Happy New Year!
Dear Members….
- NAEE’s latest round-up of news
- News and in the papers
- News about schools, Further Education, Highter Education and Initial/Teacher Education
- Employment opportunities
- And to it wrap up…
- Sharing news and contact details
Dear Members
We hope you had a good and happy break over the festive season and a positive start to New Year.
Here is NAEE’s latest round-up of news…
NAEE Blog post: The Evolution of Environmental Education in the UK: A Historical Perspective.
eeADVOCATE
Sarah Bodor, NAAEE’s Director of Policy & Affiliate Relations highlighting the importance of our work as educators and advocates for a more just and sustainable world, celebrates some of the new tools and resources available for educators in the most recent edition of the eeADVOCATE newsletter.
Wild in the City. Annual Report 2023-24
See our journey throughout the year, how we’ve grown, effected change and built community.
We’re proud that our report showcases beautiful imagery of people of colour in community with nature – we also share our perspectives on the opportunities and challenges of being a Black-led nature organisation.
*Our section on the year’s highlights depicts the depth and intimacy of our time together, in the woods, on the trail, learning and sharing. We detail our innovative programmes, bringing back the oral tradition for learning about nature within family and community, and nurturing outstanding leaders in the field.
*In a piece on The Cost of Decolonising, we call for greater collective responsibility within the environmental sector for decolonising its systems and practices and tackling disparities in access to funding for POC-led organisations;
“We need funders and partner organisations to share the investment cost and burden of repairing the damage and shortfalls created by the disenfranchisement of groups marginalised from nature.”
And set out how, like most under-resourced POC organisations, “we do a huge amount with a small amount.”
We hope its an enjoyable read, sharing our memories of time together around the fire, or being inspired by our stories of exploration, connection and learning with nature.
News and in the papers
The world endures ‘decade of deadly heat’ with 2024 capping the hottest years on record, according to the UN secretary general, António Guterres, reported in the Guardian here. With climate breakdown happening before us in real time, Guterres states, ‘we must exit this road to ruin and we have no time to lose’.
Climate and Nature Bill – A groundbreaking set of laws on reversing Nature destruction and accelerating climate action will be voted on in the UK parliament on 24th January 2025. You can help by calling on your MP to back the Climate and Nature Bill. Visit Zero Hour here for lots more information and for a tool to write to your MP!
News about schools, Further Education, Highter Education and Initial/Teacher Education
SOS-UK News
The BIG Climate and Nature Education Survey for schools opens in January
The survey is open from January to April, and schools from KS2 to KS5 can take part. The survey will include topics such as attitudes, experiences and general views on climate change and nature. Sign up here
UCL Centre for Climate Change and Sustainability Education
New Year, New Modules
The CCCSE is developing a new website which will host the professional development modules in the new one-hour format in English, Mathematics, History and Geography will also be available. Further modules in Science, Art, Drama, Music, RE, Citizenship and PSHE will be available from Easter 2025 on the new Centre website
Arts in Nature with Children and Young People: A guide towards health equality, wellbeing and sustainability
A new book co-edited by Professor Nicola Walshe, Executive Director of the UCL Centre for Climate Change and Sustainability Education, and Dr Zoe Moula of Kings College London (also an Associate Fellow of the Centre) can be accessed free at: Arts in Nature with Children and Young People: A Guide Towards Health
The text brings together research and practice on the intersection between arts-in-nature experiences and their impact on children and young people’s wellbeing, health equality and sustainability. It will appeal to anyone working with children and young people, including mental health and healthcare professionals, teachers, researchers, artists and arts therapists. There are five research-based and seven practice-based chapters, drawing on arts-in-nature practices that incorporate visual arts, music, movement, drama and poetry, in a range of natural environments, such as forests, beaches, greenhouses, parks, community areas and school playgrounds.
Climate Schools 180
Applications to be a Climate School 180 open on the 13th January. The Project provides support to 180 schools to deliver quality climate education. Find out more here, at Learning though Landscapes.
Big Schools Birdwatch 2025
It’s a great way to connect children with nature while supporting curriculum learning. Register now and start counting from the 7th of January!
