Environmental Field Days: Recommendations for Best Practices

Abstract

In Minnesota, supplemental K–12 programs like Environmental Field Days require significant investment and educate over 10,000 4th–6th graders about issues related to our natural resources, environment, and conservation. The key to success is collaboration between outside organizations like state and federal agencies, and nonprofits along with the school teachers attending the all day programs. To assist collaborations, a compilation of best practices is presented for improving the educational value and impacts these programs have on young people. Results are shared from a state-wide study of 32 counties in Minnesota of Environmental Field Day programs along with seven practical recommendations to improve their educational outcomes.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

For additional information on Environmental Field Days visit: http://www.extension.umn.edu/FieldDays/. A special thanks to JoAnne Peters for her thesis work at Antioch University, Seattle, which started this work on Field Days.