Content:
Environmental Education Program Resources/Visitor Services
- 9 Resources for environmental education lessons.
- The Children & Nature Network's Research and Resources page includes studies, reports, and publications on children and nature.
- Sign up to receive the Children & Nature Network's weekly newsletter with the latest research and studies, special reports, leadership alerts, writings from Richard Louv and others, links to funding opportunities, information on upcoming events and much more!
- Join the Climate Interpreter Community, which provides networking opportunities and resources for educators who want to discuss climate change with their communities.
- The Christmas Bird Count for Kids provides kids with the experience of being outdoors and learning about the joys of bird watching. The tally of total birds sighted is gathered at the end of the events and submitted to eBird, a nationally used bird data base for citizen scientists.
- EPA resources for teachers on hot topics, and for students.
- Museum 2.0 A blog that provides readers with ideas and research on the participatory museum experience.
- Nature Learning Initiative is another great resource for enhancing environments for early learners.
- Nature Net An environmental learning network with environmental educational resources.
- Nature Play & Learning Places by Robin C. Moore addresses how to enhance environments for early learners.
- College Affordability Guide helps students studying environmental science (and 30+ other subjects) save money on their education. The environmental science page gives an overview of the academic field, lists the most affordable environmental science programs in the United States, and covers important accreditations. A great resource for students interested in environmental science!
Other Nature Centers! They’re doing inspiring things every day, so be sure to like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter. Also check out the Wikipedia list of US Nature Centers for finding even more centers near you. Make sure your center is on both lists!
Nonprofit/Administrative Resources
- BoardSource An expensive, but good resource for funders, partners, and nonprofit leaders who want to magnify their impact within their community through exceptional governance practices.
- BoardSource LinkedIn Group A free LinkedIn group for those interested in board matters.
- National Council of Nonprofits A national voice for nonprofits with a mission to advance the vital role, capacity, and voice of charitable nonprofit organizations through our state and national networks.
Branding & Marketing Resources
- Branded Out Loud and The Nonprofit Marketing Blog Both of these branding and marketing blogs have been recommended by several ANCA as great resources.
- Or choose from the many great choices of blogs recommended by the Nonprofit Marketing Guide and the Active Network.
Financial Resources
- Nonprofit Resources from Vanguard This Vanguard site discusses fiduciary fundamentals and includes a toolkit of resources, including links to other relevant organizations.
Other Professional Associations
A list of professional organizations related to the environmental learning center field.
Tools You Can Afford
- ANCA Business Partners This page lists the businesses that support ANCA! These companies and organizations provide a wide range of products and services that relate to nature centers, environmental education, interpretation, and much more. Please consider supporting the businesses that support ANCA.
- Canva is another free online program that allows you to make collages using your own photos or free stock photos and designs.
- Pixler Need to create a photo collage for your newsletter, website, or an annual appeal? Pixler Express is an easy to use, free, online photo editor.
- Techsoup Is your organization a 501(c)(3) nonprofit? Chances are it qualifies for donated software and technology from top brands such as Microsoft, Intuit, Adobe, and Cisco. Donations from more than 40 other TechSoup donor partners are also available.
Other
- ANCA Reciprocal Program Increase visitation at your center, or just up your membership benefit to your members through this program. Participating centers offer benefits to members of other participating centers and receive benefits from other centers in return. Centers must be ANCA members to participate, but there is no further fee.
- LinkedIn Discussion Groups There are many groups on LinkedIn discussing everything from boards to marketing to fundraising to conservation to social media. And you can search past discussions of any group.
- NatureFind.com A free online tool for finding nature places and events near you. If you are looking for a list of days/weeks/months celebrating the Earth.
- Outdoor Afro has become the nation’s leading, cutting edge network that celebrates and inspires African American connections and leadership in nature. We help people take better care of themselves, our communities, and our planet.