‘If sustainable development is a journey towards a better and healthier world, then environmental education is a way of supporting and encouraging people to hop on that journey.’
Environmental education is mostly about communications. About communicating visions and helping people to imagine a better future. It is about motivating and empowering people to take actions and moving towards a more sustainable way of life.
Anyone – whatever the job – can choose to be an environmental educator. It is always a good moment for taking the first step and for helping others to join!
Background
SYKLI Environmental School of Finland has a Study Program for Environmental Educators. The program was launched in 2013 and is the highest vocational qualification in the Finnish education system. Aim is to increase environmental education in the society and in all levels of the Finnish education system, and thus to enhance skills in implementing the national sustainability requirements.
During the 1,5-year specialist vocational training program at SYKLI, the students will be equipped with knowledge, vision and practical methods for providing environmental education. The scope of the program is 180 competence points, half of which are conducted in environmental education. Program comprises of 13 days in direct teaching, self-directed tasks, and training-in-action. The program results in a specialist vocational qualification in environmental education.
Inspiration #1 – Motivating and enabling change
The program familiarises students with the fundamental principles of environmental education and sustainable development. Our students design and implement an environmental education master plan and a sustainable-development programme for their own organization.
It is hard and troublesome trying to force people to change their behaviour or attitudes! In the program, special attention is paid to motivating the working community and strengthening their sense of ownership in the process. The fundamental key to success is in finding ways to inspire and motivate the diversity of colleagues in diverse work settings. It is all about finding the right carrots for each!
One concrete exercise used in the study program is that in a ‘humoristic Crime Scene Investigation style’ we rehearse targeting our messaging by using the same logic as in criminal profiling. We try to minimize objections and possible barriers to sustainability issues by profiling people that might object to the ideas of change. We try to think behind the scenes and uncover their hidden values and motivations. We then try to find causes and perspectives that might help them in finding a more positive attitude towards change, and eventually and hopefully intrinsic motivation.
Inspiration #2 – Power of nature as a learning or working environment
Program familiarises students with the methodologies used in environmental education. The goal is to further develop their skills as educators and to strengthen their ability to plan, accomplish and assess good quality environmental education events.
The methods of environmental education vary greatly based on the target group in question. Even though, many of our students work as experts in early childhood education and teaching, not all students work within formal education. Some of them have worked as entrepreneurs, consultants, youth workers, medics, social workers, museum- or cultural professionals, just to name a few.
Our leading guideline for all target groups is that most or at least some of the activities are always conducted outdoors in nature, also in adult education! Outdoor atmosphere and natural surroundings make our thinking more receptive and creative. A perfect surrounding for deep discussions, strategic planning, and reflections. Natural setting is a low-budget method for activating people and making new connections. We have successfully implemented nature-based activities also in our remote teaching and webinars. Strongly recommended for any target group!
Inspiration #3 – reducing our footprint and maximizing handprint
In the last ten years, approximately 600 environmental education students have graduated with this qualification. At present, nearly 150 students are working diligently towards their qualification.
This work has helped to reduce ecological footprint in diverse organizations by preparing nearly 700 sustainable development programmes. And they have had a massively positive ecological handprint by putting forward as many environmental education masterplans and by arranging hundreds of environmental education events for children, youth, adults and elderly, all over Finland.
Student feedback indicates that the students have gained new perspectives for the sustainable working life. Students often report “having been the pioneer of environmental education in their workplace”. The study program at SYKLI has demonstrated that there is an urgent need for this type of training! SYKLI strongly recommends setting up similar programs worldwide to increase the implementation of high-quality environmental education.
Environmental education is about encouraging people towards a more sustainable future and way of life. We need to promote environmental thinking and perspectives in everything we do. And we can only reduce our own footprint to a limited extent. However, we can increase your handprint – environmental education and the positive effect that we have on others – almost indefinitely. So, feel welcome and hop on!
Satu Jovero
Environmental Education Specialist/ Instructor
SYKLI Environmental School of Finland
