Environmental Education and Interpretation

FOLLOW YOUR PASSION FOR TEACHING AND INSPIRING OTHERS ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY IN THE NATURAL AND CULTURAL WORLD.

The Environmental Education and Interpretation program combines coursework and hands-on learning in natural resources, outdoor education, recreation, biology, and specialized communication techniques to develop relevant knowledge and practical skills.

Why Study Environmental Education and Interpretation at UW-Stevens Point?

Develop and teach lessons, deliver nature programs, create interpretive media, and work in schools and school forests with a degree in Environmental Education and Interpretation.

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Where are they now?

UW-Stevens Point College of Natural Resource alumni live and work worldwide! Check out our map if you are interested in exploring job or networking opportunities close to home.

If you would like to add your information to our interactive alumni map, please fill out the form below.

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WHAT TO EXPECT

The Environmental Education and Interpretation program meets the requirements of the Certified Interpretive Guide through the National Association for Interpretation. Opportunities to add a second major in Early Childhood Education allow you to earn both degrees and a teaching license in five years. A senior capstone practicum provides real-world opportunities to practice what you learn in the classroom at our Central Wisconsin Environmental Station and Schmeeckle Reserve.

Graduates find positions in a wide variety of careers. They may work in the private sector or for county, state, and federal agencies. Job titles include:

Environmental Educators
Interpreters (natural, cultural, historical)
Naturalists
Outdoor Educators/Outdoor Education Instructors
Wildlife Educators
Zoo/Museum/Aquarium/Botanical Garden Educators
Local Food/Sustainability Educators
Visitor Services Specialists
Youth Program Leader

Program Coordinators (nature centers, science centers, camps, aquariums, zoos, museums)
Communication Managers
Formal K-12 Science Teacher or School Forest Teachers (also requires teaching certification)
Interpretive Exhibit Designers or Content Managers
Land Conservation Educators
Environmental Education and Interpretation Consultants

GET INVOLVED ON CAMPUS

Discover your passions, build your resume, and make friends along the way! Whether it is joining a student organization, working at one of our centers, or participating in research at one of our three field stations, there are plenty of opportunities for you to get involved.

Join the Environmental Educators and Naturalists Association or any of our other 200+ student organizations housed within Campus Activities and Student Engagement.

Our Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education, Central Wisconsin Environmental Station, and Schmeeckle Reserve provide opportunities for you to gain outreach and research experience alongside professionals in the field.

Read the CNR Reporter, a weekly newsletter, for information on upcoming presentations, student organization meeting times, and other important happenings on and around campus.

Environmental Education and Interpretation

Navigate Your Major

Major Maps help students map their first day to the first job in their chosen field. While a four-year plan outlines classes to get a degree, Major Maps help students learn how to build career-ready skills and experiences outside the classroom. Each Major Map shows how students can get the most of their UW-Stevens Point journey from enrollment to graduation and beyond. It’s a roadmap to discovering your purpose!

Major Map

GAIN EXPERIENCE OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM

Hands-on learning experiences give students an advantage when applying for jobs. As part of their coursework, students develop and teach the curriculum, deliver programs, create interpretive media, and work in schools and school forests.

Prepare for your career with additional hands-on experiences in all areas of natural resource management during a required summer field experience. You can choose between our six-week, hands-on summer field experience held at our Treehaven field station or on-campus, or take part in our European Environmental Seminar and learn how European natural resource management compares to the United States.

Summer internships and jobs are another great way to build your resume. We make them easy to find through our partnership with Handshake.

Meet your Faculty and Staff

Faculty members within the Human Dimensions of Natural Resource Management discipline bring a wide array of knowledge and experience to our indoor and outdoor classrooms at UW-Stevens Point.

View all our faculty and staff