Environmental Education
Environmental Education/Information:
“I attended none of your schools of higher education and yet I studied at the best university that exists: the great university out in nature” said Tatanga Mani, a Native American Indian to his white listeners.
Environmental education, information and public relations are among every national park’s important fields of duty. As these areas of responsibility are linked to each other, they will be covered together here.
Environmental education’s function is to address not only the target group but aims also at trying to appeal personally to each individual within that target group. Experiencing nature with all one’s senses is a priority. The aim of information and public relations is to reach a wider, more diverse group.
Both these fields strive to make the public aware of the National Park’s aims, thus bringing about more transparency and increasing the general public’s approval of the National Park.
Environmental works toward these goals by means of positive nature experience in the field i.e. thanks to a hike or a school class wilderness week. Information and public relations make use of press releases, brochures, publications and lectures. The National Park services assume a special role as they are not only responsible for informing the visitors on the field, as well as for environmental education, but also for monitoring the area and technical support, i.e. for research projects.