Evaluation

Evaluation offers a powerful tool for learning in environmental education. Successful programs embed their evaluation tools into the program structure, making it an integral part of the activity. Evaluation can provide insight into:

• student learning in environmental education programs,

• the impacts organizations have on the broader community,

• how effectively programs operate…and so much more! 

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Evaluation can highlight program strengths, help tell an organization's story, support the case for funding, and inform changes that need to be made in order to better reach a goal. New advances in culturally responsive evaluation ensure that the community is a co-creator of the evaluation process and that the results are meaningful and relevant to the participants.

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Many Environmental Education practitioners aren't comfortable building evaluation into their programs. The Southeastern Environmental Education Alliance (SEEA) 2023 landscape analysis revealed that most environmental education providers are doing limited evaluations of their programs. According to survey data, 55% of respondents acknowledged they conduct no evaluation or only informal evaluation.

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This eeGuidance serves to demystify the evaluation process and improve programs by sharing: 

• Links to resources to help define the evaluation scope, questions, and outcomes

• Sample evaluation questions linked with common tools used 

• Real-world case studies to show how others have used these strategies to inform, fund, and improve their programs.