All Guides: Ecotourism Test Guide FY23: Environmental Education

Environmental education is an increasingly important subject as we get deeper into the 21st century, particularly when discussing the subject of ecotourism. Building a sustainable future goes beyond simply how we treat the specific ecosystem we live in and call home, but goes further to how we treat the spaces we visit.

Understanding the Impact of Ecotourism Resort Experiences on Tourists’ Environmental Attitudes and Behavioural Intentions
This study explored the conservation benefits of environmental management practices and nature experiences provided at a major Australian ecotourism resort. To achieve this purpose the study investigated changes in tourists’ environmental knowledge, awareness, attitudes and behavioral intentions between pre-visit and post-visit stages. Overall, there were few statistically significant differences between the pre-visit and post-visit samples. This study found, however, significant effects of (1) visitor awareness of, and (2) involvement in, the environmental management practices, and (3) participation in nature tour activities on environmental attitudes and behaviors. It is suggested that awareness of in-resort environmental practices and satisfying experiences in ecotourism accommodation may lead to reinforcing visitors’ favorable environmental attitudes, thus increasing their interest in further ecotourism experiences. Through these cumulative effects, ecotourism accommodation could achieve its educative goal.
Environmental Education in the Community
For years, Peace Corps Volunteers have assisted communities to create and engage in a broad range
of environmental education activities. Although the content and setting of each of these activities
is different, the educational goal is the same: to help communities appreciate, protect, and sustain their
natural surroundings. This Peace Corp document outlines the foundation for how to create a successful environmental education program.

Earth Education by Steve Van Matre; Jan Muir (Illustrator)
Call Number: QH51 .V345 1990
ISBN: 0917011023
Publication Date: 1990-04-01
For over twenty years the public has been led to believe that there is a serious educational response underway regarding the environmental problems of the earth. This book proposes another direction--an alternative that many environmental leaders and teachers around the world have already taken. It is called The Earth Education Path, and anyone can follow it in developing a genuine educational program made up of magical learning adventures. Earth education aims to accomplish what environmental education set out to do, but didn't: to help people improve upon their cognitive and affective relationship with the earth's natural communities and life support systems, and begin crafting lifestyles that will lessen their impact upon those places and processes on behalf of all the earth's passengers.
Earth in Mind by David W. Orr
Call Number: GE70 .O77 1994
ISBN: 1559632941
Publication Date: 1994-08-01
In Earth in Mind, noted environmental educator David W. Orr focuses not on problems in education, but on the problem of education. The crisis we face, Orr explains, is one of mind, perception, and values. It is, first and foremost, an educational challenge.
The author begins by establishing the grounds for a debate about education and knowledge. He describes the problems of education from an ecological perspective, and challenges the "terrible simplifiers" who wish to substitute numbers for values. He follows with a presentation of principles for re-creating education in the broadest way possible, discussing topics such as biophilia, the disciplinary structure of knowledge, the architecture of educational buildings, and the idea of ecological intelligence. Orr concludes by presenting concrete proposals for reorganizing the curriculum to draw out our affinity for life.
A New Approach to Ecological Education by Gillian Judson
Call Number: LC191 .J84 2010
ISBN: 9781433110214
Publication Date: 2010-07-29
Ecological education is becoming a major area of interest worldwide, and schools are increasingly being called upon to address global and local ecological concerns. Unfortunately, most teachers have limited or no training in the knowledge and skills required to support their students’ sense of connection to the natural world. Moreover, they have been trained to teach in ways that often marginalize the imagination in learning. This book illustrates how imagination and the development of ecological understanding are closely connected. It offers teachers a practical guide to teaching in ecological and imaginative ways – needed support to establishing more ecologically-oriented education in all classrooms. As imagination takes a central position in schools, all teaching and learning can improve as a result.
Ecological Literacy by Michael K. Stone (Editor); Zenobia Barlow (Editor); Fritjof Capra (Preface by)
Call Number: QH541.2 .E238 2005
ISBN: 1578051533
Publication Date: 2005-10-01
Our efforts to build a sustainable world cannot succeed unless future generations learn how to partner with natural systems to our mutual benefit. In other words, children must become “ecologically literate.” The concept of ecological literacy advanced by this book’s creators, the Center for Ecoliteracy in Berkeley, California, goes beyond the discipline of environmental education. It aims, says David Orr in his foreword, “toward a deeper transformation of the substance, process, and scope of education at all levels”—familial, geographic, ecological, and political.

Media

"In this episode, host Joe Gardner has on environmental educations specialist Dr. Todd Klawinski, who envisions a future in which all public schools make environmental literacy for students and the community part of their mission."

In this episode, the host, Marjorie Alexander, and guest, Katelyn Armbruster, discuss the importance of sustainability education for all ages and what makes some material more accessible or beneficial to learners than others.

Environmental education connects people and nature, prepares students for the future, empowers environmental stewards of all ages, builds community, and changes lives.