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2011

October 19, 2011 – Innovative Water Education Program Starts in D.C. Schools. Be Water Wise DC Underway at 15 Elementary, Middle & High Schools. 

September 22, 2011 – U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Regina Benjamin to Speak at National Public Lands Day Signature Event in Washington, D.C.  National Public Lands Day on Saturday, Sept. 24 to highlight connection between health and time spent outdoors.

September 21, 2011 - More than 180,000 Volunteers Expected Across the Country for National Public Lands Day, September 24. Volunteers in every state and Washington, D.C. will visit national and local parks, beaches, wildlife preserves, forests and more to help improve these treasured places.

September 19, 2011 – NEEF & GreenBiz Release New Report.  A culture of sustainability is taking root in companies as part of their environmental & sustainability employee engagement. The report also marks the launch of a new NEEF – GreenBiz Group partnership.

June 9, 2011 — School's Out for Summer: Time to Hit the Parks.  Public lands are available for all people to enjoy – in every community. They include national parks like the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone as well as state and county parks and the public green spaces in your own community. Summer vacation is the perfect opportunity for school weary kids to spend time at their favorite neighborhood park – whether it’s participating in sports, hiking with friends, or enjoying a family barbeque.

May 5, 2011 — Bothell, Wash., Teacher Wins National Environmental Prize. John Schmied, a seventh grade science teacher at Skyview Junior High in Bothell, Wash., has been awarded the 2011 Richard C. Bartlett Environmental Education Award for his outstanding teachings on the importance of being an environmentally-responsible citizen.

April 14, 2011 — Boulder's New Vista High School (NVHS) has won the 2011 Green Prize in Public Education, which includes a $10,000 award and national recognition for the school‟s comprehensive greening initiatives. Read the press release.  Read about the merit winners — New Vista High School - Boulder, Colo.; Waters Elementary School  -  Chicago, Ill.; Common Ground High School - New Haven, Conn.

April 6, 2011 — 10 High School Students Win Wildlife Conservation Grants. Ten  high school students from around the country were selected to receive funding to implement their own wildlife conservation project in their local communities. Read the release.

April 6, 2011 —  Educators Nationwide Awarded Classroom Earth Grants. Twenty classroom educators from around the country were selected to take part in an online graduate course, offered by Wildlife Conservation Society. Read the release.

March 4, 2011 —  Earth Gauge Now Available in Spanish. Millions of Americans learn critical environmental information from people they trust – broadcast meteorologists – through the NEEF’s Earth Gauge program. Through a new initiative, Calibrando La Tierra (or Earth Gauge), the program now offers the same practical, science-based information for Spanish-language viewers through translated tips. 

January 20, 2011  — Decker Anstrom Joins National Environmental Education Foundation Board of Trustees. Mr. Anstrom, who was appointed by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson, has a distinguished career in both business and public service. He serves on the Board of Directors of Comcast Corporation and recently retired as president of Landmark Communications. He also serves on the boards of nonprofits.

January 6, 2011  — National Public Lands Day 2011 Declared a Fee-Free Day at National Parks. It only happens a handful of times each year. National Parks across the country waive entry fees for visitors. And for the more than 175,000 Americans who will pitch in on National Public Lands Day 2011, it can mean a free weekend to visit treasured National Parks.

 

2010

December 14, 2010  — NEEF Announces Green Prize in Public Education. NEEF, with major support from the National Education Association (NEA) Foundation and in partnership with EarthEcho Inc., will award a $10,000 Green Prize in Public Education to an outstanding public school that demonstrates success in engaging students, faculty and their local community in school greening efforts.

December 9, 2010  — Planet Connect Announces Grants for High School Students. High school students around the country interested in protecting and teaching their communities about local wildlife have a chance to get projects and internships funded.

November 17, 2010 — NEEF's Grants Go Paperless. NEEF announced today that it will save pounds of paper by moving to an online grant system. The new system will, in addition to conserving resources, streamline the application process for hundreds of teachers, students, land managers, nonprofits and others who apply for grants each year. 

November 8, 2010 — Three D.C. Area Schools Awarded Grants for Water Education, Conservation Projects. The elementary schools, located in Arlington, Hyattsville and Washington, D.C. each received $1,000 grants from HSBC Bank USA to fund projects that will create school gardens, irrigation systems and allow for the purchase of water-efficient fixtures.

September 29 — 17th annual National Public Lands Day draws record numbers of volunteers. Administration leaders, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, college students, conservation networks, neighbors and corporate groups made up a volunteer force of more than 170,000 this weekend who pitched in for the 17th annual National Public Lands Day.

