The Development of Action Plans and Implementation Strategies for the Wisconsin Environmental Education Strategic Plan

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify specific statewide action plans to improve environmental education (EE) in Wisconsin and to determine which organizations and agencies were best suited to implement these action plans. This research represents the second half of the Wisconsin Environmental Education Strategic Planning (WEESP) process sponsored by the Wisconsin Environmental Education Board (WEEB). The WEEB was established in 1989 to award grant funds for EE programs and to identify needs and establish priorities for EE in Wisconsin. In 1994 after five successful years of administering the grants program, the WEEB decided to tackle the second component of their mandate by contracting Dr. Charles McReynolds, a strategic planner, to develop the WEESP. In the 18 months that followed, Dr. McReynolds facilitated a delphi survey, a summit meeting, and an interrelationship digraph with environmental educators. The result was three priority issues facing environmental educators in Wisconsin and strategies which address those issues. For the purposes of this study, qualitative data were collected from focus groups, interviews, and a survey. Focus groups with environmental educators developed specific action plans to recommend to the Wisconsin Environmental Education Board (WEEB) which addressed the three priority issues previously identified in the strategic planning process. Interviews with state level organizations and agencies involved in EE determined who would assist in the implementation of the priority action plans and what resources they could provide. The survey with environmental educators determined which organizations and agencies would be best suited to implement the priority action plans. Results of this study provided the WEEB with five priority action plans which would address the priority issues facing environmental educators in Wisconsin, and the organizations and agencies best suited to contribute to the implementation of each action plan. Ultimately, this study assisted the WEEB in the implementation of the Wisconsin Environmental Education Strategic Plan.