Who
we are (Know your audience!):
While our membership is always changing and includes people from a broad range of backgrounds, AEOE's membership today is composed primarily of naturalists and trail teachers who teach at residential outdoor schools. Children, usually 5th or 6th grade, come to these outdoor schools (sometimes called "science camps" or "sixth-grade camps") for one school week of instruction on the trail. The outdoor schools vary from County Office of Education-run programs to Y-camps to Christian camps or other privately owned sites.
The programs of instruction vary from site to site, but usually include a strong component of natural history/natural science and environmental education. Many sites incorporate team-building activities with ropes courses, while others also offer outdoor education-type activities such as orienteering, Native American culture, and survival skills along with other more camp-like activities such as crafts and folk dance.
The backgrounds of the instructors varies greatly from program to program. Some programs use only credentialed teachers for instructors, but they are the exception rather than the rule. Many programs require naturalists to have a science degree and/or strong science experience, but many programs also use interns who may have little background in science or education.
Other members of AEOE may be classroom teachers, often those who bring their students up to outdoor school, and others may be naturalists at nature centers and museums. Most are people who, currently or in the past, teach children about the natural world and who teach in the outdoors. All are extremely dedicated individuals who care about the environment and about children. The stated purpose of our organization is as follows:
The Purpose of AEOE
AEOE is dedicated to the education of children and to helping them increase their awareness and understanding of the natural environment. This organization believes in the potential of education to help children perceive and understand environmental principles and problems.
We encourage carefully planned and sustained programs of formal and informal education. By exploring personal values and providing involvement based on student perceptions, interests and competence, we seek the development of a personal ethic appropriate to the enhancement of environmental quality.
To this end, we continuously support educators in their quest for the skills, attitudes and materials so essential to helping learners know and care about their environment.
AEOE > Conferences > Spring 2001 > Who We Are
AEOE - Association for Environmental & Outdoor Education * updated
9/27/03 10:03 PM
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