The Wisconsin Environmental Education Board (WEEB) has enthusiastically adopted and
supports the implementation of Wisconsin’s Plan for Environmental Literacy and Sustainable
Communities . This plan is the latest in a long line of environmental education initiatives in the
state . Beginning with the Conservation Movement in the late 1800s and early 1900s through
the Environmental Movement in the 1960s and 70s and on to today, residents of Wisconsin
have played a key role in shaping the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of individuals, groups,
and organizations with respect to environmental issues at the national, regional, and local
levels . As a new century has just begun, this plan provides a pathway for all of us to build
upon this prior work and move forward in developing an environmentally literate society
comprised of sustainable communities .
supports the implementation of Wisconsin’s Plan for Environmental Literacy and Sustainable
Communities . This plan is the latest in a long line of environmental education initiatives in the
state . Beginning with the Conservation Movement in the late 1800s and early 1900s through
the Environmental Movement in the 1960s and 70s and on to today, residents of Wisconsin
have played a key role in shaping the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of individuals, groups,
and organizations with respect to environmental issues at the national, regional, and local
levels . As a new century has just begun, this plan provides a pathway for all of us to build
upon this prior work and move forward in developing an environmentally literate society
comprised of sustainable communities .
Wisconsin’s Plan for Environmentally Literate and
Sustainable Communities (referred to in this document
as the “Plan”) serves as a strategic plan for achieving
the vision of environmentally literate and sustainable
communities across Wisconsin . The Plan is meant to
build capacity, awareness, and support for environmental
literacy and sustainability at home, work, school, and
play . It encourages funding, research, and education for
environmental literacy and sustainability and it supports
Wisconsin’s Plan to Advance Education for Environmental
Literacy and Sustainability in PK-12 Schools.
This Plan was developed through input from diverse
representatives from around the state, all of whom—
like many before them—are attentive to the health and
well-being of Wisconsin’s people, the stewardship of our
natural resources, the sustainability of our communities,
and to leaving a positive legacy for the future . Wisconsin
people value the state’s natural resources and the functions
these resources serve at home, work, school, and play .
This commitment to protecting and conserving valued
resources can and does lead to sustainable communities
that enjoy a healthy environment, a prosperous economy,
and a vibrant civic life . The purpose of this Plan, therefore,
is to provide a roadmap, a course of action, individuals,
organizations, businesses and governments must
take to attain environmental literacy and sustainable
communities . By providing a shared vision, mission,
and goals, encouraging the use of common language,
and promoting collaborative efforts, the Plan offers the
opportunity for extraordinary impact and change .
The Wisconsin Environmental Education Board (WEEB) is charged with
leadership for environmental education for all people in the state and is required
to develop a strategic plan every ten years . This Plan was born from that
demand . WEEB’s previous strategic plan, A Plan for Advancing Environmental
Education in Wisconsin: EE2010, had seven goals that were based on the central
purposes of providing positive leadership; developing local leaders; developing
and implementing curricula; and furthering professional development .
An assessment provided insight into this plan’s successes and what remains to be
done . Major successes include:
• The creation of a website, EEinWisconsin .org, which acts as a tool for
statewide communication and a clearinghouse for both formal and non-
formal environmental education in Wisconsin .
• The WEEB’s use of the goals in its grants program .
• The initiation of research in environmental literacy and sustainability .
• The establishment of Wisconsin Environmental Education Foundation,
which is leading the way toward more sustainable funding for
environmental education .
The assessment found more work needs to be done to support and enhance
non-formal and non-traditional environmental education . The Plan addresses
this need and sets new goals .
Sustainable Communities (referred to in this document
as the “Plan”) serves as a strategic plan for achieving
the vision of environmentally literate and sustainable
communities across Wisconsin . The Plan is meant to
build capacity, awareness, and support for environmental
literacy and sustainability at home, work, school, and
play . It encourages funding, research, and education for
environmental literacy and sustainability and it supports
Wisconsin’s Plan to Advance Education for Environmental
Literacy and Sustainability in PK-12 Schools.
