Thursday, March 18, 2010

About Eco-Schools USA - National Wildlife Federation

About Eco-Schools USA - National Wildlife Federation

About Eco-Schools USA

Ecoschool logo

Eco-Schools is an internationally acclaimed program that provides a framework to help educators integrate sustainable principles throughout their schools and curriculum.

The Eco-Schools program was started in 1994 by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) with support by the European Commission. It was identified by theUnited Nations Environment Program (UNEP) as a model initiative for Education for Sustainable Development in 2003. The Eco-Schools program strives to model environmentally sound practices, provide support for greening the curriculum and enhance science and academic achievement. Additionally, it works to foster a greater sense of environmental stewardship among youth.

As of October, 2009, Eco-Schools is currently being implemented by 46 delegations in 47 countries around the world, involving 30,000 schools, 8 million students, 400,000 teachers and 4,000 local authorities.

NWF to Lead U.S. Eco-Schools Program

In December 2008, the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) was granted Eco-School host status for K-12 schools in the United States.

This honor — and charge — fits seamlessly with NWF's work to promote environmental education, connect people with nature and raise awareness about