In an era of large-scale science-related challenges and rapid advancements in groundbreaking science with major societal implications, communicating about science is critical. The profile of
science communication has increased over the last few...

This conifer exhibit created by Morton Arboretum is now available for download! These are great digital displays/panels that educate the public about the ecological and social importance of conifers. 

This paper provides evidence from the literature regarding the social benefits associated with plants and how they influence the physiological, psychological, and cognitive well-being constructs affecting quality of life. These benefits are segmented...

The recent publication of a World Scientistsʼ Warning to Humanity highlighted the fact that climate change, absent strenuous mitigation or adaptation efforts, will have profound negative effects for humanity and other species, affecting numerous...

Academic campuses across the Great Plains can serve as landscapes for teaching and learning about native flora of cultural importance with regard to food, medicine, and lifeways. Campus visitors (tourists) and local community members could benefit from...

Despite the importance of bees, there is a gap in the public's understanding of them. To help address this gap, we developed the outreach tool Experience Bees, a series of simple learning and hands-on activities to teach community members about bees...

Educators know, based on years of research, that effective learning happens when learners are:

• Actively engaged (as opposed to passive recipients of information)
• Equal partners in the learning process
• Socially engaged
...

Plants permeate human life. Our physical and cultural environments are infused with the lives of plants. Even the oxygen in the air we breathe is the result of their biological processes. Indeed, “we rely on plants for food, shelter, fuel, and fibers...

The presenter for this webinar was Megan Bang, Associate Professor in Education and Indigenous Studies, Northwestern University. She focused on the intersection of environmental education and indigenous knowledge. This is a resource for gaining a new...

Opening a new or renovated garden/garden space doesn't end with construction and plants! That's when the communications and marketing teams gear up to prepare the space for visitors and then work to get the word out. Join us to hear from gardens across...

Public Gardens are positioned to not only support the protection of plants but lessons about how they intersect with thriving communities as well. Indigenous communities and their associated values are critical components to developing solutions to...

Medicinal plants have an immense need for intensive curation and interpretation. Many of the more powerful and important medicinal species have little aesthetic value, making medicinal collections difficult to display. Properly interpreted, medicinal...

As public gardens become increasingly focused on visitor experience, the story they tell about themselves—and the way gardens use this story to engage their stakeholders—is more important than ever. Participants will hear from five professionals at...

Capturing the attention of those beyond the “usual suspects” of botanical garden enthusiasts often requires creative leveraging of all available assets. These assets may include emblematic “umbrella” species outside of the plant kingdom. In the case of...

Located on a former landfill, South Coast Botanic Garden employed a regenerative and systematic paradigm and approach for the design of the Creek Garden and Lake in order to holistically manage large amounts of off-site stormwater, conserve water...

We share our mission to our guests through exhibits, discovery carts, tours, and programs. Both staff and volunteers interpret our mission to guests through these methods. Discover how interpretive tools and methods are used to convey the chosen...

Living collections are at the center of botanic garden interpretation and education. Increasingly, however, gardens implement learning approaches that disconnect the concepts from the collections. How do we, as garden education professionals, craft...

This comprehensive master interpretive plan has been prepared specifically for the Wilbur D. May
Arboretum located in Reno, Nevada. The Arboretum is owned and operated by Washoe County and continues to receive funding from the May Foundation as...

In the May 2019 installment of the eeINSPIRE webinar series, presented by NAAEE in partnership with the US Forest Service, we heard from Bora Simmons (National Project for Excellence in Environmental Education) and Anne Umali (NAAEE). Watch the...

Natural history museums are unique spaces for interdisciplinary research and for educational
innovation. Through extensive exhibits and public programming and by hosting rich
communities of amateurs, students, and researchers at all...