This Plan was developed through input from diverse
representatives from around the state, all of whom—
like many before them—are attentive to the health and
well-being of Wisconsin’s people, the stewardship of our
natural resources, the sustainability of our communities,
and to leaving a positive legacy for the future . Wisconsin
people value the state’s natural resources and the functions
these resources serve at home, work, school, and play .
This commitment to protecting and conserving valued
resources can and does lead to sustainable communities
that enjoy a healthy environment, a prosperous economy,
and a vibrant civic life . The purpose of this Plan, therefore,
is to provide a roadmap, a course of action, individuals,
organizations, businesses and governments must
take to attain environmental literacy and sustainable
communities . By providing a shared vision, mission,
and goals, encouraging the use of common language,
and promoting collaborative efforts, the Plan offers the
opportunity for extraordinary impact and change .
The Wisconsin Environmental Education Board (WEEB) is charged with
leadership for environmental education for all people in the state and is required
to develop a strategic plan every ten years . This Plan was born from that
demand . WEEB’s previous strategic plan, A Plan for Advancing Environmental
Education in Wisconsin: EE2010, had seven goals that were based on the central
purposes of providing positive leadership; developing local leaders; developing
and implementing curricula; and furthering professional development .
An assessment provided insight into this plan’s successes and what remains to be
done . Major successes include:
• The creation of a website, EEinWisconsin .org, which acts as a tool for
statewide communication and a clearinghouse for both formal and non-
formal environmental education in Wisconsin .
• The WEEB’s use of the goals in its grants program .
• The initiation of research in environmental literacy and sustainability .
• The establishment of Wisconsin Environmental Education Foundation,
which is leading the way toward more sustainable funding for
environmental education .
The assessment found more work needs to be done to support and enhance
non-formal and non-traditional environmental education . The Plan addresses
this need and sets new goals .
Collaboration with Other Efforts
Wisconsin’s Plan for Environmentally Literate and Sustainable Communities
considers educational needs and responses for the whole community and
supports sustainable practices at home, work, school, and play . The Plan is
coordinated with and supported by two additional statewide efforts to advance
the implementation of the Plan’s goals and the integration of sustainability . They
are:
Wisconsin’s Plan to Advance Education for Environmental Literacy and
Sustainability in PK-12 Schools addresses multiple aspects related directly
to pre-kindergarten through high school student learning to ensure every
student graduates environmentally literate . (NCLIwisconsin .org)
Cultivating Education for Sustainability in Wisconsin builds capacity
and support for schools and communities to focus student learning on
sustainability . It provides recommendations for resources and services to
implement education for sustainability in schools . (www .uwsp .edu/wcee/efs)
2 Wisconsin’s Plan for Environmentally Literate and Sustainable Communities
Benefits of a State Plan
• Provide a common vision and set of goals for people in Wisconsin to work
toward .
• Guide decision-making, policy making and priority setting .
• Serve as justification for and purpose behind creating or continuing
programs, tools and resources .
• Set priorities for development and delivery of educational programs,
business plans, and community efforts .
• Rationale and guidance for funding and research efforts .
How to Use the Plan
Wisconsin’s Plan for Environmentally Literate and Sustainable Communities is
not an organization, but rather a document that serves as the state strategic plan
requiring partnerships and collaboration . It is designed to serve as reference
material for individuals, businesses, and communities . Those who influence
environmental literacy and sustainability in Wisconsin such as community
leaders, traditional and non-formal educators and administrators, resources
developers and providers, policy makers, funders and researchers will find the
Plan useful as a guide in setting priorities and making decisions . Over the course
of the next decade, the Plan’s desired outcomes will be central to environmental
literacy and sustainability efforts across the state . As Wisconsin people work
toward achieving the four main outcomes of the Plan, this document can help
guide attitudes, planning, actions, and endeavors .
