The panel session is being jointly sponsored by the Recreation and Education working groups. Environmental Interpretation and Education are interwoven concepts and there is a pressing need for greater professional involvement in the education system. It is recognized in essentially every industry that it is essential for professionals to become involved in education. The purpose of this panel session is to give practical examples and training on how to be successfully involved. A panel of leaders from the areas of Environmental education and interpretation will make presentations and answer questions concerning several new ways that foresters can receive interpretive training or become involved in environmental education programs.

The National Association for Interpretation (NAI) has developed interpreter training and certification programs at several different levels. Dr. Tim Merriman, National Director of NAI will present them and explain how the certification program can benefit an employer or agency. Envirothon, the largest environmental science competition in North America, offers opportunities for foresters to become involved in working with environmental science classes and Envirothon teams in local schools. Forestry is one of four subject fields for the competition. The others are aquatics, wildlife and soils. There are Envirothon competitions in nearly every State and Canadian Province. Most teachers need help in preparing their teams and getting materials for teaching the four subject areas. The Teachers Conservation Institute is a very successful teacher workshop conducted by Texas Forestry Association. The “how to” of starting or enhancing such a program and making it successful will be discussed.