EXECUTIVE ORDER 1996-7
PENNSYLVANIA CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
December 20, 1996

WHEREAS, the Pennsylvania Constitution entitles the people of the Commonwealth to clean air, pure water, and preservation of the natural, scenic, historic, and aesthetic values of the environment; and

WHEREAS, environmental education is critically important to encourage citizenry, business, industry and local governments to help promote a healthy environment and an understanding of the functioning of the natural world and the necessity of environmental protection and sound resource management; and

WHEREAS, the Pennsylvania Environmental Education Act, (Act 24 of 1993) imposes duties on the Departments of Environmental Protection and Conservation and Natural Resources to conduct an evaluation of the status of environmental education taking place in the nonformal educational sector of the Commonwealth and to maintain an inventory of environmental education materials, programs, and resources available in Commonwealth agencies; and

WHEREAS, there is a great need and demand for balanced environmental education in both the public and private sectors of the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, training and continuing education of both public and private sectors of the Commonwealth are necessary to provide appropriate and effective environmental education; and

WHEREAS, Pennsylvania business, industry, and local governments play an important role in protecting the environment and in environmental education; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Environmental Protection is promoting the use of sound science in decision making, pollution prevention, and public participation to achieve its goals, all of which cannot be accomplished without a strong environmental education program; and

WHEREAS, The Department of Education supports environmental education in the Commonwealth through the development of rigorous standards that address the environment and ecology, and by providing environmental education resources and technical guidance in environmental studies to all Pennsylvania schools; and

WHEREAS, The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources provides and promotes environmental education related to the conservation, utilization, and preservation of the natural resources of the Commonwealth and has a network of environmental education centers and state parks to provide the public, students, and educators access to environmental education services; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Community and Economic Development recognizes the role of environmental education in strengthening the sustainable global competitiveness of the Pennsylvania economy and enhancing the quality of life of Commonwealth communities; and

WHEREAS, the State System of Higher Education has set priorities to develop, refine, and conduct an ongoing review and revision of curricula to address student skill development in problem-solving and decision-making, along with their capacity for critical thinking and informed judgment to prepare them to live in a rapidly changing world and is dedicated to the improvement of teaching and learning for faculty at its own institutions as well as other colleges and universities; and

WHEREAS, the Pennsylvania Game Commission provides and promotes environmental education related to the conservation of wildlife, habitats and natural resources; has a statewide network of wildlife education specialists and wildlife conservation officers who provide teacher workshops and youth and adult education programs; sponsors Project WILD, a national, interdisciplinary environmental education curriculum; and develops and distributes environmental education materials throughout the state; and

WHEREAS, the Fish and Boat Commission is committed to increasing knowledge and awareness of Pennsylvania’s aquatic resources and contributes to that end through environmental education programs which provide educational resources and train educators to teach about the Commonwealth’s aquatic and fishery resources, thereby complementing the Commission’s efforts to provide fishing and boating opportunities through the protection and management of aquatic resources; and

WHEREAS, the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. is committed to promoting sound environmental education by developing materials and supporting the educational programs and other efforts of the Commonwealth’s 66 county conservation districts; and

WHEREAS, the Pennsylvania Alliance for Environmental Education promotes and supports environmental education activities and efforts throughout Pennsylvania in order to develop a citizenry that understands and appreciates the natural world, recognizes and accepts responsibility for its impact on natural systems and is motivated to take personal action to solve environmental problems; and

WHEREAS, the efforts of all partners in environmental education in Pennsylvania would be enhanced by the existence of a center which would support and facilitate environmental education on a statewide basis through school districts, inter-mediate units, county conservation districts, and nonprofit citizen and environmental education organizations; and

WHEREAS, the Departments of Environmental Protection, Conservation and Natural Resources, Education, Community and Economic Development, State System of Higher Education, Fish and Boat Commission, Game Commission, Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. and Pennsylvania Alliance for Environmental Education wish to cooperate in a partnership to provide public access to quality environmental education, reduce the cost of the delivery of environmental education services, and provide an avenue for increased participation of educators, local officials, county conservation districts, citizen and non-profit groups, business and industry as partners in the implementation of quality environmental education on a statewide basis.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Thomas J. Ridge, Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Environmental Education Act, the Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act and other laws, and infurtherance of the purposes and policies of the Pennsylvania Constitution, do hereby establish the Pennsylvania Center for Environmental Education, as hereinafter set forth:

1. Purpose. The Pennsylvania Center for Environmental Education is established to provide increased public and private access to quality environmental education through service, education, and research.

2. Functions. The functions of the Pennsylvania Center for Environmental Education shall be to:

a. Establish an environmental education computer network system to help disseminate environmental education materials and programs.

b. Provide technical assistance for pre-service teacher preparation in the area of environmental education.

c. Provide the opportunity for professional development through continuing education.

d. Promote the formation of partnerships with educators, schools, local officials, county conservation districts, business, industry, non-profit citizen and environmental education organizations. In particular, the Center shall consult with the Pennsylvania Alliance for Environmental Education and National Environmental Education Advancement Project seed team members to set priorities and develop activities.

3. Composition. An Executive Committee, consisting of representatives of the Departments of Environmental Protection, Conservation and Natural Resources, Education, Community and Economic Development, State System of Higher Education, Fish and Boat Commission, Game Commission, Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. and the Pennsylvania Alliance for Environmental Education shall be formed and meet at least annually for the purpose of setting priorities and suggesting activities. Additional executive committee members may be added at the discretion of the executive committee.

4. Relationship With Other Agencies. To implement the purpose of this Order, the committee may request and receive from any department, division, board, bureau, commission or any other agency under the Governor’s jurisdiction, such cooperation, information and data needed by the committee to properly carry out its powers and duties hereunder.

5. Staffing and Expenses. The agencies shall cooperate in providing staff and financial resources to the Center.

6. Effective Date. This order shall be effective immediately.