Earning the EEC-P demonstrates that you are a highly competent environmental educator who has the capacity to create, implement, and evaluate EE initiatives to evoke positive social-ecological change. The EEC-P is recognized by NAAEE and is the only certification in the state eligible for their accreditation.

The EEC-P is a 5 strand process.

Strand 1, Workshop: Environmental awareness, basic knowledge, and skills in EE

Strand 2, Best Practices: Planning and implementing EE lessons

Strand 3, Informational Paper: Environmental literacy and action through education

Strand 4, Action Project: Professionalism, leadership, and community

Strand 5, Capstone: Sharing and Celebrating

Earning the EEC-A demonstrates an understanding of EE and a commitment to restoring and protecting your local environment. This program option is for those people who are passionate and knowledgeable about EE but have not completed or pursued the EEC-Professional program.

The EEC-A is a 3 strand process that can serve as the foundation of a EEC-P with further work.

Strand 1, Workshop: Environmental awareness, basic knowledge, and skills in EE.

Strand 2: Attending EE professional development workshops and creating a lesson plan.

Strand 3: EE stewardship service hours and reflection

Although a worthy initiative, the EEC-A program will not be accredited by the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE).

Annually, MAEOE's new EEC-Justice initiative will waive all workshop fees for two under-resourced schools or districts (up to 10 people each) to go through the EEC-Associate program. 

The EEC-J will promote environmental education literacy and environmental stewardship within an underserved school by providing complimentary enrollment in the EEC program to faculty, staff, or administrators of these schools. 

This will empower the school to make positive environmental changes within their place of teaching and learning, all while meeting state science and EE standards.

Consider:

(1) the MiEJScreen to determine your environmental justice score and rationale ​

(2) how would your school or district benefit from having certified environmental educators