2019 was a big year for environmental education, around the world and here in Kentucky. We've included below some of our favorite EE stories from the past year. What are some of your favorites? Environmental Education Will Shape A New Generation Of Decision-Makers. "Young people: They care. They know that this is the world that they're going to grow up in, that they're going to spend the rest of their lives in. But, I think it's more idealistic than that." Stanford analysis reveals wide array of benefits from environmental education. “The review found clear evidence that environmental education programs provide a variety of benefits. Not surprisingly, the studies clearly showed that students taking part in environmental education programming gained knowledge about the environment. But the studies also showed that learning about the environment is just the tip of the iceberg.” Hundreds of Environmental Educators ‘Energized’ by National Conference in Lexington. “I came away, as I do every year, energized, motivated and buoyed by the optimism and drive found at the heart of virtually every environmental educator.” Curriculum-based outdoor learning for children aged 9-11: A qualitative analysis of pupils’ and teachers’ views. “Outdoor learning is a pedagogical approach used to enrich learning, enhance school engagement and improve pupil health and wellbeing.” Kentucky educators and institutions receive NAAEE Awards. Melinda Wilder, Jennifer Hubbard-Sánchez, and Berea College were honored as award recipients at the North American Association for Environmental Education's Annual Conference in October. Kentucky Association for Environmental Education Adopts New Strategic Plan. “We recognize that a significant part of our role is to support the ‘boots on the ground’—the educators who do this work every day. Our new plan emphasizes the important role we play as a backbone organization, supporting and enhancing that community-level work where real change is happening. We truly believe that this is how we will achieve an environmentally knowledgeable society.” Italy to become first country to make learning about climate change compulsory for school students. "From next year, Italian school students in every grade will be required to study climate change and sustainability, in an attempt to position the country as a world leader in environmental education." Kentucky has one of the nation’s best environmental education programs. “The program was very beneficial to me because it focused a lot on environmental issues, teaching strategies and communities. It really challenged me to think about how I teach and present environmental education materials. We also learned a lot about the history of environmental education. I knew some things about the history of EE, but I learned quite a bit more, especially about the movement within Kentucky.”