KACEE was established in 1969 as a public/private partnership with currently more than 200 organizational members and an additional 300+ individual members.
Business & Industry
Organizations
Federal, State, & Local Agencies
Colleges & Universities
Schools & School Districts

5. What We Do…KACEE Activities
Environmental Education Workshops
Facilitator Training
Water Festivals
KS Environmental Education Conference
Networking & Partnerships
Special Programs
Ongoing Membership Communications
Online EE Community

6. Sample Activity
Project Learning Tree-Air Quality Viewpoints On the Line (sample activity)

7. What to Do With Schools—EE/Air Quality Possibilities
Conduct hands-on activities with classrooms
Help create and support “Air Quality Monitoring Teams”
Help to host/organize Teacher Workshops on EE/Air Quality
Work with School-Based Green Teams
Impact Greenspace/Tree Planting Projects

8. Teacher Workshop Sample Agenda
The Idea Pool (Project WET, p. 7) Air Quality-Pre-Assessment of participant’s knowledge on air/air quality
What Is Air? Exploring the Properties of Air (EPA Materials), Inflate a Teacher, Cup in Water, Balancing Act
“Finding Sources of Air Pollution in Our Community” (EPA, p. 115), “Invent an Air Monitor” (EPA, p. 105) and “Particulate Collectors”, design and place
What are the Risks of Air Pollution? (PLT Secondary Risk Module and Air Quality Issues, Understanding Probability)
Minimizing Risks: The Role of Plants (PLT Air Plants Activity)
Science Pioneers Overview and review of Ozone Protocol, Lichen and Milkweed Field trip from
Indoor Air Quality (PLT Secondary Module on Risk-Radon)
Air Quality Values on the Line (PLT Activity and wrap-up)

9. School Projects
Kansas Green Schools—Coming Soon!! (Funding through the Bureau of Air and Radiation)
Tools and resources for combining school greening activities and education
Small grant opportunities for schools
Air Quality Monitoring Teams
collect ongoing air quality data
use protocols

10. Community Projects Greenspace/Tree Planting Projects
work with schools, scouts, etc.
create more community greenspace
plant trees

11. Potential Partners/Resources
Kansas Association for Conservation and Environmental Education (
Local Health Departments
Pathfinder Science:
EPA Resources:

12. Discussion
In what ways could/should businesses, industries, local governments, community leaders and environmental consultants be involved in environmental/air quality education and outreach?
How can KACEE support that involvement?