Welcome! This website is all about environmental education

A systematic process that critically examines a program's merit, worth or significance by collecting and analyzing information about a program’s activities, characteristics, and outcomes. The goal is to improve the program's effectiveness, and/or to inform programming decisions (Patton, 2001).

that is responsive, equitable and thoughtfully designed. 

How and why we evaluate environmental education matters. It matters for the people who are involved in evaluation--from program designers to

Can be geographically based (neighborhoods, towns, cities, etc.) or based on interest, identity, culture, belief, profession, etc. In environmental education community is often thought of as a system of systems including both natural, social, and economic systems (NAAEE, 2017).

partners, program participants, funders, and more. High quality evaluation practices drive excellence in programming. And to have program excellence, evaluation should be culturally responsive. 

The eeVAL project offers a culturally responsive,

Aims to better understand evaluation efforts and their effects, both intended and unintended, by expanding the definition of validity and rigor. Equitable evaluation works to name implicit biases in order to make more informed decisions and to embrace the complexity of many lived experiences of practitioners and participants (Equitable Evaluation Initiative, 2020).

(CREE) framework, program models, and

Refers to time, money, and other in-kind resources.

for individuals, organizations, and networks to create more just, inclusive, and healthy partnerships, programs, and communities. Such evaluation is essential to the continual improvement of

A process that helps individuals, communities, and organizations learn more about the environment and develop skills and understanding about how to address global challenges. Environmental Education has also been used as an umbrella term that encompasses outdoor education and natural resources education to name a few (NAAEE, n.d.).

- evaluation for learning and not simply reporting. CREE in EE can inform practice among educators, evaluators, communities, programs, and the field of environmental education generally. 

eeVAL is community-led and history-informed: The environmental movement and field of environmental education have been grounded in

Some form of invasion, dispossession and subjugation of a people including agricultural, urban, or industrial encroachments; this can also include colonialism as a cultural practice of influencing, standardizing, or attempting to erase the values and practices of other cultures (Racial Equity Tools, 2020).

, racism,

Political-social system where males are inherently superior, especially to females (Youth Celebrate Diversity, 2021).

,

Believing that heterosexuality is the default, preferred, or normal mode of sexual orientation. Thus dismissing other sexual orientations (ICMA, 2021).

, and

Individual or institutional actions and language that disadvantage or disempower people with disabilities or people experiencing disabilities. Ableism includes mental, physical, and emotional disabilities (The Avarna Group, 2020).

. Environmental education is rich with many racial, ethnic and gender identities and expressions, abilities, beliefs, sexual orientations, socioeconomic circumstances,

Refers to any interaction, course, or program that results in learning; This can happen in traditional academic settings or nontraditional settings (outside-of-school locations, outdoor environments) (Great School Partnership, n.d.).

, marital and immigration statuses,

A means of communication used by a community including words and methods of combining them (OECD, 2004).

and physical appearances. Accordingly, we approach environmental education and our communities uniquely. eeVAL was co-created by a community of EE practitioners, evaluators, funders, and academics connected by commitment to justice,

The guarantee of fair treatment, access, opportunity, and advancement while at the same time striving to identify and eliminate barriers that have prevented the full participation of some groups. The principle of equity acknowledges that there are historically underserved and underrepresented populations and that providing equal or identical treatment to all does not improve the fairness of these unbalanced conditions (Oregon State University, 2021).

,

The unique differences among individuals in a group based on which we may be treated differently in society. Ethnicity is not the only way in which we are diverse as a group. There are countless visible and invisible facets of diversity. This may be race, socioeconomic background, gender (especially in the sciences), physical ability, age and how people come to environmental education at different points of their life, or sexual orientation. It includes any sort of “-ism” that brings people to the conversation, especially at different places of power. Power differentials may invite or limit the conversation. This is sometimes known as a "dimensions of difference" (The Avarna Group, 2020).

and

Authentically bringing traditionally excluded individuals/ groups into processes, activities and/ or decisions in a way that share power (Racial Equity Tools, 2020).

in environmental education. We honor those who came before us in the field of culturally responsive and equitable evaluation. 

eeVAL facilitates culture change in environmental education: Creating change demands

Creating space for self-reflection and considering one's own assumptions and beliefs (Bower et al., 2015).

and openness to learning. eeVAL framework includes six core values, processes, and resources to support your learning. When used in conjunction with the Guidelines for Excellence: Community Engagement (NAAEE, 2017), the eeVAL framework provides a comprehensive and flexible approach for environmental educators and their partners to facilitate program evaluation that contributes to healthier communities and equitable outcomes for all. In the spirit of cultural humility and lifelong learning, eeVAL is a “living” project and you are encouraged to learn and grow alongside us.

We recommend you take the next step of your evaluation journey by visiting The Values page. 

Do you want to contact us? Use this form.