This program, funded by the United States Environmental Protection Agency through the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point, sought ways for organizations to expand each participating States capacity to conduct environmental education. Meeting regularly, the group developed several working committees to work on specific goals and objectives. In the past ten months, the group developed an effective communication network through Edgateway and an organizational structure. Besides having a large population which is mostly urban, California has a number of other factors which warrant a unique approach to unifying the States environmental education efforts. Between and within government organizations, nonprofit and community based organizations and private businesses, environmental education is fragmented.
Individual programs have goals and objectives that usually work independently of each other.
California is also one of the most culturally diverse States in the nation. Conducting environmental education in its varied communities will require the latest theories on urban and multicultural education. Both developed human communities as well as natural areas in the State face major environmental threats prompting an urgency to make programs relevant and effective. The California Department of Education, Office of Environmental Education has taken the lead to develop regional environmental education coordinators. These plans will help each region address their specific needs and promote local action.