Programs & Services

S.E.E.A.L.

The Southeastern Environmental Education Alliance (SEEAL) formed under the auspices of the Community Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts in 1997 with the initial goal to provide educational experiences to young people of New Bedford, Massachusetts. The natural extension of this original goal has led to a regional development of SEEAL’s environmental education and stewardship activities to encompass the watersheds throughout the Southeastern Massachusetts, including those supporting Buzzards Bay, Taunton River, Jones River, Westport River. SEEAL is a group of approximately 28 nonprofit organizations, service organizations, public agencies, public schools and others committed to a collaborative effort for environmental education administered through the Community Foundation. The only requirement for membership in SEEAL is a commitment to the stated mission. The mission of SEEAL is to encourage environmental awareness and stewardship in Southeastern Massachusetts

SEEAL nonprofit partnerships require resources and technologies beyond the existing abilities of the individual partners. A unique quality of SEEAL collaborations is the willingness of the partners to formulate a collective vision and to seek funding that benefits a variety of programs and projects in public and private schools and in South Coast communities.

We see a culture inspired by environmental awareness and action. Through a network of partner organizations we mobilize community resources and increase capacity for environmental education programs and activities. We embrace an ethic of stewardship that balances human need with ecological integrity.

In order to receive funding from the Southeastern Environmental Education Alliance Fund (SEEAL), your organization must join as a member of SEEAL. For more information, please contact Jennifer Marshall (jmarshall@seeal.org), SEEAL coordinator.

Current Program Funding

SEEAL currently has funding through the Massachusetts Environmental Trust to assess Science Curricula in the region and to field test curriculum enhancements in selected schools.

Specific Initiatives supported through SEEAL efforts

Education For Sustainability - According to Education for Sustainability: An Agenda for Action, a report initiated by the National Forum on Partnerships Supporting Education about the Environment in 1994, “Education for sustainability is a lifelong learning process that leads to an informed and involved citizenry having creative problem-solving skills, scientific and social literacy, and commitment to engage in responsible individual and cooperative actions. These actions will help ensure an environmentally sound and economically prosperous future.”

Implementing education for sustainability depends on six core themes including (1) lifelong learning, (2) interdisciplinary approaches, (3) systems thinking, (4) partnerships, (5) multicultural approaches, and (6) empowerment.

Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks and PALMS - Encouraging developments in school reform are taking place in Massachusetts through the Common Core of Learning and Curriculum Frameworks and the comprehensive efforts under the National Science Foundation-funded Partnership Advancing the Learning of Math and Science (PALMS) project to emphasize instruction based on the knowledge that learners construct their own understanding through hands-on experiences that encourage the development of critical thinking skills and use of authentic tasks of inquiry, reasoning, and problem solving that reflect real world issues.

The Secretaries Advisory Group on Environmental Education (SAGEE) Benchmarks - The Secretaries Advisory Group on Environmental Education (SAGEE) produced the Massachusetts Benchmarks on the Way to Environmental Literacy for school-based educators and leaders of youth organizations. “Effective implementation of reform and advancement of environmental literacy will take place only with adequate professional development, collaboration by community partners and through real learning experiences.”

Environment as an Integrating Context (EIC) and SEER - Using the Environment as an Integrating Context (EIC) for learning, defines a framework for education that is interdisciplinary, collaborative, student-centered, hands-on, and engaging. EIC, a model defined by the State Education and Environment Roundtable (SEER), encompasses the educational practices that the group believes should form the foundation of environment-based education in America's schools. This framework has begun to transform curricula in a growing number of schools across the United States and may have the potential to significantly improve K-12 education in America. SEER has been active since 1995 thanks to funding from the Pew Charitable Trust. Massachusetts has recently joined SEER as the 16th state represented and is currently accepting applications from Massachusetts schools interested in joining a National School Demonstration Network.

EIC-based learning is not primarily focused on learning about the environment, nor is it limited to developing environmental awareness. It is about using a school's surroundings and community as a framework within which students can construct their own learning, guided by teachers and administrators using proven educational practices. EIC-based programs typically employ the environment as a comprehensive focus and framework for integrated learning in all subject areas: general and disciplinary knowledge; thinking and problem-solving skills; basic life skills, such as cooperation and interpersonal communications; and understanding of one's relationship to the environment - community and natural surroundings. (See Closing the Achievement Gap attached as Appendix B.)

Massachusetts Environmental Education Plan (MEEP) -In April 2000 the Massachusetts Environmental Education Plan (MEEP) was adopted through a Memorandum of Understanding signed by Secretary Bob Durand (Executive Office of Environmental Affairs) and Commissioner David Driscoll (Department of Education) for education that will help “protect, restore and preserve our Commonwealth.” “The Massachusetts Environmental Education Plan identifies ways in which environmental education can be efficiently and effectively incorporated into all aspects of learning.” SEEAL can play a significant role by supporting coordination, implementation and delivery of programs in the Southeastern Massachusetts region.

SEEAL Accomplishments

In 2002, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts recognized SEEAL's environmental alliance as the model for the future of regional environmental alliances across the State. Massachusetts officials have announced their plan to develop similar alliances as part of the Massachusetts Environmental Education Plan (MEEP).

At the federal level, Congress awarded a $200,000 grant to support SEEAL's efforts through its 'Watershed Connections Project' to expand and strengthen the environmental education of SouthCoast children. This project, funded by the US Department of Education, will target at least 300 students representing five elementary and middle schools of the region with activities designed to improve math and science learning.

Our accomplishments also include:

• Service to over 6,500 elementary and middle school children and over 1,100 junior high and high school students was provided through more than 142 programs. 26 teachers participated in professional development institutes.
• Nineteen watershed education program kits and training from the Westport River Watershed Alliance, Lloyd Center and Coalition for Buzzards Bay was provided to New Bedford elementary schools.
• After school clubs at the New Bedford High School helped construct a saltmarsh trail at the Dartmouth Children's Museum.
• Over 2,200 copies of the Flora B. Peirce Trail Guide produced by the Coalition for Buzzards Bay were published.
• 2,400 copies of a wildflower coloring book were produced and published for Buzzards Bay Garden Club programs.
• Teachers in the junior high grades in New Bedford received watershed education program kits along with training, a GIS map of New Bedford, a lecture entitled “Cumulative Ecological Effects on New Bedford Harbor: Historical Connections” by Carol Pesch from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in partnership with the New Bedford Whaling Museum and an underway educational program from New Bedford Harbor on historic Schooner Ernestina, official vessel of the Commonwealth.
• A “Watershed to the Bay” Waterfront-based Program for elementary and middle school grades was established by the Buzzards Bay Action Committee in collaboration with the Schooner Ernestina, Coalition for Buzzards Bay , Lloyd Center , Westport River Watershed Alliance and others.
• The Garden Education Center and Interpretive Display at the Rotch-Jones-Duff House and Garden Museum was constructed and a Garden Education Curriculum Guide was published.
• A Westport River Water Quality Report covering eight years was published.
• 2,000 copies of a River Dwellers Handbook was published.
• Flora B. Peirce Trail was restored with boardwalks installed.
• Two-week Summer Programs for the Marion Natural History Museum were established.
• A ‘Coastal Systems’ Intern was funded for the School for Marine Science and Technology.
• SEA Connections Summer Content Institute 2001 for teachers was hosted by the Schooner Ernestina, Lloyd Center for Environmental Studies and UMASS