National Association for Environmental Education, NAEE

About us

National Association for Environmental Education, NAEE charitable onon-governmental organization (NGO).
The UK National Association for Environmental Education (NAEE) started life in 1960 as the National Rural Studies Association, changing its name and emphasis in 1971.
Since then, the association has continued to support a wide range of professional educators to help them improve the quality of their teaching and their students’ learning, in relation to environmental and sustainability issues.
This year we are celebrating our 50th anniversary, along with our siblings in North America and Australia. There will be many opportunities through the year to mark this achievement.  So far, we have a new Wikipedia page, a new logo, the digitalisation of back copies of the journal, and a 50th anniversary edition of our journal. 2022 will see a photo competition, and a webinar.  We’ll be bringing you the details as they emerge.
The Association’s purpose is to promote all forms of environmental education, and to support all those involved in its delivery, so that together we can understand and act on the need to live more sustainably in order to protect the future of our planet.
We believe that young people have a right to first-hand educational experiences in their local environment, because these are critical in helping people understand the importance of the biosphere to all life on the planet, as well as being a source of wellbeing and fulfilment, and a motivation towards sustainable living.  The Association is committed to campaigning for a strong focus on environmental and sustainability issues across the school curriculum and happy to support the work of Teach the Future.
NAEE is an Incorporated Charitable Organisation that is run by its members and volunteers who care passionately about environmental education and education for sustainable development.  Our charitable object is to provide a public benefit by advancing environmental education within early years settings, primary and secondary schools, and institutions responsible for teacher education within the UK and elsewhere, in particular but without limitation by
1. facilitating curriculum development through the provision of resources, information and ideas for teachers,
2. providing financial support for pupils to visit outdoor education centres, and
3. collaborating with organisations that have related objectives.