The Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education's 2014 2015 Annual Status Report by Daniel

Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education 2014-2015 Annual Status Report Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education | 110 TNR, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point 800 Reserve Street | Stevens Point, WI | 54481

Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education

Students participate in the Belmont School BioBlitz

Strategic Direction Purpose and Mission

The Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education (WCEE) fosters universal environmental and social responsibility through the development, dissemination, implementation and evaluation of sustainability and environmental education (EE) programs in PK-12 schools and communities. WCEE is a center of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point College of Natural Resources and the University of Wisconsin Extension-Cooperative Extension.

WCEE Goals

The following eight goals provide a framework for the WCEE’s staff to fulfill our purpose and mission. These goals are aligned with Wisconsin’s Plan for Environmentally Literate and Sustainable Communities and Wisconsin’s Plan to Advance Education for Environmental Literacy and Sustainability in PK-12 Schools statewide plans. zz zz zz zz zz zz zz zz

Support green, healthy and sustainable schools Provide professional development for PK-12 teachers Provide learning opportunities for PK-12 students Distribute environmental and sustainability education resources Facilitate networks for education and resource professionals Assess environmental literacy of PK-12 students and evaluate program effectiveness Innovate and communicate in the field of environmental and sustainability education Support undergraduate and graduate student learning in environmental and sustainability education

History

In 1990, the WCEE was officially created under Wisconsin Legislative Act 299 (see section 9). Since that time, the WCEE has worked with partners to develop effective outreach programs, support undergraduate and graduate student learning, and administer affiliated statewide organizations. More in-depth history of the WCEE can be found at: www.uwsp.edu/cnr/wcee.

A Vision for the Future

As the WCEE staff look to the future, we continue to embrace changes in the education community and be poised to address the needs of educators and those who support them. The WCEE programming and staff structure focus on sustainability education to meet the needs of school districts and communities. The WCEE staff work with partners around the state to build capacity for environmental and sustainability literacy through a comprehensive approach that addresses the environmental, social and economic aspects of life. The vision is to develop actively engaged, educated citizens who support healthy human and natural communities.

2014-2015 Annual and Status Report Overview This report provides an overview of accomplishments by the WCEE (pages 3-6) achieved during the past fiscal year, including achievements and status updates by WCEE goals (pages 3-6). A list of partners (page 7), descriptions of WCEE outreach and affiliated programs (pages 8-11) and a list of WCEE staff and their positions (page 12).

School Building Energy Efficiency Education course participants

Goal: Support Green, Healthy and Sustainable Schools The WCEE’s overall goal is to support green, healthy and sustainable schools. The WCEE outreach programs are aligned to accomplish this goal. The Green & Healthy Schools (GHS) Wisconsin program, with which the WCEE, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources are partners, is our umbrella sustainability and environmental education program in the state. Highlights and major accomplishments of WCEE program efforts include: zz

At the end of fiscal year 2015 there were 225 schools and 21 entire school districts registered in the Green & Healthy Schools Wisconsin program. In 2015, three schools won a U.S. Department of Education’s Green Ribbon Schools recognition and one district received the U.S. Department of Education District Sustainability Award.

Through a partnership with Cool Choices, all Green & Healthy Schools in Wisconsin can participate in an electronic game that engages the whole school community in sustainability. In October 2014, 12 Green & Healthy Wisconsin Schools including 312 students and staff, played the Cool Choices game for Green & Healthy Schools claiming 6,670 actions that contribute directly to schools’ sustainability efforts.

There are currently 419 school forests in Wisconsin that are owned or used by 244 schools. To date, school forest education plans have been approved for 90 schools.

LEAF staff worked with nine schools across the state to create Edible Forests at their school sites.

Wisconsin Nature Centers Collaborative (WNCC) published a series of nine articles in the Green & Healthy Schools Wisconsin newsletter. Articles featured examples of nature centers working with local schools on GHS focus areas.

