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14.3.1 Environmental Education Centres as Non-formal
Settings Promoting Education for Environmental
Citizenship: “Environmental Crime on the Coast”,
Cyprus
The term ‘environmental centre’ is internationally used and covers centres outside
of school frames with a variety of goals, activities and organisational structures.
They are therefore termed as Outdoor Education Centres, (e.g. England), Field
Studies Centres, (Mexico), Campus (USA, Hong Kong.), and National Park Centres,
(Kruger National Park, South Africa).
Environmental education centres provide a basic link between non-formal and
formal EE through structured programmes for students. The short time spent on
visits often does not allow a full response to the goals of Education for Environmental
Citizenship, but at least provides the opportunity for students to experience other
forms of learning exclusively dedicated to the environment away from school,
where the possibility to combine theory with a closer contact with the environment
is offered.
The Cyprus Centre for Environmental Research and Education (CYCERE) is
one of the most active environmental organisations in Cyprus, implementing innovative non-formal environmental education programmes related to the field of
Education for Environmental Citizenship. “Environmental Crime on the Coast” is
an example of such an educational programme. This programme is directed to secondary school students, age 13–18, and promotes the conceptual understanding of
environmental issues, the cultivation of scientific and problem solving skills, as well
as the development of environmental attitudes, values and awareness of students on
the coastal ecosystem through a holistic and experiential learning approach. The
methodological approaches adopted follow the principles and the philosophy of
Environmental Education (EE) and Education for Sustainability (EfS), fostering
team spirit and cooperation (Hadjichambis et al. 2015).
This daylong programme motivates students to participate in a sequence of activities, which emphasise both theoretical and practical aspects. It is organised in a
way that supports the understanding of environmental concepts and issues and
engages students into an exciting learning adventure.
1. Students’ Mission
Students arrive at the coast and are informed that as members of the
“Environmental Crime Investigation Department” they are invited to investigate
a crime related to the coastal area. Solving the mystery requires students to go
through different data collection stations and evaluate evidence by participating
in various experiential activities.
2. Inquiry
(a) The ecosystem: Students gather information from scientific articles, data
regarding abiotic and biotic factors and they become familiar with the eco14 Educating for Environmental Citizenship in Non-formal Frameworks…
14.3.1 Environmental Education Centres as Non-formal
Settings Promoting Education for Environmental
Citizenship: “Environmental Crime on the Coast”,
Cyprus
The term ‘environmental centre’ is internationally used and covers centres outside
of school frames with a variety of goals, activities and organisational structures.
They are therefore termed as Outdoor Education Centres, (e.g. England), Field
Studies Centres, (Mexico), Campus (USA, Hong Kong.), and National Park Centres,
(Kruger National Park, South Africa).
Environmental education centres provide a basic link between non-formal and
formal EE through structured programmes for students. The short time spent on
visits often does not allow a full response to the goals of Education for Environmental
Citizenship, but at least provides the opportunity for students to experience other
forms of learning exclusively dedicated to the environment away from school,
where the possibility to combine theory with a closer contact with the environment
is offered.
The Cyprus Centre for Environmental Research and Education (CYCERE) is
one of the most active environmental organisations in Cyprus, implementing innovative non-formal environmental education programmes related to the field of
Education for Environmental Citizenship. “Environmental Crime on the Coast” is
an example of such an educational programme. This programme is directed to secondary school students, age 13–18, and promotes the conceptual understanding of
environmental issues, the cultivation of scientific and problem solving skills, as well
as the development of environmental attitudes, values and awareness of students on
the coastal ecosystem through a holistic and experiential learning approach. The
methodological approaches adopted follow the principles and the philosophy of
Environmental Education (EE) and Education for Sustainability (EfS), fostering
team spirit and cooperation (Hadjichambis et al. 2015).
This daylong programme motivates students to participate in a sequence of activities, which emphasise both theoretical and practical aspects. It is organised in a
way that supports the understanding of environmental concepts and issues and
engages students into an exciting learning adventure.
1. Students’ Mission
Students arrive at the coast and are informed that as members of the
“Environmental Crime Investigation Department” they are invited to investigate
a crime related to the coastal area. Solving the mystery requires students to go
through different data collection stations and evaluate evidence by participating
in various experiential activities.
2. Inquiry
(a) The ecosystem: Students gather information from scientific articles, data
regarding abiotic and biotic factors and they become familiar with the eco14 Educating for Environmental Citizenship in Non-formal Frameworks…