Whether we take students outside to learn or bring nature into the classroom, environmental awareness programs can benefit educators, youth, schools & communities. We are Catch Foundation, an environmental NGO & having organized various environmental awareness activities, we are sharing the top 10 benefits of conducting an awareness programme on environment in schools & colleges below:
1) Heightening of imagination and enthusiasm
Interactive & hands-on environmental education is capable of sparking imagination & unlocking creativity. Moreover, integrating ecological education in the curriculum makes students more enthusiastic & encourages them to get engaged in learning which raises their achievements in core academic areas.
2) It goes beyond the classroom
environmental education offers experiential learning, but it also helps students in making new connections & in applying whatever they have learned in the real world. Environmental education allows students to see how ecological, social, economic & political issues are interconnected.
3) It enhances your critical & creative thinking skills
Environmental education encourages students to research, find out why & how things happen & make their own decisions about complex environmental issues. Along with helping them develop their critical & creative thinking skills, it also helps foster a new generation of informed workers, consumers, or decision-makers.
4) Supports tolerance & understanding
Environmental education helps students understand the complete picture by encouraging them to investigate varying sides of issues. In addition, it promotes tolerance of different cultures & different points of view.
5) learning standards are met
Incorporating EE practices into the curriculum will enable teachers to integrate math, science, language arts, history & many more into one rich activity or lesson. Taking students out of a class or bringing nature into the classroom will promote excellent interdisciplinary learning.
6) Eliminates nature deficit disorder
environmental education exposes students to nature & allows them to play outside, due to which they start appreciating & respecting the environment. It helps in combating “nature deficit disorder,” which is fun!
7) Encourages a healthy lifestyle
environmental education encourages students to go outside & become active, which helps address some common health issues such as depression, obesity & deficit disorders. Environmental education often emphasis good nutrition & reduces stress due to time spent in nature.
8) Strengthens the communities
Environmental education helps in promoting a sense of place & community involvement. When students decide to learn more or take necessary actions to improve their environment, they try to bring communities together by reaching out to donors, volunteers & local facilities.
9) Helps in taking responsible action
Environmental education helps students understand how their actions & decisions affect the environment and build skills & knowledge required to address complex environmental issues. Ecological awareness programs created by various environmental organization provides support to students & teachers through grants & other action project resources.
10) Empowers students & teachers
Environmental education helps in promoting active learning, citizenship & leadership qualities in students. It helps you in sharing your voice & make a difference in their school and communities. Teachers can build their teaching skills & environmental knowledge with the help of environmental education.
