Residential Environmental Learning Centers

Posted: September 11, 2019 by MAEE Administration

Category: Sharing Environmental Education Knowledge (SEEK)

Residential Environmental Learning Centers
Post Date:	September 11, 2019
Resource Type:	Website Field Trip \| Program
Description:	A residential environmental learning center has been defined as being a professionally staffed, full-time, year-round facility which offers hands-on, outdoor-based environmental education (EE) over an extended visit. According to EEC 2000: A Study of Environmental Education Centers, an RELC is a facility with: a formal environmental education mission statement with a strategic, long range goal; established public or non-profit status; qualified staff including administration, instructors, food service and maintenance; an ongoing environmental education instructional program (minimum 9 months) consistent with A GreenPrint for Minnesota: State Plan for Environmental Education; a significant level of land and building resources; accommodations for eating, sleeping, and learning; a program that devotes 80 percent of the budget to environmental education; a program that devotes 80 percent of the school year to K-post secondary; a program that devotes 80 percent of the summer program to environmental education, and accreditation from the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Many RELCs also provide day use environmental education components, but the option of staying the night is available. For a current list of RELCs in Minnesota, go to SEEK's Regional Pages and in the All Minnesota section at http://eeportal.minnesotaee.org/region_detail.cfm?region=All Minnesota, and scroll down to Residential Environmental Learning Centers.
Author:
Topic:	Weather \| Atmosphere
Audience:	All Grades PreK-12 Youth
Length in pages or time:
Fee?:	1
Library Loan?:
Is Training required?:
Seasonal?:
Language other than English:
Order information or contact:	See each center for specific details.
Link:
MAEE Partner	Sharing Environmental Education Knowledge (SEEK)

Post Date:

September 11, 2019

Resource Type:

Description:

A residential environmental learning center has been defined as being a professionally staffed, full-time, year-round facility which offers hands-on, outdoor-based environmental education (EE) over an extended visit.

According to EEC 2000: A Study of Environmental Education Centers, an RELC is a facility with:

a formal environmental education mission statement with a strategic, long range goal;

established public or non-profit status;

qualified staff including administration, instructors, food service and maintenance;

an ongoing environmental education instructional program (minimum 9 months) consistent with A GreenPrint for Minnesota: State Plan for Environmental Education;

a significant level of land and building resources;

accommodations for eating, sleeping, and learning;

a program that devotes 80 percent of the budget to environmental education;

a program that devotes 80 percent of the school year to K-post secondary;

a program that devotes 80 percent of the summer program to environmental education, and

accreditation from the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Many RELCs also provide day use environmental education components, but the option of staying the night is available.

For a current list of RELCs in Minnesota, go to SEEK's Regional Pages and in the All Minnesota section at http://eeportal.minnesotaee.org/region_detail.cfm?region=All Minnesota, and scroll down to Residential Environmental Learning Centers.

Author:

Topic:

Weather | Atmosphere

Audience:

Length in pages or time:

Fee?:

Library Loan?:

Is Training required?:

Seasonal?:

Language other than English:

Order information or contact:

See each center for specific details.

Link:

MAEE Partner

Sharing Environmental Education Knowledge (SEEK)