Faculty Expert Collaborates on Major National Environmental Education Resource

Written by: Anne Fennimore, Ph.D.

The North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) has released its latest “Environmental Educator Knowledge and Skills: Guidelines for Excellence,” a comprehensive framework designed to elevate the quality and impact of environmental education across North America.

Drawing on more than five decades of leadership in the field, NAAEE’s guidelines synthesize the expertise of leading educators, researchers, and organizations across North America and beyond. Among the lead contributors is Yash Bhagwanji, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Curriculum & Instruction and coordinator of Early Childhood Programs in the College of Education. Bhagwanji’s contributions are especially impactful in integrating early childhood education perspectives, an unexplored topic in previous iterations.

Emphasizing the importance of developmentally appropriate practices and scaffolding strategies, Bhagwanji advocates for educational approaches that foster agency, critical thinking and lifelong learning.

“The terminal goal of teaching, including environmental education, is to eventually or gradually remove any guidance so learners can demonstrate independent understanding and/or skill,” said Bhagwanji.

Empowering learners to become independent thinkers and problem-solvers is an overarching philosophy for the new guidelines, which outline essential competencies for environmental educators, including content knowledge, instructional planning, assessment, and a commitment to community engagement. The document is intended for educators in both formal and nonformal settings, from early childhood through adulthood.

NAAEE’s mission is to use the power of education to advance environmental literacy and civic engagement, creating a more sustainable future. Accordingly, the guidelines highlight the importance of community-centered instruction and collaboration, urging educators to anchor environmental aims within the context of local interests and to promote a culture of respect and belonging.

As a faculty member at Florida Atlantic, Bhagwanji inspires future educators and practicing professionals, ensuring that environmental education is both evidence-based and responsive to the needs of all learners. Recognized for his teaching excellence, he was a recipient of Florida Atlantic’s 2025 Award for Excellence and Innovation in Undergraduate Teaching, the College of Education’s 2023 Distinguished Teacher of the Year award, and NAAEE’s 2018 Outstanding Service to Environmental Education award. Additionally, Bhagwanji founded the International Journal of Early Childhood Environmental Education where he serves as executive editor.

As part of an ongoing commitment to advancing the Guidelines for Excellence, Bhagwanji is presenting at local and national professional conferences, fostering dialogue around their application in educational practice. His upcoming engagement at the NAAEE Annual Conference further supports this effort. Concurrently, he promotes nature-based early learning in higher education through Florida Atlantic’s Early Childhood Environmental Education (ECEE) certificate, which is integrated into the Bachelor of Early Care and Education (BECE) program—one of only three public university programs nationwide offering innovative curricula in this emerging field.