Affiliate and Partner Programs

AEOE has affiliate relationships/partnerships with a number of other organizations. These are like-minded organizations whose missions are aligned with AEOE's. These organizations very likely will be of interest and use to our members, and connect AEOE to a larger network of environmental/outdoor education. If you have suggestions for other affiliate programs, please email the webmaster,

Official Affiliations/Partnerships:

The North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) is a network of professionals, students, and volunteers working in the field of environmental education throughout North America and in over 55 countries around the world. Since 1971, the Association has promoted environmental education and supported the work of environmental educators.In order to translate theory into practice and to provide support for environmental education and educators, NAAEE offers a variety of programs and activities. These include NAAEE’s Annual Conference, NAAEE publications, and EE-Link. AEOE is the California affiliate of NAAEE. The missions of NAAEE and AEOE are aligned and we think our members would wish to support both organizations.

CLEARING is a quarterly, non-profit publication for K-12 and non-formal educators in the field of natural resources, environmental, and place-based education. It had its origins in the Pacific Northwest, but now circulates to educators across North America. Clearing Magazine is one of the environmental education community's most highly regarded resources. Published since 1978, Clearing has published over 100 issues that contain the latest news, information, perspectives, teaching ideas, and resources available to teachers of all grade levels and all subject areas dealing with environmental and natural resources education. Clearing Magazine is now offered as a premium for contributing members of AEOE! If you would like to show your support for Environmental Education in California, join or renew at the contributing member rate of $35/year and receive a subscription to Clearing as well.

Green Teacher is a non-profit organization which publishes resources to help educators, both inside and outside of schools, to promote global and environmental awareness among young people from elementary through high school. The organization’s primary activity is the publication of Green Teacher, a quarterly magazine full of teaching ideas from successful “green” educators. Each issue of Green Teacher offers perspectives on the role of education in creating a sustainable future, practical cross-curricular activities for various grade levels, and reviews of the latest teaching resources. Other Green Teacher publications to date include four resource books for educators: Greening School Grounds: Creating Habitats for Learning, Teaching About Climate Change: Cool Schools Tackle Global Warming (also published in French as Des idées fraîches à l’école: Activités et projets pour contrer les changements climatiques), Teaching Green: The Middle Years, and Teaching Green: The Elementary Years. A third book in the Teaching Green series (Teaching Green: The High School Years) will be published in 2006. AEOE has partnered with Green Teacher to offer a free single issue of Green Teacher Magazine to NEW members of AEOE. Click here to join AEOE and receive a free copy of Green Teacher Magazine.

Acorn Naturalists - Acorn Naturalists launched its first catalog over 17 years ago, bringing together a collection of resources to help advance the field of environmental education and interpretation. From its early roots as a 32-page booklet, the catalog has grown into a comprehensive, 200-page resource whose cover art features the work of internationally renowned wildlife artists and pages showcase the finest environment-based and outdoor education resources available.   From field guides and curriculum manuals to science and nature games, environmental test kits, animal track and skull replicas, optics, orienteering and field equipment, the Acorn Naturalists catalog provides just about everything you could want for your day pack or classroom. The catalog is free and can be obtained by calling Acorn Naturalists at (800) 422-8886 or going online: www.acornnaturalists.com. Their store is located in Old Town Tustin. Acorn Naturalists is a dedicated supporter of AEOE and environmental and outdoor education in general. They have generously donated many items to AEOE for prizes, awards, and auctions to raise money for scholarships, have helped to promote AEOE conferences by inserting fliers in all of their California orders, and they have also donated space for board meetings. You can see them at our statewide conferences, where they display books and other materials for outdoor/environmental educators. Acorn Naturalists is an AEOE Institutional Member, and founders/owners Jenny and Marty Rigby were honored with the 2005 Howard Bell Award.

"Unofficial" Affiliations/Partnerships with other Organizations:

Again, all of these organizations have missions aligned with AEOE's. These organizations have worked with us to bring benefits to our members in various ways. There is no monetary relationship other than membership, and AEOE does not sell advertising - these are like-minded organizations with whom we've worked to promote our mission of "supporting and inspiring educators in their quest for the knowledge, skills, and attitudes essential to help all learners understand, appreciate and care for their environment" and getting kids outdoors in California.

ACA - American Camp Association The American Camp Association (formerly known as the American Camping Association) is a community of camp professionals who, for nearly 100 years, have joined together to share our knowledge and experience and to ensure the quality of camp programs. Because of our diverse 7,000 plus membership and exceptional programs, children and adults have the opportunity to learn powerful lessons in community, character-building, skill development, and healthy living — lessons that can be learned nowhere else. The ACA's website has MANY wonderful resources for residential programs. Southern California/Hawaii AEE is an AEOE Institutional Member, ACA workshops and conferences in California are listed on the AEOE Calendar, and many AEOE Institutional Member organizations are ACA Accredited.