Goal: Professional Development for PK-12 Teachers Professional development is a key WCEE strategy to advance sustainability and environmental literacy in Wisconsin schools. Teachers are “high leverage points,” allowing the WCEE to reach thousands of students. Professional development is provided in a variety of formats including graduate courses (face-to-face, online and hybrid), workshops and in-services varying from two hours to one week in length. Professional development is offered to audiences throughout the state through a network of ad hoc instructors, staff presentations and online delivery. Highlights and major accomplishments of WCEE program efforts include: zz

In the past year more than 1,500 teachers participated in WCEE professional development.

More than 14,300 teachers have participated in WCEE-provided professional development since the Center’s inception.

There are now 373 “KEEPtacular” teachers; these teachers have taken three or more KEEP courses.

Since 2011 eighteen teachers have completed the Energy Education Certificate from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Certificate recipients have completed at least three courses offered by the Wisconsin K-12 Energy Education Program (KEEP) in addition to providing evidence of involvement in at least three energy education activities.

LEAF provided 38 professional development experiences for 596 educators in 2014-15. Professional development includes in-services, courses, statewide workshops, school forest workshops and conference presentations.

Forty-four Project Learning Tree (PLT) workshops were held at schools, nature centers, early childhood centers and colleges/ universities and conferences reaching 669 people.

In the past year, 227 in-service teachers participated in KEEP professional development opportunities.

Twenty educators were reached through the WCEE’s Education for Sustainability course.

Doable Renewables: Renewable Energy in the Classroom course participants

Goal: Provide Learning Opportunities for Students The primary way the WCEE reaches students is through teacher professional development. However, WCEE staff also work directly with students during special events, pilot projects and mentor teaching. Highlights and major accomplishments of WCEE program efforts include: zz

To celebrate Energy Action Month in October, KEEP encouraged Wisconsin residents to record energy pledge videos and share them via KEEP’s SchoolTube Channel. More than 75 UW-Stevens Point faculty, staff and students participated, including students at Campus Sustainability Day, Chancellor’s Cabinet members, WCEE staff and Watson Hall residents.

There are 127,600 students reached through Green & Healthy Schools.

LEAF staff facilitated the FFA Career Development Event for 80 students.

Through KEEP outreach activities more than 1,000 students and teachers explored, analyzed and discovered various energy concepts through hands-on, exploratory activities at dozens of events around the state.

WCEE program staff provided assistance judging at the Wisconsin Youth Summit and the Wisconsin Envirothon serving 100 students at each event.

Undergraduate students majoring in Environmental Education and Interpretation, Education and Youth Programming and Camp Management taught lessons to more than 300 elementary students in the Stevens Point Area and Tomorrow River School Districts.

Twenty-seven schools enrolled in Green & Healthy Schools Wisconsin program in the past year. Since WCEE became a partner, this program has enrolled 225 schools, reaching more than 127,000 students.

Goal: Innovate and Communicate in Environmental and Sustainability Education WCEE programs are continuously evolving to meet current needs. Innovation and communication are key strategies that keep our programs relevant and help to share the amazing work and accomplishments in environmental and sustainability education in Wisconsin. zz

Each program provides focused communication for their target audiences via electronic and print media. Electronic newsletters are distributed to more than 10,000 recipients on a consistent basis and print and electronic communications provide course and program information and promotion.

The WNCC provided land management assistance to three nature centers which included writing and updating land management plans, GIS services, establishment of a continuous forest inventory (CFI), development of a logging plan and tree-marking, public communication products and distribution of picture posts and deer exclosures; Additionally, the WNCC conducted site visit consultations and strategic visioning assistance for 16 nature centers and similar environmental education organizations and led Inquiry-based Teaching and Learning Workshop for 29 naturalists..

LEAF created an online tutorial video designed to teach students and educators how to measure a tree’s diameter and height.

WCEE staff presented, exhibited and attended 38 state, national and international events to share and promote innovative programming and efforts through various environmental and educational networks.

