ASSOCIATION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND OUTDOOR EDUCATION
Advancing the impact of environmental and outdoor education in California!
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Environmental education is “the education we need for the world we want.” We believe that everyone has the right to the physical, social, emotional, and academic benefits of learning outdoors. Unfortunately, too many of our young people are disconnected from the natural world and don't have access to meaningful learning experiences outdoors. As the professional association for environmental and outdoor education in California, AEOE provides programs and practitioners with the tools, resources, and expertise to ensure that future generations are equipped with the skills, knowledge, and experiences necessary to develop lifelong connections to the natural world and the commitment to sustain it.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
California Statewide Environmental Education Spring Conference
Enjoy a choice of 60+ workshops in environmental education, networking, job fair, photo contest, keynote and entertainment.
Northern California Fall Environmental Education Regional Conference
The Conference includes 15+ environmental education workshops, a Keynote Speaker, and Saturday night campfire entertainment.
Southern California Fall Environmental Education Regional Conference
The Conference includes 15+ environmental education workshops, a Keynote Speaker, and Saturday night campfire entertainment.
AEOE Program Leaders Retreat
The Program Leaders Retreat strives to increase the quality of environmental education across California, and provide a platform for managers, coordinators, and directors of outdoor and environmental education providers to collaborate, share best practices, and network with colleagues.
Environmental Educator Certification Program (EECP)
The Environmental Educator Certification Program (EECP) draws together stewards and educators of the environment into a structured and effective initiative, strengthening the community of environmental educators across the state. Environmental education is necessary if we are to address the challenges of climate change, dismantle environmental injustices in our poorest communities, and develop a citizenry that takes responsibility for the care and stewardship of our planet. Californians who are given opportunities to think critically and learn about how nature functions can make informed decisions that improve the quality of life in their communities. In the high tech, fast-paced world in which we live, the role of the environmental educator is increasingly important. The role of an environmental educator is to support the development of environmentally literate citizens. Certification is a public declaration that a certain individual meets a stringent level of requirements and has a specific set of skills. Having a certification program for our state further legitimizes the profession and builds a uniform foundation in effectively teaching about the environment. Additionally, through participation in the certification program, educators expand their professional networks, make important connections across the state, directly impact their local communities through their final action projects, and become better equipped to provide high-quality instruction to California’s youth. AEOE successfully launched California’s Environmental Educator Certification Program in fall of 2020.
Where we work
Awards
Outstanding Affiliate of the Year 2019
NAAEE
External reviews

Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of job skills training courses/workshops conducted
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults, Academics
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Total number of organization members
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Number of conference attendees
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Related Program
California Statewide Environmental Education Spring Conference
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
In-person conference returned in 2022; unfortunately we saw a large number of cancellations due to COVID-19.
Number of employer partners offering jobs to clients
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Context - describing the issue we work on
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
Refers to current number of organizational members across the state
Number of program graduates
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Environmental Educator Certification Program (EECP)
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Our efforts are focused in the following areas:
CONNECT - We convene program providers to build a diverse, equitable, and inclusive network of skilled practitioners.
EDUCATE - We provide learning opportunities that are aligned with best practices and content relevant for our field.
ADVANCE - We promote high-quality environmental education among the varied programs across the state and advocate for all young people to experience meaningful learning opportunities outdoors.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Our current organizational objectives include:
--Expand AEOE’s organizational capacity to implement its mission and address future opportunities and challenges.
--Pursue strategic outreach efforts to reach a wider audience to better represent and serve the diversity of programs and practitioners across the state
--Elevate the importance of environmental and outdoor education in California
Our current strategic plan (FY21-23) lays out the specific steps we will take in order to achieve our strategic objectives. They include:
Objective 1: Expand AEOE’s organizational capacity to implement its mission and address future opportunities and challenges.
--Strategy 1.1 Tighten and streamline AEOE’s messaging.
--Strategy 1.2 Recruit qualified candidates for the board with backgrounds, experiences, and knowledge that will further AEOE’s goals and strategies.
--Strategy 1.3 Strengthen AEOE’s ability to expand the organization’s footprint through increased and diverse revenue streams.
Objective 2: Pursue strategic outreach efforts to reach a wider audience to better represent and serve the diversity of programs and practitioners across the state
--Strategy 2.1 Expand AEOE’s membership base and outreach efforts.
--Strategy 2.2 Develop and expand the breadth of AEOE’s program offerings.
--Strategy 2.3 Cultivate existing partnerships (e.g. CEEF, COSA, CEEIN) and establish new ones that will support the implementation of AEOE’s mission.
--Strategy 2.4 Develop and implement practices and policies in support of our commitment to equity and inclusion in AEOE's programs, outreach efforts, leadership, and organizational culture
Objective 3: Elevate the importance of environmental and outdoor education in California
--Strategy 3.1 Advocate for environmental education in the outdoors as a necessary component of PreK-12 education.
--Strategy 3.2 Establish a statewide certification program to professionalize the field and build a uniform foundation in effectively teaching about the environment in California.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
We have an active, motivated and engaged staff and board, and a large membership base who care deeply about our mission. Additionally, we are establishing diverse revenue streams for increased financial sustainability.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
We are currently in the third quarter of the second year of our strategic plan. So far, we have:
--Created a new website (aeoe.org)
--Increased our social media presence
--Launched the inaugural pilot of California's Environmental Educator Certification Program, with double the number of participants we were expecting; we are currently in the second year of the program, with an increase of 13% in the number of enrolled participants over our first year
--Established virtual workshops to replace our in-person events and reach a broader range of participants
--Collected board demographics for two consecutive years and are in the process of determining demographic categories that we intend to collect for our membership base
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback, It is difficult to identify actionable feedback
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
ASSOCIATION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND OUTDOOR EDUCATION
Board of directorsas of 01/18/2023
Ryan Mayeda
I Love A Clean San Diego
Andrew Boyd-Goodrich
Camp Ocean Pines
Katie Andersen
Cuyamaca Outdoor School
Blanca Hernández
YES Nature to Neighborhoods
Nick Willford
YMCA Camp Campbell
Mindy Schwartz
Environmental Nature Center
Lizz Atwood
Camp KEEP
Alicia de Toro
De Anza College
Kori Donley
Seven Peaks School
Katie Havens
SOURCE
Nikki Parrish
UCLA School of Arts & Architecture
Allison Carss
Bezos Academy
Diana Rohini LaVigne
Santa Clara Public Health
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as: