Duties

Environmental education specialists promote taking responsible actions towards the natural environment. Their duties and responsibilities vary from one position to another in this evolving field but, in general, they

• research specific issues such as consumerism, lifestyle choices, resource development, wildlife management, forestry and water quality,
• synthesize environmental information from many sources and make it understandable to others through written articles and presentations,
• set up internal programs within business and industry to promote responsible attitudes towards the environment,
• teach courses and lead workshops and other programs about issues related to living within and caring for the natural environment,
• promote the integration of scientific, social and economic factors in environmental decisions,
• produce educational materials for schools, youth groups, communities, field programs and libraries,
• interpret natural and human history through field study groups and school programs,
• educate the public through newspaper and magazine columns, articles, and radio and television commentaries,
• integrate environmental education into traditional subject areas such as science, social studies, economics, language arts and mathematics, and
• participate in meetings and conferences with other concerned groups interested in conserving and interpreting the natural environment.

Environmental education specialists focus on

• environmental consumer education, providing information about consumer goods and services and describing issues that may influence living and purchasing habits.
• concern for the natural world, offering nature programs through schools, nature centres, television programs or working with special interest groups (e.g. bird watchers, friends of the environment).
• responsible actions, providing information that empowers people to take action for the environment in the work place, at home and at school.
• issues management, providing people with perspectives from all sides of an issue so their decisions are based on a solid understanding of the scientific, social and economic impacts of the decision.

Environmental education specialists work indoors much of the time, although this also varies from one position to another. They may visit outdoor worksites or nature centres as part of their research activities, or conduct outdoor presentations to groups. They attend many meetings outside of their offices, and may be required to travel.

• strong interpersonal, communication and problem-solving skills,
• the analytical skills required to determine what is valid and reliable information,
• writing skills for developing educational guides, and preparing reports and articles,
• the ability to work collaboratively with diverse groups of people, and
• consulting skills to assess needs and develop potential action plans.

This work is most rewarding for those who enjoy helping people and influencing society, and compiling, interpreting and coordinating information in innovative ways to prepare teaching materials.

Post-secondary institutions across the province offer bachelor's degree programs in education, environmental science and related disciplines. In Alberta, the following post-secondary institutions offer programs directly related to environmental studies.

• Augustana University College in Camrose offers a three-year Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree program in Environmental Studies and a four-year B.A. degree program with a minor in Environmental Studies. The admission requirement is English 30 and four appropriate Grade 12 subjects.
• Concordia University College of Alberta in Edmonton offers a three-year Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in Environmental Science, and an 11-month after degree diploma program in Environmental Health. The entrance requirement for the degree program is an overall average of 60% in English 30, Math 30 and three other appropriate 30-level subjects (including two sciences). The entrance requirement for the diploma program is an appropriate bachelor degree. This program is designed to follow a B.Sc. degree in environmental science or a related field.
• The King's University College in Edmonton offers four-year B.A. and B.Sc. degree programs in Environmental Studies. The admission requirements are five approved 30-level subjects, including English 30, Math 30, and Biology 30 or Chemistry 30 (both biology and chemistry are recommended).
• Lakeland College in Vermilion offers two-year diploma programs in Environmental Conservation and Reclamation, Environmental Monitoring and Compliance and Natural Resources Technology. Lakeland College also offers a Bachelor of Applied Integrated Environmental Management degree program. The admission requirement for the diploma programs is a high school diploma with at least 50% in English 30 (65% in English 33), Chemistry 30, Biology 30, and Math 20 or 23. Mature students may be admitted with different qualifications. The admission requirement for the degree program is completion of a two-year diploma program from a recognized post-secondary institution.
• Lethbridge Community College offers a two-year Environmental Science diploma program with a specialization in Renewable Resource Management. The admission requirement for the diploma program is 55% in English 30, Biology 30, Chemistry 20 and Math 20 (or equivalent).
• Medicine Hat College offers the first year of Lethbridge Community College's Renewable Resource Management diploma program.
• The University of Alberta in Edmonton offers B.Sc., Master of Science (M.Sc.) and Ph.D. degree programs in Human Ecology and Environmental and Conservation Sciences through the Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Home Economics. The admission requirement for the bachelor's degree program in Human Ecology is five appropriate Grade 12 subjects, including English 30, Math 30, and Biology 30 or Chemistry 30. The admission requirement for the bachelor's degree program in Environmental and Conservation Sciences is five appropriate Grade 12 subjects, including English 30, Math 30, Biology 30 and Chemistry 30.
• The University of Calgary offers a four-year B.Sc. degree program in Environmental Science, a three-year Master of Environmental Design (M.E.Des.) degree program, and a 320-hour part-time/evening Environmental Management certificate program. The admission requirement for the bachelor's degree program is an overall average of 70% in English 30 and four appropriate Grade 12 subjects. The admission requirement for the master's program is a Grade Point Average (G.P.A.) of at least 3.0/4 in the last two years of a suitable bachelor's degree program. The admission requirement for the certificate program is a bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of experience and training.
• The University of Lethbridge offers a four-year B.Sc. degree program in Environmental Science. The admission requirement is an overall average of at least 65% in English 30, three other 30-level subjects and a fifth Grade 12 subject. Applicants who have an approved diploma in a related field may be eligible to enter this program at the third year level.

• environmental and conservation societies,
• naturalist clubs,
• outdoor education centres,
• heritage and interpretation centres,
• school boards,
• corporations, and
• government departments.

Some are self-employed consultants who work on a contract basis on specific projects.

There are many volunteer work opportunities with non-profit environmental groups which can provide useful practical experience and important contacts for a job search.

Environmental education specialists are part of the larger "College and Other Vocational Instructors" occupational group. In Alberta, employment in the "College and Other Vocational Instructors" group is concentrated (over 75%) in the following industry sectors:

• Education,
• Business Services, and
• Health and Social Services.

Employment prospects in this occupational group will be influenced by a wide variety of factors, including

• the number of people in the occupation,
• the occupational growth rate, and
• trends and events in related industry sectors (see above).

1999 employment statistics and projections for Alberta indicate that

• there is a large number of people (5,000 to 10,000) employed in the "College and Other Vocational Instructors" occupational group, and
• this occupational group is expected to grow at a high rate (3.3% to 3.9% a year) compared to other occupations in the province through 2005. (The average overall growth rate for all occupations is expected to be higher for Alberta than for Canada as a whole.)

The occupational growth rate projection does not include positions that will become available when employees leave. Since environmental education specialists form only a part of the larger occupational group on which this forecast is based, only a portion of the new positions created will be for environmental education specialists.

Recruitment Officer, Agriculture, Forestry and Home Economics, University of Alberta, EDMONTON, Alberta, T6G 2M8.
Website address: www.afhe.ualberta.ca

FEESA, An Environmental Education Society, 1100, 10506 Jasper Avenue, EDMONTON, Alberta, T5J 2W9.
E-mail address: info@feesa.ab.ca
Website address: www.feesa.ab.ca