eeCredentials
The eeCredentials program is designed to provide online, easy-to-access, and ongoing professional development opportunities for environmental educators through online courses, known as eeCourses. We offer a variety of eeCourses, each of which has a different focus and objective specifically designed for environmental educators. Each eeCourse lasts 4 - 6 weeks, with specific module due dates and group Zoom discussion sessions.
“I loved the program! I feel so much more confident moving forward in my career with the tools provided in this program.”
-eeCredential Participant
eeCourses
eeCourses are the building blocks for earning eeCredentials. The eeCredentials program is designed with flexibility in mind. You can earn an eeCredential over time or just focus on the eeCourses that interest you with no requirement to earn an eeCredential.
With more in the works, we currently offer 13 eeCourses. eeCourses are intended to build key competencies in a particular subject or focus area. Each one operates asynchronously, with the exception of some in-person, workshop-based offerings. eeCourses are designed to require a total time commitment of 12-15 hours over a period of six weeks, with the exception of one four-week session in late Spring.
eeCourses include a variety of tasks and assignments that are thoughtfully designed to engage participants in active learning experiences. All of our eeCourses will be moderated by 1-2 professionals in the field. Throughout each course, participants record their work and responses in a provided digital course journal, which is submitted weekly upon completion. Course Moderators will provide feedback and grades for all submitted assignments and they will be available to answer questions regarding tasks or assignments. eeCourses are housed and administered through a web-based learning management system, Moodle.
​This program is meant to be flexible and meet the needs of professionals in the field of environmental education. Most courses operate fully online and asynchronously, with the exception of our JEDI101 course, which features required synchronous Zoom calls with Lithouse Strategy Consultant, Paul James. Each course syllabus includes an outline of the module deadlines and Zoom calls if applicable.
eeCredentials
Given our current eeCourse offerings, there are two eeCredentials that can be earned. eeCredentials can be earned over time. Think of an eeCredential as a micro-credential or a certificate that can be earned by completing a series of courses, designed to increase your knowledge and skills in a certain area. eeCourses are the building blocks for earning eeCredentials. If you are interested in building your own eeCredential using a combination of our eeCourses, reach out to brittany@kaee.org.
This eeCredential is designed to build the capacity of its participants to host high-quality environmental education workshops and equip them with the skills needed to be a leader in the field of environmental education and professional learning. Participants who earn this eeCredential also become certified KAEE Facilitators. Our facilitators create a powerful network of educators who not only offer environmental education training to their community but also help to propel environmental literacy across the state.
REQUIRED eeCOURSES
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EE101 - Core Curriculum Program Training
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EE210 - Foundations in Teaching Environmental Education
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EE310 - KAEE Facilitator Training
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Elective
CULMINATING PROJECT
Once all four courses (including the elective) are completed, you will be expected to co-facilitate a curriculum educator project. You have one year from the completion of the PLL eeCredential to plan and co-facilitate the workshop. This workshop could be online or in-person.
PROFESSIONAL LEARNING LEADERS
Henrietta Sheffel, KAEE Facilitator | 2021
Gail Becraft, CCCD Nature Center | 2021
Rhonda Lamb, JPF, Four Rivers Basin Coordinator | 2022
Annie Griggs, LFUCG | 2022
Pony Meyer, Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill | 2022
Dan Pascucci, Bernheim Forest & Arboretum | 2022
Marsha Hart, Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery | 2022
Jennifer Beach, Kenton County Public Library | 2022
Anna Wiker, Raven Run Nature Sanctuary | 2023
David Logsdon, Pathfinders of Perry County | 2023
Perry Thomas, KAEE | 2023
Kyle Yarrow, Life Adventure Center | 2024
Shae Galbraith, Bernheim Forest & Arboretum | 2024
“I've planted a lot of seeds, but they're only just beginning to sprout after all that work. And that's cool. I realize now that that's the whole point of this program. You're not going pull off some fantastic event and be ‘one and done.’ It's a process of relationship building that will continue, hopefully, for as long as I’m doing environmental education.”
-Roberta Burnes, Green Community Leader
This credential is designed to equip participants with the skills needed to collaborate with their community to help address the environmental issues they face. Through the coursework, you will explore a new array of settings, partnerships, and opportunities to take your work more fully into communities. The goal of community engagement is to strengthen the foundations of well-being—environmental quality, social equity, shared prosperity, and the capacity to pursue these goals together.
REQUIRED eeCOURSES
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CEG210 - Environmental Education & Your Community (formerly CEG201)
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CEG211 - Building Relationships for Community EE (formerly CEG201/2)
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CEG220 - Sound Environmental Education Principles
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JEDI101 - Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Environmental Education
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CEG245 - Capacity Building & Long Term Change
CULMINATING PROJECT
Community Environmental Education Action Plan: Through the course work assignments, you will step-by-step design a Community Environmental Education Action Plan that can be implemented in partnership with your community to support ecological integrity, shared prosperity, and social equity.
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GREEN COMMUNITY LEADERS
Roberta Burnes, Division for Air Quality | 2022
Kristina Johnson | 2024
Brittany Sortor | 2024
Claire Oyler | 2024
Evan McDaniel | 2024
University Credit & eeCourses
Earn graduate or undergraduate hours at Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) this summer! Teaching in the Outdoors (REC 590/790) will be offered at EKU in partnership with KAEE. ​You must be enrolled at EKU and pay applicable tuition and fees to earn the credit hours.
Completing this course puts you on the path to earning the Environmental Education Certificate at EKU and our Professional Learning Leader eeCredential. Learn more about REC 590/790.
With questions about REC 590/790, contact Dr. Brian Clark at brian.clark@eku.edu.
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If you're interested in learning more about the Environmental Education Certificate with EKU, Contact Dr. Kelly Watson at kelly.watson@eku.edu.
Scenes from EE Bootcamp 2023
Registration
eeCourses are offered on a rolling schedule throughout the year. See the Program Catalog for the current schedule and the anticipated offerings moving forward.
Cost
Suggested Member Rate: $129
Suggested Non-Member Rate: $149
Ultimately, pay what you can, down to a minimum of $75. During registration, enter the dollar amount that works best for you.
We offer this registration option as an intentional effort of class solidarity to ensure professional learning is accessible to all.
What is Class Solidarity?
Class refers to where you fit into the world regarding finances (for example, poor, working class, middle class, wealthy). If you are registering and your organization is paying for your participation, please enter the member/non-member rate, unless this will also be a barrier for your organization (such as a grassroots nonprofit). If you or your organization can pay the full cost, you will be taking an action of solidarity and making KAEE's professional learning opportunities more accessible for people who cannot afford to pay as much.
No matter what you pay for the eeCourses, there is no judgment. Pay what you can but most importantly: join us! We are so excited to be a part of your professional learning journey.
Questions?
Contact brittany@kaee.org.
Upcoming eeCourses
Mon, May 19This course is designed to teach the basics of climate science and introduce educators to climate change communication strategies. This course features activities from Project WET’s Climate, Water and Resilience Educator Module.
Mon, May 19This course provides foundational knowledge of theory, practice, and research on the emerging field of nature-based learning for young children in formal and non-formal settings.