If environmental education organizations do not open by the end of 2020, it is estimated that 11 million children will miss out on outdoor learning opportunities. This statement comes from the policy brief created by the Lawrence Hall of Science at the University of California, Berkeley. This policy brief is titled "A Field at Risk: The Impact of COVID-19 on Environmental and Outdoor Science Education." This policy brief is the result of a survey that the Lawrence Hall of Science and its partners conducted in April of last year.

Nine hundred ninety-five organizations responded to this survey. These organizations included science centers, museums, nature centers, school districts, aquaria parks, government agencies, colleges, universities, and some Botanic gardens too.

The information in this brief is not encouraging. The research group estimated that in addition to the 11 million children who would be missing out on outdoor learning opportunities, the 995 participating organizations may lose $600 million in revenue. The research group also estimated that approximately 30,000 employees would be furloughed or laid off. And that 37% of the organizations surveyed would not reopen.

And if this wasn't bad enough, it was estimated that more than one-third of the field may disappear. The survey conducted by the Lawrence Hall of Science took into consideration the fate of organizations, their employees, and the people they serve. It did not look at how the pandemic was affecting independent professionals in the field.

In early summer, I began to look at this specific aspect myself.

LINKS

Talaterra

The Trailhead

The Freelance Project in "Legacy" magazine

A Field at Risk: The Impact of COVID-19 on Environmental and Outdoor Science Education

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Producer: Tania Marien

Music: So Far So Close by Jahzzar is licensed under a Attribution-ShareAlike License; 

SOLO ACOUSTIC GUITAR by Jason Shaw is licensed under a Attribution 3.0 United States License.

View The Freelance Project Portfolio to learn more about Independent environmental education professionals and how they strengthen environmental literacy.

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