To accomplish this mission, the Center coordinates the development of instructional materials, offers professional development workshops for preservice and in-service teachers, and maintains a library of instructional materials available on loan.

A LIBRARY of instructional materials and videos related to environmental education are available on loan at the Center. Topics include plants, animals, habitat, air, water, solid waste, energy, and nonpoint source pollution. Additionally, there are materials that incorporate environmental issues in science and mathematics. For more information on specific needs, contact the Secretary, Trish Sowell at (270) 745-4424 or email at trish.sowell@wku.edu.

WEEK-LONG INSTITUTES are scheduled in the summer, and one-day workshops are schedued throughout the year . Training in the use of classroom activity guides is conducted for preservice and in-service teachers, as well as for nonformal educators. Following the training, participants receive the activity guide. See Upcoming Events.

DR. TERRY WILSON, Director of the Center since 1989, designs the program to encourage the collaboration of scientists and the general public. Terry spent most of his career specializing in teacher and leadership training in the area of environmental education. In addition to working with teachers in Kentucky, he conducted international training in environmental education for educators and natural resource managers in Asia, Russia, and throughout North America.

Born and raised in Ohio, Terry became a teacher and Director of the Outdoor Education Program for the Madison Local Schools (Mansfield). This marked the beginning of a more than 30-year career developing and implementing science and environmental education programs. Terry moved to Kentucky in 1974. In Kentucky, he directed several environmental programs for schools, universities, and governmental agencies. He served as the Environmental Education Coordinator for the Kentucky Department of Education and Director of the Center for Environmental Education at Murray State University for ten years.

Terry served on the board of directors for numerous state, national, and international organizations involved in promoting science and environmental education. He served three terms on the Board of Directors for the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE), one year as its President, and as editor and publisher of "The Environmental Communicator." He was the first recipient of the "Environmental Education College Teacher of the Year," given by the Kentucky Association for Environmental Education. Additionally, Terry testified before a Congressional subcommittee on the National Environmental Education Act of 1990.

Robin Hume, Program Co-ordinator for the Center, coordinates and facilitates teacher and non-formal educator workshops, promotes and provides educational resources for the community and local school districts, and assists Dr. Terry Wilson with Graduate courses.

Robin is from Bowling Green, KY and attended WKU as an undergraduate student from 2003-2007. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education in the spring of 2007. After teaching third grade for one year at Natcher Elementary School, she decided to focus her career on non-formal environmental education. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Elementary Education, with an endorsement in Environmental Education.

In her spare time, Robin enjoys spending time with her husband, cycling, disc golfing, golfing, running, hiking, and a variety of other outdoor adventures. She will be happy to assist you with any of your environmental education questions or needs.

TRISH SOWELL, Secretary for the Center since 2002, manages the library, purchases all supplies, prepares documents for payment, maintains database for workshop participants, processes workshop applications, and helps construct and maintain the Center's Web site.

Trish was born in Missouri and moved to Kentucky in 1983, where she earned her Associate of Art degree in Information Systems at Western Kentucky University in 1995. She is a trained facilitator for Project Learning Tree and Project Wet. Trish worked with Parker Bennett Curry Elementary School in developing an Outdoor Classroon/Vernal Pond project.

For entertainment she likes sewing, gardening, camping, boating, fishing, and working on projects.