MINNESOTA ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATIONAL BOARD:

The Minnesota legislature in 1969 authorized the departments of Natural Resources and Education to jointly create environmental education curriculum resources [Laws 1969 c1129 art13 s2]. A position was funded in each agency. In 1971, by executive order, the Minnesota Environmental Education Council (MEEC) was established and a $40,000 federal grant funded a study resulting in a state plan for environmental education. The plan was published in 1972.

In 1973, the legislature officially authorized the MEEC and created 13 regional environmental education councils (REECs) subordinate to it [Minn. Stat. 1973 c116E]. The latter were proposed in the 1972 state plan to serve people of all ages in formal and informal education settings.

The MEEC consisted of 13 members appointed by the governor, and one member from each of the REECs. It operated under the general supervision of the Minnesota Environmental Quality Council. It was to prepare and from time to time revise a plan for environmental education within the state, advise the legislature and the governor concerning the status of environmental education in the state, and give its recommendations concerning the subject, coordinate the activities of the REECs, and prepare studies and reports on the subject of environmental education.

In 1976 the MEEC was renamed the Minnesota Environmental Education Board (MEEB) [Minn. Stat. 1976 c116E]. For administrative purposes, the MEEC/MEEB was attached to the following state departments and agencies: Department of Education (1973-1975), State Planning Agency (1975-1978), Department of Natural Resources (1978-1989), and State Planning Agency (1989-1990).

In 1981 the MEEB's budget was cut 50% and two of its three regional offices were closed. The legislature further reduced its funding in 1989. In 1990 the legislature passed the Environmental Education Act [Laws 1990 c595], providing an Office of Environmental Education to supersede the MEEB and authorizing it to create regional resource centers with local advisory boards. No funding was provided, however. This eliminated for all practical purposes any state supported environmental education program in Minnesota. All of the MEEB staff were laid off in June 1990 and the councils and board ceased to function.

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Records of the regional coordinator (primarily Charles Gibilisco, Pam Landers, Ray Quinn, and Nancy Carlson) stationed in Morris. The coordinator was responsible for assisting Regional Environmental Education Councils 4 (Prairie Flyway), 6W (Prairieland), and 8 (Southwestern). The records document the policies, decisions, and educational activities of the regional councils.

The records divide into two main sections: general administrative office files, and administrative and program files of the three individual councils.

The general administrative office files include correspondence, news articles, and planning and monthly activity reports.

The councils' administrative files document the Morris office's relationship with each council and include such materials as correspondence, work plans and budgets, newsletters, recruitment files, press releases, and media coverage files.

The councils' program files cover both general programs conducted by all the councils and programs individual to each council. The general programs covered include Project Wild and Winter Weekend, and programs dealing with abandoned wells and learning stations. The files for Council 4 also cover its programs on animal adaptation, Environmental Education Awareness Day, groundwater, Loon on Loan, Critter Festival, orienteering, Project Learning Tree, agricultural learning stations, and wildlife film festival. Those for Council 6W document its Arbor Day tree planting program/bird house program, groundwater conference, Loon on Loan learning stations, Minnesota River float, and Project Learning Tree; and those for Council 8 detail its environmental education projects, mall exhibit, and Outdoor Education Fair.

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General administrative files, followed by files of each council (4, 6W, and 8). Within each council's files, the records are grouped into agendas and minutes, administrative files, and program files.

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Availability:

The collection is open for research use.

Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited volume and page or item and folder title here]. Minnesota Environmental Education Board. Morris office records. [Council no.] Minnesota Historical Society. State Archives.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.

Accession Information:

Accession number(s): 992-97

Processing Information:

Processed by: Charles Rodgers, 1992.

Catalog ID No.: 0900036951 RLIN ID No.: MNHV94-A396

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This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Topics:

Environmental education -- Activity programs.

Environmental education -- Minnesota.

Environmental policy -- Minnesota.

Environmental protection -- Minnesota -- Exhibitions.

Groundwater -- Environmental aspects -- Minnesota

Orienteering -- Minnesota.

Outdoor education -- Environmental aspects -- Minnesota.

Regional environmental education councils -- Minnesota.

Tree planting -- Environmental aspects -- Minnesota.

Wells -- Environmental aspects -- Minnesota.

Persons:

Carlson, Nancy.

Gibilisco, Charles.

Landers, Pam.

Quinn, Ray.

Organizations:

Regional Environmental Education Council 4 (Minn.).

Regional Environmental Education Council 6W (Minn.).

Regional Environmental Education Council 8 (Minn.).

Types of Documents:

Newsletters.

Press releases.

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