Green & Healthy Schools developed and launched a provider network building the capacity to support schools more efficiently and effectively in their sustainability efforts.

Forest to Finish workshop participants

Goal: Facilitate Networks for Education and Resource Professionals The WCEE facilitates a variety of networks for educators and resource professionals through face-to-face meetings, online networks and collaborative partnerships. Highlights and major accomplishments of WCEE program efforts include: zz

The WNCC created and coordinate a statewide network and seven regional networks of nature centers and environmental education related organizations. The current inventory includes 698 environmental education related organizations, 137 of which are nature centers. The WNCC also planned, facilitated and presented at seven regional networking and professional development events. More than 150 environmental education professionals attended these events.

The environmental education website, EEinWisconsin.org, maintained and administered by the Wisconsin Environmental Education Foundation (WEEF), has been a part of a 10-state partnership that supports access to environmental education across the country. WEEF is currently positioned to lead this partnership of states.

Green & Healthy Schools Wisconsin works with several organizations, including Wisconsin Sustainable Schools Coalition, Wisconsin Green Building Alliance Green Schools Committee, Wisconsin Green Schools Network, Wisconsin Education for Sustainability Network and Wisconsin Farm to School, for a more coordinated approach to support school districts to create safe and healthy learning environments, save money and prepare students for success in the 21st century.

The School Forest network includes 244 schools or school districts with involvement from teachers, students, administrators and natural resource professionals. Each county in the state now contains at least one registered school forest.

A network of 40 active Wisconsin PLT facilitators was maintained as well as the training of three new facilitators.

KEEP Developed the Milwaukee Area Energy Educators network that includes a Facebook group and networking events; a 2016-17 WEEB grant was received to help facilitate professional development for Milwaukee area energy educators.

In the past year The Teacher Educator Network for Environmental Education (TENFEE), a communication hub for pre-service environmental educators, connected more than 70 educators with resources and members were awarded $5,000 in grants.

Goal: Assess Environmental Literacy and Program Effectiveness Evaluation of WCEE programs is ongoing and done through a variety of methods including focus groups, advisory groups and pre-post surveys done internally by WCEE staff and externally by evaluators. In addition, the WCEE faculty conduct research on a variety of topics and are working with other partners to develop strategies for statewide environmental literacy assessment. Highlights and major accomplishments of WCEE program efforts include: zz

The annual school forest survey, which documents utilization of school forests across the state, was completed for the eighth consecutive year.

WCEE faculty and staff were published in The Journal of Sustainability Education in the article “Designing resilient energy education programs for a sustainable future.”

WCEE faculty member published “Memories as Useful Outcomes of Residential Outdoor Environmental Education” in the Journal of Environmental Education and continued to do research on the long-term impacts of environmental education programs at the Boston School Forest in Stevens Point. A new video on the WCEE website helps other school forest coordinators conduct similar studies of their own.

Surveys of KEEP participants before and six months after taking a course documented significant changes in personal energy knowledge, attitudes and behaviors and an increase in teaching about energy.

WCEE faculty members and a graduate assistant completed analysis and published the “Status and needs of environmental education related organizations in Wisconsin: Results of the 2014 statewide survey.”

WAEE Winter Workshop participants

Goal: Distribute Environmental and Sustainability Education Resources The WCEE distributes resources directly through outreach programs and through the Environmental Education Resource Library on the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point campus. Highlights and major accomplishments of WCEE program efforts during the past year include: zz

Located at UW-Stevens Point, the Environmental Education Resources Library continued to offer its collection of 6,000 resources to more than 1,000 visitors and distributed its unique collection of kits and trunks 75 times.

Two new teacher resources were created by the LEAF Program: the Winter Tree Identification Key is designed to help users identify trees during times of the year when leaves are not present; and a tree measurement video that serves as a tutorial for teachers and students who are learning to measuring a treeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s diameter and height.

