Environment Catalog (short courses)

Environment Catalog (short courses)

Community-based natural resources education short courses for adults

For over 30 years, Elaine identified or created courses for ERC’s semi-annual Environment Catalog, each listing about 150 short courses for adults available around the State of Wisconsin. Courses were offered by Wisconsin nature and outdoor centers and UW campuses, in response to local interests and opportunities. The catalog series was honored with an Environmental Achievement Award in 1990 by the National Environmental Awards Council, and was included in the Council’s Environmental Success Index. Six catalogs from that series are provided below as an example. 

  • National Environmental Awards Council, Environmental Achievement Award. “Environmental Catalog-Listing of Adult Environmental Short Course Opportunities.” Program description published in Environmental Success Index. Renew America, Washington, D.C. 1990– 1999, annually.

After Elaine retired from the UW, the ERC statewide print and online catalog was replaced by an online entry system that enables individual groups and organizations to post information about a variety of environmental education resources. “eeinwisconsin” was coordinated by UW Stevens Point, but was eventually discontinued.

The University of Wisconsin no longer offers nonformal environment courses for adults who are curious about the environment. But the University does offer Master Naturalist training for adults, as do many states.

Those interested in environmental education opportunities for children in the Great Lakes region are directed to:

Catalogs, listing 2010-13 courses, are provided here as an example of outdoor and stewardship learning courses promoted through this adult education series.