Welcome to the KEEC
 The Kentucky Environmental Education Council (KEEC) is a state agency within the Education & Workforce Development Cabinet. The agency's mission is to help Kentuckians develop the skills necessary to solve current environmental problems, prevent new ones, and maintain a balance between the economy and the environment for future generations. To reach this goal, the Council coordinates environmental education (EE) across the Commonwealth, by:
- Serving as a resource to any entity or individual interested in environmental education.
- Administering the Kentucky Green & Healthy Schools program.
- Offering an annual Nonformal EE Certification program.
- Administering EEinKentucky.org.
- Updating the EE Master Plan for Kentucky every 5 years.
- Conducting research on Kentucky citizens' knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about the environment and publishing a report on the findings every 5 years.
- Providing easy to use inventories to help homeowners make their houses or apartments more efficient and sustainable.
- Working to promote environmental literacy in Kentucky through regulatory, legislative, and other means.
- Coordinating a statewide Questing program.
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Major Announcements |
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Kentucky Department of Education Announces 2013 KY Green Ribbon Schools
The Kentucky Department of Education has named three schools as winners of the state-level Green Ribbon Schools competition. The winners are:
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Locust Trace AgriScience Farm (Fayette County)
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Cane Run Elementary (Jefferson County)
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Northern Elementary (Scott County)
These schools also served as the Commonwealth's nominees in the National Green Ribbon Schools competition administered by the U.S. Department of Education. All three schools are finalists in the national competition.
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Upcoming Events & Deadlines |
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May 22
KY teachers can take Kentucky Educational Television’s brief 2013 KET EncycloMedia Survey by May 22nd for a chance to win a Google Chromebook! Three winners will be drawn on May 23rd.
May 22
A Green Strides webinar will be on Wednesday, May 22 at 4pm EDT. Discover how to teach your class about the environment, outdoor recreation and our nation's historic places by participating in the Teacher-Ranger-Teacher professional development program. http://bit.ly/14ZE1gZ
May 24
Applications are due May 24 for participation in Project Learning Tree’s pilot program for a new teaching module on climate change’s effect on southern pine trees. Participants can earn up to $300 dollars. http://bit.ly/108TfgG
May 25
From May 25-31, KAEE and Kentucky State Parks are sponsoring the 2013 Eco-Treasure Hunt at all KY recreation and resort parks. Finding just one of the nature-inspired treasures makes participants eligible for several prizes, including a free overnight stay at one of four state parks. http://kaee.org/treasure-hunt
May 29
A Green Strides webinar on Wednesday, May 29 at 4pm EDT will feature dynamic Green Team student leaders who will share compelling and personal testimonials about the transformative power of student leadership in the Green Schools movement. https://cc.readytalk.com/cc/s/registrations/new?cid=e9q0ge610gkf
May 31
Early bird registration ends May 31 for the 3rd Annual “Meeting the Challenge” conference, held at the University of Kentucky from July 22-24 and hosted by the P-12 Math & Science Outreach unit of PIMSER. http://www.uky.edu/P12MathScience/MTC2013/home.html
May 31
Proposals due May 31 for the Kentucky Science Teachers Association (KSTA) fall conference. The theme is “Next Generation Science… NOW!” Topics include: the Next Generation Science Standards; Science Literacy-Reading and Writing; and Integrated Engineering Practices. http://www.ksta.org/coninfo230.cfm
June 5
A Green Strides Webinar on June 5 will examine techniques for engaging young people in project-based learning they find relevant to their own lives. http://1.usa.gov/111CI9I
June 21
KAEE is hosting a Sustainability Symposium on Friday, June 21st in Florence, KY. The theme is "Sustainability and the Urban Environment.” Topics include Covington’s downtown revitalization efforts, environmental education innovations for urban settings, and sustainability efforts on higher education campuses. http://kaee.org/symposium
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Educator Resources |
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•The Climate Literacy & Energy Awareness Network (CLEAN) is offering a free digital collection of teaching and support materials for educators. The search engine has over 500 annotated online activities, videos, and visualizations for grades 6 - 16. Resources are rigorously reviewed by scientists for accuracy and by teachers for classroom effectiveness. http://cleanet.org/clean/educational_resources/index.html
•Interested in school gardens? Learn how the Paris Independent School District and the Green & Healthy Schools program formed a task force of students, teachers, and administrators to create a School Garden Master Plan by watching KEEC’s video series at www.youtube.com/KyEECouncil.
•Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) will be teaching two classes this summer that can be used for the environmental education endorsement. For more information, visit http://naturalareas.eku.edu/center-environmental-education.
•Check out the Healthy School Campaign’s Quick & Easy Guide to Green Cleaning in Schools. www.greencleanschools.org
•The Water Watch Program with the KY Division of Water has educational equipment available for loan to an individual, school or organization. They have several Enviroscapes available for check out including landscapes for watershed/nonpoint source; landfills; wetlands; and hazardous waste. Also available for checkout are multiple types of display boards and the program’s mascot, Ollie Otter! Borrowing equipment is as easy as filling out the request form. http://water.ky.gov/ww/Pages/EnvironmentalEquipment.aspx
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