Goal: Support Undergraduate and Graduate Student Learning The three WCEE faculty and director each have teaching appointments in the College of Natural Resources (CNR). Faculty and staff work to integrate WCEE programs into undergraduate and graduate courses. Highlights and major accomplishments during the past year include: zz

WCEE faculty taught ten different courses for 322 undergraduate and graduate students majoring in environmental education and interpretation, youth programming and camp management, education and other UW-Stevens Point College of Natural Resources programs. Courses include topics such as urban environmental education, foundations of environmental education, nature center and camp management, environmental issues, investigation and action, and a graduate seminar and youth agency administration.

More than 2,000 hours of service, teaching and observation were provided by students in these courses for local schools and organizations.

Thirteen graduate students were advised by faculty including five on-campus graduate students in environmental education and interpretation studying youth development, art in environmental education, technology in environmental education, energy education and environmental literacy in higher education.

WCEE faculty assessed environmental literacy of pre-service teachers.

Approximately 220 undergraduate students attended a class in the Environmental Education Resource Library during which the students were given an introduction about the library and then exploration time to browse through the collection.

WCEE program outreach staff presented to 255 UW-Stevens Point undergraduate students on a variety of topics.

In partnership with the Treehaven forest ecologist, faculty mentored five UW-Stevens Point undergraduate student Honors Interns and Land Management at Nature Centers Crew Leaders and 12 additional undergraduate student crew members.

Faculty guided 23 undergraduates and three graduate students in two service learning projects as part of UW-Stevens Pointâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Nature Center and Camp Management Course. Students researched and proposed recommendations for linking land management to programming at five nature centers and strategic decision making at one additional nature center.

WCEE faculty served as advisors to two UW-Stevens Point organizations: The Environmental Educators and Naturalists Association and Wisconsin Camps.

Partners The organizations, businesses and agencies listed below worked directly with and supported the WCEE and its outreach, affiliated and undergraduate and graduate programs during the past year. There are many other recipients of WCEE and affiliated program services and funding who are not listed below because of space constraints. We would like to thank all of our partners over the past twelve months. Primary Partners Alliant Energy Cool Choices Madison Gas and Electric UW Extension-Cooperative Extension, Community, Natural Resources & Economic Development

We Energies Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources-Division of Forestry Wisconsin Public Service WPPI Energy Wisconsin Member Utilities Xcel Energy

Additional Support and Partners Aldo Leopold Foundation Aldo Leopold Nature Center Alliance to Save Energy Alliant Foundation American Forest Foundation, Project Learning Tree Board of Commissioners for Public Lands Boston School Forest Boys and Girls Club of Portage County Center for Land Use Education Center for Watershed Science and Education Central Rivers Farmshed Central Wisconsin Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Museum Central Wisconsin Environmental Station Cooperative Educational Service Agency (CESA) 10 Easter Seals of Wisconsin Enbridge Inc. Energy Center of Wisconsin/Seventhwave Energy Federation Inc. (EFI) Friends of Beaver Creek Reserve The Johnson Foundation at Wingspread KidWind MacKenzie Center McDill Elementary School Mead Wildlife Area Menominee County UW Extension Menominee Tribal College, Sustainable Development Institute MGE Foundation Midwest Renewable Energy Association Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin Public Service Commission of Wisconsin Raptor Education Group, Inc. River Alliance of Wisconsin Riveredge Nature Center Schlitz Audubon Nature Center

