History

Since 1993, the District of the Columbia Environmental Education Consortium (DCEEC) has provided a communication network that enhances the abilities of its members to increase environmental knowledge and awareness in students, teachers, and adults within Washington, DC.

The founding members of DCEEC included:

  • Gloria Allen, teacher, DC Public Schools
  • Jim Butler, soil scientist, DC Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs
  • Dorothy Barton, science director, DC Public Schools
  • Jim O’Connor, associate professor, University of the District of Columbia
  • Julia Washburn, park ranger, National Park Service

Later, two others joined the group and became part of the Founding Board:

  • Gilda Allen, environmental program specialist, DC Department of Health
  • Louise Chapman, teacher, DC Public Schools

In 2005, DCEEC recognized the need to have high school environmental science standards, and convened a group of environmental education providers and science teachers to write a draft. These standards were among the science standards adopted by the District of Columbia State Board of Education in 2006. Members of DCEEC developed supporting documents for the Environmental Science and Earth Science power standards. These standards-based worksheets were used to assist teachers with the creation of new lesson plans. Around this time, DCEEC also formed strategic partnerships to start the annual Teachers’ Night at the U.S. Botanic Garden and DC School Garden Week (now Growing Healthy Schools Month).

In 2011, DCEEC became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization run by a volunteer board of directors. Members of the consortium continued to support environmental literacy efforts, such as:

  • Greening STEM project
  • Advocating for inclusion of environmental literacy into the DC Healthy Schools Act
  • Sustainable DC Model Schools pilot program (now the Environmental Literacy Leadership Cadre)
  • Environmental Literacy Summer Institute
  • Supporting DCPS Cornerstones training in Engineering is Elementary Curriculum
  • Climate Change Short Films project
  • Cleaner Air, Tree by Tree project

In 2023, DCEEC began to revive the organization, which became dormant during the COVID-19 pandemic. An interim board of directors was elected in 2024 and is excited to continue advancing the field of environmental education in the District.

 

Excerpted in part from the 2017 DC Environmental Literacy Plan, Appendix C

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