The word “Environment” is derived from the French word “Environ” which means “Surrounding.” This literally means that the environment is everything around the living being. This includes both the physical and socio-cultural ecosystem. In the classroom and beyond, the desired outcome of environmental education (EE) is environmental literacy. To that end, environmental education strives to increase public awareness and knowledge of the environment and to provide the necessary skills to make informed environmental decisions and to take responsible actions. EE does not advocate a particular viewpoint but rather provides a context for learning in which the learner can develop a deeper connection to nature and develop problem-solving-behaviour to address various environmental issues. Certain pivotal competencies that are necessary for holistic Environmental education (EE) would include Knowledge, Awareness, Critical Thinking, Problem-Solving, Decision-Making, and Stewardship. EE teaches children and adults how to learn about and investigate their environment and to make intelligent and informed decisions about how they can take care of it.
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