Fence in the foreground with grass surrounding it and sharp peaked mountains in the background.

Online Environmental Education Program

MEEA’s online Environmental Education program provides flexible, ongoing professional learning opportunities for both formal and non-formal educators across Montana.

Each course is designed to build knowledge, skills, and competencies in a specific environmental education topic or focus area. Participants may register for any available course offered during a scheduled session.

Course Fees

  • Non-Members: $145 per course
  • MEEA Members: $125 per course

Each online course includes:

  • Each course requires an 8-15 hour time commitment for over nine (9) weeks.
  • Each course consists of 4-6 modules. You will build on knowledge learned in each module through focused tasks and assignments that offer active learning experiences.
  • Courses are offered with suggested timelines and due dates to encourage your timely completion of assignments.
  • Courses are offered asynchronously using the Moodle platform. Login information is provided when you are accepted into the course.
  • Courses are moderated by 1-2 professionals in the field. Moderators provide feedback and grades for submitted assignments and are available to answer questions regarding tasks or assignments.

Upon successful completion, participants receive:

  • You will receive a certificate of completion upon finishing your course. 
  • Professional Development Units (PDUs) are available through MT OPI to certified teachers upon successful completion of an online course.

Continue Your Learning:

Many of MEEA’s eeCourses align with the NAAEE Guidelines for Excellence and serve as building blocks toward earning eeCredentials, a series of three to four courses that deepen your environmental education knowledge and practice.

Upcoming Course Schedule:

  • Fall 2026: Oct 11 – Dec 12, 2026
  • Spring 2027: Feb 7 – April 17, 2027
  • Summer 2027: June 13 – Aug 14, 2027

To complete your enrollment, follow these two steps:

  1. Complete the course registration form. Here you will select which course you’d like to enroll.
  2. Submit your course payment to enroll officially, here.

Once both steps are complete, we will send your personalized login information by email. After you’re enrolled, you can access your course through the MEEA Student Portal.

Available Course Catalog

Photo of two people in a canoe on a lake during a sunset.

Teaching and Learning Outdoors

This course familiarizes participants with the background knowledge of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) or Native Science, compares traditional ecological knowledge and Western science, and uses a TEK approach to understanding one’s relationship with the environment. Further, participants will develop a teaching plan that integrates TEK approaches and philosophies into teaching and learning.

Teaching and Learning Outdoors

Course Description:

The Teaching and Learning Outdoors eeCourse is designed to equip educators with the knowledge, skills, tools and resources to take environmental education learning outdoors.

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  • Articulate your case and include at least five research/evidence-based benefits of teaching outdoors.
  • Have a working definition and be able to provide examples of what outdoor learning is for you as a teacher. 
  • Identify potential barriers for your students and articulate ways to minimize or eliminate those barriers. 
  • Identify and assess at least five outdoor learning opportunities for your students. 
  • Express the who, what and how of strategies for gaining the necessary support for your short, medium and long term outdoor learning goals and/or projects. 
  • Identify strategies for successful outdoor learning which include overall strategies, management of students, adapting for weather and using technology outdoors. 
  • Compare and contrast the learning environments of an indoor classroom space and outdoor learning space to more effectively teach outdoors. 
  • Complete an outdoor learning plan which includes goals and objectives, getting support, inclusion, classroom management, location(s), curriculum connections, weather, safety and necessary materials and supplies.  

This 10-week course is designed for approx. 12 – 15 hours of active participation and work.

The Teaching and Learning Outdoors course has 5 modules:

  • Intro Module: Introduction to Environmental Education through EcoRise and MEEA
  • Module 1: Why Teach Outdoors?
  • Module 2: What does Outdoor Learning Look Like?
  • Module 3: Strategies for Outdoor Learning 
  • Module 4: Creating Your Outdoor Learning Plan
Photo of snowing mountains with a road leading up to it.

Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Environmental Education

This course is designed for formal and nonformal educators with an introduction to environmental education and experience with integrating teaching and learning outdoors within your classroom, homeschool classroom, or program.

Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Environmental Education

Course Description:

This course is designed to provide a strong foundation in Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) and ways of knowing. It is designed as an introductory course, meant to spark your interest in further learning how we can more intentionally and respectfully incorporate traditional ways of knowing into our environmental and outdoor learning programming.

The TEK & EE modules incorporate a variety of readings, videos, and other interactive activities. In the modules, you will: 

  • Identify some of the opportunities and challenges in using TEK to address environmental challenges.  
  • Develop your personal guidelines for integrating principles of TEK in your teaching which honor, acknowledge and care take TEK and Indigenous people. 
  • Compare and Contrast Traditional Ecological Knowledge & Ways of Knowing with Western Science & Ways of Knowing 
  • Support your students in developing relationships with the world around them.
  • Teach a lesson or a unit which integrates TEK knowledge and/or practices with your students. 
     

This 8-week course is designed for 12-15 hours of active participation and work. The course has five modules, including:

  • Intro Module: Get to know MEEA
  • Module 1: What is Traditional Ecological Knowledge?
  • Module 2: Comparing Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Western Science
  • Module 3: Learning Through Observational Science
  • Module 4: Designing Your Teaching Plan
Photo of a green field with houses in the background with a dark and stormy sky.

Children and Nature

This course provides foundational knowledge of theory, practice, and research on the emerging field of nature-based learning for young children in formal and non-formal settings.

Children and Nature

Course Description:

This course provides foundational knowledge of theory, practice, and research on the emerging field of nature-based learning for young children in formal and non-formal settings.

Climate Literacy

This course is designed to teach non-formal educators the basics of climate change, through readings, simulations, and visualizations, and also introduce them to climate change communication strategies.

Climate Literacy

Course Description:

This course is designed to teach non-formal educators the basics of climate change, through readings, simulations, and visualizations, and also introduce them to climate change communication strategies.

Photo of a green butte, with a road winding around the butte and a dark sky.

Environmental Justice

This course is designed to support educators in understanding the importance of teaching environmental justice as a part of environmental education and provide educators with the tools and skills to integrate environmental justice education into their learning settings.

Environmental Justice

Course Description:

This course addresses issues that are deeply rooted in social justice, environmental justice, climate change, and systemic racism.

Heard of elk running through a field during winter.

Nature & Human Wellness

This course provides learners with a foundation of the knowledge, theories, and interdisciplinary research on the important link between nature and human wellness. Throughout the course, you will be introduced to the science of our interconnection with the natural world and receive an overview of the emerging field of studies indicating the important role nature plays in the healthy development of the whole child (physical, mental and behavioral) and their continued wellness into adulthood. Additionally, participants will learn to identify strategies of leveraging nature’s positive impact on wellness to drive positive changes in policy and practices in schools and community centers.

Nature & Human Wellness

Course Description:

This course provides learners with a foundation of the knowledge, theories, and interdisciplinary research on the important link between nature and human wellness. Throughout the course, you will be introduced to the science of our interconnection with the natural world and receive an overview of the emerging field of studies indicating the important role nature plays in the healthy development of the whole child (physical, mental and behavioral) and their continued wellness into adulthood. Additionally, participants will learn to identify strategies of leveraging nature’s positive impact on wellness to drive positive changes in policy and practices in schools and community centers.