For more information, please contact Bjorn Wolter at the Alaska Department of Education & Early Development at: bjorn.wolter@alaska.gov

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Greetings,

Research shows that when children are connected to nature, they do better in school, have fewer behavioral and health problems, and are more engaged in learning. These facts are not the current reality for many Alaskan students. We as parents, educators, professionals and community members have the power to change the future for Alaskan students and our state. A dedicated group of diverse educators and natural resource professionals have drafted an Environmental Literacy Plan for Alaska. Your voice is needed to strengthen this Plan.

You are invited to review and provide input to the Alaska Environmental Literacy Draft Plan. The draft is available online at The Alaska Department of Education & Early Development website at: http://eed.alaska.gov/tls/akelp/ The website provides multiple methods for offering comments.

The deadline for comments is November 30, 2012.

Development of this Plan is supported by the Alaska Department of Education & Early Development and a coalition of natural resource agencies and organizations across the state. Alaska’s Environmental Literacy Plan (AKELP) is designed to connect youth with the natural world and the communities within which they live. It is a framework to guide schools (PreK-12) in integrating environmental education, including active outdoor learning, as part of the school curricula with support from community partners. Implementation of the Plan will result in no new educational mandates, nor will it take away from current educational programs. It will provide opportunities for schools and community partners to receive support to implement successful place-based learning opportunities, develop outdoor classrooms and provide important professional development opportunities for teachers, administrators and community members.

The Alaska Environmental Literacy Plan will ensure that our state is well-positioned to obtain funding from both private and public sources. Specifically, the ‘No Child Left Inside proposed legislation, as well as the President’s blueprint for the reauthorization of Elementary & Secondary Education Act, include incentives for states to prepare a State Environmental Literacy Plan.

In addition to commenting on the Plan, there are other ways to provide your support!

1. Write a letter of support for AKELP and encourage organizations, school districts and others you know to submit resolutions or letters supporting the Alaska Environmental Literacy plan. You may email these to Bjorn Wolter at the Alaska Department of Education & Early Development at: bjorn.wolter @alaska.gov.

2. Visit and “Like” the Alaska Environmental Literacy Plan Facebook page to view a sample letter or resolution and to get updates on Plan activities. Share your success stories on the AKELP Facebook page.

Thank you for taking the time to address this important opportunity for Alaska’s children. Adding your voice to this Plan will help ensure that all students graduate as environmentally-literate citizens.

Sincerely,

The Alaska Environmental Literacy Plan Working Group

Project Managers- Kristen Romanoff, Alaska Department of Fish & Game and
Bjørn Wolter, Alaska Department of Education & Early Development

Susan Baxter, Juneau School District, Retired Teacher; Adia Cotter, Alaska Natural Resource & Outdoor Education Association; Laurel Devaney, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service; Robin Dublin, Center for Ocean Sciences Excellence Education; Brenda Duty, Alaska Department of Fish & Game; Karol Fink, Alaska Department of Health & Social Services; Annette Heckart, U.S. Forest Service- Chugach National Forest; Stephanie Hoag, Discovery Southeast Board of Directors; Kristi Kantola, U.S. Forest Service- Alaska Region; Brian Lax, BLM Campbell Creek Science Center; Meghan Nedwick, Alaska Department of Fish & Game; Cathy Rezabeck. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service; Marilyn Sigman, UAF Alaska Sea Grant; Melissa Sikes, Fairbanks Soil & Water Conservation District; Jim Sumner, BLM Campbell Creek Science Center; Sean Topkok, Alaska Native Knowledge Network; Beth Trowbridge, Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies; Woody Woodgate, St. Mary’s School District, Teacher; Soren Wuerth, Anchorage School District, Teacher

P.S. The Alaska Environmental Literacy Plan Working Group has been selected to receive the Department of the Interior ‘Partners in Conservation’ Award. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar will be presenting the awards in Washington DC on October 18, 2012 to 17 projects that have achieved exemplary conservation results with community engagement and local partnerships.