Environmental Education

The Office of Environmental Education aims to collaboratively engage organizations to support non-formal and formal educators in order to cultivate environmentally literate k-12 graduates across the state of Virginia.

Resources

Virginia’s first K-12
Environmental Literacy
Strategic Plan

In the stream at Sailor's Creek Battlefield State Park

Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience (MWEE)

Awards and Opportunities

Fund Your Project

EnviroLearn: A professional development series for VA K-12 educators.

Sessions are offered up to three times per year. Each session is 3 days in length and hosted at a Virginia State Park. Food, lodging, and materials are all provided. Read about and apply to our upcoming sessions below.

Envirolearn: Arts in Environmental Education in collaboration with the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA)

Virginia k-12 art educators are encouraged to apply for this opportunity occurring at Pocahontas State Park, March 9-11, 2027. Food, lodging, materials, and a project budget will be provided to all accepted applicants. Expect outdoor art experiences, a trip to VMFA, expert speakers, and free resources. Applications are due no later than January 5, 2027. Accepted applicants will be notified on the week of January 11, 2027. Complete this application to become one of the 15 selected participants from Virginia that will make up the 2027-2028 cohort of Environmental Art Educators. Come have some fun with us.

Apply Now

Envirolearn: Waterwise

Virginia k-12 science educators are encouraged to apply for this opportunity occurring at Douthat State Park, April 6-8. 2027. Food, lodging, materials, and a project budget will be provided too all accepted applicants. Expect lake adventures, macroinvertebrates, expert speakers, free resources, and a water testing field trip too. Applications are due no later than January 25, 2027. Accepted applicants will be notified the week of February 1, 2027. Complete this application to become one of the 20 selected participants from Virginia to become part of this 2027-2028 cohort. We are excited to learn with you.

Apply Now

Footage featured above is from the Oct. 2025 EnviroLearn event at Chippokes State Park.

Explore iseeVA, an interactive map and dashboard showcasing Virginia’s environmental education programs, resources, and data.

Explore the Map
Find environmental education providers and programs across Virginia.

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Dive into data layers and insights to inform your outreach, planning or classroom.

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See how iseeVA can transform environmental education statewide and add your own programs to the directory

Discover the importance of Environmental Education

Awareness and Knowledge:

It combats fear. Fear is often derived from what we are unfamiliar with. Learning about our environment and the creatures in it, can alleviate those fears.
Environmental Education develops critical thinking skills. Students are working to solve a real problem using hand-on investigation.
STEM instruction is strengthened as student problem solvers find ways to help their environment recover or prevent future issues.

Behavior:

It’s exciting! Students get excited about learning when environmental education is the topic. Learner engagement is a huge obstacle in the learning process and the topic of environmental education curves that challenge naturally.
It teaches responsibility. Students connect their actions to the effect on their environment and act in more res
Environmental Education encourages healthy lifestyles as students learn to spend time active outdoors.

Civic Engagement:

Tolerance increases as students learn to live in a way that supports other living things.
Communities are strengthened as we find ways to work together for a common goal.
It exposes students to possible green career pathways.
Environmental Education experiences create a sense of responsibility and conservation for local environment and community.

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Environmental Education Contacts

Lori Schoenwiesner
Environmental Education Specialist
600 E. Main St., 24th Floor
Richmond, VA 23219
Lori.Schoenwiesner@dcr.virginia.gov

Cassi Camara
Environmental Education Specialist
600 E. Main St. 24th Floor
Richmond, VA 23219
cassi.camara@dcr.virginia.gov