You've heard me say it before: environmental sustainability is a hugely overlooked area of programming for every single kind of museum. It's a connect-with-the-community opportunity. What are you waiting for!
The concept of No Child Left Inside is a powerful tool for museums trying to connect with the growing movement to expect environmental awareness, literacy and participation by the nation's youth. But first we have to help kids get outside.
If you need any encouragement to help address the national need to get children up off their behinds, away from a screen, and outside doing something - playing with friends, exploring alone, playing a sport, making art with found materials, climbing a tree, gardening or building a tree house, counting lady bugs for science class, or learning to make a solar panel to power their phones - here are some options for you.
Remember, museum people don't have to know it all; we just have to use our critical thinking skills and professional training to uncover knowledge - for ourselves and our visitors - and find some funding to help. Here are a few resources for both those:
Information & Programming
The concept of No Child Left Inside is a powerful tool for museums trying to connect with the growing movement to expect environmental awareness, literacy and participation by the nation's youth. But first we have to help kids get outside.
If you need any encouragement to help address the national need to get children up off their behinds, away from a screen, and outside doing something - playing with friends, exploring alone, playing a sport, making art with found materials, climbing a tree, gardening or building a tree house, counting lady bugs for science class, or learning to make a solar panel to power their phones - here are some options for you.
Remember, museum people don't have to know it all; we just have to use our critical thinking skills and professional training to uncover knowledge - for ourselves and our visitors - and find some funding to help. Here are a few resources for both those:
Information & Programming
- The book from 2005 Last Child in the Woods
- Let's Move: Michelle Obama's program to get all of us exercising and eating well
- Resources for students and educators at the Environmental Protection Agency
- North American Association for Environmental Educators (think AAM or AASLH but for environmental instructors - it's a gold mine
- Find your Cooperative Extension Service office and partner with them
- See if you state has a No Child Left Inside advocacy group
- They even have an adaptable sign and cell phone tour you might want to try
- Small Grants for New England States' Environmental Literacy Programs
- Current funding opportunities from NOAA for supporting environmental education programs and for training educators
- Visit your state's version of the Department of Natural Resources to check funding announcements
- Toyota's Together Green Environmental Program Funding
- Small grants at the National Environmental Education Foundation
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