Schmeeckle Reserve Visitor Center Tomorrow River Community Charter School Treehaven United States Department of Agriculture, U.S. Forest Service UW Extension, Community Food Systems Team UW Extension, Engaging Young People in Sustaining Communities, Families and Farms UW-Stevens Point, College of Professional Studies UW-Stevens Point, Office of Sustainability UW-Stevens Point, Waste Education Center UW-Stevens Point, Water Resources/Fisheries Co-op Upham Woods Outdoor Learning Center Washington Elementary School Wisconsin Art Education Association Wisconsin Association of Agriculture Educators Wisconsin Bird Conservation Initiative Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Wisconsin Energy Foundation Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation Wisconsin Farm to School Wisconsin Green Building Alliance, Green Schools Committee Wisconsin Green Schools Network Wisconsin Land and Water Conservation Association Wisconsin Lions Camp Wisconsin Rapids Incourage Community Foundation Wisconsin School Gardens Initiative Wisconsin Society of Science Teachers Wisconsin State Energy Office Wisconsin Sustainable Forestry Initiative Wisconsin Sustainable Schools Coalition Wisconsin Technology Education Association Wisconsin Water Association Wisconsin Wildlife Federation Wood County Health Department

Susan Schuller, Sara Windjue, Non-Formal Energy Educator of the Year Melissa Rickert, Formal Energy Educators of the Year Karen Olson and Becky Buckley, Kathy Kuntz, Jamie Mollica

WCEE Outreach Programs The Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education works toward its mission through outreach programs, faculty and affiliated programs. WCEE outreach programs include Green & Healthy Schools, KEEP, LEAF, Food Systems Education, the Environmental Education Resource Library and the Wisconsin Nature Centers Collaborative. Affiliated programs are independent organizations or institutions that are housed in and administered by the WCEE. The WCEE affiliated programs include the Wisconsin Environmental Education Board, the Wisconsin Association for Environmental Education and the Wisconsin Environmental Education Foundation. Each program is briefly described below.

Green & Healthy Schools

In partnership with the Department of Natural Resources, Department of Public Instruction, the WCEE continued to administer Green & Healthy Schools Wisconsin. Green & Healthy Schools Wisconsin provides recognition for Wisconsin PK-12 public and private schools working to reduce environmental impact and costs, improve health and wellness and increase environmental and sustainability literacy through a self-paced, voluntary, Web-based application. Through this statewide program, school staff, community members and others interested in green and healthy initiatives can find information, resources and events to get started or to continue to enhance green and healthy measures already in place. Green & Healthy Schools Wisconsin recognizes schools who demonstrate achievement in nine focus areas: Community Involvement, Energy, Environmental and Sustainability Education, Environmental Health, Health and Wellness, Recycling and Waste Management, School Site and Transportation. WCEE provides expertise in six of these areas. Green & Healthy Schools Wisconsin supports and encourages schools to create safe and healthy learning environments and prepares students to understand, analyze and address the major environmental and sustainability challenges now and in the future. WCEE staff provide point-of-contact expertise in six of the nine GHS Focus Areas. Areas in which the WCEE provide expertise are: Energy, School Site, Community Involvement, Transportation, Health and Wellness and Environmental and Sustainability Education.

Wisconsin K-12 Energy Education Program (KEEP)

Since 1995, KEEP has provided effective energy education in Wisconsin making it one of the most successful statewide K-12 energy education programs in the nation. The goal of KEEP is to leverage teacher education to improve and increase energy literacy in Wisconsin’s K-12 schools as a means of contributing to statewide energy savings. KEEP is a partnership between Wisconsin utilities – Alliant Energy, Madison Gas & Electric, We Energies, Wisconsin Public Service, WPPI Energy Wisconsin Member Utilities and Xcel Energy – and the Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education. KEEP’s scope of work is designed around four outreach efforts related to energy education through PK-12 schools and surrounding communities: zz Energy Education Professional Development zz School Building Efficiency Initiatives zz School-to-Home Initiatives zz Green & Healthy School Wisconsin

Oregon Middle School students clear brush from their school forest

WCEE Outreach Programs Continued LEAF, Wisconsin’s K-12 Forestry Education Program

In 2001, LEAF was created to help promote forestry education in Wisconsin. LEAF’s mission is to integrate learning in and about Wisconsin’s forests into Wisconsin schools to provide the knowledge, skills and ways of thinking necessary to sustain our forests and communities. Therefore, formal and nonformal educators are LEAF’s primary audience and developing their forestry literacy is essential to improving forestry education in Wisconsin’s schools. LEAF is a partnership program between the WCEE in the College of Natural Resources at UW-Stevens Point and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry. In fiscal year 2014 LEAF began administering Wisconsin Project Learning Tree (PLT), one of the premier environmental education programs in the world. Through hands-on interdisciplinary activities PLT helps young people learn about complex environmental issues. Project Learning Tree is a program of the American Forest Foundation.