Workshop Opportunity at the London Wetland Centre
🦦 On SATURDAY JANUARY 11th, 12 – 4pm at London Wetland Centre
In exchange for free entry to London Wetland Centre & lunch, the Centre would love to hear your advice on how to shape the future of this stunning space for nature & people in the heart of London!🍃This half day workshop will run from 12-4pm, with a light lunch served from 12-12:30pm.You will have the chance to tour the site, before giving your insights and opinions, through discussion and creative visioning activities!
The link to sign up for the workshop is: https://forms.office.com/e/mXrtxS8pYt
Employment, education and training opportunities
Application deadline for ‘Youth, Society and Sustainable Futures’ Programme – 29th January 2025
The closing deadline for applications for our new BA in “Youth, Society and Sustainable Futures” is 29 January 2025.
An innovative course of study that will support employment in the Youth and “Green and Clean” sectors, as well as NGOs and state supported services.
You can find out more about the programme here
The National Climate Change Conference 2025 – 4th February 2025, online.
Hear the latest guidance and policies from the new Labour government, and their proposals to empower local government to reach their ambitious targets. A unique opportunity to hear from across all tiers of local and regional bodies as they discuss comprehensive strategies to deliver on climate change adaptation and resilience. Find out more here, and sign up using this link.
Climate Leaders Conference – 6th March 2025, Sheffield Hallam University.
This one-day conference will support education settings, schools and trust leaders to understand the benefits of a sustainability leadership and climate action plans, support to develop a plan and identify opportunities to support their settings in taking action on climate change, sustainability and biodiversity.
For more information, have a look here and to sign up, follow this link.
Climate and Energy Summit 2025, 18th – 19th March 2025, Chatham House, London. On the road towards COP30, this annual conference will gather senior leaders and decision-makers from the business community, multilateral organizations, government agencies, academia and NGOs. Two days of high-level panel dialogues, networking sessions and an interactive workshop under the Chatham House Rule will focus on multi-stakeholder collaboration for increased ambition, action and impact. For more information and to sign up, have a look on their website.
5th Annual South Yorkshire Schools’ Climate Conference 2025 – 20th March 2025, AESSEAL Rotherham United Football Stadium, Rotherham.
All schools in South Yorkshire are invited to register an expression of interest for groups of up to 6 primary pupils (Y4-Y6) or up to 5 secondary students (Y7-Y11) with 2 adults. It will be a jam-packed day of interactive workshops and speakers exploring the Green Skills and Careers theme. Attending the conference is also a great way to gain more knowledge to boost your school’s Climate Action Plan. For more information, access their website here and to sign up, use this link.
Together in Nature – Trauma-informed Nature-based Training- 24-30th March, Malvern, Worcestershire and 6-10th May, Aberdeenshire. For people working with children, young people and adults, those interested in their personal development and are curious about the power of connection with the more than human world. The key elements of the 5 days include – holding space; storying our story with nature-based metaphors and more; attuning and resonance with each other and the natural world; creating coherence from separation. To book your space and find out more information, follow this link.
Some exciting job opportunities available:
Senior Garden and Youth Programmes Coordinator – Global Generation, Southwark (Deadline 6th January)
Programme Officer – National Education Nature Park (London) (Deadline 6th January)
Senior Media Officer – The Wildlife Trusts (Newark) (Deadline 12 January)
STEM A-Level Tutor – if you would like to discuss this opportunity with a member of the team, please reach out to grouptuition@theaccessproject.org.uk.
For a wide range of further opportunities, do look at:
And to wrap it up….
A study for the Guardian: The average Briton’s consumption on Christmas Day causes 23 times more greenhouse gas emissions than a regular day. The article criticises the ‘hijacking’ of Christmas, by the promotion of mass consumption.
Sharing News and Contact Details
Please do share our news round-up with colleagues who might be interested. If someone has shared it with you and you would like to join NAEE to support our work, you can do so here.
National Association for Environmental Education (UK)
Email: info@naee.org.uk Web: http://naee.org.uk