2007 Activities

* Revisions to Environmental Education in New Jersey: A Plan of Action

The Plan of Action was presented to state officials by the commission and work group in 1993. Since its origination much change has occurred globally as well as in New Jersey in the arenas of formal and public education, environmental protection, sustainability, resource management, and uses of technology. It has become timely and necessary to revise the Plan of Action. The commission and work group's primary work effort in 2005 - 2007 is to revise the plan through an extensive, inclusive and comprehensive revisions process. Their goal is to present the new plan to state officials by end of 2007. The revised plan will encompass the vision and goals of a broader stakeholder base by including the educational goals, needs and strategies related to smart growth, human health and risk, environmental justice, green building and ecotourism, to name but a few of the areas.

* The Environmental Primer Publication

As part of their annual Earth Day and Environmental Education Week efforts the commission and work group revise, reprint and distribute the New Jersey Environmental Primer for distribution at spring Earth Day and environmental events. The purpose of the booklet is to establish a common understanding of at least 20 priority environmental terms used in environmental literature and other forms of media, by showcasing them through simple definitions and descriptions. The primer is also a promotional tool for the commission and its Website and it explains the importance of environmental education. It was developed in response to dozens of requests received annually for bulk public education materials about the environment.

* Public Outreach Efforts

* Visit the commission and work group website regularly at www.nj.gov/dep/seeds/njcee/index.htm;
* Visit the New Jersey Earth Day web-site at www.nj.gov/dep/seeds/earthday/eday.htm; and
* Sign up to receive "EEdNews," a bi-monthly e-mail listing from DEP of environmental education news.

To learn more about these groups or to get involved with their activities, contact Tanya Oznowich, Environmental Education Supervisor, DEP Constituent Services Office, P.O. Box 402, Trenton, New Jersey, 08625-0402. She can be reached at 609-984-9802 or at tanya.oznowich@dep.state.nj.us.