Taraluna: Fair Trade, Organic & Green Gifts We want you to feel good about shopping with us so the products and gifts that we carry are fair trade, organic or otherwise green. We offer an alternative to mass produced, chemically infused, and sweatshop labor products. Our gifts and products are environmentally sustainable, socially responsible and as natural as possible. Purchases through our links to Taraluna will return a portion of the proceeds to AEOE.

COSA - California Outdoor School Administrators COSA is dedicated to quality Residential Environmental Education for the students of California. Their purpose is to enhance existing Outdoor School Programs and to help any Local Education Agency that does not already run a Residential Outdoor Science School to begin their own. COSA is funded by a grant from the California Department of Education. COSA in-service meetings are held twice a year to conduct the business of the association, assign members to conduct certifications, review educational materials, discuss curriculum and related programs that promote high quality, professional experiences in outdoor education. Many AEOE Institutional Member organizations' programs are COSA Certified, and COSA holds one of its annual meetings in conjunction with our annual statewide conference.

CREEC - California Regional Environmental Education Community The California Regional Environmental Education Community (CREEC) Network is an educational project whose mission is: To develop a communication network which provides educators with access to High Quality environmental education resources to enhance the environmental literacy of California Students. The CREEC Network is the most detailed source for Environmental Education resources in California. For local EE assistance, click on your Region to access information for your area. CREEC representatives are present at AEOE Conferences, and CREEC helps AEOE publicize our events, and AEOE in turn links to CREEC in many places on the website.

GSEEC - Golden State Environmental Education Consortium: A partnership to Strengthen Environmental Education in California for teachers and schools-agencies-non formal education-organizations-business and industry-university education programs-environmental organizations-camps and outdoor education programs-parks, zoos, and museums-communities of faith-community based organizations-the funding community. GSEEC has helped publicize our conferences through its listservs and help with fliers. GSEEC and AEOE have collaborated in developing the diversity strands at our statewide conferences. GSEEC honored the AEOE website with an award for the Diversity in EE pages.

State Education and Environment Roundtable (SEER), AEOE Institutional Members. SEER developed The EIC Model™-the educational approach that uses the Environment as an Integrating Context for improving student achievement. SEER is a cooperative endeavor of state education agencies working to improve student learning by integrating the environment into K-12 curricula and school reform efforts. SEER: conducts institutes for K-12 educators interested in learning how to implement the EIC Model™ provides technical support for schools implementing the EIC Model™ operates a national demonstration network of EIC Model™ schools carries out program evaluations related to school improvement activities

West Region - Association for Experiential Education (WRAEE): The goal of West Region - Association for Experiential Education (WRAEE) is to provide quality conferences, professional development days, educational training, and networking opportunities to our friends, members, and those interested in getting involved in AEE's dynamic community. WRAEE is an AEOE Institutional Member, AEE workshops and conferences in California are listed on the AEOE Calendar, and many AEOE Institutional Member organizations are AEE Accredited. See more about AEE below - click here. Don't miss the Annual WRAEE Conference, Universal Approaches to Experiential Education: March 1 - 4, 2007 in Santa Barbara. WRAEE 10304 Tujunga Canyon Blvd. #209 Tujunga, CA 91042 http://www.aee-west.org

An Alphabetical list of these and other organizations AEOE members should know about:

ACA - American Camp Association

The American Camp Association (formerly known as the American Camping Association) is a community of camp professionals who, for nearly 100 years, have joined together to share our knowledge and experience and to ensure the quality of camp programs. Because of our diverse 7,000 plus membership and exceptional programs, children and adults have the opportunity to learn powerful lessons in community, character-building, skill development, and healthy living — lessons that can be learned nowhere else. Southern California/Hawaii AEE is an AEOE Institutional Member, ACA workshops and conferences in California are listed on the AEOE Calendar, and many AEOE Institutional Member organizations are ACA Accredited.

AEE - Association for Experiential Education

In the early 1970s, a group of educators assembled in Boone, North Carolina, USA to discuss ways in which education could be made more relevant for students. These people believed that the core of learning is greatly enhanced by experiential forms of education.  Now more than 1,600 members in over 30 countries around the globe are part of that discussion.  AEE members have affiliations in education, recreation, outdoor and adventure programming, mental health, youth development, service learning, organizational development, corrections, programming for people with disabilities, and the environment. The work of our members is unique, inspiring, and meaningful, and contributes greatly to the well-being and education of individuals, communities and work environments. Western Region AEE is an AEOE Institutional Member, AEE workshops and conferences in California are listed on the AEOE Calendar, and many AEOE Institutional Member organizations are AEE Accredited.

ANCA - Association of Nature Center Administrators

ANCA is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization formed in 1989 to promote leadership and quality management for the nature center profession. Through its members and services, ANCA provides a network where environmental learning center administrators can exchange information and ideas. ANCA also develops and shares professional training opportunities and aids environmental education organizations through direct technical assistance.

