International Environmental Education Day 2026

January 26, 2026

Today, January 26, 2026, we celebrate International Environmental Education Day, a global reminder that education is one of our most powerful tools for addressing environmental challenges and strengthening communities.

At New Hampshire Environmental Educators (NHEE), environmental education isn’t just part of our work—it’s at the heart of who we are. For more than 45 years, NHEE has supported educators, schools, and communities across the Granite State in connecting learners to the natural world and advancing environmental literacy through high-quality, place-based learning experiences.

Looking Ahead: NHEE’s 2026–2028 Strategic Plan

International Environmental Education Day is also a moment to look forward. This year, NHEE is proud to be launching our 2026–2028 Strategic Plan, which will guide our work over the next three years. The plan centers on strengthening our core programs, expanding equitable access to outdoor learning, empowering educators, advancing environmental literacy statewide, and elevating visibility and youth engagement.

These priorities reflect what we hear consistently from educators across New Hampshire: a desire for meaningful, hands-on learning experiences that build curiosity, confidence, and care for the places we call home.

Advancing Environmental Literacy in New Hampshire

A major focus of our work this year is the update to the New Hampshire Environmental Literacy Plan (NH ELP). Originally released in 2016, the plan is being refreshed through a collaborative, educator-informed process to better reflect today’s challenges, opportunities, and learning landscapes.

The updated NH Environmental Literacy Plan will be officially released at the NHEE Annual Conference on March 30, 2026, at Stonewall Farm in Keene, NH. This updated plan will serve as a shared framework to support schools, organizations, and partners in ensuring that every learner in New Hampshire has access to meaningful environmental and outdoor learning experiences.

Celebrating NHEE’d To Get Outside Grant Recipients

We are thrilled to extend our congratulations to the 2026 recipients of the NHEE’d To Get Outside Grant! These grants support innovative, place-based environmental education projects across New Hampshire that increase access to learning outdoors, nurture environmental literacy, and strengthen community connections.

Explore the 2025 Impact Report to see the powerful ways this grant program has supported educators and learners statewide:
📄 https://nhee.org/about-us/we-nheed-to-get-outside-grant/
🎉 Read about the 2026 grantees and their projects: https://nhee.org/nhee-awards-nheed-to-get-outside-grants-to-21-projects-across-new-hampshire/

Education in Action: Upcoming NHEE Events

Environmental education comes to life through shared experiences, thoughtful dialogue, and time spent learning together in place. Here are a few upcoming opportunities to connect with NHEE this winter:

  • Below Zero – Winter Wildlife Ecology Educator Workshop
    Date: Feb. 10th| Location: Living Shores Aquarium, Glen, NH
    This hands-on workshop is for K-12+ educators (formal, non-formal, homeschool, youth group leaders. etc) who would like to learn new ways to incorporate winter wildlife ecology into their lessons.
  • Winter Webinar: Literacy in Unexpected Places – Deepening Literacy Skills through Place-Based Learning
    Date: Feb. 25th | Location: Virtual
    Part of the Teach for Tomorrow Winter Webinar Series, this session with Mollie Surprenant (Billings Farm & Museum) explores how sensory-rich, place-based experiences can strengthen literacy skills across content areas.
  • Winter Weather to Treeline: Educator Field Trip on the Mount Washington Cog Railway
    Date: March 8th | Location: Cog Railway, Mount Washington, NH
    Experience winter conditions from base to treeline while exploring weather, climate, and alpine ecosystems alongside fellow educators.

👉 Learn more & register for these and many other upcoming events: https://nhee.org/events/

Celebrating Educators, Today and Every Day

On International Environmental Education Day, we celebrate the educators, partners, and learners across New Hampshire who bring environmental education to life every day—in classrooms, schoolyards, forests, shorelines, farms, and communities statewide. Their work is strengthened by the local and statewide networks that support collaboration, professional learning, and shared purpose.

Environmental education is more than learning about challenges; it’s about building the knowledge, skills, and hope needed to shape a more resilient and sustainable future. If you’re looking for a way to mark today, we encourage you to connect with your state or regional environmental education organization and consider becoming a member. These networks play a vital role in supporting educators and advancing environmental literacy close to home.

To find your state environmental education organization, visit the North American Association for Environmental Education’s affiliate page here: https://naaee.org/affiliates#Affiliate

Learn more about NHEE membership here: https://nhee.org/become-a-member/

We’re grateful to be part of this collective effort and excited for what’s ahead.