Our Approach
What happened to environmental education?
How Earth Education Differs from Traditional Environmental Education:
Holistic Approach: Earth education focuses on holistic programs that:
Help learners construct ecological understandings.
Develop positive feelings toward nature.
Encourage personal action.
Experiential Learning: It emphasizes hands-on, immersive experiences rather than theoretical knowledge alone.
Connection to Nature: Earth education fosters a deep connection with the natural world, going beyond classroom walls.
Lifestyle Impact: Unlike traditional environmental education, it actively encourages lifestyle changes that benefit the earth and its passengers.
I’d ask you to look out the window to see the state of the environment around you, but you already know things are not going well. Environmental education was a pathway to educate our children and lead us to more sustainable future. But somehow things didn’t work out that way.
Traditional environmental education often presents a lot of information about the environment, but it didn’t necessarily guide people towards a deeper connection with Nature. It has not been very successful in changing people’s behaviours and inspiring them to live more sustainably.
Earth Education is an alternative approach that emphasises fostering a personal relationship with the natural world. It aims to cultivate a sense of wonder and appreciation for the environment. This approach goes beyond just learning facts. It encourages participants to explore, investigate environmental issues, and develop solutions.
The version of Earth Education that we use at Wild Mountains is not issues focused. Instead, we share a holistic perspective with our students. Earth Education considers not just the science behind environmental problems but also the social and cultural aspects. This offers students a more well-rounded approach that can be applied to any issue and we believe will lead to a more sustainable future.
In summary, Earth Education offers a transformative path, empowering individuals to become stewards of the planet through magical learning adventures and meaningful connections with nature.