Coalition for Conservation and Environmental Education

Coalition for Conservation
and Environmental Education (C2E2),

is a 501(c)3 nonprofit of agencies, organizations, and individuals fostering environmental literacy in North Dakota for students, educators, homeschoolers, and citizens since 1995. Our members work together to provide professional development, curriculum, and educational resources for adults. We participate in Environmental and Water Festivals, Earth, Arbor, and History Day events, Envirothon, Eco-Eds, Wildlife and Conservation Camps, Scouts, and 4-H for PreK-12 youth. Everyone should have the opportunity to acquire the knowledge, skills, values, and commitment needed to conserve and protect our natural and historical resources. We take a scientifically balanced approach to promoting life-long learning.

Environmental literacy means to:

Have an understanding of the earth as a physical system with natural and built environments, including human societies.

Develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills to interpret information.
Be empowered to act with a group to resolve issues and as an individual to make a difference.

When you become a member of C2E2, you become part of a group of individuals that have many of the same interests and values as you. If you can't join us, please consider "supporting our efforts" with a donation.

Why do we need environmental education?

The environment sustains all life on earth. It provides us with nourishment and inspiration. Our economy thrives on a healthy environment. Research tells us time spent in nature provides physical and psychological benefits. Our personal and cultural identities are often tied to the environment around us. Environmental education (EE) is a process that helps individuals, communities, and organizations learn more about the environment, develop skills to investigate their environment and to make intelligent, informed decisions about how they can help take care of it.

C2E2 is the only recognized affiliate in ND of the North American Association for Environmental Education. The Affiliate Network promotes collaboration for maximum effectiveness and efficiency, and a unified voice for environmental education across North America and beyond. C2E2 encourages the use of the voluntary Excellence in EE Guidelines established by NAAEE for setting expectations for performance and achievement.

View the guidelines here

C2E2 VISION
Participants share a common and compelling vision to "foster an environmentally literate citizenry and serve as a leader in conservation and environmental education (EE)."

C2E2 MISSION
The mission of the Coalition is to "prepare stewards of all ages with the skills to make informed decisions that maintain a sustainable environment."

C2E2 VALUES
Participants share common and compelling values to "strengthen environmental education by sharing ideas, forge new partnerships, enhance communication and innovation, and leverage scarce resources."

ACCOMPLISHMENTS
There has never been a more compelling time than now to help solve environmental issues that impact and involve our natural and cultural resources. With a growing list of partners, C2E2 is in the right place at the right time to help raise awareness, develop skills, and empower stewards of all ages to act. We have taken the lead in:

generating "ND EE Strategic State Plans"

creating a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to build support and visibility

establishing a non-profit organization
embedding EE into ND Science and Social Studies State Content Standards
infusing environmental education into the University Program Standards for Teacher Education in Science and Social Studies
building a web site to serve as a clearinghouse for information
providing a calendar of EE events
sponsoring an Outstanding Environmental Award for regional and the State Science Fairs
selecting National Youth Science Camp scholarship winners for the governor from 2000-2018
participating in a variety of youth education events, such as Environmental Festivals, Water Festival, Earth Day, Arbor Day, Zoo Day, Eco-eds, Envirothon, Conservation Days, etc.
producing Trading Cards of trees, macroinvertebrates, and soils
securing affiliate membership from NAAEE in 2011
providing professional development graduate credit and noncredit workshops for formal and nonformal educators working with PreK-12 students