Food Systems Education

The Wisconsin Food Systems Education Conceptual Framework, a joint effort between the WCEE and the UW Extension Community Food Systems Community of Practice, was launched in April 2015. The purpose of the Framework is to serve as a reference tool and guide for formal and nonformal educators who are seeking to incorporate food systems education into their teaching. The publication is an innovative addition to environmental and sustainability education in the state, with the purpose of supporting and upholding food systems education programs and initiatives happening throughout Wisconsin and beyond. The Framework is a first of its kind publication in Wisconsin. Through an input process involving more than 250 food systems and education professionals throughout the state, we have created an innovative and groundbreaking new addition to the field of environmental and sustainability education.

Environmental Education Resource Library

The Wisconsin Environmental Education Resource Library serves teachers, nonformal educators, community members and undergraduate and graduate students throughout the state of Wisconsin. Located in the UW-Stevens Point Library Resource Center, the Library has a partnership with the UW-Stevens Point library to utilize the university system cataloging and check-out system. Patrons throughout the state receive materials free of charge using the Wisconsin Library Delivery Network. With more than 5,000 resources available, the Library has amassed one of the largest collections of environmental/ sustainability education related activity guides, books for youth and adults, trunks and kits, DVDs, magazines and scholarly research. The collection now offers 18 trunks and demonstration kits and has streamlined the lending process. Between July 1, 2014 and June 30, 2015, the Library served approximately 932 visitors with 977 resources borrowed (approximately 20 percent of the collection).

School Forest Ed Plan workshop participants

WCEE Affiliated Programs Wisconsin Association for Environmental Education

The Wisconsin Association for Environmental Education (WAEE) is a statewide nonprofit professional organization of environmental educators, which support environmental education through advocacy, networking and recognition. The organization advocates by working with members to identify environmental education priorities and amplify their voices. WAEE creates venues for networking by organizing annual conferences, winter workshops and other events to connect professionals within the field of environmental education. WAEE is a learning community sharing professional development opportunities, research and expertise for continual improvement. The organization hosts an annual awards banquet to recognize groups and individuals for outstanding environmental efforts. WAEE publicizes and disseminates environmental education activities of members and member organizations.

Wisconsin Environmental Education Board

The Wisconsin Environmental Education Board (WEEB) is a state board created to promote environmental education within all segments of society. By State statue 36.54 (1)(a) the WEEB is directed to “consult with the state superintendent of public instruction in identifying needs and establishing priorities for environmental education in public schools, including needs for teacher training, curriculum development and the development and dissemination of curriculum materials.” The overall mission of WEEB is “to provide leadership in the development of learning opportunities that empower Wisconsin citizens with the knowledge and skills to make wise environmental decisions and take responsible actions in their personal lives, workplaces and communities.” Between July 1, 2014 and June 30, 2015 WEEB distributed more than $295,000 in grant funds to non-profit organizations, school, universities and units of government to support environmental education initiatives. WEEB also awarded more than $320,000 in grant funds for projects which begin July 1, 2015.

Success for Green & Healthy Schools Wisconsin In fiscal year 2014-2015, the online application process for Green & Healthy Schools Wisconsin was revised and streamlined. To date, 225 schools have registered in the program and 21 school districts are using the GHSW application portal to access the U.S. Department of Education District Sustainability award process. This is an increase of 27 schools and two school districts in the last year. In 2015, three schools were recognized as U.S. Department of Education’s Green Ribbon Schools, and one school district received a US Department of Education’s District Sustainability Award. Each year, Wisconsin has had all its nominees awarded and we have more schools recognized by the U.S. Department of Education through these prestigious awards than any other state in the nation!

