I am glad to see this important document that will encourage enthusiasm for environmental education across the Commonwealth. Specifically, providing strategies for a variety of potential Participants empowers them to positively impact our environment that is so necessary to everyone’s health and wellness. Building environmental literacy and helping various groups to find their own agency to do the same strengthens our collective ability to address environmental issues, including climate change, that can often feel too enormous to tackle.

I am specifically glad to see the inclusion of Health Care Professionals and Business and Industry Partners in the list of Participants. This broadens the discussion about building environmental literacy and emphasizes the reality that we all have a role to play or even many roles to play depending on how many hats each of us wear.

In order to inspire participation and avoid confusion, some more direct explanation may be necessary in the introduction of this document answering these questions directly:

1. Who is working to meet the goals in this plan?
2. Who should use this document?
3. How do this plan’s chosen four goals tie back into its Vision and overarching purpose for this document? If goals can be tied back into the main focus, then users can know they are progressing towards something worthwhile.
4. Who is being addressed in the Strategies section of each goal?

The Conclusion of this document does touch on some of these items, but many readers may not read that section. If these clear explanations are moved up front, it will build confidence and, consequently, action.

This plan has the opportunity to appeal to and work for all Virginians across the entire Commonwealth. Thus, more representation of varying abilities, nationalities, landscapes that represent our home places throughout Virginia, and a variety of educators will build enthusiasm as Virginians are invited to participate. In addition to the document’s visuals, its strategies and ways to participate should suggest ways to reach and welcome learners of varying abilities and from a variety of cultures. Interaction with our natural world takes many forms, and successful environmental educators need to be adept at providing appropriate opportunities and accessing resources that will support all of their learners.

Since it is important to continually evaluate our work in order to keep on improving, I am thrilled to see that both qualitative and quantitative information will be collected. Finally, a question: How will the OEE be presenting the metrics from this work? Every educator deserves to be recognized for their work even while educators understand and work for the collective good. Have you considered a way to present your data that will celebrate the broad efforts that are already taking place and will continue to grow throughout Virginia?

Thank you, again, for this important work. I am hopeful that its final version will serve as a guiding star and an inspiration for a variety of folks across our Commonwealth to join in building environmental literacy.