DCEEC

Lunch & Learn: Social Studies + Environmental Literacy
2025-03-03 12:00 - 13:30 UTC | virtual
Interested in connecting the dots between outdoor learning, environmental literacy, and social studies? Want to gain a better understanding of what meaningful watershed educational experiences might look like on school grounds? Hoping to connect with others who are doing work in this space, too? If so, join us for this three part virtual lunch and learn series to explore these topics, and more!
This is a three part series organized by the DC Environmental Education Consortium, with support from the DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education and Earth Force.
In the second session, Madison Kantzer, instructional systems specialist for social studies, and Grace Manubay, environmental literacy coordinator, at the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) will provide an overview of the new social studies standards that were adopted in 2023 and share how the Environmental Literacy Framework will be updated to incorporate these new standards. Earth Force will also cover the curricular supports being created for release in the summer of 2025, which will show how environmental literacy is being woven into the 6th-grade world geography curriculum. Feedback is welcomed and partners will be identified to help support the alignment of environmental literacy and social studies that is written into the curriculum! Prior to the session, participants are encouraged to review the social studies standards.
Recommended audience: anyone who works directly with students or plans student programming.
Register here.

About the organizers:

The Environmental Education Networking Committee of the DC Environmental Education Consortium (DCEEC) taps the District’s environmental education expertise to enrich the DCEEC community with professional development opportunities, such as Lunch and Learns, listening sessions, field outings, and trainings.
A collaboration between its environmental literacy and school garden programs, the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) hosts Outdoor Learning Gatherings for educators seeking resources and inspiration to engage students in activities that benefit from being outdoors and in nature.
A leader in environmental action civics, Earth Force received a NOAA Chesapeake Bay Watershed Education and Training grant to embed environmental literacy in social studies through the integration of a MWEE into the forthcoming sixth grade DC Public Schools (DCPS) social studies curriculum.

D.C. Teachers' Night: An Environmental Education Evening
2025-02-13 18:00 - 20:00 UTC | US Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave SW, Washington, DC, 20001
Join us at the U.S. Botanic Garden Conservatory for the 18th annual D.C. Teachers’ Night. Connect with D.C. area environmental education organizations and find ways to get your students learning about the natural world and how to bring the environment into the classroom! Learn from an amazing community about field trip experiences, professional development opportunities, and resources.
The event is free, however registration is required. Light refreshments will be served. Certificates of Participation available for PDUs.
This program is offered in collaboration with the D.C. Environmental Education Consortium and the Friends of the U.S. Botanic Garden.
Teachers, please register here.
Note: Environmental education providers must apply to attend as an exhibitor. Applications are due on Jan. 15.

Lunch & Learn: Outdoor Field Experiences: Shifting to Student-Led Place + Problem-based Learning
2025-02-03 12:00 - 13:30 UTC | virtual
Interested in connecting the dots between outdoor learning, environmental literacy, and social studies? Want to gain a better understanding of what meaningful watershed educational experiences might look like on school grounds? Hoping to connect with others who are doing work in this space, too? If so, join us for this three part virtual lunch and learn series to explore these topics, and more!
This is a three part series organized by the DC Environmental Education Consortium, with support from the DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education and Earth Force.
We will kick off this series by diving into student-led problem finding in the schoolyard. This is a foundational orientation shift in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEE) from far off outdoor experiences, to experiences that take place locally, in and around their schools and reflect their lived experience. Sarah Jennings, former District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) educator and now program manager at Earth Force, will help orient people to this pedagogical approach, alongside MWEE ambassador and trainer, Adrienne Farfalla, environmental protection specialist with the Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE). Prior to the session, participants are encouraged to complete the MWEE 101 training.
Recommended audience: anyone who works directly with students or plans student programming.
Register here.

About the organizers:

The Environmental Education Networking Committee of the DC Environmental Education Consortium (DCEEC) taps the District’s environmental education expertise to enrich the DCEEC community with professional development opportunities, such as Lunch and Learns, listening sessions, field outings, and trainings.
A collaboration between its environmental literacy and school garden programs, the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) hosts Outdoor Learning Gatherings for educators seeking resources and inspiration to engage students in activities that benefit from being outdoors and in nature.
A leader in environmental action civics, Earth Force received a NOAA Chesapeake Bay Watershed Education and Training grant to embed environmental literacy in social studies through the integration of an MWEE into the forthcoming sixth grade DC Public Schools (DCPS) social studies curriculum.