COSA - California Outdoor School Administrators

COSA is dedicated to quality Residential Environmental Education for the students of California. Our purpose is to enhance existing Outdoor School Programs and to help any Local Education Agency that does not already run a Residential Outdoor Science School to begin their own. COSA is funded by a grant from the California Department of Education. COSA in-service meetings are held twice a year to conduct the business of the association, assign members to conduct certifications, review educational materials, discuss curriculum and related programs that promote high quality, professional experiences in outdoor education. Many AEOE Institutional Member organizations' programs are COSA Certified.

CREEC - California Regional Environmental Education Community

The California Regional Environmental Education Community (CREEC) Network is an educational project whose mission is: To develop a communication network which provides educators with access to High Quality environmental education resources to enhance the environmental literacy of California Students. The CREEC Network is the best source for Environmental Education resources in California. For local EE assistance, click on your Region to access information for your area

CSTA - California Science Teachers Association

CSTA represents science educators statewide - in every science discipline at every grade level, Kindergarten through University. CSTA demonstrates leadership in science education in the state by organizing and participating in statewide reform initiatives and provides leadership opportunities for members who wish to serve on state advisory committees, including framework, standards, and textbook committees. CSTA sponsors the California Science Education Conference, the largest state conference designed specifically for science educators statewide. CSTA's annual conference is always listed on the AEOE Calendar and AEOE often has a booth at CSTA conferences.

GSEEC - Golden State Environmental Education Consortium

Golden State Environmental Education Consortium: A partnership to Strengthen Environmental Education in California for teachers and schools-agencies-non formal education-organizations-business and industry-university education programs-environmental organizations-camps and outdoor education programs-parks, zoos, and museums-communities of faith-community based organizations-the funding community. GSEEC has worked with AEOE in developing the diversity strands at our statewide conferences, and AEOE works with GSEEC as well. GSEEC honored the AEOE website with an award for the Diversity in EE pages.

NAAEE - North American Association for Environmental Education

The North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) is a network of professionals, students, and volunteers working in the field of environmental education throughout North America and in over 55 countries around the world. Since 1971, the Association has promoted environmental education and supported the work of environmental educators. AEOE is the California Affiliate of NAAEE. NAAEE's annual conference is always listed on the AEOE Calendar.

NAI - National Association for Interpretation

The National Association for Interpretation (NAI) is dedicated to the advancement of the profession of interpretation (on-site informal education programs at parks, zoos, nature centers, historic sites, museums, and aquaria). NAI has a rich history and currently serves 4,500 members in the United States, Canada, and thirty other nations.

NSTA - National Science Teachers Association

The National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), founded in 1944 and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, is the largest organization in the world committed to promoting excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning for all. NSTA's current membership of more than 55,000 includes science teachers, science supervisors, administrators, scientists, business and industry representatives, and others involved in and committed to science education. Here is the NSTA's position on Environmental Education NSTA's annual conference is always listed on the AEOE Calendar

OGN - Orion Grassroots Network

The Orion Grassroots Network is the fastest-growing network of environmental and community organizations in North America. The Network now actively supports over 800 nonprofit organizations with several new member groups joining each week. Network member organizations are recognized in their communities as leaders in the fields of conservation, restoration, education, democracy, justice, health, and economics. They range from large to small, urban to suburban to rural, and represent nearly every U.S. state, and an increasing number of Canadian provinces and Mexican states. The Orion Grassroots Network connects the full diversity of groups involved in social and environmental movements, and occasionally engages them in coordinated campaigns on regional, national, and global issues, such as the Earth Charter. AEOE is a member of OGN.

"Projects" - sponsored by the Council for Environmental Education:

CEE is a founding sponsor of Project Learning Tree, Project WILD, Project WILD Aquatic, and Project WET. Project WILD, Project WILD Aquatic, and CEE's latest initiative, WET in the City, are administered by CEE at the national level.
PLT - Project Learning Tree
WILD - Project WILD
WET - Project WET

ROEE - Residential Outdoor Environmental Education

ROEE offers an annual conference at a residential outdoor education facility in the spring of every year, on the Presidents Day / Valentines weekend in February. This conference brings together residential program staff from primarily the western US and Canada, but extending across North America. ROEE's annual conference is always listed on the AEOE Calendar

SEER - State Education and Environment Roundtable

SEER developed The EIC Model™-the educational approach that uses the Environment as an Integrating Context for improving student achievement. SEER is a cooperative endeavor of state education agencies working to improve student learning by integrating the environment into K-12 curricula and school reform efforts. SEER is an AEOE Institutional Member.

State and National Government Agencies

California Government Agencies:

CDE (California Department of Education); Especially see CDE's Department of Environmental Education and State Frameworks and Standards
CDF&G (California Department of Fish and Game);
CDF (California Department of Forestry);
CERES (California Environmental Resources Evaluation System);
CEEIN (California Environmental Education Interagency Network);
CalEPA (California Environmental Protection Agency);
CIWMB (California Integrated Waste Management Board);
State Parks

National Government Agencies:

EPA (Environmental Protection Agency);
NPS (National Park Service);
USFS (Forest Service);
USFWS (Fish and Wildlife)