Curriculum Programs
KAEE aims to deliver support, resources and networking opportunities to Kentucky's community of educators across the state. KAEE and its network of facilitators deliver professional development and certify educators in five nationally recognized environmental education curricula for PreK-12 and nonformal educators. Learn about each curriculum program by clicking the logo below. To learn how you can get trained in these programs, be sure to explore our Event Calendar and workshops page!
LEOPOLD EDUCATION PROJECT
The Leopold Education Project (LEP) is an innovative, interdisciplinary conservation and
environmental education curriculum based on the essays in A Sand County Almanac.
The objectives of the LEP are:
-to create an ecologically literate citizenry
-to expand participants' experience of “reading the landscape”
-to expand educators’ skills in teaching outdoor education
-to expose students to environmental literature and related activities
-to share Aldo Leopold’s land ethic, legacy, and writings with educators and students
-to help people develop a personal land ethic
PROJECT LEARNING TREE
Since it began in the early 1970s, PLT has been recognized as one of the premier environmental education programs in the world. PLT uses the forest as a window on the world to increase students’ understanding of our environment; stimulate students’ critical and creative thinking; develop students’ ability to make informed decisions on environmental issues; and instill in students the commitment to take responsible action on behalf of the environment.
KAEE is proud to serve as state sponsor and coordinator of Kentucky PLT. We have a growing network of facilitators across the state who host workshops; if you are interested in becoming a facilitator, you are invited to attended our annual facilitator training. If you are interested in hosting a workshop in your area, please let us know!
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PROJECT WET
Project WET is Water Education Today. The mission of Project WET is to advance water education to understand global challenges and inspire local solutions. Among many things, Project WET provides curriculum and resources focused on water education. The centerpiece of Project WET is the K-12 Project WET Curriculum and Activity Guide.
Through an innovative partnership with the Kentucky Division of Water (KDOW), KAEE provides the daily operational activities of Project WET in Kentucky. KDOW serves as the Host Institution of Project WET and provide essential funding for the program as well as a limited number of teacher stipends and curricula guides. For more information, contact Kentucky's State Co-Coordinators for Project WET: Brittany Wray, KAEE Education Director, and Joanna Ashford, KDOW Environmental Control Supervisor.
PROJECT WILD
Project WILD is an interdisciplinary EE program that helps participants develop an awareness, appreciation, and understanding of wildlife and habitat. Introduced in 1983, it has reached more than 100 million youth through more than 1.5 million educators and is one of the largest wildlife education programs in the world. Project WILD is administered by the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies (AFWA).
PROJECT UNDERGROUND
The vision of Project Underground is that people will make wise, informed, choices as they manage cave, karst and groundwater resources to protect the underground ecosystems for the health of current and future generations. To accomplish this vision, Project Underground serves to build the necessary awareness and responsible attitudes towards cave, karst, and groundwater resources and their management needs among the general public through educational and interpretive programs.
NAAEE GUIDELINES FOR EXCELLENCE
KAEE is proud to be the state affiliate of the North American Association for Environmental Education. Their work with the National Project for Excellence in Environmental Education lead to the development of Guidelines for Excellence, which positively influence EE programs at the smallest nature centers all the way to graduate university programs.
DON'T WASTE IT!
Don’t Waste It! is an educator guide to waste management, recycling, composting, and waste reduction, which includes 11 lessons covering five themes: municipal solid waste, recycling, plastics, composting, and landfills.
Developed by Chatham County Solid Waste & Recycling in North Carolina, Don’t Waste It! is expanding through the southeast. SEEA has been awarded an environmental education grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to create state-specific versions of the guide and then host in-person and virtual training opportunities for educators across the southeast to learn the curriculum.
