AEOE Vision

Vision Statement | Mission Statement | Strategic Plan | Core Values Statements | Development of Vision - some background

Proposed Vision Statement, updated

Note: A Vision Statement describes an ideal future. It is what we want the world to look like when we have completed our Mission. The proposed AEOE Vision Statement reads as follows:

Through regular participation in environmental and outdoor education, learners will gain the knowledge, skills and inspiration to help them understand, respect and care for themselves, their communities and their environment.  These values will be reflected in a world where:

• All people in our diverse society have equal access to environmental and outdoor education.
• A variety of environmental and outdoor education opportunities are consistently provided through schools, community groups, government and non-profit agencies, and all students attend a residential outdoor science school at least once.
• Environmental education is integrated throughout the traditional school curriculum.
• At every level of education, teachers and students go outdoors to explore, appreciate and care for the natural world on school grounds, throughout local communities and into natural areas.
• Learners have a strong connection to their natural environments, whether wilderness, rural or urban, resulting in a deep and nurturing sense of place.
• First-hand experience and environmental service learning projects develop critical thinkers who make sound environmental decisions and actively move our society toward sustainable practices.
• Recognition and support of educators and programs providing environmental and outdoor education is an integral part of California’s educational system and society.

AEOE Mission Statement

The Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education supports and inspires educators in their quest for the knowledge, skills, and attitudes essential to help all learners understand, appreciate, and care for their environment.  As an integral part of achieving our mission, we encourage direct experience outdoors.

AEOE Strategic Plan

See Proposed Strategies for implementing Vision and Mission Here Updated 4/2006

AEOE Core Values Statements

AEOE INCLUSIVITY VALUE STATEMENT
Approved by AEOE Board April 30, 2006

We value each person and his/her unique contributions to society.  Those contributions are derived from diverse backgrounds and experiences related to race/ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, ability, age, national origin, socio-economic status, religious affiliation, language, and heritage.  It is this diversity that strengthens our community and broadens our perspectives.  

We intentionally embrace all stakeholders in the AEOE mission, and seek to act as allies for those whose voices are not being heard.  
 
We believe in the inherent dignity of all humans and that each person should have equal access to a safe, healthy environment and equitable education.
 
We support and promote the ideals of multiculturalism, equity, justice and sustainability.

More Core Values Statements will appear here as they are approved by the Board

Background - development of the vision statement

Results of Strategic Plan Survey, links to definitions, guidelines and notes from strategic planning sessions, Click Here

For a 2004 update on the Vision for AEOE in the next 50 years, Click Here

To join the AEOE Strategic Plan Discussion Group and help guide AEOE into the next 50 years, Click Here

Vision Brainstorm, 2000

On September 16, 2000, the State Executive Board of AEOE with the section boards talked about a vision for AEOE. The charts are documented below, and are very interesting, though of course the words on the page do not capture the passion and humor that was present, and the phrases do not necessarily document all that was said around each item.

We first developed a list with input from everyone of what we get out of AEOE:

• making a difference
• encourage fun learning (rejuvenate learning and teaching)
• renew/refreshed
• similar interests (our tribe)
• open a new world to people and kids
• making connections with all
• share passions of environment and children
• professional development and fun
• newness: promote OE in fun/new ways
• motivate and uplift others (knowledge, heart, hands, etc.) PROUD
• connecting - sharing - growing
• intimacy
• job
• transform EE
• meet other environmental educators - support for EE / sharing - meet others
• learn about EE world, involve others, career
• being part of something bigger than just self
• validation
• loves OE
• grounding
• rewarding to do something you believe in - whole person
• feels like home
• "helping each other change the world one child at a time"
• acceptance / gratifying
• support, community

Next we developed a list in answer to the question "If AEOE could be anything you want, what would it be/look like?"
(This was a brainstorming session - we didn't all agree on everything here!)

• keep it the same: fun and professional; don't lose the essence
• every EE teacher and naturalist is a member of AEOE
• AEOE Magazine with catalog (line of equipment, supplies)
• committees and more participating members
• northern and southern training offices - develop human resources - outreach training team
• leading EE organization / "Our" professional organization
• central and permanent office
• set professional standards and offer courses to meet them
• EE in every grade
• more well known: organization, career path; average person knows what "Environmental Education" is
• fully funded Executive Director
• develop relationships with other organizations; act as a disseminator of research on EE
• advocate (union?) for fair pay and benefits for the profession
• college credit for conferences and training
• pre/post curriculum for client schools
• go national (restructure board)
• powerful environmental organization
• carry weight, influential in many ways, yet user friendly, remembering the members, real
• many successful conferences (affordable, professionally valuable, fun)
• informal influence on programs at state level
• inclusive, not turn people away
• benefits, rewards
• recognition for volunteers
• better outreach organization
• directors and administrators are active participants
• bigger and better but connected to membership
• research department in EE
• more interested people in board
• professional publication (journal)
• scholarships for high school seniors going into EE from underrepresented groups with $20K endowment
• establish certification for private outdoor schools
• mugs, stickers for cars
• trend setters, assist other state organizations
• paid board of directors

We then prioritized the list, so each item above is listed in approximate order of priority by the number of votes it got. There is obviously a lot of overlap between list items.

We then talked about the top four items in greater detail:

1. Keep it the same: fun and professional, keep the essence

• conferences always at outdoor schools
• use only big sites or can we use small sites by emphasizing camping and handling food service differently
• more conferences during the year
• accessibility of sites geographically and to public transportation
• keeping COSA involved, travel distance
• use non-ROS sites: benefits, downside, staff
• emphasis on OE and yet inclusive
• have statewide conference in fall
• music, social time, campfire, skits

2. Every EE teacher and naturalist is a member

• newsletters on website, every site gets a printed copy
• Friday night banquet and recognition for administrators/directors to remind and welcome them back, one day at site
• more workshops or activities for administrators
• continue COSA co-conference
• include private OS administrators
• outreach to low participating schools
• guide map blown up and showing percent membership for each program
• group membership
• interest group meetings
• NAAEE co-membership proposal
• outreach to private schools

3. AEOE Magazine, equipment, supplies, professional publications

• professional journal, two or four times per year
• similar newsletter content but fancier cover
• sale of items with AEOE name and logo
• premiums for membership
• statewide newsletter or journal
• advertising
• T-shirts, hats, mugs, bumper stickers, carabiners

4. Committees and more participating members

• site representatives as a job duty, benefit to person
• alternate terms: group, bioregion, region
• meetings or mini-conferences in regions
• each person on board create a committee
• non-board feeling
• workshop about AEOE, how to become involved (Tim & Michael)
• Robin's testimonial
• awards & recognition
• follow through on volunteer interest
• really have committees instead of just committee chairs

As our next step, the board will address in detail more of the items on the list. We will also reorganize the vision items so that they are logically grouped and better defined.