Deadline: Exhibitor Application for DC Teachers' Night
2025-01-15 17:00 UTC
The U.S. Botanic Garden, Friends of the USBG, and the D.C. Environmental Education Consortium are excited to once again host the 18th annual D.C. Teachers’ Night: An Environmental Education Evening on Thursday, February 13, 2025 from 6:00-8:00 PM.
Don’t miss this opportunity to apply to exhibit at the 2025 D.C. Teachers’ Night. If selected, exhibitors will have the opportunity to connect with hundreds of teachers and network with fellow EE providers. There is no cost associated with exhibiting, however, space is limited. We encourage interested organizations to submit their application early!
Environmental education providers that wish to apply to exhibit at D.C. Teacher’s Night should submit this form by Wednesday, January 15th.
Before applying, please consider the following:

The event will take place at the United States Botanic Garden at 100 Maryland Ave SW
Accepted exhibitors should plan to be fully set up for the event by 5:30 PM
Each accepted exhibitor will receive one 6’ as space is limited
We encourage exhibitors to bring at least two representatives to encourage time for seeing the other exhibitors, taking breaks, etc.
Exhibit tables should have staff present for the entirety of the event, 6-8 PM
Exhibitors will be asked to avoid printed handouts and to share information electronically

Questions? Feel free to reach out to the DCEEC planning team.

DCEEC Networking Event: Nov. 1
2024-11-01 12:00 - 14:30 UTC | Aquatic Resources Education Center, 1900 Anacostia Drive SE, Washington, DC, 20020, United States
Join fellow environmental educators across the District for an afternoon of fun and connection about aquatic resources in the city!
Planned by DCEEC’s EE Networking Committee, we hope this will be an excellent opportunity to gather with other educators using nature as their classroom (or interested in doing more of that), share about your experiences, and build connects for future work.
Please share with your colleagues and friends! We have capacity for around 25 participants for this event.
12:00-12:30pm: Meet at the Aquatic Resources Education Center (AREC) for networking and lunch (bring your own)
12:30-1:30pm: Tour of the AREC
1:30-2:30pm: Guided tour of the Anacostia River with Anacostia Riverkeeper
Register here by Oct. 31.

Youth Mental Health First Aid - Training
2024-09-10 08:15 - 16:15 UTC | US National Arboretum Auditorium, 3501 New York Ave, NE, Washington, DC, 20002, United States
Youth Mental Health First Aid USA (YMHFA) is an 8 hour public education program which introduces participants to the unique risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems in adolescents, builds understanding of the importance of early intervention, and teaches individuals how to help an adolescent in crisis or experiencing a mental health challenge. Mental Health First Aid uses role-playing and simulations to demonstrate how to assess a mental health crisis; select interventions and provide initial help; and connect young people to professional, peer, social, and self-help care. YMHFA is designed to train and educate school staff such as coaches, camp counselors, and youth group leaders.
The training will be provided by The George Washington University Center for Health and Health Care in Schools. The session will be on Tuesday, Sept. 10 from 8:15am-4:15pm at the US National Arboretum. Ample free parking is available at the Arboretum, but please note that Metro accessibility is limited.
Registration has closed. Please complete this form to be added to the wait list.
Thank you!

Lunch and Learn: Outdoor Learning Online Tools
2024-08-08 12:00 - 13:00 UTC | virtual
Have you ever wanted to know more about schools in the District with outdoor learning spaces? Have you wondered how to find out whether a school has existing environmental programming or partnerships? Do you love maps or dashboards?
At the next DCEEC Lunch and Learn, Grace Manubay, Environmental Literacy Coordinator at the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE), will introduce OSSE’s forthcoming outdoor learning data visualization tools. The online tools intend to help answer these types of questions using self-reported data collected by OSSE via the annual School Health Profile and the triennial update of the DC Environmental Literacy Plan.
Register here.

DCEEC General Meeting
2024-06-21 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | virtual
Join us and learn about DCEEC’s recent happenings and to help us envision DCEEC’s future.
We will share exciting news and opportunities, and listen to your ideas for how DCEEC can support you and environmental education in the District of Columbia.
To receive the zoom link, please register here.