September 23 —It's the biggest year yet for National Public Lands Day! This Saturday, more than 170,000 Americans will volunteer at 2,000 sites in all 50 states. In support of public lands, employees from federal government agencies, nonprofit organizations and for-profit companies will take part in our nation's largest one-day service event. 

September 22, 2010 — EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson, White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Nancy Sutley to Participate in National Public Lands Day Event. This Saturday, EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson and White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Nancy Sutley will speak at Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens, one of 2,000 National Public Lands Day sites, for the nation’s largest one-day outdoor volunteer event.

September 20, 2010 — Children and Nature Initiative Trains Health Care Professionals to Get Kids Outside. Twenty-five pediatric health care professionals will convene this month to be trained as "nature champions" for children as part of the National Environmental Education Foundation's Children and Nature Initiative. The unique program prepares health care providers to "prescribe" outdoor activities for their patients. Each champion will train 30 of their peers to reach thousands of patients and their families around the country. 

Manny DiazAugust 16, 2010 —  Manny Diaz, Former Mayor of Miami, Joins Board. The National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) this month welcomes its newest board member, Manuel Alberto Diaz, mayor of Miami until 2009 and immediate past president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors.  Mayor Diaz was appointed to the Board by EPA Administrator Jackson.

July 8, 2010 — 10 Facts You Didn't Know About Public Lands.  After celebrating our nation’s Independence Day, and with National Public Lands Day (NPLD) events being scheduled for the fall, now is a perfect time to learn more about the public lands in your neighborhood and around the country.

July 1, 2010 — Celebrate July 4th on Your Public Lands.This weekend, millions will enjoy public lands as they celebrate Independence Day, from fireworks on the Mall to vacations in majestic National Parks to picnics at green spaces in cities. Learn about some of America's beloved public lands and volunteer for National Public Lands Day on September 25.

June 7, 2010 — Classroom Earth Grant Winner Announced. Ten high school teachers from around the country received a financial boost for innovative environmental education projects intheir high schools.

May 25, 2010 -- Time Outdoors Linked to Prevention of Childhood Ailments. The National Environmental Education Foundation's Programs and Resources Link Families with Nature. One step to preventing childhood obesity, diabetes and depression is getting kids and families to spend more time outside, according to an article published in this month’s Current Problems in Pediatric and Adolescent Health Care.

May 18, 2010 -- Children and Nature. Using a unique program that enlists leading health care providers to train their colleagues, the National Environmental Education Foundation this month launched an initiative designed to help pediatricians and other health care professionals to improve children’s health by "prescribing" outdoor activity. 

April 30, 2010 -- Dr. Kenneth Olden Joins Board. The National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) this month welcomes its newest board member, Dr. Kenneth Olden, chairman of the Avon Foundation Scientific Advisory Board and founding dean of the City University of New York School of Public Health.

April 14, 2010 --  Be Water Wise Atlanta Launched. Students, with help from guests from the city of Atlanta, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, educational leaders and other organizations, undertook a water measurement water activity at Burgess-Peterson Academy to learn how to conserve resources and save money for their school as part of an innovative new program, Be Water Wise Atlanta. The school is one of 14 participating in the program, which involves students from kindergarten to high school. 

April 12, 2010 -  It’s EE Week!   EE Week, a project of the National Environmental Education Foundation, runs from April 11-17, features field trips, class exercises, outdoor classrooms, school garden planting and other activities at schools, nature centers and museums. This year’s focus on the connection between water and energy will help K-12 students better understand how usage of each affects the other and empower students to come up with strategies for conservation.

April 8, 2010 --  Lockheed Martin this week announced new green initiatives to reach its 140,000 employees, their families and communities. The orchestrated effort is rolling out in conjunction with National Environmental Education Week (EE Week), the largest organized environmental education event in the United States.

March 23, 2010 -- NEEF's Health & Environment Program has joined a group of leading, nonprofit, scientific, professional, academic and consumer/patient advocacy organizations in helping Americans with asthma breathe easier through a national asthma initiative coordinated by the National Institute of Health’s National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI). 

March 16, 2010 -- Be water wise Atlanta: Students at 15 Atlanta-area schools will take part in a unique water measurement activity as part of a new partnership between NEEF, Atlanta Public Schools, businesses and nonprofits.

February 22, 2010 --  A new study by the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) finds that environmental and sustainability (E&S) employee education and engagement initiatives help companies achieve a range of business objectives from attracting and retaining employees to boosting the bottom line.

February 19, 2010 --  Planet Connect Grant Winners Announced. Ten high school students with great ideas and $1,000 will each be undertaking projects including building organic gardens, producing model environmental houses and initiating pilot programs for sustainable lunch trays in their school cafeterias after being selected as this year’s Planet Connect grant winners.

