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For immediate release April 17, 2006 TENNESSEE HIGHLIGHTS ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION WEEK Nashville, TN- The Tennessee Department of Education and the Department of Environment and Conservation are joining to celebrate Environmental Education Week April 16-22, 2006. Schools across the state will plan activities to highlight the importance of understanding society’s place in a well-functioning ecosystem. The following week, environmental educators from across the state will convene at MTSU’s Center for Environmental Education to share best practices among schools. “By teaching good stewardship techniques, environmental education strives to put good skills into practice for Tennessee’s children,” said Education Commissioner Lana Seivers. “Environmental education is an important element in building an ethic of responsibility in students.” Environmental Education Week is a time to prepare for Earth Day 2006, which is April 22. Launched 36 years ago to bring attention to environmental studies, Earth Day is an excellent opportunity for education partners to enhance the educational preparation of students in K-12 classrooms, university campuses, and informal settings across the state such as parks, nature centers, zoos, aquariums and museums. On April 27 th and 28 th teachers and administrators will convene at MTSU to share best practices for teaching environmental studies. Supported by a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency, the Tennessee Environmental Education Association and the Project CENTS (Conservation Education Now for Tennessee Students) program hope to foster partnerships between education stakeholders based on shared successes and challenges. “We must begin at the earliest ages to teach young people good conservation practices and the importance of protecting their natural environment and continue to reinforce that education throughout adulthood,” said Paul Sloan, deputy commissioner for Environment and Conservation. Sloan will deliver the keynote address on April 27 at the environmental studies conference at MTSU. The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and the Department of Education partnered in 2005 to create the Project CENTS program. Project CENTS strives to increase the scope and quality of environmental education in all K-12 schools across the state. Currently, the program is centered on three nationally recognized environmental education programs : Project Learning Tree, Project WET, and Project WILD. Please contact the director of Project CENTS, Tami Coleman, at project.cents@state.tn.us for more information. Contact your local school system to learn about more environmental activities planned for your area.
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For more information contact: Dana Coleman (TDEC) Rachel Woods (Education)
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