Oregon Environmental Literacy Program

The goal of the Oregon Environmental Literacy Program is to support teachers in collaboration with non-formal educators to foster environmental literacy of kindergarten through 12th grade students by: engaging students in activities and experiences that increase their awareness, understanding, and knowledge of the environment and their relationship to it; participate as community members in the stewardship of the environment; prepare them to engage in actions that ensure a sustainable future; and contribute to establishing healthy lifestyles. To accomplish this goal OELP: works to build the capacity and confidence of educators by providing statewide professional development for non-formal educators to cultivate excellence in Environmental Education; provides support for improving program quality and alignment to education standards, conducts research and assessment of current environmental education programs to qualify and quantify educational, social, behavioral benefits of environmental literacy; provides access to support and resources for teachers, community educators, and general public via an on-line Resource Directory; and builds capacity for environmental literacy through statewide partnerships.