Alliance For New Jersey Environmental Education (ANJEE)

ANJEE is a truly excellent nonprofit that supports formal and non-formal environmental educators with resources and connections that make a meaningful difference professionally and personally.

When I moved into the realm of education, I knew that incorporating connections to the environment was essential, regardless of what "subject" the students were learning. Finding ways to cover the standards and skills while still educating students about how to be stewards of the natural world could be challenging when not given to you in the district curriculum. Then I found ANJEE. I still remember attending my first Conference in 2009 and feeling like I had stepped into my utopia. The collective energy of the individuals was unlike anything I had every experienced at a conference of 250 people or more people. Learning, discovering, sharing, laughing, and connecting are just a few of the words that come to mind when I think of all of the friends and members that interact with ANJEE. Retreats, conferences, Zoom forums, free resources on the website... whatever it takes to reach each other and enhance environmental education in New Jersey and throughout the country - this amazing organization has been at it for 35 years and is interwoven into the fabric of developing environmentally literate citizens. The partnerships and projects continue to grow and making sure this organization is around for at least another 35 years will only make New Jersey more equipped for protecting our beautiful state for generations to come.

Since 1985, the Alliance for NJ Environmental Education has been an important, dependable, go-to source of information and networking for environmental educators, museum curators, zoo and garden educators, botany, marine science and wildlife specialists, wildlife photographers, environmental writers & musicians, environmental, horticulture, and wildlife volunteers, and teachers of varied science and sustainability fields. ANJEE has been beneficial for those teaching and serving in informal and formal settings, serving all age levels from pre-school to adults, providing opportunities to learn about environmental topics, teaching methods, relating environmental topics to school standards, and to find specialists, mentors, teachers, informal experienced educators, and Leaders in the field of Environmental Education in New Jersey and surrounding regions. I became aware of ANJEE as a Naturalist in a Park System and later operated by own business teaching environmental science. I grew personally through ANJEE over the years from attending and later teaching workshops in some of their annual conferences which served as an invaluable networking and learning opportunity. Those involved in running ANJEE have been some of the most dedicated and sincere people I have ever met. ANJEE rates far beyond the Five-Star rating. Congratulations on an exceptional organization so critically needed at this time. Diana Kitty Dove; Former ANJEE Environmental Educator of the Year and Former ANJEE Patricia F. Kane Life Time Achievement Recipient.

I can not speak more highly of a grassroots organization. ANJEE was at the forefront of the process of putting Environmental Education into the schools of New Jersey in the early 1980's when there were very few teachers trained in the field. And they remained strong, grew and became a leader in the field with nothing more then dedicated people, hard work and a vision. Now that the world realizes that clean air and water , land development, protection of our forests and parks and the future of energy use is essential to our future SURVIVAL, we need to support ANJEE so that we can train more teachers who will teach more students who will grow up and be environmentally literate and be advocates for our natural resources no matter what field they go into. ANJEE has , can and will continue to change the way we protect our environment. New Jersey NEEDS ANJEE.

ANJEE has always been there to support and encourage an environmentally literate community. I have found the networking offered through this organization immensely helpful as I navigated the Environmental community in New Jersey.

I have been involved with ANJEE since 1990. Every conference I have attended has inspired me to work hard, develop new programs and reach more people. When you work for non-profit nature centers, the hours are long and the pay is poor. I do what I do because I care so much about environmental education. Without this organization I may have burned out long ago. Meeting other educators with the same life mission makes me want to be a better educator.

Environmental education is super important and ANJEE does a great job at updating the state with relevant important information. The resources are very helpful. The volunteer programs are great.

I have been a general member and board member of ANJEE for over 20 years. I have seen the transition from its humble beginnings as a group of nature center educators getting together to share ideas to a sophisticated group of professionals pushing the field of environmental education into the 21st century. What began as a group of friends has expanded to a state-wide network whith staff who work with leaders in Trenton to make institutional change happen.

The work that ANJEE does for NJ's education and environmental communities is essential! We need a community of scientifically literate and creative thinkers now more than ever.

ANJEE offers wonderful resources and a vibrant professional network. I always feel inspired and re-energized after attending ANJEE events.

ANJEE presents two annual conferences for teachers, both formal and non formal. The big winter conference is one of the highlights of the year; there are so many great workshops and wonderful people. I always learn something new to take back to my students. It is a chance to connect with like minded people working in the field of EE. The fall conference is newer and is an outdoor event. It is always amazing to see all the great work happening in our state.
I highly recommend ANJEE for teachers at all levels. Classroom teachers, nature center educators, zoo and aquarium educators, pre service teachers, can all benefit from joining.

I've benefited greatly by the expertise of this organization over the past 15 years. The professional growth that I've gained through participation has helped me better serve the public as an environmental educator providing PreK-Adult level programming in a large county park system.