January 25, 2010 --  Planet Connect Now a Go-To Site for Internships, Volunteer Opportunities. Student-focused site has job postings, advice to help teens land summer green jobs. 

2009

December 7, 2009 --  Earth Gauge's Ann Posegate, seen here braving the "world's worst weather" on Mount Washington, will join five other journalists on a media expedition to Antarctica to learn about the National Science Foundation's vital climate research and share the science with Earth Gauge, Planet Connect and more.

October 22, 2009 -- Washingtonian Magazine named NEEF one of the area’s best places to work in its November 2009 issue. NEEF was recognized for its green and carbon-neutral office, its flexible work hours, a bike share program, staff nature walks and professional development that range from a mediation and relaxation session to lunchtime guest speakers discussing environmental issues.

September 28, 2009 -- Over 150,000 volunteers came out for the 16th National Public Lands Day held on Saturday,September 26, 2009. President Obama praises ‘collective effort to conserve our nation’s unique landscapes’.

September 23, 2009 -- On Saturday, September 26, more than 100,000 Americans will offer their services at an estimated 2,300 projects across the country during National Public Lands Day, the nation’s largest one-day outdoor volunteer effort.

September 21, 2009 -- Volunteer project at Martin Luther King Jr. Site to mark National Public Lands Day.

September 9, 2009 -- High School Educators Nationwide Awarded Classroom Earth Grants; Nineteen chosen for curriculum-expanding environmental education. NEEF, in partnership with The Weather Channel, announced 19 educators nationwide awarded a grant designed to bring environmental education into the classroom.

July 17, 2009 --  Award Winning Miami Science Teacher Visits Washington, D.C.Bertha Vazquez, the third Bartlett Award winner spent the week visiting national organizations and local sites tied to her interest in environmental education. 

June 23, 2009 -- Earth Gauge Now in 100 U.S. Media Markets: Earth Gauge, a free environmental information service from the National Environmental Education Foundation, announced this week that it is now working with 187 meteorologists in 100 media markets around the country, including in 18 of the nation's 20 largest metropolitan areas.

May 21, 2009 --  City of Miami Mayor Receives Water Savings Reports from Students: Statistics, poems and presentations at Miami City Hall as month-long program concludes

May 13, 2009 -- New Online Course Helps Meteorologists Explain Climate Change: New tool helps broadcasters communicate science to the public.

May 12, 2009 -- Bartlett Award Photo Release

May 11, 2009 --  Bertha Vazquez, a middle school teacher at George Washington Carver Middle School in Coral Gables, Fla. has been awarded the 2009 Richard C. Bartlett award recognizing her leadership in integrating environmental lessons into daily education.

April 15, 2009 --  Miami, Fla.,launches public-private environmental education partnership during National Environmental Education Week. Jose de Diago Middle School kicks off Be Water Wise! Miami campaign.

April 13, 2009 -- National Environmental Education Week -- the single largest, organized, environmental education event in the United States, kicks off this week. Millions of students and teachers will participate in National Environmental Education Week.


March 5, 2009 -- Environmentally-minded teens now have their own social networking site. The National Environmental Education Foundation, in partnership with The Weather Channel, launched Planet Connect, a site where green teens can share ideas with their peers, learn about green careers and college programs and more.

04/13/2009: Millions of students and teachers will celebrate National Environmental Education Week (EE Week), held April 12-18, 2009, the largest national education eventwith a focus on water conservation.

03/18/2009: Environmental health tools are now available in Spanish. These user-friendly tools help clinicians and parents keep kids healthy.

03/18/2009: "The Engaged Organization" report released today finds that the majority of companies value enviornmental knowledge in their employees. Read press release (pdf).  Read the executive summary of "The Engaged Organization".

03/05/2009: Announcing Planet Connect (www.planet-connect.org) -- a new social networking site linnking green teens across the country. 

 

2008 

  • October 23, 2008: The National Environmental Education Foundation and HSBC Bank USA award funding to local schools to reduce their carbon footprint.
  • October 6, 2008: 26 teachers nationwide receive funding from The National Environmental Education Foundation and The Weather Channel to infuse environmental education into classrooms
  • July 18, 2008 - National Public Lands Day was selected as a 2008 National Award winner by Take Pride in America.
  • July 15, 2008 - TV Weathecasters ask Climate Scientists: How to Explain 'Unequivocal' Warming...and Uncertainty. The Yale Forum on Climate Change & The Media.
  • April 23, 2008 - Effort to Plant One Million Trees Begins with SCA on Arbor Day

2007