Mid-West Energy Research Consortium (M-WERC), 2015

WCEE Affiliated Programs Continued Wisconsin Environmental Education Foundation

The Wisconsin Environmental Education Foundation (WEEF) works to improve the quality of life for all Wisconsin citizens through investments in environmental education. WEEF is a 501(c)3 donor-supported organization developing public and private funding for environmental education opportunities that promote environmental stewardship, economic vitality and healthy communities. Funds raised by the Wisconsin Environmental Education Foundation are used to pursue the goals and priorities identified in Wisconsinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Plan for Environmentally Literate and Sustainable Communities. Specifically we are working to: zz

Ensure strategic leadership and vision for environmental education in Wisconsin

Invest in special projects that address newly emerging priorities for environmental education, and

Provide sustainable funding for the statewide environmental education grants program

Accomplishments: zz

Raised funds to support the environmental education activities of other organizations through WEEFâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s role as an umbrella organization in the 2014 State Employees Combined Campaign.

Worked with major utilities in Wisconsin to continue funding for KEEP.

Took on leadership of 10-state partnership that supports access to environmental education all over the country, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. WEEF directly provides the EEinWisconsin.org website.

EEinWisconsin.org worked with the Wisconsin Nature Centers Collaborative and, during the past year, have added more than 400 organizations that provide environmental education experiences.

The EEinWisconsin.org homepage was redesigned during the past year and its search engine has been improved to provide more relevant search results and a better overall user experience.

Wisconsin Nature Centers Collaborative

The Wisconsin Nature Centers Collaborative was created in 2013 to increase the operational capacity and impact of nature centers in Wisconsin through networking, collaborations, professional development and services to schools and the public. The WNCC operates as a statewide network and seven regional networks with support from UW-Extension, the Wisconsin Association for Environmental Education (WAEE) and the WCEE. Outreach projects include a statewide inventory (currently 698 environmental education related organizations, 137 of which are nature centers), the 2014 Status and Needs Survey of environmental education related Organizations and regional networking/professional development events. Other services include site-based consulting in land management, organization management skills and instructional methods along with small grants that promote partnerships. Current and future events can be found on the WAEE Web page, newsletter and newsletters of the WCEE programs.

WCEE Staff

WCEE Staff Annie Baker Katie Boseo Ginny Carlton Jenny Christopher Nicole Filizetti Becca Franzen Sarah Gilbert Jesse Haney Jodi Hermsen Joy Kacoroski Steve Kerlin Chris Kuntz Kendra Liddicoat Ann Lindner Gretchen Marshall Becky Martin Dan Martinson Jamie Mollica Janet Moore Katie Perryman-Gebhardt Madelin Petz Victoria Rydberg Susan Schuller Kelly Smith Jeremy Solin Sara Windjue

KEEP School Energy Education Sustainability Education Resource Specialist WEEB Administrative Program Specialist KEEP Graduate Assistant LEAF Sustainable Forestry Education Program Development Specialist Environmental Education Specialist/Faculty LEAF Program Coordinator WEEF Administrative Specialist EE in Wisconsin Administrator WCEE Graduate Assistant UW-Extension -- Cooperative Extension Specialist/Faculty LEAF Outreach Specialist Environmental Education Specialist/Faculty WCEE Environmental Education Assistant/PLT Coordinator LEAF Outdoor Forestry Education Specialist WCEE Office/Budget Manager WCEE Communication Coordinator KEEP Program Specialist LEAF Graduate Assistant WAEE Administrative Assistant Food Systems Education Outreach Specialist DPI - Environmental Education Consultant WCEE Program Coordinator KEEP School to Home Energy Education Specialist WCEE Interim Director KEEP Energy Education Specialist

Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education

The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Institution. UW-Stevens Point is a tobacco-free campus.